For first-timers in Italy, please advise what is considered proper tipping? Who expects a tip and who doesn't? How much? There's been a lot of discussion about waiters. What about taxis? Hotel staff who carry suitcases up those narrow stairs? Anyone else? BTW I always leave $1-2 a night per person for the chambermaids everywhere. They usually have the hardest jobs and get the least pay. In the US, they say to leave it at the end of your stay, but I find I get better service if I leave it every day, and the maids are different every day anyway.
Posted by
Freedonia
16273 posts
On the top right of this page is the search function. Type in "Tipping In Italy" and you will get more information than you need.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Here are Tipping Tips from an Italian Hotelier, copied/pasted from this link on Rick's Travel Tips: Tipping in Italy
Source: Matteo Pasini, Hotel Villa Steno, Monterosso
"In Italy you tip if you really like the place, the food and the service; if the waiter was very friendly for example. In US a waiter has a small salary, but just because he will have a lot of tips: tipping is necessary; in Italy no, the salary is good and the tip is something exceptional, so a guest can tip or not and normally only the 10/20 per cent of guests tip. Giving a tip to the waiter or leaving it on the table it is up to you. Leaving it on the table is the standard. If you pay your bill by credit card remember to tip by cash, this will be very appreciated. A ten per cent tip in a restaurant is what you can consider a good tip.
To tip taxi drivers is very exceptional, in case they helped you a lot give €1 or €2.
Tip in a hotel if someone is very helpful or friendly. If they are carrying luggage for you or helping you in resolving problems.
At the hair cut we never tip and we tip very few in a bar, but if the service was very good you can leave at the barber or at the bar waiter something. Normally at the hair cut for ladies it is nice to give a small tip to the young lady who washed your hair.
In many WC (specially if they're public) you have to leave a tip (50 cents to 1 euro), normally you have a table with a lady collecting coins."
Posted by
bergamo
401 posts
You aren't expected to tip. However, if they think you are tourists, they might think you don't know this and therefore expect you to tip. If the service was great and you are feeling generous, do it, otherwise you don't have to. Italians don't tip.
Posted by
Wisconsin
570 posts
And, sometimes, if you look on your restaurant bill, it will say that service is already included.
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
Earlier this year I was in Rome and met up with friends for a quick lunch - just pizza and a coffee but it was in a restaurant. The bill came and it had service included but the waiter was most insistent that we also leave him a tip. I thought this was a little rude but he was quite intimidating and so we did. It has been the only place I have experienced this though.
Posted by
Boston
215 posts
Hi Chani,
We always tip. However, when it is not expected we modify our thinking and or amounts a bit. If the person if nice to us and we feel like showing our appreciation we tip. I too, always tip the person who cleans our room. (Personally, since this tends to be "my job" here at home with the family I really appreciate someone else making my bed for once, or cleaning the bathroom..lol)
If the person is rude, I will do the same thing as I will do here~ Leave nothing.
I have tried not tipping when it isn't expected in countries we have visited, however it is so hard to break that courtesy.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8050 posts
In restaurants, I usually follow the advice of paying cash, and leaving only the coins (Not the 2 Euro or 1 euro ones), basically rounding up to the euro, maybe adding a few to make it closer to a Euro. Tipping this way I think is polite, acknowledges the service, and helps me out by reducing my coin load. I agree that as a tourist, and especially at a touristy place on a piazza, the expectation and maybe the pressure will be to tip generously. I usually do not eat in these places, but will not feel bad leaving only a small tip, if I were bullied, I probably would not leave any tip.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I hope you are staying in either a very nice hotel or a big American style one,, if you think anyone will help you carry your luggage anywhere, we never had luck with that..especially in hotels with narrow stair,, LOL
Posted by
Henson, Florida, USA
466 posts
Usually the tip is included in your bill. I usually just round off the total and leave a few extra coins on the table in a restaurant.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
If you use a credit card to pay for your meal, you'll notice that there is usually no place to add on a tip. That gives you an indication that tipping is not like here. But if a waiter really does an excellent job, above and beyond the call of duty, do leave a 10% cash tip.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Helen that is horrifying,, too bad I wasn't with you,,, I would have left nothing..
I really think that in the super touristy areas some of the waiters etc have become used to some big tippers an now expect it from everyone..