I'm wondering what to tip a driver from a place like Limo Services Rome, and also whether tipping is necessary in restaurants, or if they include that in the bill. Thanks!

You will find many replies to this question by using the search feature. In Italy when traveling with my husband,he tips 15-20% to restaurants and drivers as per our customs in America. When traveling or staying with my family they tipically tip nothing. They are not cheap, it just isn't standard as it is in the U.S. Some restaurants will add a service charge to the bill, others will not.

You can assume that it is certainly polite and appreciated to do so.

I'm also interested in this one. A key question, it seems to me, is how well Italian (and other European) staff are paid. As far as I could tell US restaurant staff usually are paid a derisory minimum wage of $5/hr or so and do need those tips to live.

In my country waiters etc. are paid a reasonable living wage and tips, while appreciated, are not expected. So what's the situation in Europe?

I wouldn't like to think that a tipping culture is being introduced where it's neither desirable nor necessary. In my experience it too often creates an unseemly rush for the patron to pay up, get out and free up the table for the next party of tippers (sorry, diners). And the idea of a compulsory "service charge" strikes me as just absurd.

Here's a link to fodors advice on tipping.

http://fodors.com/features/nfdisplay...4_stt_tg_italy

Most restaurants add a coperto charge and some add a service charge on top of that. In restaurants, I was told to add 5% if meal and food were average, 10% if better than average and 15% if excellent.

The reply in regards to wages is important in this discussion. In Italy, as in many European countries (or worldwide) wait staff are paid a living wage. So called menial labor jobs are considered more professional. You will commonly see middle aged and older Italians in these jobs in which they have spent their entire careers. In the U.S., menial jobs pay poorly and lack the respect of other careers.

rocco, I know what you mean. Our waitstaff are paid a living wage, but although they generally perform their duties with good cheer, the money is not great and nobody thinks of it as a lifelong career. Last I heard, one long-established Italian restaurateur in Sydney was still importing his staff from Italy on the grounds that Australian-born staff just don't have the commitment he looks for. I must admit his waiters are as good as you could wish for: efficient, knowledgeable but not superior, courteous but not stiff, friendly but not subservient.

Imported Chinese waiters, alas, are a different matter. Most seem to start from the position that as a 'laowei' you will be utterly incapable of appreciating Chinese cuisine, now and in the future, so you may as well have the sweet-and-sour pork and beef in black bean sauce and trouble the establishment as little as possible.

The tipping link didn't discuss tipping Limoservice rome from the airport. Since we'll be using that service on Sunday, I'd kind of like the answer to that myself.

Surfergirl - In the past when I have used a limo/car service, I have always tipped the driver.

Usually 5-10 euros depending on how many of us are in the group and how many bags we have. I know it's not a requierment but I do it all the same.

Thanks, much appreciated!

No, tipping is not expected in Italy. Bills include a charge for service (thus no tip required) and coperto which covers the laundering of linens, bread basket etc. If service is nice, I usually leave a few coins. I was surprised last week when my husband (Italian) did not tip our driver from Rome center to FCO. I asked him why and he said that the guy who drove us owned his own car and was paid cash Euro $50.00 for a 20 min. drive and did not provide us with a fattura ( a receipt).

actually, Neil, you have overstated what restaurant staff may get paid in the US. It varies by state law, I believe, but it is legal to pay them less than minimum wage. They are one of the few professions where that is allowed. It is allowed on certain tipped professions in the US to pay less than minimum wage because it is assumed tipping will make up the difference and legally the employer has to make up the difference to minimum wage if it doesn't. In Washington DC where I live, I think they are legally allowed to pay them about $2.75 per hour.

There are some more progressive states where that is not allowed (to pay tipped employees less than minimum wage). Here is an interesting charge on US labor laws which shows the minimum wage for tipped employees by state. It appears Kansas is the worst, much to my surprise--there they can pay tipped employees only $1.60 per hour.
http://www.dol.gov/esa/programs/whd/state/tipped.htm

We are in the restaurant business in CA. It is not legal to pay ANYONE less than minimum wage here. That is why it is called minimum!

Christina - Based on his username and e-mail address, it would appear that Neil resides in Australia and is speaking of what waiters are paid there.

As someone who has waited tables and worked as catering staff in the U.S., I can personally confirm that what you say is about paying less than minimum wage is definitely true in some states.

Yes, Lesli, I'm Australian, but when I mentioned the minimum wage I was thinking of the US. Here, in purchasing power terms a waiter would get maybe 2-3 times the US minimum wage, depending on whether or not they're paid "cash in hand" as a tax avoidance dodge, which is not uncommon. And on that note my apologies, I didn't mean to highjack this thread - I was actually interested in the situation in Europe.

The most puzzling situation I found was a husband-and-wife team running the only eatery in a one-horse town in Utah. They had no staff but still imposed a compulsory 15% tip. I couldn't figure why they didn't just bump up their prices by 15%. Maybe they did it because, as the nearest place to Monument Valley, they seemed to play host to a lot of European travellers, presumably poor tippers.

OK, having arrived on yet another continent I'll shut up now!

It may seem shocking to Americans, but tipping is not customary in Italy. Round up your bill so that the waiter doesn't have to make small change.

At one restaurant in Ferrara, we felt the waiter had really spent a lot of time explaining the different dishes and wines to us (they offered different menus with paired wines). We were so grateful for his help we left him a 10% tip and he was absolutely shocked and asked us if we were sure.

Hi there, i have 3 distinct questions - 1 tipping limo service rome am i to understand 5 - 10 euros for 1 way? How about tour guides? We have 1 guide for 1 whole day in Rome? Also we have a private car and driver - how much to tip? Thank you!

Don't tip after eating regardless of what people here say. Some haven't thought about it and some are just being malicious. Only tip a little if you get good service...period. 15 to 20% is a waste of money unless you plan on hitting up that waiter later in life and want to call in the marker.

That's the answer...trust me on it. I speak from experience.

>>We are in the restaurant business in CA. It is not legal to pay ANYONE less than minimum wage here. That is why it is called minimum! <<

Well then the law must have changed since I worked as a waitress in California 20 years ago or so. Since it was expected that you would get tips, it was legal to pay waitstaff less than minimum wage. PLUS the IRS ASSUMES you make a certain amount in tips which you MUST declare and pay tax on, even if you don't make that much (although I seem to remember making more than the IRS assumed)

Joelle



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Twice in Rome this February, we were told by waiters to leave the "tip in cash". Once in Da Giggeto, an otherwise very nice place, and once in a tourist trap near the Vatican. At that one, the waiter stood and watched us as we put out our money and got ready to leave. This left me feeling uncomfortable, as I wasn't really sure what was expected.

When we were in Vencie recently, we had eaten at a place where waiter was not the best.

At the end of our meal we reviewed and confirmed the service was indeed included. When we were leaving we still left a couple of euros - our waiter said thanks in a very sarcastic way. We wondered again had we made a mistake.

Curiuos, I went into the restaurant to speake with the manager, without saying anything like hey bud your waiter out there has a serious attitude problem, I asked again if the menu included the service charge - he said yes and we left without feeling guilt.

I guess the thing that bugged me is even though the service charge was included the waiters attitude was you should leave me a greater tip regardless of service being included and how he actually served us.