My experience is mainly in the US... and I'd say it depends on what you need to say. For a handover, it's very short anyway, so...
"Norcal Approach, N5296S, level at 5500, VFR Palo Alto" is just fine as an initial call. If IFR, it's even shorter, since you can stop at the altitude.
If it's a first-time request, that's a different story. Then I always start with, "Norcal Approach, N5296S, VFR Request." When they have time they will ask for details. If you give them the whole shebang on the first call, chances are all you'll get is "repeat" anyway. (Either they're not busy, in which case the extra call is no big deal, or they are, and they would prefer to slot your message in when in suits them). (Oh, for the pedantic, I only say "Norcal Approach" if that's who I'm talking to, and I only say N5296S if that's what I'm flying. Otherwise of course I make appropriate substitutions).
But when I initially call a tower, I do normally give them the whole thing since it's short anyway.
"Palo Alto Tower, N5296S over Joe's Tire and Muffler at 1500 with Bravo for landing."
(We don't have acronyms for reporting points here, you have to say the name. Of course if you're a visitor you will have no clue where Joe's Tire and Muffler is, and that can be a problem, but that's the way it is anyway. And while I made up Joe's Tire and Muffler, "The Old Birdhouse" is frequently used by PAO tower when calling traffic, and "The Sunken Ship" is a commonly used reporting point).
n5296s (this time)