blyle Posted July 30, 2010 #1 Share Posted July 30, 2010 My group will be taking a 2 day tour in St Petersburg. We usually tip the driver and guide. What is a reasonable amount for a tip in Russia? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted July 30, 2010 #2 Share Posted July 30, 2010 My understanding is approx. 10% to the guide and 5% to the driver..of course any extra will be up to you..I'm sure if someone disagrees they will post..I'm going to be on a two day private tour of St. Petersburg in about 2 weeks and this is what I have heard so far.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blyle Posted July 30, 2010 Author #3 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Thanks Ashland, I had heard $10pp perday and $5 per person per day on the ASTA website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted July 31, 2010 #4 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Not to sound cheap, but we were sort of adviced that 10% of the tour price was adequate. Divide it any way you wish. Cheers Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecook Posted July 31, 2010 #5 Share Posted July 31, 2010 We tipped our guide 10% and gave the driver tip of his own...our tour guide, Masha, went out of her way to accomodate special requests made by our group of 8..we felt that she earned a little more than the normal tip that was advised. I think a tip in any case can be recommended but the service provided should determine the amount. Have fun in St. Petersburg!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercedMike Posted August 1, 2010 #6 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Tipping in St Petersburg Why go through it all again? That thread covered it in detail and beat it to death. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bet & Peg Posted August 1, 2010 #7 Share Posted August 1, 2010 We had a two-day tour in St. Pete and thought both our guide and driver went out of their way for us - especially accommodating our request to stop for stamps so we could mail post cards. They also stopped at the Cruiser Aurora so we all could take photos - but it was my DH who really wanted to see the ship! Therefore, we tipped: driver $20 and guide $40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Boat Dream Posted August 7, 2010 #8 Share Posted August 7, 2010 We had a private tour in St Petersburg. Since it cost over $500 each (including the evening program at the ballet) my friend and I originally were not going to tip. But, since we really loved our guide and the driver, we both gave each $20. It might not have been a percentage, but both were very thankful for the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honorine Posted March 9, 2011 #9 Share Posted March 9, 2011 We just received our tour company’s thoughts on tipping (based on current general local standards). We asked because with air to Moscow, restaurants, etc. included in the price of the tour, I was not comfortable with how the % worked out. In a nutshell : for guide 1000 RUB/ 36 US per couple for full day and driver 500 RUB / 18 US per couple for full day. Of course I was told tipping was completely optional and should be based on 'good' service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadarocks Posted March 9, 2011 #10 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Is it customary to tip the guide and the driver separately? Or is it usual for the guide to receive the tip and share it with the driver? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honorine Posted March 9, 2011 #11 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Having once upon a time worked in a North American hotel, can say that not all that receive tips they are supposed to share actually do so. And who is to say how much was meant for which person if the amount is not 50/50? I would imagine that the same must happen in Russia as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadarocks Posted March 9, 2011 #12 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Point taken, thanks. So when it is said that 10% is common, is that 10% then divided between the guide and driver (for example: 75/25 or 60/40) or is it 10% to the guide alone and then another amount for the driver? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted March 10, 2011 #13 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Point taken, thanks. So when it is said that 10% is common, is that 10% then divided between the guide and driver (for example: 75/25 or 60/40) or is it 10% to the guide alone and then another amount for the driver? :confused: Our private 2 day tour for the 2 of us came to approx $1000.00 we tipped the guide $100.00 and the driver $50.00..Have no idea if this was the correct amount but after spending 2 wonderful days with them I hope we didn't short change them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted March 10, 2011 #14 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Point taken, thanks. So when it is said that 10% is common, is that 10% then divided between the guide and driver (for example: 75/25 or 60/40) or is it 10% to the guide alone and then another amount for the driver? :confused: there are no set rules, but we did the 10% thing for the both. The guide is your main touch with St Petersburg. the driver does just that, drive, so most of your contact will be with the guide, so she/he should get the better part of your tip. We did a sort of 2/3-1/3 type of deal. We did NOT do separate envelops (tips), but we told the guide to give the driver X amount and keep the rest for yourself. I cannot say what they do with the money after we give it to them, but I would assume it is fairly divided, hopefully, to our wishes. Cheers Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted March 10, 2011 #15 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Len, We had a little different experience..Our driver interacted with us as well as doing an amazing job at manuevering through the streets of St Petersburg..When we wanted to mail some postcards it was he who decided to take us the to main postoffice..went in with us as well and helped us to buy the stamps and mail them..As we exited the car on that last day we all hugged and we handed them each cash..So you are correct, each situation is going to be handled differently... As Always Cheers To You..:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
as19111 Posted March 10, 2011 #16 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I struggled with this one as well. When you spend two full days with the guide and driver on an outstanding private tour, you really feel you want to show your appreciation. On our tour of 10, I thought some folks were shorting the tips. In the end, I think DH and I overtipped, but I could live with that since it was a terrific two days. The piece that tripped me up was tipping on the total cost of the tour and not considering how much of that was admissions to museums etc. This is unlike a tour on a coach bus of 40-50. However, when I read Honorine's response, we nailed it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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