Some tipping
cultures around the world are unpredictable, as people may be expected not to
tip, yet they should.
In the
United States, tipping is imperative, however in other countries, it is either
incorporated into the bill or is simply viewed as "not required, but
expected" by customers.
But what
about Poland? Is it necessary to tip in all locations or it is up to the
services you get?
Generally in
Poland, tipping is not the subject of any hard and fast rules. Customers
consider it a matter of personal choice.
Although
this practice may be common in restaurants and other dining establishments,
some Poles believe it should only be reserved in exceptional circumstances.
Here in this
post, we are going to mention everything you need to know about tipping in
Poland. So if you are traveling there and don’t know anything about the tipping
rules, stay with us.
Do you tip in Poland?
Polish
restaurants, bars, and cafes, which are located in tourist attractions and
business districts, generally expect tips from customers.
Tips are
also expected from hotels, serviced apartments, and other establishments where
employees might not seem so appreciated, such as spas and hair salons.
Generally
speaking, you should tip 10% of your bill in Poland - if you are receiving
exceptional service, you may want to tip closer to 20%. The amount you tip
depends largely on where you are in Poland and the services you are purchasing.
How do you tip in Poland?
When it
comes to paying for services in Poland, the culture is slightly different from
that of other countries. Usually, if a pay portal is available, the waiter will
not take your credit card and hide it behind the counter if you wish to pay
with your credit card.
You can
leave some money on the table for the waiter if someone is not assigned to you
in a more casual restaurant. If you are in a more formal restaurant, you will
need to pay the bill at the counter.
When should I tip in
Poland?
Tipp the
restaurant wait staff if you had a positive experience. If the housekeeping
staff was extremely efficient and helpful, you should tip them also. It is a
good idea to tip your tour director and local guides if you had a positive
experience.
Where should I NOT tip in
Poland?
For example,
you do not need to tip when using the health spa or getting a haircut, although
you may do so if you are extremely satisfied with the service. If you order
food or coffee-to-go, you will not be expected to tip.
How to tip in Poland’s
bars?
Polish
restaurants typically expect you to tip between 10 and 15 percent, but tip
amounts can vary depending on the location, the occasion, and the size of your
order.
In Poland,
tipping waiters is customary, while tipping bartenders is not because the
latter may share the tips with others on the staff.
Polish bars
and cafes customarily count the bill to the next significant number or leave a
small tip for each drink you order.
If you are
in a chic cocktail bar with an artful mixologist or a barista who makes an
incredibly skillful cappuccino, you may want to leave an extra tip.
How to tip in Poland’s
hotels?
According to
Polish tipping standards, the standard tip for hotel staff is between 10% and
20%. This includes concierges, wait staff, bell boys, valet attendants, and wait
staff. I am sure you will also want to tip them if you are staying in a top-end
hotel with excellent service.
As a final
decision, you need to decide who and how much to tip based on the quality of
service you receive. While you are staying in Poland, here is our handy tipping
cheat sheet which will help you determine the appropriate level of tipping:
-House-keeping:
5-10 PLN
-Luggage
attendants / Porters: 1 PLC per bag
-Concierge/
Receptionist: 10-15 PLN
-Valets: 5-10 PLN
each time
The tip for
the driver should be approximately 3PLM - 3PLM or you can add 3PLM-5PLM to the
bill.
How to tip spas in Poland?
Tipping is
completely acceptable at Polish spas when the service is excellent. Tips should
be given to the receptionist, who will likely give you an envelope.
In Poland,
it is customary to tip the massage therapist at the end of the session. A one-third
tip of the treatment price is usually a decent tip if the massage therapist did
an excellent job.
Consequently,
if you have just received a massage that cost 100 Polish zlotys, you might wish
to leave a tip of 10 zlotys if the treatment exceeded your expectations. If the
treatment was exceptional, you might wish to leave the therapist with a 15%
tip.
