tipping a guide in Italy
 

I usually know what to tip guides ,but what if its a private guide working on their own?What ,if anything is customary?Thank you in advance.

Hi M,

>.. a private guide working on their own?

The guide has charged you what he/she thinks his/her time is worth.

A few E for an extra good tour is all that is necessary.

Do you tip the plumber?

((I))

Thank you for your help.I do not tip the plumber,but I do tip my hair stylist unless he/she owns the salon and then I don't.

Excuse me, but from personal experience of guides in Italy, I know that a a hefty portion of their day rate is used on gas, vehicle maintainance and other hidden expenses. I have known guides to go to great lengths to provide special touches and favors for customers. They are very competitive with each other. If a guide spends an entire working day with you (a same period in which he or she could do a number of transfers and get tips each time), I do not think that "a few Euros" is an appropriate tip by any stretch of the imagination. I think at least 10 percent is a decent, if fairly conservative, tip. And I also do not think a comparison between a plumber and a tour guide is relevant. One time one of my guides was struck from behind by a tourist driving a rental car. He had to have immediate repairs to his Mercedes to stay on schedule. A plumber doesn't need a Mercedes to do his work.

>I know that a a hefty portion of their day rate is used on gas, vehicle maintainance and other hidden expenses.<

And these costs aren't included in the hourly rate?

I assume the comparison to a plumber was because he sets his own rates. What's having a Mercedes got to do with it -- -plumbers certainly have their own tools that are expensive, also, and can break.

I don't ever tip private guides, I think the whole concept is silly because they are their own company and setting their own rates. If a guide has expenses, they are accounted for in his rates for something, or he or she is a very bad businessperson. A guide could also easily have different rates for "transfers" (I assume that means just driving, no guiding) as for a full-day guide tour.

I do consulting and set my rates, and they cover my expenses plus what I want to earn. I don't understand why private guides can't figure out their finances and what they want to earn, but if they low-ball the stated rate to get business as sort of false advertising and really expect you to give them more, I wouldn't do that out of principle.

This is just another example of the different attitudes to tipping.

Americans expect to tip, and are conditioned to believe that a tip ensures good service. The concern is about how much to tip.

Europeans only tip in rare circumstances, and look for a reason not to tip. They expect a self-employed specialist to set his or her own rates, and do not normally tip on top.