Some people will tell you that we never tip in Spain, but that’s just not true. Tipping is not expected and it’s not figured into the wages of those whom you’d normally tip in the States (e.g. waiters, taxi drivers, etc.). If the service you receive is mediocre to poor, or even if it was “perfectly fine”, there’s no need to tip. Usually, I’ll only tip if there was something exceptional about the service. For example, if a waiter was friendly and attentive despite having an overload of tables to wait, I might tip. Or if a taxi driver under-charges me for the fair and has been friendly and helpful, I may tip him.

The usual amount to tip is about 3-5%, but don’t bother trying to calculate it. Just make a guesstimate and leave some spare change or 50 cents or a euro or two depending on how much you spent.

To tell someone to “keep the change”, say “Quédate con la vuelta, por favor.”