Dave Smith wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>>> usually American, who leave hefty tips because the viewed it as
>>> flaunting wealth and ignorance sine they apparently did not realize
>>> that tips are not
>>> expected, and not particularly appreciated. They don't appreciate
>>> being treated like dancing monkeys.
>>
>> He knows that it's customary for Americans to tip but he takes
>> the opportunity to sniff at them for doing what they think is right.
>> Sounds like a jerk to me.
>
> Sure he probably knows that it is customary to tip in the US, but he
> is not in the US. If you expect him to understand that it is
> customary to tip in the US, the USians should be equally aware that
> it is not customary there. He wasn't really a jerk. He was very
> pleasant. His attitude was that if you want to throw money at him go
> ahead, but don't expect to be respected for it.

Considering the tipping customs vary in so many countries how is anyone
supposed to keep up?! I can't recall who it was earlier in the thread
(Lia?) said tipping a small gratuity is expected in Italy even though the
menu price includes service, or something like that. So if I'm travelling
and I go from France to Italy to Hungary, for example, I'm supposed to have
something akin to Cliff's Notes handy to tell me what to do whenever I cross
a border? Just curious. Most people I know who have visited Europe aren't
just going to one country.

Jill