Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you are the secondary cardholder, you'll also need to provide the primary cardholder's
identification-verification details. You can generally receive a temporary card within two
or three business days in Europe (see
www.ricksteves.com/help
for more).
If you report your loss within two days, you typically won't be responsible for any
unauthorized transactions on your account, although many banks charge a liability fee of
$50.
Tipping in Britain isn't as automatic and generous as it is in the US. For special service,
tips are appreciated, but not expected. As in the US, the proper amount depends on your
resources, tipping philosophy, and the circumstances, but some general guidelines apply.
Restaurants:
At pubs where you order at the counter, you don't have to tip. (Regular
customers ordering a round sometimes say, “Add one for yourself” as a tip for drinks
ordered at the bar—but this isn't expected.) At a pub or restaurant with waitstaff, check
the menu or your bill to see if the service is included (generally 10-12.5 percent); if not,
tip about 10 percent. (For more information, see
here
in the Eating in London chapter.)
Taxis:
To tip the cabbie, round up. For a typical ride, round up your fare a bit (for
instance, if the fare is
£
4.50, pay
£
5). 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
tip of a pound or so is appropriate...but not required. 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 British souvenirs is a Value-Added Tax (VAT) of
about 20 percent. You're entitled to get most of that tax back if you purchase more than
£
30 (about $48) worth of goods at a store that participates in the VAT-refund scheme (al-
though individual stores can require that you spend more—Harrods, for example, won't
process a refund unless you spend
£
50). Typically, you must ring up the minimum at a
single retailer—you can't add up your purchases from various shops to reach the required
amount.
Getting your refund is usually straightforward and, if you buy a substantial amount of
souvenirs, well worth the hassle. If you're lucky, the merchant will subtract the tax when
you make your purchase. (This is more likely to occur if the store ships the goods to your
home.) Otherwise, you'll need to:
