Tipping in Rome
 

We will be in Rome in 3 weeks. It is our first time. We land at FCO and have the hotel picking us up. My question is.... We will not have time to puchase euros at the FCO and would like to tip the driver after we get to the hotel. Is is alright to give USD? and if so what would be recommended? I am sure alot of people do not have euros when they arrive or have time to go to a bancomat after landing. Thank you in advance.

No, it is not all right. Would you want a tip in euros? Either get some euros before you depart or use an ATM machine upon arrival to get some.

Get some euros, get un caffè, blamo, you have small bills.

At the FCO ATM get your euros, but do not get a multiple of 50. If you get 260 instead, for example, you will receive some 20s. They will be easier to use for small purchases than 50s are.

Wow! StCirq you didn't have to bite off my head. I said it was my first time to Italy.

Um, this is a bit of a pet peeve and StCirq hits the nail right on the head -- if you were paid in Euros at your US business, would you like it? The driver is a working class man (99.99% likely) in Italy who doesn't make more than 30,000E per year (if that). And you're asking if it is ok to burden him with the need to go to a money changer and convert your $5-10 tip into euros. That question answers itself.

You're not in that kind of rush at FCO. You're not going to "purchase" euros at FCO at a foreign exchange teller unless you want to get hammered on the exchange rate. Instead you can go to the ATM, which will be a 30-second transaction. Have the hotel guy wait five minutes, go to the Bancomat, get 200E in 20s, break a 20 by buying a snack at the newsstand 10 yards away, and then meet the driver. The notion that you "don't have time" is just wrong -- you do. Ask the guy to wait a couple of minutes. It's far more courteous to have him wait and tip him 5-10E than not wait and try to tip him in $.

And although many people may not have euros in hand upon arrival, they make the time to hit the ATM instead of expecting foreigners to use dollars in transactions on the home soil.

I would get some euro before I depart my home airport, enough for tips so I wouldn't have to get change for a 20 if I use the FCO ATM. A small amount isn't going to break you in the exchange rate. Some things I write off for the sake of convenience and possible jet lag. I wouldn't ask the driver to wait for me to get cash.

Two follow-ups: (1) I don't think St. Cirq bit your head off, s/he was straight with you -- it is not acceptable; (2) you said it was your first time to Rome, not first time abroad; the latter would make the question slightly less self-evident (although not much).

And two asides: (a) Italians aren't in that big of a rush so don't expect time pressures like Americans have, thus the hotel pickup guy won't be timing you to the second; (b) yours is the question only Americans ask and it makes us look bad -- arrogant, ignorant, snobbish, rude -- even if asked from lack of knowledge.

No Canadian or Australian would ever ask the question regardless of if the Canuck or Aussie had ever been abroad (to pick two "dollar" currencies). Even Brits don't ask if pounds would be accepted elsewhere even though they once had a good claim to have the world's currency. And Americans should still know better because we'd never take Canadian dollars or Mexican pesos as payment for a one-off transaction.

I always buy or keep some Euros handy..just in case the ATM machine dont works or there are many people in line.

Is so much easier for me and makes my life less complicated knowing that I have some cash to cover my small expenses, at least for the first day.
Of course everyone is different..I use the Boys Scouts Motto,Always ready, quite often ..:)

It was a logical question. I know personally people who work in the tourist industry in Italy who receive dollars often and then just trade them in when they get a chance. A tip in dollars is better than nothing.

Also don't generalize about drivers not being in a hurry, you just never know and no use getting off on the wrong foot by having one wait while you find an ATM. I have landed at FCO and the ATM's were all down. Like Kismet says, just have some handy when you arrive, no big deal.

I'm curious about how you know, in advance, that you won't have time to get Euros. Are you planning your vacation to the nanosecond? I guess tipping in dollars is better than nothing but do as advised and get Euros before you leave.

Just curious - what is an acceptable tip for pick-up from FCO to a Rome hotel? Our hotel (Modigliani) is arranging for a service to pick us up. The rate is 55 euro - what is customary to tip the driver? I was going to send an email to our hotel but after reading this thread, I thought I'd ask here. BTW, we always save a small amount of euros to use on our next trip for things like this!

I've tipped 5E for a driver who waits, helps with bags, etc.

Marie, do you know that you could have a Rome-licensed taxi from FCO to your hotel for a fixed fare of 40E?

Hi MF,

Italians, and Europeans in general, are not big tippers like Americans.

A couple of Euro for good service (eg, loads your bags, doesn;t drive like a maniac) is all that is necessary..

((I))

Just stiff him.

I wheeled my luggage from Capri to Rome, down the funicular, on a hydrofoil, onto a train, then a bus in Rome, then about half a kilometer to the hotel.

Carried it uphill, up steps, etc. and then at the hotel I have it on my luggage cart and they wanted the bellboy to help me up.

I said no I got it. The guy looked disappointed that he was missing one tipping opportunity.

<<Would you want a tip in euros?>>

Actually, yes!