Tipping in Aljezur?

Do you tip in Portugal? This particular question is frequently asked and wondered over by many visitors and tourist. The topic is dealt with very differently in almost every country of the world, making it sometimes a little difficult to stay on top of things while traveling. Therefore we decided to give you a small overview on the customs of when, where and how much to tip in Portugal.

Food & Drinks

The area of Aljezur and its surroundings is not only a natural phenomenon attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world. It is also a culinary adventure. Aside from naturally fresh sea food and fish right off the coast you can find all sorts of restaurants offering a big variety from pizza to arrepas, porco preto & a lot of other surprises for your taste buds. You will be surprised by the variety of food offered in this relatively small area of the Algarve. And most of these restaurants offer their dishes at very reasonable prices compared to other European countries.

A lot of tourists and visitors are used to leaving a tip for the service personnel after a nice time and a good meal in their home countries. But do you tip in Portugal? And if yes, then how much or little would be appropriate? In the USA for example tipping is viewed as a reflection on the service and has become customary even to the extend of being obligatory. The main reason for this custom is that the waiters get paid minimum wage and the tip on top makes for a more regular salary.
In Portugal most people that work in the service industries also get paid minimum wage. Yet the matter of tipping is viewed a little different. Some restaurants have a service charge included in the bill and the tip is not expected but highly appreciated. In smaller cafes and bars normally only a few coins are left, although for a coffee or drink no tip will be expected. For small snacks, like sandwiches, tostas, etc. one can leave the change, rounding up to the nearest Euro.

Are there rules?

In Restaurants a 5% to 10% tip is actually standard yet not obligatory. The rule of thumb would be that you tip according to your satisfaction with your service experience. Meaning if you had a good time and the service was nice your tip will show your appreciation towards your server. In high level restaurants the same tip percentage is definitely standard. Should you pay by card a cash tip is preferred because the staff will mostly not receive the tip left on credit cards.
So now we know. The rumor that nobody tips in Portugal is simply wrong. Especially when going to a restaurant for a meal with your family and friends where a lot of plate and glass change will be happening consider leaving a tip for the waiters and the kitchen crew.

So?

Regarding this basic information it becomes a little tricky in the Aljezur area. Most of the restaurants over here are not of Michelin star type where tipping is standard. You will more likely find a lot of smaller family run businesses where you get excellent food with local ingredients and service from the heart, or culinary adventures from a lot of places of the world with a slight touch of the Algarve. The options for a great time with a nice atmosphere, sometimes even stunning views of sunsets at pristine beaches, and great food are abundant.
Go explore and you can manage to eat something special every day and evening of your stay here and consider showing your appreciation for the people that help you with your experience. In most restaurants the tip is collected and shared between all the servers and the kitchen crew at the end of the shift. Consider this as a useful information when you are wondering about how much you want to leave the team.

Activities

Coming to the Algarve also allows you to enjoy all kinds of activities. There are so many options you can try out from surfing to horse riding, sky diving, climbing, cliff jumping, walking donkeys, playing Capoeira, doing Yoga, booking guided tours on SUPs or Kayaks or going on a boat tour, seeing dolphins, just to name a few, because believe us: the list is long. The Algarve offers a massive variety of leisure time activities to try out during your holidays. A lot of these activities include a guide or instructor. Since you are already paying for the given activity you might wonder about tipping the personnel. To help you with this decision we will give you a quick overview.

Guides

Tipping your guide is really optional and at your discretion. For a full or half day a tip between 10€ and 40€ is seen as normal. If you go for a multi day guided experience 20€ to 100€ or even more is common. Keep in mind that it is optional and really depends on your level of satisfaction with the service provided.

Instructors

For instructors it is also up to you if you want to leave a tip. The tipping in this area is not very common yet also highly appreciated. Some people leave a 5€ to 10€ tip for a day of surfing for example. Others also invite the instructor for a coffee or drink after the lesson is over.
Furthermore, instructed activities are even free of charge or might be included in your surf camp, hostel or accommodation deal. These are mainly offers to expose the visitors towards new things without having to think about the money aspect. In these occasions leaving a small tip for the instructor is always welcome.

Drivers

Tipping taxi drivers is neither expected nor required. If you hire a driver for other occasions it is a little different. Depending on the number of days the driver is with the group, consider a tip between 2€ and 5€ per person per day appropriate.

Hotel Staff

In the area of Aljezur there are only a few actual hotels but if you are staying in one of them it is also good to know that for help with your luggage 1€ per suitcase is standard and an suitable tip. The expected tip for Concierge, maid or room service is 1€ to 2 €.