Tipping private tour guides

[j&vtravel]

What is the going rate for tipping your private tour guide and driver?

[cberge]

What is the going rate for tipping your private tour guide and driver?

 

There have been quite a few posts re this same question as it comes up a lot so you could do a search under tipping drivers.Rule of thumb would be about 10% give or take.Americans tend to tip more,and you will see Europeans will write not to as it is not in the culture over there,but my thought is if they do a good job and spend a day or even half a day taking you around they have earned a tip as they do not get paid that much unless they are owner.Just MHO.I am sure there will be other replies to this...:)

[medcruiseplanner]

We booked a private driver for Rome. When we received a confirmation via email it said that if service has been good then a tip should be included in the amount of 10-25%. Obviously, 25% seems excessive but it was good to know that they definitely wanted a tip if service was good because I had been advised not to tip this way while in Europe.

 

I hope this helps

[Jade13]

Isn't the customary average rate in the US (for group tours) $10.00pp for a full day and $5.00pp for a half day?

 

Wouldn't Europe be a similar Euro 5.00 or Euro 10.00? We gave significantly more while doing a Canapy Tour in Alaska as those guides were responsible for our lives. We also gave significantly more in Costa Rica as we had a semi private Naturalist in the Rain Forest. He really didn't find us much (not birds and one lizard) but he was a specialist and we didn't see the other couple give anything. The Native American Guide who paddled us through a river in Alaska looking for Eagles got a lot more as he was really working.

 

There are always special circumstances but wouldn't the average for a driving or walking tour be in the Euro 5 - 10 range assuming a group tour? I'm also not sure any tip is necessary if you contract directly with the owner and he/she is your driver and the fee is $1,000 US and up (which can be the case in numerous popular destinations such as Florence where the going rate is Euro 600-900 for a van). Now if that owner tour guide also has a driver (second person) I would definately leave the driver something.

[Host Karen]

Here is a thread in which this topic was thoroughly discussed: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=442433

 

Let us not repeat that discussion here.

 

There are strong personal opinions on this topic, as you will see. I recommend you read that thread and if you find you need additional information, click on "Search This Forum," type in tipping and read the numerous other threads that touch on this subject. Then I suggest you make your own decision.

 

Karen

HostKaren@CruiseCritic.com