Do people who take the 2 hour or half day tours with outfits like Eternity, ScalaReale, etc. tip the tour guides? If it is appropriate/expected, how much? Thanks?

Good question. Any answers?

My wife and I took two walking tours while in Rome last Fall and we tipped about 10,000 lire. About half the people on the tour offered the guide tips as well and that seemed to be the amount most people gave. The guide seemed to appreciate it and maybe it's my American attitude but, I think it was expected( or hoped for!)

Tour guides do expect a tip, indeed. They don't get paid very well, but need to have excellent background knowledge about all kind of things. Also, they must speak other language(s) fluently. <BR>We have had a lady from Salzburg in our class in Florence years ago. She knew what she needed to know to pass the test (history, etc.), but wanted her Italian to become better, because she intended to be a guide for Italians.

Re: Scala Reale 4 hr tours: Myself I gave 25% ($12.50), the cost of the semi-private tour was 100,000L ($50US). Someone either a college student or an older person with a *big-time* degree or degrees, just spent 5hrs of their time (~1hr transport/waiting & a 4hr tour) giving me an historically detailed tour. I've tipped waiters more for *alot* less. Definitely the students need the money but even the middle-aged/older degree'd guides who if they are teaching in Rome took a drastic cut in pay, just to be in Rome. At least that is what *I* heard, foreign teachers/professors esp in history or archaeology worldwide all want to be in Rome (big supply) but the jobs are few for foreigners (small demand). So the universities can pay low wages and still get people begging for these jobs. So yes it is approriate & expected, I'd say at least 15%-20% of the tour cost. Regards, Walter <BR>

<BR>Hi Claire, <BR> <BR>Last year in Rome for the 4 hour Vatican tour we tipped the guide $20 for three of us – the guide was well worth the tip (the tour was $105 for our party). This year in Venice I tipped the guide at the Doge’s Palace 8,000 Lire, although I didn’t notice anyone else tipping, but she seemed glad for the tip. In Paris we took 3 walking tours and 2 tours at Versailles and again I didn’t notice people tipping. On 2 of the walking tours and at Versailles the guides didn’t linger around and didn’t act as though they expected a tip so I didn’t tip them (also didn’t have my money handy and the guides seemed to disappear quickly at the end when all questions had been asked and answered). We bought one of the guides a soft drink afterwards in a local café since we were there already and she came in and I invited her to sit with us and have something cold to drink. We did tip the student guide at Ste-Chappelle since she indicated she was a student and would welcome tips. <BR> <BR>Regarding the amount, I would about 10 to 20 percent of the tour fee for everyone in your party; more if the guide is a student. <BR> <BR>Adrienne <BR> <BR>

Thanks for your thoughts on walking tour guide tipping, everyone. You all made a good case for doing it (I'd feel like a *%$#@ now if I didn't tip), and about 20% sounds like a fair amount for a good half day tour.

You really should tip because the salaries of many of these guides are low. I tip generally 10-15% depending on the guide. If they are American, I'll even give them dollars, so that they can take advantage of the exchange rate.