Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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
(donner un pourboire)
in France isn't as automatic and generous as it is in the
US, but for special service, tips are appreciated, if not expected. As in the US, the proper
amount depends on your resources, tipping philosophy, and the circumstances, but some
general guidelines apply.
Restaurants:
Prices at cafés and restaurants include a 12-15 percent service charge
(referred to as
service compris
or
prix net
but generally not broken out on your bill). Most
French never tip (credit-card receipts don't even have space to add a tip). But if you feel
the service was exceptional, it's kind to tip up to 5 percent extra. If you want the waiter to
keep the change when you pay, say, “
C'est bon”
(say bohn), meaning, “It's good.” Never
feel guilty if you don't leave a tip.
Taxis:
To tip the cabbie, round up. For a typical ride, round up your fare a bit (for in-
stance,ifthefareis€13,pay€14).Ifthecabbiehaulsyourbagsandzipsyoutotheairport
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 two 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 French souvenirs is a Value-Added Tax (VAT) of
about 19.6 percent. You're entitled to get most of that tax back if you purchase more than
€175 (about $230) worth of goods at a store that participates in the VAT-refund scheme.
Typically, you must ring up the minimum at a single retailer—you can't add up your pur-
chases from various shops to reach the required amount.
Gettingyourrefundisusuallystraightforwardand,ifyoubuyasubstantialamountof
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:
Get the paperwork.
Havethemerchantcompletelyfilloutthenecessaryrefunddoc-
ument,
Bordereau de Vente à l'Exportation,
also called a “cheque.” You'll have to present
your passport. Get the paperwork done before you leave the store to ensure you'll have
everything you need (including your original sales receipt).
