We've never hired a guide for a half/full day of sightseeing before, so I thought I'd ask what the protocol is for paying for meals/snacks when you're with a guide. Obviously we pay for our own, but are we expected to pay for the guide's as well? If it's a cup of coffee I wouldn't think twice about including it on our tab. But if it's a meal, what are the expectations? I'm hoping to avoid an awkward pause on anyone's part when the bill comes. We're signed up for a 3 hour tour that starts at 11:30am so I know food will be a part of it at some point. Thanks in advance for any guidance.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
In Istanbul we saw tourist couples with their guides having lunch. On the tourists. We had a guide for half day that tried to get us to buy snacks. We don't have snacks. She pouted. Life's tough. We had to pay for the taxis, though. It was a bad experience we will never have again.
Posted by
Savannah, GA
1382 posts
In my experiences the guide generally doesn't eat with you, but I'm sure that depends on the tour.
What tour are you taking?
Posted by
OP
Sugar Land, TX, United States
21 posts
Eye Prefer Paris Richard Nahem's tours. People have given him rave reviews and talked about the lovely little restaurants they've been to with him, so I just want to be in the right mindframe.
Posted by
Philadelphia
655 posts
Since you are with the guide only 3 hours I don't think any meal is involved - perhaps just a snack. We have enjoyed a guide in Paris for a full day. In this case, the guide selected a restaurant after consulting with us and we paid. The meal was actually part of our learning experience because we gained tips on local food and manners. We enjoyed it very much.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
Most French people would be ordering a before lunch drink at 11:30 if they had a meeting set up at that time. I would either try to change the time or grab a sandwich from the bakery to avoid this awkward situation. His website says it's 210 euros for 3 hours, which is already a very high price without taking him to lunch.
Posted by
Columbia, SC
389 posts
The one time I had a personal tour guide, in Russia, my friend and I invited her to lunch at the beginning of the tour. She declined, and I later realized that she didn't want a meal in lieu of a cash tip. Unfortunately we had zero cash at the end of the tour and stiffed her. In your case, I agree that a three hour tour shouldn't include a meal.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10600 posts
If the tour is only 3 hours, why would you want to spend any of that time stopping to eat? That could easily take up half of your tour time. I would plan on eating before or after the tour and not worry about it.
Posted by
Fontainebleau, France
893 posts
If you can change it, I would highly recommend changing the tour to a different time and then ending it with restaurant recommendations. 70€/hour to eat with a tour guide sounds a bit much. If you're worried about being able to translate a menu, then you can perhaps arrange the last 15 minutes of the tour to be menu translation at the recommended restaurant.
Posted by
Fontainebleau, France
893 posts
Monte - I think it might be cultural. We ate with our tour guide in Istanbul. We paid for a giant plate of mezzes and all sat down and shared it. He paid for his meal at the restaurant we went to afterwards, but we tipped him enough to cover the cost. But it was a food tour.