I have to say that I feel that Crocotiles comments are a bit patronising. To say that tiling isn't the hardest trade in the world under-values every tiler that goes out and does a top class job.
I have found -
during my course - that tiling is much harder than I first thought, so much so that I considered whether it was for me as a career move. Unlike other trades - plumbing for instance (and no disrespect to these guys either), you cock up in tiling and it is on view for all the world to see. Othert trades can "hide" errors more easily than the final finishing trades. Add to the fact that 2 or 3 kg of marble falling on you in the bath can cause a lot of damage to a person (child, god forbid) I think the job must be done properly.
Spending 500 notes to spend a day with a tiler could potentially be a waste of money, you don't know where he was trained, if at all, and if he is poor at what he does then he will teach you to be a poor tiler too!
At least reputable training schools use qualified, experienced tilers to teach. And yes, they are after your wonga, after all, that is their living, just like I am after the wonga of every customer that I tile for. That is the whole point of being in business.
Grumpy