Many Britons move to Spain for the sea, sand, sangria, year-round sun, a slower pace of life and lower cost of living.
One woman from the UK took to TikTok to share her experience relocating to Barcelona, revealing which things took her by surprise upon moving.
Anna (who goes by @annainbarcelona on the platform) told fellow Britons that the lack of a “tipping culture” shocked her when she first moved.
She said: “In the UK we don’t tip as much as the US but we definitely do normally leave a tip. Nowadays, it’s super common for the tip to just be automatically on the bill.
The expat stated: ‘In Spain, nobody really tips’
GETTY IMAGES
“But in Spain, nobody really tips. It’s not seen as a bad thing, I mean, maybe if you have an amazing experience, yes – but it’s not the norm.”
Spain Traveller, a guide to Spain, confirmed this. The website reads: “In Spain, tipping is entirely optional and it’s not very common.
“You may see people leaving small change at cafés and bars and, eventually, someone tipping at a nice expensive restaurant. But most of the time, you won’t see anyone other than tourists leaving a tip.”
However, a service charge –servicio incluido – is usually added to your bill. If this is not included, visitors to a restaurant may want to tip up to 10 per cent.
Spain Traveller warned that while tipping may not be commonplace, you may incur a different fee.
Visitors to Spain were warned: “Additionally, you may be charged an extra fee for sitting outside.
“To avoid any confusion, ask the waiter if there is a terraza fee. If you leave a tip, make sure you don’t leave your table unattended until the waiter takes it.”
Aside from the lack of tipping culture, another thing that surprised Anna when she first arrived in Spain was that children stay out late into the evening.
Spain is a popular destination among expats looking for sun, sea, sand and a slower pace of life
GETTY IMAGES
She said: “Parents will go out with their kids as if they’re just going out and the kids will just be there.
“There are a lot of playgrounds next to bars, for example, and you will see kids outside playing with their friends at like 10pm. In the UK, all kids are in their beds by around 7pm.”
GB News is speaking to expats across Europe and the world who have exclusively revealed the best places to live, tips and tricks for moving abroad and the potential pitfalls to avoid.
An expat in Spain spoke exclusively to GB News about why the Spanish rarely invite people to their houses.
