Tipping Driver

Why are you paying the driver in USD rather than Zloty?

Guide requested payment in cash, either in zloty or USD. Total out of pocket cost will be same either way. Figured it would be easier to bring USD with me than secure zloty there.

Ah OK. Not sure why the guide requested either currency as with USD they'll need to go through the hassle and inconvenience of exchanging it and therefore giving a percentage of it away in fees. Personally I'd pay in Zloty.

...with USD they'll need to go through the hassle and inconvenience of exchanging it and therefore giving a percentage of it away in fees

Change desks are still a thing in Poland - I was able to exchange a US $100 bill in Warsaw at a very favorable rate, and I assume a local would have no trouble getting an even better deal.

We hired Chester (recommended in Rick’s book) back in May, but we paid him in Polish złoty (universally abbreviated PLN for some reason) that we withdrew from an ATM. I think we tipped him 40 PLN on top of his fee, which equates to about $10.00. It’s not a huge tip, but seemed adequate.

He did wait patiently for us back at the first Auschwitz lot longer than most drivers might need to, as my husband spent extra time at Birkenau, beyond what the official tour guide showed the group that we joined, once Chester dropped us off. If you’ve hired Chester as well, do reconfirm the exact address, with Chester or his wife with whom you’ll have booked him, where you are to be picked up in Kraków. We were at an apartment in the Jewish Quarter, and gave him the precise address, but he went to an office building next door. He thought that was the apartment building, and we were at the pick-up place on time, but then waited for him to show up. He was next door, and that took some time to clarify. As it turned out, we then arrived at Auschwitz later than we should have, but were able to get shuttled in with our English-speaking group, after some stressful moments.

He was a safe driver, had a very comfortable Mercedes, and spoke a lot more English than Rick let on, and pointed out interesting and historic places on the way to Auschwitz and back. It was worth having a private driver, versus dealing with public transportation and additional effort to get to Auschwitz itself. If you’re using Rick’s other suggested private driving recommendation, I believe you’ll still be happy having booked a driver.

And bring lunch with you. The vending machines at the camps were woefully inadequate.

Change desks are still a thing in Poland - I was able to exchange a US $100 bill in Warsaw at a very favorable rate, and I assume a local would have no trouble getting an even better deal.

But paying in Zloty offers an even better rate.....zero commission to pay. I simply feel that it's common courtesy to pay in the local currency even if the recipient states that they will accept USD or other currency.

rmc.fog2, wow, LOL. Too many experts. If it were me I would do 10% but not less than $5.

As for the rest of the static; if he says dollars are okay, then dollars are okay. (If he is offended that you believed him, he might spit on you, slap you and call you an American dog - but probably not). All forms of currency exchange charge a fee for the service (commission), no one works for free. Some call it such and some adjust the exchange rate to collect it. Doesn’t matter. You will do better with some than with others. If you spend $2 more on your $14,000 holiday ... who cares.