We have arranged and paid for a driver to take the three of us and our luggage from Venice to Lake Como, Lake Como to Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre to Milan. The driver is not supposed to be a tour guide, just transportation. The tour company was not overly helpful when we asked for advice on tipping the driver. As it was a package with the hotel costs, we don't know what they are paying the individual drivers. What is a reasonable amount?
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Why should you tip the driver?
Are you asking him to bring tons of bags or doing something he's not already paid for? If not, there is no need to tip.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
I wouldn't tip him. Give tip exactly what he asked for. If he looks like he expects more just say "Thank you" take your luggage and walk off.
Once in Hyderabad, India I found out the hotel wasn't paying our driver but a pittance so I tipped him good.
Posted by
8 posts
to tip a driver
its the first time I heard about it
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34355 posts
I hope you don't think me rude, but I wonder how much this driver has cost you? You are driving most of the way across northern Italy, with a detour, and of course the driver has to get back all the way from Milan to Venice at the end. How much does that all cost? I'm curious because I have no idea other than it must be a couple of dollars.
Is the journey all in one day, or do you have overnights with the driver?
Thanks for sharing....
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1390 posts
The OP said that the driver was all part of a hotel package pricing. I am guessing that there will be 3 different drivers for each of the driving days who will drive and then probably return to their respective homes.
For the most part, I embraced the "no tipping is necessary in Italy". But when we booked our private tours and transfers, the emails said the gratuity is not included so we felt obliged to tip. We had a group of 6 with six pieces of medium luggage. For the airport transfer (45 minutes) and the port transfer (70 minutes), we tipped €6 and €10 respectively, for the whole group. For the guided tours, we ended up tipping probably ridiculous amounts that I won't say for fear that I will be blasted by other posters.
Anyways, each of the legs of the OP's trip is about 2 to 4 hours. I guess if it was me, in a group of three, I would be inclined rightly or wrongly to kick in €5 per person ie total €15 tip for each driver. I saw those crazy curves and cliffs in CT and if the drivers get me in and out of CT without incident, I don't mind expressing a bit of gratitude.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Any time a company says "gratuity not included" I find another company. This statement is geared toward Americans because ours is a tipping culture. Italy is NOT a tipping culture and a tip in this situation, or any situation for that matter, is not needed. The reason the tour company was not helpful is because it's not a tipping culture.
To the OP, you don't need to tip anything. Just consider it all inclusive.
Donna