Hello, we will be booking 2 tours with Dr. Esposito, the Rick Steve's recommended guide for Naples, Pompeii, etc. We know that the cost we pay will cover everything, except the tipping for our driver and for the guide. We are wondering what is the appropriate rate to tip someone when they've given you a 6 to 7 hour tour? If your driver is a 1/2 day driver, what's the appropriate amount to tip with the driver? We will be a party of 2, if that makes a difference.
Thanks for any and all opinions,
Kaye
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7490 posts
Posted by
New England
735 posts
Agree-no tip necessary. You’ve agreed on a price and that’s what they expect to be paid. “Feels” wrong because we are Americans but just keep reminding yourself that Italy has different tipping norms.
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, USA
327 posts
Well, I appreciate the no tip necessary idea, but the email from Dr. Esposito says "your fee covers this that and the other thing, but does not cover tip for the guide or the driver." Which suggests to me that she's expecting a tip?
Posted by
New England
735 posts
Thanks for clarifying that the tipping expectation is coming explicitly from the tour guide herself. I’ll be honest, that would sour me on the guide. I would have expected her instead to set her rates to reflect her expertise and services. But maybe it’s an indication that her primary clientele are Americans.
So, I guess in your shoes I’d give 10-20 euros to the driver and 20-40 euros to the guide. Total from the 2 of you.
Edited to add: I hope you have the RS Italy guidebook and are getting the 10-20% discount that the guidebook says she gives to RS travelers!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7490 posts
In this case since she is telling you that she expects a tip I most definitely would not tip
Posted by
Cornwall
533 posts
your fee covers this that and the other thing, but does not cover tip for the guide or the driver."
Everything thing about this sentence would make me cancel immediately.
Posted by
New England
735 posts
I have to say, I agree with Christine and Camborne. But obviously it's your trip and up to you.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12210 posts
...email says "your fee covers this that and the other thing, but does not cover tip for the guide or the driver." Which suggests to me that she's expecting a tip?
I wonder if this wording in in all their emails. or just to "Americans" ?
I am with the "H-e-double hockey sticks- NO " group regarding a tip.
Posted by
3514 posts
But Rick Steves says on this very website:
For a couple of hours with a private guide, a tip of €10–20 for the group is fine (more if the guide goes above and beyond, such as booking advance tickets or arranging for a driver for you).
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7490 posts
“Is fine”
But never required
Posted by
289 posts
We use private guides in almost every city we have ever visited in Europe and I have never tipped any of them.
Of course I am Australian, and we rarely tip anyway, but I have booked all these directly and negotiated a price on line well in advance. I expect them to quote a price that they want to be paid.
If we enjoy the company of the guide, which is almost always the case, we invite them to join us for lunch or a coffee and of course would pay for the meal. Sometimes they accept, sometimes they do not.
I too would be cancelling this trip.
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
573 posts
The phrase "are not included tips and any other personal expenses" is almost always present when are stated the official Inclusions and Exclusions of the price. So a tip cost is not included like is not included the cost of a bottle of water if you are thirsty during the tour.
BTW: tips you guide a lot especially if his name is Riccardo :-D
Posted by
Chicago
2135 posts
Yeah, we have a few tours booked for our April trip--a cooking class in Chianti; a Vatican/Sistine/St. Peter's tour in Rome; a driver out of Salerno that will take us around the Amalfi Coat; a gastronomic/winery tour out of Taormina on the slopes of Mt. Etna.
They are all pricey, we could do it on our own but want/need to maximize our time efficiently. And they know that the amount of added tourists with Jubilee 2025 in effect forces us to do this, thus it seems they've jacked up the prices quite a bit above what I think is fair. And at least a couple of them want to be paid in cash, requiring me to walk around with more Euro than I would normally carry. Only good part about that is no deposit needed.
And that's OK. I've agreed to paying those amounts for services rendered. But for those reasons, it's a big 'h-e-double hockey sticks' (good term!) no to any kind of tip!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34522 posts
the law says they should accept card
Posted by
Chicago
2135 posts
the law says they should accept card
Nigel--
I guarantee that if I insisted on using a card, they'd accept it. I also guarantee that there would be an upcharge either stated or built into the cost. I don't know if you're seeing this currently in the UK, the addition of 3-4% on top if a credit card is used, but it's all over here in States.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34522 posts
no, the fees to the merchant here are so low there isn't one in the vast majority (I say that because there may be one somewhere but I have never seen it but I don't want to make a unilateral statement) of places. When I had a business that accepted cash and cards a few years ago the fee for depositing cash was higher than that of accepting a card.
Posted by
new york
141 posts
I would not tip. The cost is built into the price of the tour.
Posted by
London
1411 posts
I don't know if you're seeing this currently in the UK, the addition of 3-4% on top if a credit card is used, but it's all over here in States.
It's been illegal to add fees for using a credit or debit card here since 2018.