HELP, DU travelers! Need tipping advice for Italy!!

[CTyankee]

My friend and I are going to Rome to basically tour art works that we have picked out to see and we needed a private tour guide just for one of the days (a tour of 9 sites that house works by Caravaggio). A colleague of mine offered to enlist her boyfriend, who is a professional tour guide in Rome. Because of our connection, he is giving us a "sconto" (deal) on his service: he is researching the sites (times/days open, whether the artwork is actually there, and best way to route the tour)we are requesting for 20 euros an hour and not charging us for his escorting us personally. I think we'll be taking public transportation.

I am sure a tip is in order, but I haven't a clue as to what we should give him. I don't want to embarrass my colleague or insult him. Is 100 euros too much, or too little? Also, I don't want to make my colleague uncomfortable since we work on projects together.

Any suggestions?

[SteppingRazor]

1. Tip? In Europe?

:shrug:


Certainly, since this guy's doing something extra for you, maybe you could throw him a few extra bucks, but.... I've never been to Italy, but if it's like the rest of Europe, tipping isn't customary.

[crim son]

2. I have no idea about what's appropriate these days.

However I do beg you to have some magnificent Italian food so I can eat vicariously :P

[CTyankee]

5. Don't worry. When I get back I'll post about all the great dishes

I had. I'll be in Tuscany and Umbria also and I already downloaded pages and pages of info on special dishes from Florence, Siena, Perugia, Orvieto and Lucca, all places where I am going. I am so excited!

[crim son]

17. Yay! You'll have a great time!

I know it!

[SKKY]

3. Since it's a colleague's boyfriend, it puts things in different light...

...It's only going to be a day right? Probably 6-7 hours? I would give him 50 euros (That's probably about what he makes in a day, perhaps just a bit more) and invite them
to dinner (you pay of course). 100 euros seems rather "excessive" to me.

[citizen snips]

4. I have been to Rome

And don't give him a tip they will naturally overprice you.

[CTyankee]

6. Geez, that scares me. I worry about my colleague's reaction.

She set this up for us. We'd be screwed if we didn't have him smoothing the way for us. Of course we are paying for that, but I would feel funny just stiffing the guy if he spends his whole day with us.

[citizen snips]

10. when I was in Italy

we never tipped our tour guide. And all the restaurants automatically put a separate charge on your bill for the tip.

[CTyankee]

7. Geez, that scares me. I worry about my colleague's reaction.

She set this up for us. We'd be screwed if we didn't have him smoothing the way for us. Of course we are paying for that, but I would feel funny just stiffing the guy if he spends his whole day with us.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. When I was in Italy, we were told to tip the tour guide but that's it.

Everywhere else the tip is included.

[pitohui]

20. wait the guide is her boyfriend?

i would just buy him drinks, wouldn't a tip be insulting? like you are a customer instead of a guest?

why don't you flat out ask the colleague if you are unsure, that's what i would do

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

8. No tipping needed.

Most restaurants add a charge called "Servizio" (literally, service) which is a few Euros. That is a 'hidden' tip. Otherwise, no need to tip.

As an aside, we used to call that charge 'sevizio', a word play on servizio (except that 'sevizio' means sodomy :) to show how much of a rip-off it can be)

[radwriter0555]

19. The service charge goes to the owner, the tips on the table go to the

people who ran their butts off serving you.

I always tip at least a euro in every place that provides a service. A simple coffee and snack gets a euro and we always leave at least 10% on a meal, and more if the service is excellent.

It's just what one does.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. No tipping - pay for his entrance fees, transport, and meals

while you are together, and at the end of the trip, give him a gift of something (or things) that are distinctly American. Preferably something from your hometown (such as chocolate if you live in Hershey, PA, or cranberries from Wisconsin, or wine if your area makes it, or, if not food, an item, such as my home county in WI was the home of Parker Pen, and so a pen would be in order - you get the idea).

I see you are in New Haven - I'm not sure what New Haven has, but I'm thinking a Long Island Ice Wine would be relevant. Or a frisbee, friction matches, a cotton gin, vulcanized rubber, a corkscrew, a basketball, or an erector set, just come of the things invented in New Haven).

[CTyankee]

12. A Yale T shirt or coffee mug?

Hey, there ya go!

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. If you're gonna go Ivy League, get him something from a proper

school, like Columbia. Not a wannabe, like Yale.

:P

[CTyankee]

15. Well, my son and my son in law are both Columbia grads

but I rather doubt if this guy would even know where Columbia is! Since his girl friend is in New Haven, he has been here. It is odd, isn't it? It's almost like I can't find the right thing from the US to give him.

[pitohui]

21. yes this post by rabrrrrr sounds right to me

i just can't see outright tipping a boyfriend, it's tacky, but paying for the drinks/meal/entrance fees is only right and the little gift is a cool idea too

[northzax]

14. well, you could just as easily

ask your colleague, right? I mean simply say, "Look, Jane, I really appreciate everything that Giovanni is doing for us and would like to get him a little something to say thanks. What do you think would be appropriate?"

wouldn't that be easier that taking your chance on DU? maybe he really likes something American that you could get him? Maybe she'll say, "write him a thank you note and include 50 Euro" or maybe she'll say "simply say thank you effusively, and get him a Knicks shirt, he loves the Knicks."

use the resource at hand?

[CTyankee]

16. Yes, you are right. I was just worrying about the cultural aspect.

I don't want to be culturally incorrect. My colleague is American with Italian parents who came here right before she was born. She speaks perfect Italian andperfect English (no accent). HEr boyfriend has visited here in New Haven so he knows what's here. It's a problem.

I'll try what you say as I like it. It's worth a try.

[radwriter0555]

18. You simply must tip him. He's providing a personal service. At least $50

and if he's done a great job, then $100. You're already paying him a nice fee, so $50 on top of that would be great.

I don't know where people get this idea that one doesn't tip in europe. I tip everywhere I go, especially in places I'll be returning to. In addition to being polite and gracious, it's the best way to get top service.