Should I add a tip to the fee of the private tour guides we have scheduled in Florence?
Posted by
CA, USA
1254 posts
one source of guidance is this: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/tipping-in-europe
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7229 posts
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
No, you shouldn't. Just like you shouldn't tip anyone in Italy.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4626 posts
We shared a guide with an American couple in Naples in April, and even though the guide kept saying tipping was not necessary and pulling his hands away, the American wouldn't stop until he'd stuffed a €20 Euro bill into his hand. Based on these experiences I now believe tipping is obligatory if you're American, but not for anyone else.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you, everyone.
Posted by
California
146 posts
@dario I’m curious..I’m considering taking a “free tour” where it says something along the lines of ‘tip the guide based on your satisfaction. [And that..] most tip between €10-€50’
what do you as a local think is fair/reasonable?
Thanks in advance,
Crystal
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10634 posts
“Free” tours cost the tour guide money. A photo is taken at the beginning of the tour and the guide is charged a fee per person by the employer. If they don’t get sufficient tips they have worked for nothing. Don’t get me started on people who leave tours just before the end so they don’t have to tip. I would tip at least €10 per person, and more if you really enjoyed the tour.