Cash Needs, Directors Gratuity, Laundry
We are on the K&T classic safari in September 2024. My wife and I are not shoppers, except maybe a small souvenir. With most of the trip on game drives, and warnings not to wander unescorted, how much in small American bills do we need? We do usually tip the housekeeping staff and other service personnel if encountered, i.e., drinks, etc.
Also, are dollars the preferred method for the director’s gratuity?
Have seen many comments on doing laundry during the trip. I picture a rush of travelers requesting it all at once, overwhelming the staff and not getting it back in time. Any veteran K&T travelers out here, if you can provide a little, “how it works” info, it would be much appreciated. Trying to figure out how much to pack.
Thanks and safe travels to all!
Comments
TD Gratuity guidance comes in your final documents. Read carefully, it may go up.
All other tips are included in your price. You might want to tip the barman, but not at the level of the US.
Some people give extra tips to the safari drivers, but if you do, give the same to each driver as jealousy occurs. You will rotate around as many drivers as their are vehicles depending on the number of people on your tour.
You are staying at five star resorts, believe me, there will be enough people do do your laundry. Personal choice on how much clothing you take, it can be dusty and likely in September as it is right at the end of the dry season. If you are a sweater then you might need more clothing. We have been on two safaris when a couple of travelers have smelt so bad, it makes you want to throw up, in a small safari vehicle, it was terrible. One was a woman, my husband couldn’t believe a woman could smell so bad.
We are leaving for Tanzania in three weeks. Our tour is the Bridges one, so even the TD tip is included.
Tip in dollars, they are widely accepted and often preferred. You must have read here numerous times, small bills,in new condition, no marks or tears etc etc. If you see something you like in an hotel shop. You can use a credit card.
British covered it well. We bring a couple hundred dollars in ones and fives, and pre-load an envelope with the TD tip which is not included on the K&T trip. We have tipped the drivers when we had a good group, and as said we tipped them all the same amount at the same time. Tauck covers all other tips, but that does not necessarily include laundry people or room service. There are no ice machines, so every time you get ice, you probably need tip money. We once left a wad of cash in our clothes that went to the laundry, and the cash came back with the laundry. They got a large tip. Don’t get local currency in Tanzania nor Kenya. It is useless anywhere else. Dollars work just fine.
Thanks! Knew I could count on you two for great responses. This is our ninth Tauck tour so familiar with the general flow, but first safari so trying to get things right. Safe travels!
We just got an email from Tauck with the tip recommendations for our upcoming first safari, the K&T Classic: “$12 per day per traveler for the TD and $8 per day per traveler for the driver, if applicable, your TD will inform you” (confusing, since the pre-trip docs say drivers are included in the trip cost). So for the 13-day tour we’ll need to take a minimum of $520 for two travelers. Then, from reading here, a couple of hundred extra for laundry, room service, barmen, etc. (the email says other services, including the local guides, bellmen and restaurant staff, are included), so around $720 in small (1s, 5s, 10s), crisp, new bills dated only after 2006, with no tears or marks.
Since we live in a rural area 70mi from our bank (when we very rarely need cash we use a local 7-11 ATM, which doesn’t necessarily spit out crisp new bills), this is kinda becoming a hassle and quite a stack of cash to carry. Sure wish Tauck would include this in the tour cost as they do on other tours, where we just take cash for ‘above and beyond’ tips.
Meanwhile, we’ll be taking a day trip to our bank, spending some quality time with the teller as we inspect $700 in small bills, and making sure we remember the words of previous safari travelers here, “it’s worth it!” :-)
When we get to the destination airport I go to an atm and get about $100 in the local currency for miscellaneous expenses most of the time I just use plastic.
Generally laundry, room service, etc. can be put on plastic too and settle the bill when you leave.
As far as tips to the TD are concerned, we can get local currency from an atm. Also while I am not a td, I would accept US$ in decent form, need not be crisp and new.
You only need crisp USD when buying souvenirs from local merchants.
Have a good trip
You do not need tips for drivers, as you will have a different driver for every game drive. I think Tauck gave you the wrong generic information. It happens a lot. We just received documents for an upcoming tour and it had massive wrong information. I had to call Tauck who are going to have to reissue the booklet to everyone.
You do not need any local currency. They prefer dollars. I’ve been to the area three times, never had any issues. Going again next week, just taking small denomination notes for souvenirs when we encountered locals. Shops at the resorts take plastic.
Yeah, multiple pieces of conflicting info between the initial docs, final docs and email last night. I’ve got a list going for the post-trip survey.
We leave next week, too - July 13 tour. We’ll definitely be using plastic for all purchases, like laundry or room service - it’s just the tip part we’re trying to nail down. Thinking now we’ll just preload the TD tip with US$ and wait for the TD to “inform us” when we need to tip and for which driver and get “the equivalent amount in local currency” from the ATM. [Quotes from the Tauck email]
The TD doesn’t generally talk about tips and like I said, the drivers tips are included in the tour. You can obviously tip extra, but you must give the same tip to every driver, probably 5 on your trip, or jealousy happens. Everyone prefers dollars. Tell me where the ATM’s are on a Tauck East African safari?
British is absolutely correct. Plus, every document I’ve read (15+ Tauck trips), suggests tipping in U.S. dollars. What a chore it would be to always get local currency.
Okay, got it. Ignore Tauck email, no tips for drivers, just TD. Good to know.
Question about the tip for the TD. Does that tip have to be in small bills or will $20s or even $50s work? Also, out of curiosity, does anyone know why Tauck doesn't include the TD tip in the total cost of the safari? Would prefer not to have to carry that much additional cash with me - it's just annoying because everything is supposed to be included, and potentially subject to loss or theft because it isn't used until the end of the tour. We are first time Tauck travelers and are on the Classic Safari tour leaving October 9.
That horse has been beaten to death many times here on the forum!
Large bills are fine for the TD tip. we used $50's.
$20 is a large bill?! A 20 is the new 5. The US hasn't made any large bills (500 and up) since the late 60s.
Personally, I would not take fifties to K and Y became many people won’t take them in case they are fake, including banks.
Most Land Tauck tours do not include tips for the Tour director. It is made clear on your documents.
Many tours do not include all meals.
Most tour companies like Tauck don’t include tips for Tour directors.
Personally, I would not go in October because it can be the start of the short rains .
I always give the TD $150 a $100 bill and a $50.only in 1 time I gave the TD $100 out of Merci , anyone can have a bad day.. but he did not deserve it
I normally take $1, $5, and $10 for everything else I use cc or withdraw from the local ATM ( if in the hotel*-check hotel website, it will tell if they have one), otherwise, I get it at the airport.
Hope this helps.
Mil - CITM
British: Hope I am NOT the person to whom you refer above!! Hope all is going well and enjoy your upcoming trip. I have been traveling a lot the past two years (making up for COVID) so not much time for the forum.
Great to hear from you, we are forever bonded after our Gorilla trek! Come on then, tell us where you have been! Any recommendation or cautions?
How does Tauck account for beer, wine and alcohol?