If you hire a private guide and go somewhere with an entry fee, is the traveler expected to pay for the guide's entry fee, or is the guide responsible for that expense? Same with shuttle or other transportation fees. I am curious about the etiquette. This will be in Alsace region of France.
Posted by
North Georgia, USA
1349 posts
Typically guides get in free. Regardless, I have never paid for a guide's entry to a site.
As to other expenses, it's not a matter of etiquette, but what the terms and conditions of the booking are. Sometimes fees are covered, sometimes they are not. Read the details in the booking description.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9390 posts
Either the website will tell you what fees you will need to pay for the guide, or when you make arrangements for the guide, they should tell you then.
When someone books a tour with me for the Rhein, they will need to pay for me on the ship, the gondola in Rüdesheim, my train ticket, entry to any castles we visit. This is all broken down for them in an email, so they do not have any surprises. It is nice when they buy my lunch, but this is not a must.
Do not assume that a guide has free entry to tourist sites or museums. Here in Frankfurt, the guides do not have free entry to every museum, which is sad. With my guide ID, I have gotten in free in museums all over Germany, but my own city is a bit stingy..