Tips? Cash?

No tipping on Rick Steves tours:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/the-most-value-for-your-money

No tips are expected for anyone that provides a service (such as guides, bus drivers, restaurant staff, hotel staff) on a Rick Steves tour.

I agree with my pals here but will add that sometimes someone who is new to the RS system will try to take up a collection. I usually say loudly....Rick says tips are included.

I was on a tour of England once that had about 75% retired teachers. The joke was that we sang "The Wheels on the bus go round and round" nearly every day. At one point one of the tour members found a book of the same, purchased it and we chipped in a very minimal amount and all signed it. That was pretty cute.

NO! Please no. Even the tour leaders mention that we've already paid it. On a rare occassion someone will, hey let's write a card and everyone sign it or let's some other thing....I still say No. They are living out of a carry on and on to the next tour. They don't want stuff to carry around either. Write a really nice email to the RS office after the tour, to let them know about the superb experience you had due to your tour leader.

And though tips are included on tour items (guide, driver, hotel) depending on where you are going there may be some expectation of tips at restaurants or other places you are going independent of the tour. You should tip in the local currency, which you can easily get at an ATM on arrival to the airport or in towns along the way.

Ditto to the comments about getting guides gifts - they are compensated for their work and simply don't need to drag around extra stuff especially if they're doing back to back tours. I have taken a nice thank you card with me and written a heartfelt thank you as well as buying them a drink during happy hour if that situation arose organically. That seems to have been appreciated more than "things". Enjoy your tour!

No tipping for thr drivers, tour leaders and tour guides or when meals are part of the tour package. Your tour leader will give you guidance about local tipping protocols for meals etc purchased independently. For example in much of Europe a service charge is included in the bill so no tipping, but it is common to leave any coins given in change when you pay your bill,…a couple of Euro at most. A lot of the busses have a cooler where the driver stashes water and sometimes juice for the convenience of passengers; payment is on the honor system - the TL will let you know how and when to pay.

I love that tips are included. You’ll probably use very little cash if any. Any other tipping is best offered in the local currency. Credit cards are easy to use. Remember to have charges remain in the currency of the country you’re traveling. Do not allow conversions to your country’s currency.

Hi Jenn, sometimes you might need some coins to use a toilet. Otherwise, the only time I am not using ApplePay with my phone in Europe is for street musicians that I enjoy or some small transactions.

I know this has options, but I always pay a taxi in cash. I don’t use one often, and I would rather do that one in cash.

No tips or gifts. The tip thing is easy enough, but because we're all nice people and want to show our gratitude, a gift seems thoughtful. BUT, tour guides travel constantly in the summer, often guiding tours without going home between. A gift would take up space in luggage. Maybe buying a drink while out would be appreciated, but that's it.

As far as cash-last summer we did the Scandinavia Tour with a 3 night layer in Paris on the way home. The only cash/coin I used was a 2euro coin for the busker near the Eiffel Tower. Best money I ever spent. Having said that, I do feel comfortable having local currency with me. Thankfully, it's easy enough for me to get where I live (lots of retired people who travel a lot).

and I understand this question. I've heard from a neighbor that OATs tours advertise no tips accepted, but the expectation was for tipping

JS, what your neighbor said about OAT is not correct. Their tour materials are very clear that it is customary and expected to tip the tour leader on their tours and they provide guidelines on the suggested amount. All other tips on an OAT tour (hotel porters, local guides, wait staff at group meals, drivers etc) are included, although many people do also give something to the bus driver if he’s been with the group for most or all of the trip. Those guys work hard ! And of course for a non-tour activity such as a meal on your own dime, you should tip as you normally would in that country. The tour company I have traveled with that is less clear is Road Scholar. They say that guide tips are included, but also that additional tips can be given for good service. So I have tipped those guides but not quite as much as with OAT. I do prefer as much clarity as possible, whether it’s Rick Steves (no tips) or OAT (please tip your tour leader).

I was chatting to a coach driver the other day who was about to start her summer season of back to back UK tours for a Chinese tour company. She said the tour operators tip the driver around £1000-£1500 per trip for quite a short tour. No tips from individuals. I found this very interesting.