Tipping tour guides in
Poland
In Poland, a
guide can make or break your experience, so if you find one you enjoy, consider
tipping him or her around 10%. This holds true whether you choose to take a
private or multi-day tour or even just a walking tour.
Even if you
are taking a free tour in Poland, be sure to tip your guide since most free
tours in Poland operate on a "pay what you like" basis. Your tips may
represent the entire payment you will receive from your guide.
There are
some tour guides who may suggest that you leave a TripAdvisor review rather
than a tip - but by doing so you can assist them in earning commissions, and
you may also help another visitor have a great experience in the future
Tipping taxi drivers in
Poland
The rules of
tipping in Poland taxis are another concern tourists have before traveling to
this country.
An average
tip for passengers traveling for a long period of time is 10%, and a tip for
luggage assistance is also customary. For short distances, tips are usually
rounded up to a significant amount in Polish zlotys.
If you
choose to travel by taxi rather than by a ride-hailing service such as Uber, be
sure that you agree on the fare before you depart. For example:
-The cost of a
taxi in Poland is 50 zlotys, plus 5 zlotys for the long journey
-In order to tip
a Polish taxi driver 0.50 zlotys, you must pay 7.50 zlotys
How to tip a café server in
Poland?
The waiter
should be tipped to show appreciation, usually 3 to 5 PLN, regardless of
whether you are required to do so.
How to tip a bartender in
Poland?
Bartenders
do not normally expect tips, however if you express your appreciation by saying
"dzikuj" (thank you) when paying to allow them to keep your change,
then your experience will be more memorable.
When tipping is not
required?
Below, we
have mentioned where and when you don’t need to tip:
-Doorman
-Bellhop
-Housecleaning
(but you can leave 10PLN per night for a squeaky-clean stay)
-Concierge (of
course, you can show your appreciation with 20PLN for a special recommendation)
-Stylist (ups to
the service to receive)
-Spa Service
Provider (ups to the service you receive)
Important tips you must pay
attention
Below we
have wrapped up the most important rules you must be knowing before traveling
to Poland:
The timing of
your words is essential. For instance, saying "thank you" when you
are giving a change to the waiter in a restaurant implies that you would like
the waiter to keep the change; if that is not your intention, you should wait
for a few seconds before saying "thank you."
-In general,
gratuities are at the discretion of the customer and do not account for a
significant percentage of the service charge.
-Tipping normally
takes place on the table, even when the bill is paid by credit card.
-The amount we
bill is often rounded up by a few zlotys. For example, if the charge is
supposed to be PLN 3679, make it PLN 40 instead.
-The tipping
range typically is between 5% and 10% of the total bill
-In Poland, there
are often tip jars at cafes and bars where customers can place spare coins.
-Gratuity is not
limited to tipping waiters, but can also be shared with bartenders, delivery
personnel, couriers, and taxi drivers. Cloakroom attendants may receive a
gratuity of 2 PLN if the service was free, especially in places such as
theatres and concert halls.
-The Polish Zloty
is the currency in Poland, so tipping should be done using the Zloty. If you
fail to do so, you will simply leave your service providers with large sums of
cash that they cannot use without incurring large exchange fees. After
departing the airport, be sure that you have some small bills in the local
currency with you in order to tip the drivers and hotel porters.
-When in Poland,
determine whether to tip at a restaurant, hotel, or bar by checking the bill.
In some countries, it is common practice to include service charges on bills.
Conclusion
Tipping in
different countries and regions can be a whole different story and meaning. For
example in Japan, tipping is considered an offensive and inappropriate job. But
on the other hand, tipping in other countries such as Poland is expected and
appreciated.
Therefore,
before going to a foreign country you must have an acceptable knowledge about
their tipping culture to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.
For example, as you noticed during this post,
Polish people in most public places such as restaurants, bars, cafés, taxis,
etc. expect you to tip. In other words, in Poland, there is no such rule for
people to be offended in case of receiving tips.