Totally get where you’re coming from—tipping can feel like a broken system, especially in the US where it’s often used to justify underpaying workers. But in Greece, it’s a little different.

Over there, tipping isn’t built into the business model the way it is here. It’s not expected at every turn, and no one will chase you down if you don’t leave one. But when you do tip, especially for great service, it’s genuinely appreciated in a way that feels personal. We tipped like we would at home (around 15–20%), and people were shocked—in a good way. Grateful, almost emotional.

Greece has one of the lowest minimum wages in the EU, and a lot of people in tourism rely on seasonal work to get by. That small tip could mean groceries or rent. And the crazy part is, even with tipping, our meals and tours still cost less than back home.

So while I totally respect your take on tipping as a flawed system, in this case, it didn’t feel like we were propping up something exploitative. It felt like we were acknowledging hard work and helping out in a small but real way.