To tip or not to tip? That is the question. We often hear that tipping in Europe is unnecessary and that, in some instances, it may even put you in an embarrassing situation with workers strongly rejecting your money, yet as Americans, it still feels so wrong!
Luckily, this article is here to help you. In this blog post, we will clarify whether and how much you are supposed to tip on your upcoming trip to Mykonos so that you’ll be prepared for all situations.
Tipping Culture in Mykonos
Let’s start by saying that tipping in Greece is not mandatory. Unlike the U.S. system, workers in all sectors, including tourism, are paid fair salaries and do not rely on clients to increase their extremely low pay with tips. That said, unlike other countries, such as Japan, tipping in Greece is not considered insulting, and locals will most likely appreciate it.
Tipping is considered culturally appropriate, especially in tourist places like the Greek islands. However, it is never mandatory, and you should never feel obliged to do so.
So, do you tip in Mykonos? Yes and no. A small tip will be appreciated, and whether or not you should do it depends on the service. Unlike in the USA, it’s also important to remember that people usually give only a few euros or a small percentage of their final bill here.
This can confuse foreigners, so here is a good summary of how much to tip in Mykonos.
How Much to Tip in Mykonos?
Tipping in Mykonos, as in all other tourist destinations in Greece, is more of an art than an exact science. There are two main ways to tip: rounding up the bill and opting for a specific percentage.
Rounding up the bill
This is the easiest and most popular method. It’s often used for relatively cheap services, such as an affordable meal or a taxi ride. For instance, if you just had a quick lunch at a lovely taverna and your final bill is about €18, you can leave an extra €2 and inform the waiter that they can keep the change.
Tipping by percentage
This method is less common but can be used for more expensive services, such as a fine dining experience or private tour. Tips range from 10% to 20% of your final bill, with a few exceptions. Again, it’s important to remember that this practice is not mandatory in Greece, even though local workers appreciate it.
One of the best Mykonos travel tips you should learn is that cash is always a better option when tipping. This is because, unlike in the USA, not all restaurants, hotels, and other common tourist services allow you to add extra money to your bill.
In most venues, you won’t be asked to choose between a 15%, 20%, and 25% tip, meaning that if you want to add money for the waiters, you will have to communicate this with whoever is processing your payment. Unfortunately, in this case, there is a chance that that money won’t go to the person who served you throughout the evening. So, opt for cash if you want to make it easier for workers to receive your money.
Tipping in Mykonos by Service Type
If this is your first time vacationing in Mykonos and you are now slightly stressed about the different tipping culture of this country, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered! Below, you will find Mykonos tips for first-timers so that you will always know how much to tip based on the service received.
Restaurants & Cafés
Restaurants and cafés are somehow a complicated business when it comes to tipping. Why? Because it largely depends on what you ordered and the type of eatery you are in. If you just got a coffee or a little pastry, there is no need to leave a tip. However, the situation suddenly changes if you had a massive meal in one of Mykonos’ best-rated restaurants. So, how can you know how much is appropriate to tip? Here are a few basic rules.
If you’re in a café and are about to pay a small bill for a coffee, a soft drink, or a small dessert, you can simply round up the bill. Are you supposed to pay €4.60? Leave €5 and tell the waiter to keep the change. In this case, calculating the correct percentage to give truly makes no sense. Remember that you’re already doing more than enough by leaving a tip, as many locals wouldn’t do it.
If you’re in a restaurant, you can opt for both methods. You can round the bill, leaving a few euros, or opt for a percentage. How much you should leave depends on how fancy the service you received was. Here are a few examples.
If you’re eating in a small, local taverna and are about to pay something below €20, just round it up. If you’re in a fine-dining restaurant, you can opt for a 10% – 20% tip. In common restaurants, you can leave between 5% and 15% of your final bill.
If you received exceptionally good service, you may even opt for a 25% tip, though this is quite unusual, and nobody expects you to tip this much. Another thing to note is that if you receive a bad service, you should feel in no way obliged to leave extra money.
Summary
- Round up the bill for small amounts
- Consider leaving a 5% – 20% based on the service you received
- Don’t feel the need to leave a tip if you didn’t like the service
Taxis & Transportation
Again, tipping your taxi driver is not expected, but it can be highly appreciated. For instance, let’s say your driver came all the way to pick you up at the airport in the middle of the night, helped you with your luggage, and spent extra time trying to figure out your location, calling your hotel for directions. A tip would be a good way to show your appreciation. You can generally round up the final tariff by adding a few extra euros.
Tipping can be even easier if you use car-share apps, as some of these will ask you whether you want to leave a tip at the end of your ride.
Things are different for private drivers. If you decide to hire someone to constantly drive you around during your trip, you can consider leaving your driver some extra money at the end of your vacation. In this case, you can opt for a €10-€20 tip per day per car rather than per passenger. Otherwise, a 10%- 15% tip on your final bill can also be a good option.
Remember that tipping is not mandatory; whatever you give will be highly appreciated. The cost of living in Greece is significantly lower than in the USA, so while €20 may not seem like much to you, considering this is money on top of a driver’s normal salary, it is more than sufficient.
Summary
- Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip, but rounding up is always appreciate
- If hiring a private driver, consider leaving €10-€20 per day
Tour Guides & Excursions
Regarding tour guides and excursions, tipping has become a common practice embraced by most. This is because, unlike restaurants, these people only work with tourists and are used to receiving tips. In general, you can give anywhere between €10 and €50, depending on how much you enjoyed the tour and your guide’s expertise.
The actual sum depends on several factors. You can consider whether it was a group tour, how long it lasted, what services were included, and whether you genuinely liked your guide and found the tour informative.
When booking a group tour with dozens of other participants, a few euros may be more than enough. However, if you opt for a free tour, consider leaving a bit more, anywhere between €5 to €25 per person, depending on your financial situation and whether you enjoyed the tour. These people rely on tips for their earnings, so it is customary to pay a bit extra.
Lastly, Mykonos cruise tips for excursions and other services tend to be considerably higher. These largely depend on whether your guide is a local or someone who works for your cruise company and is paid through a completely different system. Do a bit of research and choose your tip accordingly.
Summary
- Pay a few extra euros for large group tours
- Tip between €10 to €50, depending on the service provided
Hotels & Accommodations
Mykonos hotel tips can be a challenge at first, but they are very simple once you figure them out. When it comes to hotels, you want to tip three types of workers: cleaners, porters, and concierges.
You can consider leaving a tip of €1-€2 daily for cleaners. If you don’t know how to do so, ask the staff. For porters, you can tip €1-€2 for each luggage. Mykonos airport tips are the same for porters helping you with your baggage. Lastly, you can pay around €5 to €10 for your concierge, depending on how much help you receive throughout your stay.
Of course, if you rented one of the many Mykonos villas for your stay on the island, you won’t have to tip anyone unless you require extra services, such as a personal chef, cleaner, or driver.
Summary
Cleaners: €1 to €2 per day
Porter: €1 to €2 per luggage
Concierges: €5 to €10 at the end of your stay