Tipping Privat Guides?

You will probably never find agreement on this question. People just have too many different views on what is and isn't appropriate when it comes to tipping.

The only consensus I think you'll get is "do what you think is right."

I'm more interested in what the guides are expecting on the basis of common practice than what people think is right.

Speaking from experience, we always like tips, but we never, ever expect them. That just sets one up for disappointment.

Personally, if people have enjoyed their tour, have seen that I or my team have gone above and beyond with service, than a great review on Trip Advisor, Google or our FB page is just as welcome as a tip.

From my experience as a tour guide, when I get hired for a packaged tour my pay is very low and I do depend on tips to be able to make a living. Private tours are more expensive and the tour guide is usually a freelancer who can set his/her own rates which usually is several multiples of the hourly pay paid by a package tour company. Then it really depends if the service was exceptional and an extra tip feels warranted.

Thanks. It's helpful to read from people in the business.

In Naples at a cruise stop a few weeks ago, we hired a taxi driver for a two hour drive around the city. Guido was a very engaging young man, gave us exactly what we wanted (an easy look around in an air conditioned vehicle) and of course, we tipped him. Why ever not?

As someone also "in the biz" I do not expect, but obviously really appreciate tips. After several years, I've (or am in the process of) adjusting prices to reflect my own costs and what I feel is worth my time/knowledge. I've had tours that people seemed to love and received no tips. I've gotten tips that I felt were ridiculous. It just really varies. But I certainly do not feel that it is owed me. People come from different cultures and have different tipping schemes, so I make sure I'm paid what I need to be in the prices I charge.

That said, I work for myself, I guess you could call me a "freelancer." If you are taking a tour through a company and the tour guide works for the company, if they are competent I would definitely tip them. Unlike me, they do not get to set their own hours or prices, and the company obviously takes a cut. Even if it's just a euro or two, it's helpful and they will appreciate it.

And of course Jo is right that a good review (or two) on the various social medial sites is better than a tip, so if you are on a budget and really enjoyed your tour, please leave reviews because that gets us more business and is incredibly, incredibly helpful.

.....and of course, we tipped him. Why ever not?

Because presumably you'd already paid him for his services?

We do a lot of cruises as well as land tours. Some places in the World tipping is not customary, like Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Scandanavia is somewhat similar, but we still tip there a little.

We tend to tip more in Southern Europe and Latin America than Northern Europe, but if the tour is great we tip more.

Usually, we tip 10 Euros for a full day tour to the driver (for two) and the driver 5 Euros. I have given as much as 20 Euros when the guide was fantastic.

Yep, like I already said, as much as extra cash is welcome, a good review is like money in the bank.
If you don't feel like tipping, buying your guide a cup of coffee or paying for their meal is a welcome alternative, though again, not expected. It is more of just a nice thing to do.

Comparing the tipping of a good tour guide to the tipping of the guy who cuts your lawn is absolute nonsense. Unless, of course, the lawn guy gives you an interesting lecture on grass types and care for same. Yawn.

I dont know, norma, ive met several building contractor types who are amateur philosophers and would be happy to give me a long piece of performance art about their dead beat son in law instead of finishing the counter top. At least hearing about grass types would be educational

agree a price ,pay it. end of story

So say you.

Comparing the tipping of a good tour guide to the tipping of the guy who cuts your lawn is absolute nonsense. Unless, of course, the lawn guy gives you an interesting lecture on grass types and care for same. Yawn.

But the lawn guy is doing his job just as the tour guide is doing his job. You wouldn't expect the lawn guy to give you a lecture on grass types just as you wouldn't expect the tour guide to come round and give your edges a trim.

If the lawn guy does a good job does he deserve a tip or are the rates he charges sufficient? This is the problem, there is no conformity.