Giving a tip for a tour?

In the circumstances that you mentioned, I'd definitely provide a gratuity to the guide (especially with a group of six). I don't know what amount would be appropriate though, as on the tours I use the gratuity is included. I'm sure one of the others will have some suggestions on that.

We always tip our guides - the amount depends on the length of the tour and especially on how much we liked the service provided. Most of the guides have been great but there is the occasional dud-they don't get a very large tip. Unless it's mandatory, it seems like it would be up to you based on services provided, much like tipping in the US. Just my take.....

In Venice have you hired a private guide who works for him/herself..or a company employee.. that definitely influences my tip. I don't tip owners/operators as a rule.. although I would leave that open depending on exception service( although private guides are expensive.. so if self employed .. not going to hand over extra unless they went well beyond expected. )
Employees guide.. for a whole day.. for six of you, I would tip at least 100-150 euros depending on experience. I wouldn't tip a percentage of tour price as tours include admission costs.
I always tip cash so they can pocket it.

I have done a few big bus tours.. to Loire Valley , Brugges and Mont St Michel. They were impersonal and we were herded.. so I didn't tip much.. maybe 10 euros [per person... with 50 us on bus I felt guides did ok if everyone tipped at least that much.

I wouldn't tip at all. They have a either a monthly wage or the all company, why should I tip them? It would be like tipping a plumber or a tax consultant.

This way you create a market aimed to foreign tourists and make things easier for tax cheaters that pay their guides under the table.

I tip the guide if the guide was wonderful for a 4 to 5 hour tour, usually 5 euro for a small group tour of 8-12 people. I recently did an all-day tour from Rome to Pompeii & Positano so I also tipped the terrific bus driver.

But for the "free" tours, many guides only get tips. And some have to pay to the organizing company based on the number of people who show up. Seems like the tip there should be what you would have been willing to spend on a "paid" tour of equal quality. (Note that some volunteer groups like Paris Greeters ask that you make a donation to the organization.)

Some will tell you to never tip when in Italy, because they claim it is not expected and it will ruin the "tipping culture" of the country. But, obviously, there is another camp of thought on this, as evidenced by several responders to your question. I personally tip private drivers and tour guides when in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. The size of the tip is related to the cost of the service and how I perceive the quality of the experience. Because of these variables, a "one size fits all" recommendation is hard to give. But, at least, I can answer "yes" to "do you tip?".

Yes, I tip at least 5 euro for the guide on a few-hours tour, and if there is transport involved a couple euro to the bus driver. That's per person--when my daughter was with me I doubled it. From what I have seen, most people do tip.
Cynthia

But, obviously, there is another camp of thought on this,

A camp where, strangely enough, there are no Italians. I wonder how would you react if I made the same in US: refusing to tip because I think I know better how it works.

A guide that works for free getting only tips would be illegal in Italy, both for the guide and for the agency.

We've been extensively through this argument in a prior thread a few weeks ago. Let's just agree to disagree and do what you feel is the right thing. Goodwill gestures and generosity have no national borders.

When in Rome . . . .

I have much sympathy with the idea that you ought to generally follow the customs tipping and otherwise of the country you are in. But, I diverge from that when recieving services from people whose primary purpose is to provide services to English speakers. Tour guides not provided by a museum or site and private transport companies marketing English fit this category. Unless told not to by the company, guide, or driver, I tip these people. If it is a company, I may ask in advance if tipping is usual.

My reasoning is that people dealing primarily with English speakers expect them to behave like English speakers and price accordingly.

Just thinking that if I had a nickel for every time we've had this (always lively) discussion, I'd have enough for a swell vacation in Italy!

Jen, I come from a country where we speak a sort of broken English (Australia, where we speak 'Strine). We have no custom of tipping in Australia, unlike the USA where giving a tip for just about anything is expected.

There are Anglophone countries other than the USA - Aus, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain all come to mind, and tipping is not part of commerce or service delivery in those countries.

I think it is a bit rash to assume that if a tour is delivered in English, then it will be priced in expectation of a tip.

Donnybee linking the bread and cover charge (i.e. pane e coperto) with the need to tip shows once again that you don't know how the system works. Bread and cover charge doesn't go to waiters, as doesn't the service charge.

The only thing that goes to waiters is their monthly wage and the money you put in their hands.

Wearing socks and sandals doesn't harm anybody, it's just funny. Germans are funny, it's one of the facts of life, but americans don't have to be ugly. Tipping in a non tipping country makes things easier for tax cheaters, drives prices up and makes the service worse for those who'd rather keep on non tipping as they have always done.
In central Rome thanks to people like you most waiters get paid under the table. Those who, protest get this reply: "no taxes and you can keep tips from foreign tourists".
And finding a cheap, good restaurant on the beaten path is almost impossible. Florentines don't eat anymore in the center of their own city!

This way of travelling is the main reason people in Venice has recently put signs against mass tourism.

Donnybee linking the bread and cover charge (i.e. pane e coperto) with
the need to tip shows once again that you don't know how the system
works. Bread and cover charge doesn't go to waiters, as doesn't the
service charge.

That's been my understanding as well, Dario; neither are considered a 'tip." I can't answer for guides as we don't take tours but in restaurants, we usually just round up the bill to the next euro or so. My Italian and some other European friends as well have voiced concern against conditioning service staff in their countries to expect tips. They don't like the American model and don't want to see it gain foothold at home.

@Darioalb: if you are worried that tips would not be reported (i.e., tax evasion), then why do ALL of the private drivers and tour guides that I have used in the past, and plan to use in an upcoming trip to the Amalfi Coast - and who are all mainstream and recommended in the RS Italy guidebook - want to be paid in CASH? Tip or no tip, that represents a lot more potentially unreported or underreported income! Perhaps the "Italian Feds" should be investigating that practice?

Even street vendors who deal in cash only selling fake Gucci purses or
some toys.

DonnyBee, it's illegal to buy knockoffs. There were signs posted all over the markets not to buy that stuff.

Um - Canadian here - it is customary to tip at restaurants (why, I don't know since they get paid wayyyy better wages than in the USA). The few times I've taken a taxi, I tip. I tip my hairdresser (again - I don't know why, I never have anything fancy done, but I only go every 9 mos or so - thank goodness for long unfussy hair!). Back when we used to get delivery for food, we'd tip the drivers/delivery guys.

I've never done any guided tours or stayed in hotels where there are door men, luggage porters and valet parking, so I'm not sure, but I imagine people tip there as well...

So, yeah, there is def a tipping culture in Canada...

For the record, we did a private day tour with Sorrento Silver Star Car on Amalfi Coast - not cheap, mind you, but I did include extra for the wonderful driver...we also hooked up with one of those guides outside the Colosseum for a tour, but I honestly can't rem if we tipped or not - it was 9 years ago now.