Gratuities for Tour directors and drivers

Chuck66

We have our tour coming up this September, and we'd like to know what the proper gratuities would be for the Tour director and the drivers.
I presume the hot air balloon pilot expects gratuities as well? Wouldn't do to be flying with an unhappy pilot!
Is US currency ok to use for tips and any souvenirs we might pick up along the way?

Claudia Sails

Have you received your Green Travel documents/spiral bound book? There should be a page in it that gives you the guides on how much. The book should also tell you what gratuities are included in the price of your tour.

From the web page for your tour under "Before You Go", "Upon Arrival", and "Currency"

"The local currency for Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling, and in Kenya, the Kenyan Shilling. For U.S. residents U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Tanzania and Kenya and can be used to pay any personal expenses while on tour like laundry, souvenirs, massages and alcoholic beverages. You may wish to carry some cash in U.S. dollars, in small denominations, for miscellaneous use when only a small amount of currency is required. Bills should be crisp and of the newer variety (with the larger presidential portraits). Bills printed prior to 2005 will not be accepted." ..... and more on currency/credit cards.

If you haven't read everything under the Before You Go tab, I highly recommend doing so. It, and your green book, will answer most of your concerns.

Roe Foley

We are going to S Africa. I called Tauck and was told 8$ a day per person. Any currency will work.

AlanS

The suggested "voluntary" gratuity amount for a typical land tour for the TD is "USD $8 per day per traveler" and for the driver is "USD $4 per day per traveler" "or the equivalent amount in local currency." Remember, your TD may be from the host country, US, or some other country. Our Best of Ireland TD was a Brit living in New Zealand. Generally, you can't go wrong using USD, but it is also a good way to get rid of extra local currency. You can also use a mix of currency- it is the thought that counts.

Gratuities for CD & TD(s) are included in the cost of most (all?) cruises. This information will be presented in the spiral green book you receive once you have paid in full. Also, depending on the tour, the driver may arrive late or depart early and not be with you for the full length of the tour.

On K&T, depending on your TD, you will normally change vehicle/driver/traveling companions once or more per day. Also, the entire driving team will change out at the border when you enter Kenya, therefore gratuities for the driver's on safaris are covered by Tauck. Generally all the driver/guides are outstanding, but if one or more of them does an especially exceptional job you are free to show them your appreciation. You should do this discretely so as not to offend other drivers. Also, these guys are rarely rookies so know what to do with any currency you give them.

Gratuities for local guides (and balloon pilots) on all tours are covered by Tauck.

British

Chuck66 wrote:

We have our tour coming up this September, and we'd like to know what the proper gratuities would be for the Tour director and the drivers.
I presume the hot air balloon pilot expects gratuities as well? Wouldn't do to be flying with an unhappy pilot!
Is US currency ok to use for tips and any souvenirs we might pick up along the way?

If you have paid your account in full but have not received your green booklet yet, I would call Tauck. If you do have the booklet, then I suggest finding time to read it well in advance of the tour in case there is other critical information you should be aware of before the tour. This booklet information is fairly new to Tauck and the information they provide is greatly improved in recent years and yet people still appear not to be reading them, that's a shame.