Tips on Tours?

[cvslevy]

We are taking several private tours. What is the policy on tipping tour guides? Is there a percentage?

[TWOFERTWO]

I would also be interested in hearing form those that have taken private tours, how this has been handled. We have only taken ship's tours, that is easy. The combination driver/guide; private tour is, in my mind, much different. All answers appreciated. :)

[samscruiser]

I have read somewhere on the web that about 8% of your private tour cost is a acceptable rate. Adjust up/down from there based on how good/unsatisfactory your tour guide was.

Used that tipping advice last year for a private guide in Belize; he seemed pleased.

[Chick's pal]

We took two 9-hour driving tours with driverinrome.com and tipped about 10%. The experiences (Rome and Florence/Pisa) we had were exceptional! Money very well spent for memories that will last a lifetime.

[mad4cruising]

Do you tip even if the driver/guide is the owner of the company?

[laurieh]

Since I used to work in the hospitality industry, I like to tip extra for an exceptional experience. We tipped around 20%, but I'm not sure what the industry standard is. Even though our tour guide was the owner of his business, we still tipped. He was exceptional, so we wanted to show our gratitude.

[Andym]

mad4cruising,

I would think not. Some friends of ours just got back from the Med and on one trip, when getting off the bus, not one person tipped the guide , now that's tight.