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Tour Director Tipping

GPfromTX

We are on the Jewel of the Nile tour in Egypt. This is our first Tauck tour. I’m a little surprised in receiving our welcome letter at the hotel that the recommended tip for the tour director is $12/day per person, which works out to $240 for the two of us for this trip. Since Tauck’s founder promoted paying one price up front for all expenses, why not add the $240 to the price of the trip and maintain the Tauck all inclusive construct? We are having a great time and looking forward to this trip and have no doubt the tour director will earn our $240, but would prefer to pay it as part of the “all inclusive” up front price.

Comments

Sealord

We have only done fifteen trips with Tauck, but I have witnessed what long days and hard work the TDs perform. If it is shown as a thirteen day trip, it is at least thirteen days of tips. They often spend all day and some of the night with the guests, and then they have work to do behind the scenes. When the TD is gone on the last day of the trip, it is often because they have to get in position for their next trip. But, they make sure your departure arrangements have been made. In my experience they perform a lot of work on day one.

Claudia Sails

On land tours we've never seen the TD on the last morning and there have been a couple of minor issues we had to deal with ourselves. Ex: porters who weren't told to get bags or a supposed opportunity for a takeaway breakfast on a very early start for the drive to the airport. Things the hotel staff should have taken care of but didn't. But I finally came to the conclusion that the daily rate set assumed all tour days were paid for so I stopped worrying about it. The rate for the coach driver is actually more confusing given there might be a temp driver one day because legally yours needs a break or because there might be days at the start or end where you don't even have any coach driving.

Ken from Vegas

I have seen TDs on the last day of the tour, but I admit it's not the norm. Often, they are traveling back to the tour starting point to prepare for the next group. On one memorable trip in China, the TD was there to see us off. She also had her laptop out and was preparing for the next tour. She was checking the info to see what special needs had to be attended to for the next group. They're working all the time to make sure things go smoothly.

OurTravels34

Thank you all. I do tip the exact number of days, and it’s a curious question because I’ve heard all sides.

kfnknfzk

We had a similar experience as Ken from Vegas. Due to a very early drive to the airport, our tour director asked us at the farewell dinner if we wanted to have room service the morning we left. I declined because of the early hour we had to leave. At 0400 there was a knock at the door to our room. In comes a gentleman who set up a small folding table, white linens and china. There were eggs, jamon, toast, juice and coffee along with a note from our tour director wishing us a safe flight and thanking us for traveling with her. I shall never forget her kindness. And, yes, I gave the room service gentleman a gratuity.