"customary to tip 15%-20%"

A few years ago, we took a day tour, while based in Sorrento. It was through a company, so the guide and the driver were employees. As I recall, we gave the guide 5 euros and the driver, 2 or 3. Since we paid 80 for the two of us, it came to, at most, 10% for the two of them. Some of the other folks in the group followed suit; others didn't. If a guide sets her own rates, I don't see tipping anything. In fact, I would find it offensive to be told to do it. We had a private guide in Matera recently with no mention of a tip, and none given. We also had a private guide in Split a couple of years ago; same story. I'd be inclined to look for a different guide.

Tipping is a REWARD for excellent service. To be told by the guide that it is customary to tip a certain percentage BEFORE you even experience his/her services is, indeed, odd.

As the previous poster mentioned, I would personally look for another guide.....one to whom you may be inclined to give a generous tip AFTER they delighted you.

Otherwise, all the guide is doing is really upping the price by 15-20% if she explained that the amount is expected.

We have hired a lot of guides, private drivers, etc. and I have NEVER had any of them suggest a tipping amount on the front end (or at the conclusion of the tour). All have only expressed gratitude for extra amounts offered, and some have actually turned down the extra amounts (depending on the country).

In certain circumstances, it would not be unusual to offer to purchase a nice lunch and a glass of wine for the guide (if timing is such that the tour would over-arch a meal), but even then most guides have turned down that offer (many like to return phone calls or work on their schedules while their patrons are dining).

We took a food tour in Parma and never did my guide suggest a tip. We tipped her because she was an extraordinary guide!

I have never had anyone expect a tip. I find it kind of rude for a guide to tell you to tip and specify an amount. I would be offended and probably not tip on principle.

Tips are for employees, not professionals or business owners. A private guide is a professional and sets her rates---therefore there should not be a tip expected on top of that. I think it is poor taste for her to suggest/demand extra.

Europeans are known for not tipping unless there is excellent service. It is not expected in Europe. But guides and waiters have learned that Americans tend to tip anyway, so they are trying to get all they can and you can't blame them for trying! Just go for 10% if you think the service was very good. Europeans would not do more than that.

Somebody - anybody - who asks me for a tip gets nought. Not a farthing, not a groat.

If I were told ahead of time that a person would - for themself - want a specific percentage and that it would be xxx, I would drop that person like a hot potato and run away to somebody with some sense.

If they are like that before you meet them what does that say about how the whole experience will be?

I struggle to think of any country in Europe where it is customary to tip 15%-20% for anything. Maybe though you got the 'American Price' ....

Tipping is a north American custom and not the norm in Europe. Many Europeans will "round up" their bill when dining (leave the change to make the bill an even number) but they don't tip a percentage like here in the States.

You do not ever need to tip in Europe. The fact that the guide told you what was "customary" means she knows you're American and are from a tipping culture. She expects you to tip because that's what you're used to doing. She would never include that information for her European clients.

I would find another guide or if you decide to use her don't tip anything. The fact that your first guide wouldn't accept a tip tells you what the real deal is. This other guide is just trying to fleece you because you're American.

Donna

She wouldn't get bubkis from me! Personally, I would be more than a little put off. Nigel has expressed my reaction perfectly, and more poetically. Nothing gets a faster view of my backside than telling me what I am going to tip. And thanks, too, Nigel. I thought groats was the stuff of gruel (I have since learned it is a coin) but that guide wouldn't get the porridge either. And in the spirit of scholarly linguistic exchange, bubkis is Yiddish, translated several ways, but is thought to derive from either "beans" or "goat droppings". In this case, I choose the latter for sure.

"I was a little put off " Your intuition matches mine. I'd do as Nigel and Denny and find someone else or resort to a guidebook.

Nigel hit the nail on the head!

Thanks for all the feedback and comfirming my gut instinct. Unfortunately, it was too late to change guides. Although it was extremely hot, we enjoyed the tour and our guide was very informative. I did decide to leave a tip but nowhere near the "customary" 15% and I also deducted the 15 euros I was roped into paying for her lunch. Funny how the guide can pick the place, invite herself to your meal and you're still presented with the bill. Lesson learned. We've decided to email our feedback to Rick Steves team because this is a guide that is recommended in his books. Thanks again for your responses.