Tipping hotel maids in Greece?

holidaysforme

tori.k wrote: »

There a million miles between the wage of a public service provider, in fact i've yet to have the need of a policeman or librarian (it's all automated) yet i still pay for them,

The starting wage of a policeman is almost 23k, the room maid will be lucky if they make 5k and there's no such thing as tax credits in greece. we all be moaning that we got it hard here it's nothing compared to the cuts the greeks have had

I don't tip all and sundry when im away from home as I also tip for good service here if someone does me a personal service that makes my life easier i appreciate it

We always tip the room maid/cleaners at the end of our stay abroad. I tip here in restaurants if the service is good. i even usually tip when the service is only adequate, as it is rarely the fault of the waiter/waitress. We tipped the barman last year when we left, even though it was in an all inclusive hotel and the drinks were free. Cannot stand mean people. It's a really unattractive trait. If i was going to Greece, i would actually over tip at the moment. The amount of hardship they are suffering compares not one iota to what's going on in the UK.

travelgran

We've come back recently from a camper van tour in Greece. At one site the toilet facilities were spotless and I tried to leave the young woman who cleaned them a tip. She refused it politely with a smile and the comment that it was her job.

Bob_the_Saver

tori.k wrote: »

Im lost for words over the tightness of somepeople,

On a money saving website !!!

s_b

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

On a money saving website !!!

come on theres moneysaving and being a scrouge
i have already posted my flag and i can peel an orange in my back pocket

Bob_the_Saver

s_b wrote: »

come on theres moneysaving and being a scrouge
i have already posted my flag and i can peel an orange in my back pocket

Scrouge and proud of it, I worked for my money why would I then want to give it away to people who are working for theirs. I don't expect people with more money than me to come and tip me.

fifeken

In certain places (eg most parts of the USA), wages are deliberately lowered and deemed to be made up to the regular wage with tips. Waiters/servers in these places are taxed as if you have tipped them and in these cases a tip should be given.
Workers in places where this is not the norm (eg Greece, Spain) should not be tipped as their wages are the going rate for the job.

Doshwaster

fifeken wrote: »

In certain places (eg most parts of the USA), wages are deliberately lowered and deemed to be made up to the regular wage with tips. Waiters/servers in these places are taxed as if you have tipped them and in these cases a tip should be given.
Workers in places where this is not the norm (eg Greece, Spain) should not be tipped as their wages are the going rate for the job.

Agreed. In most US States there is a separate minimum wage for "tipped" jobs. In some it can be less than $2/hr so the vast majority of their income is made up in tips. One advantage of this is that it is very cheap for employers to hire staff which explains why there are always so many waitresses and bar staff in American bars and restaurants - and why the service is usually so good. I have no problem paying 15-20% for a meal and $1 per beer.

The problem comes when you get Americans who have been brought up in a tipping culture travel to other countries in Europe and Asia where there isn't such a custom as it distorts the market. In Europe I rarely tip more than rounding up to the next note and in many parts of Asia tipping more than loose change is considered an insult.