How Much To Tip Private Tour Guide In Italy

Do you have to tip in Italy?

To start off, tipping in Italy is neither obligatory nor anticipated, but if you choose to do so, the act is a clear sign that you valued the service given.Given that most of us are used to tipping, it is important to remember that the etiquette varies depending on the kind of service provided.

In fact, if you remember the following tips – yes, we said it – you will be perfectly prepared for your next Italian adventure!

How much to tip private tour guide in italy?

It is tricky to tip tour guides!Should you?Shouldn’t you?What’s the etiquette?Where do you stand?In Italy, a rough guideline is to take the duration of your tour into consideration. If the tour lasted no more than half a day, you may give the guide five to ten euros. If you spent more or less a day, a tip of 10 euros or so would be appreciated.

But keep in mind that your choice should be based only on the respect you had for your guide and the service that was provided and you should never feel obligated to tip.

Should I Tip the Guides in Italy?

I guess the more people would know what to do if we knew how much the salaries of different jobs. Is the tour guide getting a great pay?Who knows? I’ve heard that waiters in Italy earn a decent wage, so we don’t tip. The tour guides we have had are so enthusiastic and have made our trip more colorful. Had I known that they were earning a good salary, we wouldn’t.

As we do not know, we err on the side of the more generous just in case. I can inform you from the tours we took, that around 30% – 40% left some kind of tip.. We left 20%. I thought it was too much, but DH is a good tipper. I would have rounded up by 10 – 15% and been okay.

Am I supposed to tip my guide?

It’s your choice. If you had a great tour and the guide provided excellent service, it is usual to give them a tip at the end of the tour. It’s not mandatory though and we wouldn’t blame you if you don’t – nor your guide.

Do you tip your guides?

If you found your guide pleasant and would like to give a tip, it will be appreciated. When inquired, the office staff suggests any amount you are comfortable with giving.

Hence, there is a recurring theme on here that you do not tip your tour guide, whereas, the tour companies in Italy imply the opposite. No doubt many wannabe travelers are lost in confusion.

What are the rules for tipping in Italy?

Do not tip unless they do something that was not on the itinerary or otherwise take up extra time and then I would tip for the extra time what I felt was appropriate.

For instance I hired a private driver to pick us up from the Pisa Airport and drive to a hotel in Florence.
The ride is itself was priced at a rate, I think it was 140 euro and I would not tip on that ride.

I requested that they make a brief stop at the leaning tower on the way and give us 30 minutes for a walk, photos. ea… ; for this additional service I gave a tip of 30 euro and the driver was very satisfied with that.
Since this is additional, it is rather of paying for extra than tipping, and I would suggest you to see it that way.

In some cases, the absence of tipping or overpaying can get a little strange for instance I have come across a few instances where things that are normal in the US and are included in the price are not included in Italy. Could be something as simple as an extra cup, or extra napkin and you can be treated rather harshly if you expect it to be included ; but offer a small coin and you can gladly have them. So again I repeat no problems in paying more for more, that seems typical and natural.

I have received some criticism for average tipping. The fact is – and you will find this out – many are eastern European driver and servers. They are not drinking it. Not 15% tip but on a full day car hire I would expect 5 to 10 euro per person would be appreciated. You are with the man day, and if he happens to be indifferent and detached – nothing, useful and friendly, well 5 each. Over the top and accommodating and informative, well at 10 per person sounds fair.

Waiters and servers, we would leave 15 or 20 euro to the excellent server for a meal of three over an hour and a half. In Rome and Florence type places you may pass the little place a few times and they always remember and wave and it makes for quick restroom stops, questions and interaction with locals even if you are not dining.

If you happen to eat at 4Leoni in Florence for dinner (make reservations) you will have a great meal. I believe our damage was 140(?) euro of greatness (gluttony really) with the 2.5kg Florentine steak, another steak for wife, multiple sides, lot of wine, sodas desert for 3. We left 15 or 20 euro. You don’t have to give a single cent. But that’s the case in the USA too. A great meal – great setting.

