Tipping in Italy

I always tip a tour guide. Depends on the cost of the tour, and really how good I think that guide was. 10% usually. 100E tour, 10E tip. I don't "tip" a taxi driver, but do round up and don't ask for change back from a fare. Haven't tipped breakfast staff, as it's usually self serve, might be someone there to replenish the food bar, but not a waiter per se. Guess I don't stay in fancy places, so I've never had a door man to call for a cab, I ask at the front desk and they call for me.

....not required...anywhere.

I tip everywhere I go and generally the same amount too whether it's here in the States, Canada, Europe or Mexico. I figure that nobody is going to be offended if I give them extra dough for their troubles. If they are, they can return it. I leave $2 or 2 euro for the maids, a few dollars/euros for waitstaff at breakfast, 10-20% for a tour guide, depending on how much I like/love the tour. I've been known to give someone a twenty if I loved it. To me, the only sin is not tipping enough. I have never tipped 10% for good service in other countries even when it's the norm. For me, the 20% is already budgeted in (in my mind). If they earn it, they get it. I am not sure if that really helped you or not...

Read this: Tipping in Italy and this: Rick on Tipping in Europe

I have twice given what I considered a rather large tip to a waiter, once in Vienna and the other in Rome. Both times, I received a rather icy, cold stare. Did I insult them? It sure felt like it. Other times, I have given no tip if I didn't have the coins or cash and I didn't receive any bad vibes at all.

This question comes up frequently, and not just for Italy. Each time I give generally the same answer; It is NOT the same as in the US. Tip a small amount - like rounding up to avoid getting change back. Any more is unexpected. Giving more than is expected receives one of two reactions depending on the mood of the server; either they figure "what the heck, it's not like I'm going to turn down money" or they'll think "typical American with more money than common sense". In the case of the former, no damage done except that you will have participated in perpetuating one of the stupidest traditions in the history of mankind and made a decent situation in Europe a little worse (more like the US). In the case of the latter, you'll get the icy stare... So take advantage of the more enlightened tradition there and adjust. Please. For the sake of mankind...

Regardless of cultural norms, I think leaving tips for hotel maids is a good idea (except when you're obviously staying in a home B&B). In my experience, hotel maids are usually immigrants who are trying to make it on a low wage or natives in a lower socioeconomic class, often young women with a family (or worse yet, elderly women who probably shouldn't be having to work that hard). The fact that I'm traveling, even on a tight budget, reflects my relative wealth. I think sharing the wealth in that type of situation just makes sense, particularly since the typical tip is often less than I'd spend on snacks in a cafe.

It's not expected or needed.
I had a couple of Italian co-workers who had previously worked in the tourist industry tell me that they thought Americans were crazy for tipping.

If an Italian is offended because I felt that the service was so good that I want to tip them more than the norm, then too bad. It's not like I'm spitting on them. I'm saying, "gee, thanks. This was so awesome and special and I'll never be back again so I'd like to thank you with 20 euro." I have plenty of sense but I also like to tip what I want. It doesn't make me an ugly American. "Thank You" is nice but doesn't buy you a drink after your shift. I cannot understand why anyone would be OFFENDED that I give them money in exchange for their efforts. Come into my office and give me some cash any day. I guarantee you that I'll smile, say thank you, and not be offended. But, alas, this doesn't happen in my line of work.

Karen, "offended" might not be the right word, but some Italians might view overtipping by Americans as rubbing their noses in the (apparent) fact that we have more money than they do and can afford to just throw it away. I don't think we should be surprised to find that other cultures view money differently than we do. It reminds me a little bit of the different attitude toward smiling at strangers. Americans think it makes us look friendly. But a lot of Italians think it makes us look like idiots; the attitude being "Why would you smile at someone you don't know?" It's one of the things that makes travel interesting. Here's another one: On an English-Italian language bulletin board, I once asked how you would say "I had a good day at work" in Italian. The response from the Italians was "WHY would you say you had a good day at work??" Made me laugh.

In Italy I have sometimes left a little for the maid. I don't tip much there, maybe a euro at the table. If service wasn't good, I don't tip at all. I've encountered surliness in Italy on the part of those supposed to be "serving." I was even chewed out once in a restaurant when I confused the waiter with my order. The "disappearing waiter" doesn't get a tip, either.

As for the "disappearing waiter", do remember that in Italy (unlike in the US) a waiter will not constantly be checking at your table to see how you're doing. If you want him/her, you have to wave for them. Frankly, it's a system I prefer, as I've been in many restaurants in the US where the waiter will interrupt a conversation to ask how everything is. I'm thinking, "Buddy, if something's wrong, I'll let you know. Now scoot and don't interrupt again."