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Gratuity for Tour director
Is there one for the entire trip or several and how much per day is customary. Also is it appreciated that some gifts are given if so what is appropriate or is cash most welcome. I am going on the February 16th trip and hope no eastern storm upsets the trip
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You'll find many discussions on this topic in the archives, for both your tour and others. The green book, which you will get once you have paid in full, will give a suggested daily amount in cash for the TD. Gifts are not expected nor typically given. Remember, the TD may be doing multiple tours back to back, so lugging a gift around would actually place a burden on him/her.
Under the website tour page, "Before you Go" tab you will find this info:
"The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group."
Correction: Again, the suggested amount (it was $8, but may now be $10 per day, per person for the TD) will be in your green book.
The Before You Go also says:
"All appropriate gratuities for hotel and lodge staff, safari guides, and drivers are included."
While it clearly says Tauck provides gratuities to the safari driver/guides, etc. that topic always comes up. Some people who feel a particular driver/guide went above and beyond to provide a personal service, may tip, while others do not. I suggest you read the archives to see what others have said. Search on "gratuity" or "tip" in the K&T forum. Your TD may also address this topic at the start of the tour. Between Tanzania and Kenya you could be riding with as many as 18 different drivers (3 different sets in Tanzania, Amboseli/Mt. Kenya, and Masai Mara).
You might also want to read about gifts/school supplies for the school you may visit.
We also bring an envelope to put the cash in and a notepaper for a personal note. We nearly always give this at the Farewell dinner.
The group photo is not always given at the Farewell dinner, it can be given within hours of being taken depending on the tour director. The great Rob White even wrote down who each person was on the photo when we took a tour with him.
Ooops, yup, I was confusing bus driver tip- will edit my post. Sign of old age, I guess : (
Since you double posted, either we are having forum issues, or you are suffering from the same ailment