Tipping in Italy
 

What is customary?

I know for meals the menu will say if service is included or not. If not then what is the going rate? Also, what about taxi, assistance with luggage, etc...? Are there things that we typical don't tip for that they do in Italy?

Thanks
Ann

sorry by "we" I meant to say that American's don't tip for that they do in Italy.

Thanks
Ann

I am sure you will get many divergent views on this subject..try searching for this topic and see what a ruckus it has caused in the past! The opinions are all over the map! I would give a euro or two for help with luggage. Same to a taxi driver is he or she was especially friendly. At a restaurant, I would usually round up a few euro but nothing approaching the 15-20% we leave here in the US. That is just my own MO...others will have very different ideas...

I appreciate the feedback. My husband is under the opinion that one should tip as they do in their own country as we are representing our culture. However, in countries were tipping is not as customary as it is in the States I have to wonder how those servers feel when the tip they receive for good service is not the "norm".

Just curious as to what the "norm" is for Italians.

Tipping in Italy as you do in America will elicit a nice round of hearty guffaws by the waitstaff the moment you've exited the restaurant - you know, of the a sucker is born every day type? If your husband is comfortable with that, go for it. Otherwise, in respect to tipping and everything else cultural, I hold the exact opposite view as your husband. When in Rome, you know....there's a reason that became a cliche. Italians, or any other people, for that matter, will appreciate any attempts you make to respect THEIR culture, not display your own.

If your husband ran a restaurant and a bunch of Italians came in and the bill was $98.00 and they left a $2.00 tip, would he appreciate that they were representing their culture? Somehow, I don't think so.

So what is customary when tipping in Italy?

That is really my question. Not weather or not my husband is wrong. Although thank you for voicing your opinion on that :)

As eskrunchy said ...round up a few euros. It's not even necessary to leave anything, and if you look around you'll see that many Italians don't. With porters and taxi drivers and so forth, same thing. ANd I can't think of a thing that we wouldn't tip for in American that would require a tip in Italy, except maybe tour guides, which you probably don't hire in the USA.

I think that the idea of tipping like we do at home because we are to represent our own culture is a very odd concept. If that's the case, should you also ask them to prepare American food since that would be representing our own culture?

Well I certainly wouldn't go that far. I am not sure I am in agreement of my Husband opinion on this matter, but I do understand and respect his perspective about it. I am sure I stated it very well but basically ....

He feels that with regard to tipping to tip less then we normally would is not a good representation of us as Americans. Not only are we experiencing the others culture but we are also representing ourselves as "Americans". My problem with this is that as StCirq pointed out, what if the tables were turned. We wouldn't like it if people from another country that don't tip as well as we do came here and tipped as they are accustom to. Although, in my experience with friends that have visited from other countries they often do anyway.

Anyway, I understand your opinions on this and I really just wanted to know what the norm is because I tend to agree with the ... "When in Rome" theory

Thanks
Ann

Italians hardly ever tip, at least not the way you are thinking. It is as others have stated--just leave the change. Truly if your husband feels he will be representing "Americans" by leaving a typical US tip, then Italians will thin americans are stupid for giving up money when it is not required to do so. Waitstaff in restaurants and many other jobs we consider low paid in the US are actually reasonably paid as professionals in their field. And they probably have better vacation benefits than you.

SO representing yourself as Americans means throwing money around in far greater quantities than the locals around you, not to mention needlessly?

Just curious why this would not strike you as arrogant and well, kind of the classic Ugly American?

Does your husband understand that wait staff in Italy bear no resemblance to waiters in the USA, and that being a waiter is a profession and they get paid a good wage and do not under any circumstances count on tips to "
get by?"

I'm not trying to pick a fight here, honestly. I just find your husband's attitude completely the reverse of normal logic. And I can assure you if he tosses 20% onto the bill at a typical trattoria, they WILL be snickering behind your backs. But that's not the main point.

Does he think that because it's not typical in American to walk into a shop or restaurant and greet the owner/staff with a formal "Hello Madame/Mister" that he shouldn't do that in Italy because he's representing HIS culture?

He's setting himself up for some unpleasant interactions with this very bizarre attitude, I'd say.

10%

"I'm not trying to pick a fight here" ... Really????

See this is why I am using this board to find out this information since this will be my first time traveling to the country. I am trying to educate myself and respect the culture. And no I was not aware that waiters do not rely on tips. However, ellenem already nicely pointed this out. So, yes it does sound like you are "picking a fight". Your previous answer was plenty of information and I appreciated it.

But come on ... stand back and take a deep breath. I get that you don't get it but give me a break ... arrogant??? We are probably the least arrogant people you will ever meet and we live very modestly. If anything we just want to make sure we don't offend anyone. Thus the post.

So, I thank you all for your feedback. You for sure answered my question and then some. Hey and I am all for saving a few extra bucks, so Thank you!
Ann

Yes, really. And if you read ellenem's post you'll see she pointed out the same things I did in very similar language, even using the word "stupid," which I never used.

It just seems as though you came here wanting to hear what you wanted to hear and then took umbrage that I and others sought to persuade you otherwise.

I never said you were arrogant. I said your husband's attitude about tipping was going to perceived as arrogant by Italian waitstaff. There's a big difference between those two things.

Ummmm ... No I came her wanting to know how Italians tip. I thought I made that question very clear. I got the answer to the question and I will be using the information on my visit.

If I offended anyone with my "ignorance", well sorry but IMO the board is here to help educate. So, Thank you for the education.

Ciao
Ann

PS StCirq you don't need to reply. Unless of course it is important to you to get the last word. Then by all means, back to you ...

I only used the word 'stupid' because some of my Italian friends had told me that was a general perception of Americans who leave tips. . .

Anyway, apirone, I hope your husband will enjoy saving his money as well.

apirone, I'm so sorry for the reception you got from some here for asking out loud a genuine question. I hope you and your husband enjoy your trip to Rome.

francophile03, there was nothing wrong with the reception that apirone got. She asked a question and she got an answer. She described a point of view held by her husband and her own different view, implicitly inviting discussion, then prickled at the discussion -- even though it supported her opinion. It seems that she can disagree with her husband, but nobody else can.

Hi ap,

In Italy, a tip is usually not expected.

>I have to wonder how those servers feel when the tip they receive for good service is not the "norm".<

They feel very happy that they were overtipped.

> the menu will say if service is included or not.

15% Service is included.

Sometimes you will be charged a "coperto" (cover charge), which is traditional, but no longer allowed.

If there is bread on the table, eat it. You will be charged for it, and it is not worth the 1.5E to argue about it.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

That's true, Padraig. And by the way, about this husband she may or may not agree with -- this is their honeymoon -- so it may be more difficult to disagree with him now than it will be in a few years. LOL

apirone, I only see people explaining the reason that your husband's thinking is so terribly incorrect. Sorry if you or anyone else took it as "bad reception".