Tipping tour guides?

[kaiiak]

Hi everybody. I have a last minute tipping question before I leave on tomorrow's Oosterdam to the Mexican Riviera. I know tipping questions can get into some heated debates, which I am not intending. I was just wondering what an appropriate amount is for a private tour guide??? We are going with Mazatlan Frank on a city tour in Mazatlan, and Captain Gil on a snorkel/sail tour in Cabo. Thanks in advance!!

[bigindy]

We usually do $5 per person... depends on the cost of the excursion, tho...

[Sea Island Lady]

It depends!

 

For a stingray excursion in the Grand Caymans, we tip the driver of the boat a $20, to be divided among the small crew.

 

On excursions where there is a bus driver and a guide, the drivers gets a couple of dollars and the guide gets $5.

 

On an excursion in Puerto Vallarta, we had a private guide and within our group of 6, we tipped an extra $20, because he was basically getting most of the profits from the tour already.

 

I would like some information on tipping in the Mediterranean, though.;)

[fireman845]

Why is talking about tipping so taboo? :(

Will somebody think I am cheap? :rolleyes:

Will somebody think I am over indulgent? :cool:

 

Everyone expects a certain amount of service for what they pay for. Right?

All of us on CC are from different social and economical backgrounds for instance, some of us may tip 10% on a meal and feel totally ok with that, while some prefer to tip 20% on the same meal and service.

 

I have decided that there is no "RIGHT" answer to how much we tip... :)

 

So to the AP of this thread I have included this link to help you in your decision on how much YOU want to tip...

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

 

I am now officially stepping down from my soap box...

I apologize if I offended anyone, but this one just gets me...:confused:

[RuthC]

I base it on length of tour, and how good the guide was. A half-day tour (3-4 hours) would be about $5.00 and up, while a full day tour (6-8 hours) would start at $10.00.

[Solo Cruiser]

I have been very willing to tip tour guides of the wonderful excursions I took and not willing at all to tip the people on the only lousy shore excursion. Tipping for extra service rendered is something I always do. About the same guidelines as Ruth.

[jtl513]

... some of us may tip 10% on a meal and feel totally ok with that, ...

Those people don't get out in the real world very much! :D

[Nonie]

I nearly always tipwell but I tip according to the service I receive - for GREATservice I give more than for JUST AVERAGE service and if the service is AWFUL I do not tip. I worked in a job which required me to do GREAT work allthe time and never received a tip from anyone because I worked in a hospital. That is fine with me but I have never fealt that tips were mandatory and are definitely a personal matter. I hate it when some people mention at the end of a service that "tips would be accepted. I have even had people serving me (in an hotel) that they were so poor and needed good tips. That really upsets me as I feel like a hostage. Nuff said!!!!!!:)

[Spender Nui]

Interesting thread. We always tip the tour guides but are often amazed at how many, often the majority, who leave the tour with their hands in their pockets.

[altosax]

Interesting thread. We always tip the tour guides but are often amazed at how many, often the majority, who leave the tour with their hands in their pockets.

 

Majority rules. So glad you said that. I thought I was just a cheapie most of the time. Rarely do I tip. The tour prices are high enough. Occasionally, if the guide is brilliant, such as the ones on Glimpse of Rome and Gaudi's Barcelona, who gave enough info to pass a college course, then I tip a few dollars or in these cases 2-3 Euro.

[vbmom87]

Majority rules. So glad you said that. I thought I was just a cheapie most of the time. Rarely do I tip. The tour prices are high enough. Occasionally, if the guide is brilliant, such as the ones on Glimpse of Rome and Gaudi's Barcelona, who gave enough info to pass a college course, then I tip a few dollars or in these cases 2-3 Euro.

 

You are what you say. Here is the states workers are not usually paid a good wage for service jobs. It is assumed that their measly hourly rate will be supplemented by tips. I am a firm believer of: "If you don't want to tip, then do not participate in the activity."

[kaiiak]

 

I have decided that there is no "RIGHT" answer to how much we tip... :)

 

So to the AP of this thread I have included this link to help you in your decision on how much YOU want to tip...

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

 

I am now officially stepping down from my soap box...

I apologize if I offended anyone, but this one just gets me...:confused:

 

Thanks for the link!!! It was really helpful. I am aware of the standard beauty salon, hotel, restaurant, valet tipping procedures, but felt that taking a tour was a little different, and wasn't sure if the "norm" was 10-20%, or just a set dollar amount.

 

While ther is no "right" answer to how much we tip, I just wanted a ballpark figure for what is considered standard when it comes to tour guides.

 

And no, I wasn't offended, didn't even realize you were on a soap box. :)

[RuthC]

I have included this link to help you in your decision on how much YOU want to tip...

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

I found that link incredibly helpful. I've been very unsure how much to tip the folks who help me in airports. When I checked the link you gave the answers were all right there!

