European Etiquette Tip #1: Tipping

The biggest question I get is, “What are the rules on tipping? I don’t want to be the stupid American who doesn’t tip enough”

Depending on where you go in Europe, typically you do not tip unless you are wow’d by the service! And I mean wow’d! Even then, you don’t leave more than a 2 euro coin on the table. And don’t forget, this is a cash society. Always have enough cash to pay for the bill!

Here is a breakdown on tipping rules in high tourist European countries:

Austria: round to nearest ten. If the check is 47 euros, leave 50. *European etiquette treats Austria same way as Belgium. 10% tip is appreciated if the service is exceptional.

Belgium: Price on the ticket is the price you pay. I rarely leave more than what is charged due to the included charges for service. If the service is exceptional, I’ll leave maximum 10% as a tip.

Germany: I round to the nearest ten.

Hungary: 10% maximum. If you pay card, you can ask to add the tip to the total bill. But make sure it isn’t already on the bill. If so, just pay and leave.

Italy: I tip when the food and service is good–which is every time! Eating in Italy is a delightful experience from the pasta to the wine to the extravagant waiters 🙂

Ireland: I tip in the pubs because if you see how the level of craziness inside doesn’t affect the temperament of the bartenders, it’s quite impressive. I leave max 5%.

France: I never tip because the French are never pleasant to Americans who butcher their language. Order quick and get out.

Romania: 10% always.

The Netherlands: I love the Dutch. I would be happy to leave a euro or two

Portugal: Tipping is considered respectful to the restaurant and wait staff. Not receiving a tip could be taken as an insult or that you did not like the food.

Switzerland: This is an expensive country but it is common to leave a little tip. Two euro max.

Spain: Check the bill as most of the time there is a service charge included. If not, 5-10% is polite.

United Kingdom: Lovely people but I rarely tip if it’s a small party of three or less. Prices in UK are expensive anyway so I suggest save your pounds for tube tickets.

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Ireland…in 4 days!

So in my mother’s attempt to be supportive of my decision to move to Europe, she comes once a year for what I like to call, “Mommy Meets.” This year, she chose the 4th of July long weekend to see Ireland. In true American form, she wanted to see the following: Blarney Castle, River Shannon, Cliffs of Mohr, Limerick, The Burren, Galway and all that Dublin has to offer…in four days! I needed to find an easy way to cover over 600 kilometers while showing her as much of the country as possible.

2013-09-12 15.29.18 and the driving begins…

Tip: In Ireland, the cheaper car rental companies will ask for a HUGE deposit (around $2000) to hold on your credit card. I prefer to work with Sixt. The price is a little more per day but you dont have to leave a deposit and they pay for the airport toll!

Day one: Arrive Dublin Airport, Blarney Castle

We left Dublin Airport and started our trek for County Cork to see Blarney Castle. It was my first time driving on the left side of the road and where it does take getting used to, is really not as scary as it seems. Travel time: 2 hours, 40 minutes

. 2014-07-02 15.35.56 HDR We arrived to Blarney Castle in the early afternoon and were truly blessed with warm weather and clear skies! You can buy your tickets online before you travel which saves time and 15%! The grounds around the castle are quite impressive but when you only have four days to see an entire country, you have to prioritize time spent in each place.

2014-07-02 16.11.30 The Irish make fun of Americans for wanting to kiss the Blarney Stone since this area was the castle latrine… just dont actually kiss the stone when you go 🙂

We left County Cork and drove to Limerick where we would spend our first night. The Radisson Blu is five minutes from city center and offers a peaceful, comfortable night’s sleep set in a beautiful open field. Travel time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Day two: Limerick, Cliffs of Mohr, The Burren, Galway

2014-07-03 09.18.37 Limerick and the Mighty River Shannon!

Second day and the weather gods are still shining down on us!! We had an early morning for breakfast in the center and a quick tour of the city. My recommendation: while the city is charming, it isn’t worth but a quick stop before you continue your journey.

We leave Limerick for the Cliffs of Mohr and our first bump in the road occurs: rain. Not just any rain but the nasty, gray Irish rain. Travel time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.

2014-07-03 13.52.42 My immediate reaction to the gray, misty setting was tragic grief. I was so disappointed that I couldn’t show my mother the beautiful Cliffs I had seen a few months earlier. We did our best to face the gusts of wind at the top of the Cliffs and were able to snap a few images to capture the memory. Moments like this is where this blog name comes because I can not control the weather and I couldn’t let this ruin the day! Looking back, I love these pictures because it is true to weather in Ireland! Despite the weather, we decided to forge ahead to The Burren.Travel time:  40 minutes.

2014-07-03 15.25.57 The Burren is a National Park that covers 1% of the surface in Ireland and spans over 250 kilometers. You easily need a whole day to see what this natural wonder has to offer but we only scratched the surface. By the time we got here, we decided our time outside was done and we would head on to our final stop for the day: Galway. Travel time: 1 hour

2014-07-03 19.26.33 Galway is my favorite city in Ireland! So many cute pubs and shops to consume days and days of your time. We arrived in the early afternoon and settled down at my favorite spot, “Quays Pub” for oysters and Bulmers cider. Bulmers is a delicious alcoholic alternative to Guinness and is best served in a glass with ice. This city is alive with local bands playing traditional Irish music inside bars and restaurants. Galway is a must visit city in Ireland!

Day three: Travel back to Dublin. Travel time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

We dropped the car off at the airport because once you’re in Dublin, you do not need a car to get around. Our first day in Dublin was a relaxing one! After running all over the country, it was nice to be in one city for more than 3 hours. We ate seafood chowder and drank more Bulmers as we listened to the best Irish music at Merchants Arch.

2014-07-04 16.09.57 In the afternoon, we went to the Guinness Brewery to learn how to pour the perfect beer. Now, I am not a Guinness fan but the tour is definitely worth the visit. The ticket includes a free pint of Guinness and you can enjoy it while looking at the Dublin skyline from the top floor.

2014-07-04 21.49.23 What is a trip to Dublin without sampling some Irish whiskey? We went to Temple Bar on Temple Bar for the finest whiskey tasting experience you will ever have. The bartenders are all experts in the diferent styles and flavors of whiskey and will give excellent advice on what to try.

Day four: More Dublin! Travel time: ZERO!!

2014-07-05 12.17.07 In the morning, we went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. You have to pre-order tickets or you will wait in a 2 hour line to get in! Just go to the Trinity College website to order and print out tickets.

The rest of our last day we just got lost in the city. Whenever you can have a leisure day spending time in the city, it is always worth it!

On our last night, we went to a traditional Irish show at the Arlington Hotel. For a good price, you get a three course dinner while being entertained with music and Irish dancers–a definite must see!!

So you see, you can do Ireland in four days but just remember not to be disappointed if the weather doesnt agree. Just steer into the skid and enjoy the memories!!

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Steer Into The Skid…Welcome!

2012-07-27 23.03.33I am an American expat in my late twenties living and working in Belgium since 2012. So much has happened in my life in these two years that I decided to write some of it down. This blog will mainly serve as a tool for travel tips and answers to questions that I seem to get from friends and family; however, I will also share a bit of what it’s like to live in Europe as an American expat. The title of this blog is a philosophy I have adopted since living abroad. Number one thing to remember while traveling is to let go of things you cant control and just have a great time no matter what happens!

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