I would also like to know this. We are paying 600 euros for our private Rome day with EasyItalyTours which includes our all day transporation and the 2 hour guided Vatican tour. I really can't imagine giving another 10-15% on top of that since I still can't believe I'm already spending that much. What is everyone else planning for these expensive private tours as far as tipping?
I also want to know this, too. I just did a quick online search, and found these different discussions on tipping for private excursions in Europe you can read to get an idea of what other people have done:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2670169
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...ing_Private_Tour_Guides-Florence_Tuscany.html
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1150794
Also, in my Rick Steves Med Ports cruise book, he doesn't talk about tipping for a private excursion, but he does talk about tipping in a restaurant, so I would imagine it is similar between a restaurant and an excursion (similar tipping principle, that is)... This is what Rick Steve's says (about restaurant tipping):
"Virtually anywhere in Europe, if you are pleased with the service, round up a Euro or more. In most restaurants, 5 percent is adequate and 10 percent is considered a good tip. Please believe me - tipping 15 - 20 percent in Europe is unnecessary, if not culturally insensitive. Tip only at restaurants with waitstaff; skip the tip if you order food at a counter. Servers prefer to be tipped in cash, even if you pay with your credit card; otherwise the tip may never reach them."
Also, Rick Steve's discusses tipping in each country in his book. Here is wat he says about all the places we're going:
Barcelona: restaurant have a "service charge" on their bill, and this is kind of like an automatic tip, but if the bill says "service not included" this means there is no automatic tip, and you can leave a tip. So, look for that, too. (again, this is info on restaurants, not private tours, but I would guess this could translate over to a private tour somewhat).
France: At cafe's and restaurants, a 12 -15 percent service chanrge is always included in the bill (called "service compris), and most French never tip. But, if you feel service was exceptional, you can give an additional 5%.
Italy: At restaurants, the service charge is usually built into your bill's grand total in one of two ways: Either the menu prices include the fee (servizio incluso), or a percentage is added to the bottom of your bill (servizio non inclusion) and the percentage added is usually 10 - 15%. In either case, the total you pay already includes a tip. If you are pleased with the service, you can round up the bill by a euro or two. If you order food at a counter service, no need to tip.
Greece: If you order food at a counter, don't tip. AT restaurants that have waitstaff, service is generally included, although it's common to round up the bill after a good meal, usually 5-10%.
Turkey: If you order food at a counter, don't tip, though it's nice to have a lira or two on the table for the busser. At cafes and restaurants with table service, tip 10%.
And, he does not have Malta in his book, so don't know about Malta.
So, that is Rick Steve's "rule of thumb" for tipping in restaurants.... I wonder with private tours, if you could ask if a service charge is built in to the cost??? Like they do in restaurants??
Probably what we will do is tip like 5-10% for our private tour in Rome. For our private tour in Ephesus, we'll probably tip 5% to our driver and 10% to our guide (IF they do a great job, which I think they will.
).
Our
DCL excursion we are doing in Athens, I'm not going to tip any guide that might be on our bus.... DCL marks up the prices so much compared to private tours, I am going to guess that there is a service charge built in their somehow already.