Thank you! :)

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

 

...regardless of the situation (e.g. independent tour, eating establishment, taxi driver, etc.) you tip as to your evaluation of the service provided. No hard and fast rule.

 

In so far as a cruise ship / or land vacation it's not to difficult in so far as tipping IMO :

 

1. Poor service / unable to communicate : 0%

2. So-so service / better linguistic skills : 5-10% (your call)

3. Normal prompt service / able to communicate : 15%

4. Outstanding ,'blown away' service / superior communication: 20%

5. Super outstanding service / understanding & loving commuication : marry him or her.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

[Solo Cruiser]

Bob:

 

Thanks for the guidelines :D . I haven't managed to find anyone at a level 5 yet, hence the "Solo" part of my name. A nice giggle this early in the morning.

[JimVrhovac]

Generally 5-10 per person unless do something extroadinary.

 

When we went to one of the wheelchair accessable Myan ruin sites in Belize we notified the tour personnel ahead that Ruth would be in a wheelchair and that I would need help over the rough ground. The Tour was booked through the ship and they did the notification.

 

When we got to the site that arranged for a young man to be with Ruth and I the whole time. He was an in training tour guide but did a wonderfull job and spoke very good english. It was af if we had a personnal tour and it was great.

 

I gave the young man $100.00 and at first he would not take it. His boss came over and told us that it was too much. We told him that in our opinion it was fair because of the job that the tour group and he did. I think he split part of it with his boss.

 

Some of you may think that it was extragavant but he pushed Ruth around all day over some very rough ground. I have a bad back and that would have been too much for me and we would have spent the day at the end of the park and waited for everyone to ruturn.

 

Just how we did it.

 

Ruth & Jim

[babyher]

Generally 5-10 per person unless do something extroadinary.

 

When we went to one of the wheelchair accessable Myan ruin sites in Belize we notified the tour personnel ahead that Ruth would be in a wheelchair and that I would need help over the rough ground. The Tour was booked through the ship and they did the notification.

 

When we got to the site that arranged for a young man to be with Ruth and I the whole time. He was an in training tour guide but did a wonderfull job and spoke very good english. It was af if we had a personnal tour and it was great.

 

I gave the young man $100.00 and at first he would not take it. His boss came over and told us that it was too much. We told him that in our opinion it was fair because of the job that the tour group and he did. I think he split part of it with his boss.

 

Some of you may think that it was extragavant but he pushed Ruth around all day over some very rough ground. I have a bad back and that would have been too much for me and we would have spent the day at the end of the park and waited for everyone to ruturn.

 

Just how we did it.

 

Ruth & Jim

 

Jim ,

 

I don't think it was extravagant at all, in fact very generous and for you and Ruth worth every penny.

 

My aunt has polio , she wears braces on her legs , normally she can get around pretty well but a long trek like yours, or in long distances between airport gates or casinos a wheelchair is much easier.

 

I can tell you pushing someone in a wheelchair for a good length of time is no picnic. And I don't have a bad back.

 

So glad you and Ruth were able to enjoy your excursion thanks to that young man :)

[hammybee]

Am I the only one who notices how few passengers tip for tours, especially tours outside of the U.S.A. ?

 

It blows me away.....

[westville]

We have also noticed that many do not tip outside USA. In the last year we visited India and South America (Peru.Brazil,Argentina,Chile)- my family (including my teens) were appalled at the no tipping or awfully low tipping that was done by tourists. We made a pledge at the outset of our travels in India that we will tip according to North America guidelines(restaurants/porters/guides) and use the cruise indstry tipping guidelines for hotel staff . I was told by one tourist that we are spoiling it for other tourists. I totally disagree-if you are satisfied with your service and more especially when some go above and beyond-the tipping is well deserving.At the end of a wonderful trip -some of our memories included the appreciation of great guides/waiters and hotel staff. We did the same for our trip most recently in South America-no regrets at all. In fact it was gratifying to see the immense joy of guides/restaurant staff etc. My children often would insist that we add to the tip if our guide was exceptional. Our family has great memories of our travels -I will not spoil it by not appreciating good service renedered.

[many cruises]

We would tip $10.00 per person for a private tour like the one Mazatlan Frank does. You will enjoy your day with him and his beautiful city!

[sail7seas]

Jim..... I think you made the point about tipping. If a valuable service has been rendered to you, something that improved your enjoyment, something above and beyond the norm, generosity can never be wrong.

 

That young man's assistance allowed both you and Ruth to enjoy your day and for you to not hurt your back doing something too strenuous for you. What is the value of that??? No one but you can know how much you wished to 'say thank you'. Good for you. Early in his career in tourism, he learned that if you do a really good job, there sometimes will be someone who really appreciates it and that encourages him to do his best.