Tipping Tour Drivers/Guides in Europe

[marcyjane]

Just curious, those of you that have been to Europe how much should you tip the guide/driver for a tour either private or ship sponsored tour in Euro's.

Thanks so much

Marcy

[marci22]

Just do a search with 'tipping' in the search window. Dozens of threads will come up.

[cruisinisforme]

Marcy I had the same question recently and you will find you wont get a standard answer...I am going to do a base of $10 per person as a start and if the tour is wonderful probably more.

[Donyb]

I agree with cruisinisforme. We really seem to struggle with this question but we also figure about $10 USD or currency equivalent per person for a full day tour. If we're really pleased, we add more. Sometimes we also bring along a token gift that they might enjoy...a baseball cap, T-shirt, whatever from the U.S. Sometimes it works and sometimes they could care less. It depends on where we are visiting.

[marcyjane]

Thank you all so much, that's about what I was thinking.

Marcy:)

[moniquet]

No-one tips like that over here (many never tip!). If you gave them 5$ for the two of you it would be more than Europeans tip.

[Travel to Ports]

Just curious, those of you that have been to Europe how much should you tip the guide/driver for a tour either private or ship sponsored tour in Euro's.

Thanks so much

Marcy

 

Folks,

It seems that there would be a difference between a private car or van of 2-8 passengers (driver not the owner), driver as the company owner, and a ship's tour of 40-50 passengers! Do you think a tour guide of 50 should get a "tip" of $250/day? Seems plenty excessive to me. (What do others think?)

David

[marcyjane]

I totally see what you mean agree with you Travel to Ports.

Marcy

[mary_228]

No-one tips like that over here (many never tip!). If you gave them 5$ for the two of you it would be more than Europeans tip.

 

Thank you moniquet for your perspective!

[egit]

As a european, we really do not expect tips as you do in the US. We give a price and thats what we expect.

[Hambagahle]

For lots of things in Europe service is included, and tips are not expected - but are appreciated for extraordinary service! However bus drivers and guides do not come into this category and should be tipped.

We give a Euro to the driver unless he has been a really bad one! The guide gets around €5 pp. They are usually not well paid and rely on this income. I am talking about large busses. A van with driver and guide who stays with you all day and eats lunch etc with you is different. There I would give the driver €5, and the guide €10 but never more than €25 no matter how many people were involved. And, by the way, I am a European and live in Switzerland!