Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
secondary cardholder, you'll also need to provide the primary cardholder's identification-
verificationdetails.Youcangenerallyreceiveatemporarycardwithintwoorthreebusiness
days in Europe (see
www.ricksteves.com/help
for more).
Ifyoureportyourlosswithintwodays,youtypically won'tberesponsibleforanyunau-
thorized transactions on your account, although many banks charge a liability fee of $50.
A decade ago, tipping was unheard of in Croatia and Slovenia. But then came the tourists.
Today, some waiters and taxi drivers have learned to expect Yankee-sized tips when they
spot an American. Tipping the appropriate amount—not feeling stingy, but also not contrib-
uting to the overtipping epidemic—can be nerve-wracking to conscientious visitors. Relax!
Many locals still don't tip at all, so any tip is appreciated. As in the US, the proper amount
depends on your resources, tipping philosophy, and the circumstances, but some general
guidelines apply.
Restaurants:
Tip only at restaurants that have table service. If you order your food at a
counter, don't tip.
At restaurants that have a waitstaff, round up the bill 5-10 percent after a good meal. My
rule of thumb is to estimate about 10 percent, then round down slightly to reach a conveni-
ent total. For a 165-kn meal, I pay 180 kn—a tip of 15 kn, or about 9 percent. That's plenty.
A 15 percent tip is overly generous, verging on extravagant. At some tourist-oriented res-
taurants, a 10 or 15 percent “service charge” may be added to your bill, in which case an
additional tip is not necessary. If you're not sure whether your bill includes the tip, just ask.
Taxis:
To tip the cabbie, round up. For a typical ride, round up your fare about 5 percent
(for instance, if the fare is 71 kn, pay 75 kn). If the cabbie hauls your bags and zips you to
the airport to help you catch your flight, you might want to toss in a little more. But if you
feel like you're being driven in circles or otherwise ripped off, skip the tip.
Services:
In general, if someone in the service industry does a super job for you, a small
tip of a euro (or the local equivalent) is appropriate...but not required.
When in doubt, ask:
If you're not sure whether (or how much) to tip for a service, ask
your hotelier or the TI.
Wrapped into the purchase price of your souvenirs is a Value-Added Tax (VAT) of 25 per-
cent in Croatia, 22 percent in Slovenia, 17 percent in Bosnia, and 19 percent in Montenegro
(“VAT” is called “PDV” in this part of the world). You're entitled to get most of that tax
back if you purchase more than a certain amount (for example, 740 kn in Croatia, €175.01
in Slovenia) of goods at a store that participates in the VAT refund scheme. Typically, you