In contrast Gusta Pizza in Florence. If you don’t find it and eat there – well you just miss out – don’t miss out. The line isn’t very threatening – it’s fast, and many people take their pizzas to go.Its great. Just flow be a local. The counter is host to a large glass tip jar by the pizza makers. Order your pies (kinda single and a half size) and drinks, get your number, wait for a table and throw a few Euros in the jar.Nothing goes unnoticed. On your next visit you will be recognized, seated immediately.Just sayin…

Some people think that “Italy is not a tipping culture” and that if I tipped “it would spoil it for both Italians and future travelers”. To that I say that if someone is working, the person and an outstanding service tip would be appreciated as a gesture of my gratitude. I have visited Italy 6 or 7 times in the last 20 years and never had a tip refused, or had anyone behave as if it was unusual.They were appreciative. Recently we have been to Amalfi Coast, Pompeii & Herculaneum, Florence, Greve in Chianti and Bologna. I bribed three separate private drivers and a guide. They were all great, nice, and rendered a service that we appreciated. In Italy, let it upset those who do not tip. Like I said, I let my conscience be my guide in this matter.

Tipping should be avoided since it pushes the price up for everyone else, you pay for a level of service that was part of the job before, it is easier for tax cheaters and those who pay staff under the table and it creates a double standard that drives dishonest businessmen into the sector and the honest ones out.

If you worry about the hourly wages of the Italians because you believe that they are low from your point of view, it is going to lead to even lower wages. Guido’s and Marco’s boss: “All right, I am not going to pay for your national health care taxes and social security contributions, guys, but you will be able to keep the tips from the foreign customers and someone will pay for your health care and retirement anyway”.

We usually tell ourselves that if the guide is an entrepreneur, we do not tip. If the guide is an employee of a tour company, we tip if satisfied with the service.Therefore, if we employ Guido the driver who drives his own car and keeps the cash, there is no tip. On a tour organized by a company, we give a small tip, from €5 to €10 per person, to the guide/employee, depending on the duration and our satisfaction. IMO many of the guides working there are living on quite low wages. The cost of a guided tour of the Colosseo is €89 per person.

Tipping in Italy: Do’s, Dont’s.

In Italy, gratuity is a symbol of gratitude and, therefore, not obligatory or anticipated. Here is the general idea of tipping behavior for my American compatriots and Italy newbies.

✅ Tipping in restaurants is service based. You can leave nothing or up to 10% of the meal.

✅ If Servicio Incluso is already included, there is no need to add an extra tip. This is unlike the coperto which is not the same as tip (I’ll clarify later).

✔ In Italy, tipping is paid in cash, so do carry some euros!

Personal Embarrassing Story: In Sicily, I once attempted to tip 25% for the meal that I adored, just as I do in Austin. This implied leaving €25 on the table. My Italian friend took it, returned to me €15, and left a ridiculous tip of only €10. He said, “In Italy, we pay our wait staff well. Do as the Italians do, not the American tourists!”

Forget the stories, but a proper tip is expected for the taxi, tour guide, restaurants, bar, and hotel staff. By and large, tipping in Italy is neither encouraged nor obligatory, save for when the service is above the average, in which case a few Euros is the best way to show your appreciation.

Do you give tips in hotels in Italy?

The bill has already included a service charge of 15% to 19%.

Furthermore, it’s usual to give a housekeeper a €1 a day, a doorman €1 (for calling a taxi), and a bellhop or porter €2 to €3, if he or she carries your bags to the room.

A concierge anticipates an extra 15%, as well as tips for other services rendered, such as assistance with long-distance calls.

But bear this in mind: In luxury hotels, these amounts may be doubled in euros.

The delivery of room service does not need to be tipped, but a few euros would be appreciated.

Do you tip in restaurants and cafés in Italy?

In restaurants and cafes, a 15% service charge for staff is usually included on your bill. If you are not certain, the question to ask is, “È incluso il servizio?” (ay een-cloo-soh eel sair-vee-tsoh?). Or check for the words servizio incluso on the receipt, which means that the service charge has already been added.

The additional tip is not obligatory, but it is better to leave about 2 euros more if you have been satisfied with the service. Usually, people just leave the change from the bill.

Do you give tips for coffees or drinks in Italy?

If you are just having a quick espresso at a stand-up counter, there is no tip expected, but most people just round up the bill to the nearest euro and leave the change.

Bartenders do not expect to be tipped in Italy, but if you are served at your table a few euros would be appreciated. Like in coffee bars, some people round off to the nearest euro and leave the change as a tip.

Are there tips for taxi drivers in Italy?

The standard tip for taxi drivers is 15%, but rounding up a few euros is also customary. Such as if the fare amounts to €12, you might give the driver €15.