tipping in Switzerland
If you are travelling to Switzerland, consider yourself very lucky. Switzerland is a beautiful country to visit, and will stay engrained in your memory forever. You will see magnificent mountains and peaceful lakes. Switzerland is a country with splendour absolutely everywhere you look.
Secondly, you will need to know the tipping etiquette for this country. Most services include a “service” charge in the bill, which means that there is no obligation for you to tip an additional amount. Also, most Swiss workers make a high capita income (which means they are often earning more than you!) and the minimum wage is higher than other countries. Because of this, tipping is lower than other countries and only expected in certain situations.
tipping etiquette for hotels in Switzerland
At a Hotel Tip 1-2 CHF in Switzerland
Tipping is usually expected for hotel staff in Switzerland. You should give around 1-2 CHF for each bag that the bellman carries. If you are in a hotel shuttle or car park shuttle, you should give the driver a small tip, perhaps CHF 1. Also, you should tip the maid around CHF 1 a day. If you are staying at a resort hotel, you may want to leave a little more. If you are staying for more than a few days, you may want to give the manager your tips and let him or her distribute them to the appropriate personnel.
tipping in restaurants in Switzerland
In Switzerland Don't Tip your waiter
A service charge is typically added into your bill at restaurants in Switzerland. If this is the case, you do not need to leave an additional tip. However, if you are exceptionally happy with your service, you can round the bill to the nearest franc. For example, if your meal costs CHF 47, you could leave CHF 50. If the service is lousy, don’t leave a tip at all. At the end of the day, eating out in Switzerland can prove to be expensive when compared with surrounding countries (e.g. France and Italy); therefore, this ought to be taken into consideration when thinking about tipping etiquette in Switzerland.
tip etiquette at spas in Switzerland
At a Spa Don't tip in Switzerland
Spa services generally include an extra fee for gratuity. For this reason, it is not customary to tip extra for spa services. However, if your services were exceptional, feel free to tip a little extra or round up to the nearest franc. That is what most spa goers in Switzerland usually do. Remember, though, that Swiss workers earn one of the highest incomes per capita in the world, so they are hardly as dependent on your tips as you would tend to find in much poorer nations.
should you tip your tour guide?
In Switzerland ** Don't Tip** your your guide
Most tours in Switzerland include a service charge so you won’t need to tip your tour guide any additional amount. If your tour guide was exceptional, tip him or her around 10-15% of the cost of the tour. If you don’t want to tip them that much, then tip them between 1-5 CHF. Again, in Switzerland, whilst tips are always very much appreciated, you will not keep the service provider on the breadline if you prefer not to leave a tip.
should you tip your hairdresser
In Switzerland Don't Tip your Hair Stylist
The “tip” for the hairdresser is included in the price of the service. However, if you are especially happy with your hair, you should tip up to 15% of the total price of the services. If you are not happy with your hair, don’t tip at all and look to dispute any service charge that may have been added to your bill automatically. If you are just “okay” with your hair, you don’t need to tip at all either.
should you tip your taxi driver?
In Switzerland Don't Tip your taxi driver
Typically, you are not expected to tip your taxi driver in Switzerland. However, a service charge may be added. Round up or add 5% if you are happy with your service or even more if your taxi driver has been exceptionally helpful.