We rarely use ATM’s when we are on Tauck tours. Many don’t go to any places where there are convenient ATM’s anyway. That is especially true of the fancy resorts which are often miles out of town.
The issue of having to carry large amounts of cash occurs when moving hotels on land, you have to have the cash with you then, while you are touring around before you get to your next hotel. We feel vulnerable carrying cash, even in airports. Professional thieves have such clever distraction techniques. We especially found that in Paris twice in one day. And then on another day too. I’ve been almost knocked off my feet twice when thieves have grabbed a bag and been running off between the crowds and banged into me. We know or have spoken to people who have been robbed on their travels. Three of them in Paris as it happens.
We have been taking a limo to the airport for some time now and the price includes a 20% tip.
I think there are many people out there who might find the tip extra a problem. Not everyone goes on multiple vacations each year like we have been lucky to do since retirement. It could be a once in a lifetime trip that people has been saving for for years, even for a Tauck tour. It could be the difference between being able to afford the trip or not. I could quote someone I know right now who this year traveled to Italy, their first time out of the country to Italy to see where their ancestors came from. They could not even afford Tauck, they had to watch every penny.
Several countries don’t tip. In some of those, to be given a tip is almost an insult. Many countries pay a living wage to all workers. I still think it’s sad that there are people out there who think that a tour director will only give their best to a client if they get extra tips along the way. I hate to think that someone thought that about me when I was working.
Interestingly, when I visited friends in England this year, they told me many people have stopped giving tips because they can no longer afford to. My pet peeve in this country is being asked to give money at the cash register. There are people being guilted into giving more that they can’t afford.
I was fascinated when BKMD said the paperwork he got still said $12. Ok, so trips I have already booked remain at $12, hummm!
cathyandsteve: Wow...93 countries and never an ATM. Incroyable! Our travel styles must be very different; I always carry some local currency. It's one small way to appreciate the local culture; the beautiful bills and coins are full of history, symbols, etc. and I enjoy studying them, have even snapped photos. Market and street vendors may not accept credit cards and I still see minimums at shops; cash makes sense for small purchases and alleviates fees and paperwork for small businesses. Local money has always been a colorful part of my travel experience.
Btw, I found this online, no source or date. The average salary for a Tour Director is $81,337 per year (estimate) in United States, which is 12% higher than the average Tauck salary of $72,399 per year (estimate) for this job. And from Glassdoor: The estimated total pay range for a Tauck Tour Director is $57,000–$93,000 per year.
I wonder how many days a year they work. It'd be hard for the TDs to not report any tips. The IRS knows that the job of TD includes tips. The software that reviews tax returns would likely flag a return that reported no tips.
The software does that for jobs such as a restaurant waiter. If a waiter reports no tips, the software will impute the amount of tips that an average waiter will receive and send the waiter a bill for the tax. It would then be up to the waiter to prove that s/he did not receive tips.
Same if the waiter reports a very low amount of tips.
British - Some tour directors have told me they only work for part of the year, enough to get Tauck benefits.
Do you have any idea how many days they have to work to get benefits. And I wonder if the salaries quoted by MarketArt are representative of the minimum days.
If they can work a half year for $81,000, that's not too bad.
I have also heard from some tour directors that they work anywhere from 30 to 35 weeks a years. One TD told me recently that since the pandemic he started working 40+ weeks a year to rebuild his bank balance and 40 weeks is just too much so he's looking forwarding to scaling back as soon the bank balance is where he wants it. And yes, the benefit package is one reason they work as much as they do.
30 weeks out of 52 doesn't sound bad, but being away that much would really put a crimp in the ability to take care of a family, especially with kids. It's not a glamorous job - not one I'd want to do.
This comment came from a source who does not want to be ‘quoted’, so I think it is OK if I express the thoughts without identifying the author. We have been on seventeen Tauck tours so we know many TDs. I don’t think there are any hints here about who this might be.
Having cash is beneficial in many ways and I prefer it, myself.
A) More personal. It’s immediate, instead of having to wait for payday.
C) We keep more of it.
D) Guests often will write a nice note or letter, this is SO gratifying and important.
Ultimately, I feel it should be whatever is most convenient for the guests.
Just one opinion from someone on the receiving side.
Comments
We rarely use ATM’s when we are on Tauck tours. Many don’t go to any places where there are convenient ATM’s anyway. That is especially true of the fancy resorts which are often miles out of town.
The issue of having to carry large amounts of cash occurs when moving hotels on land, you have to have the cash with you then, while you are touring around before you get to your next hotel. We feel vulnerable carrying cash, even in airports. Professional thieves have such clever distraction techniques. We especially found that in Paris twice in one day. And then on another day too. I’ve been almost knocked off my feet twice when thieves have grabbed a bag and been running off between the crowds and banged into me. We know or have spoken to people who have been robbed on their travels. Three of them in Paris as it happens.
We have been taking a limo to the airport for some time now and the price includes a 20% tip.
I think there are many people out there who might find the tip extra a problem. Not everyone goes on multiple vacations each year like we have been lucky to do since retirement. It could be a once in a lifetime trip that people has been saving for for years, even for a Tauck tour. It could be the difference between being able to afford the trip or not. I could quote someone I know right now who this year traveled to Italy, their first time out of the country to Italy to see where their ancestors came from. They could not even afford Tauck, they had to watch every penny.
Several countries don’t tip. In some of those, to be given a tip is almost an insult. Many countries pay a living wage to all workers. I still think it’s sad that there are people out there who think that a tour director will only give their best to a client if they get extra tips along the way. I hate to think that someone thought that about me when I was working.
Interestingly, when I visited friends in England this year, they told me many people have stopped giving tips because they can no longer afford to. My pet peeve in this country is being asked to give money at the cash register. There are people being guilted into giving more that they can’t afford.
I was fascinated when BKMD said the paperwork he got still said $12. Ok, so trips I have already booked remain at $12, hummm!
cathyandsteve: Wow...93 countries and never an ATM. Incroyable! Our travel styles must be very different; I always carry some local currency. It's one small way to appreciate the local culture; the beautiful bills and coins are full of history, symbols, etc. and I enjoy studying them, have even snapped photos. Market and street vendors may not accept credit cards and I still see minimums at shops; cash makes sense for small purchases and alleviates fees and paperwork for small businesses. Local money has always been a colorful part of my travel experience.
Btw, I found this online, no source or date. The average salary for a Tour Director is $81,337 per year (estimate) in United States, which is 12% higher than the average Tauck salary of $72,399 per year (estimate) for this job. And from Glassdoor: The estimated total pay range for a Tauck Tour Director is $57,000–$93,000 per year.
That’s interesting Market Art, so Tour directors earn way more than that when tips are added and it’s hinted they don’t declare it for tax purposes.
I wonder how many days a year they work. It'd be hard for the TDs to not report any tips. The IRS knows that the job of TD includes tips. The software that reviews tax returns would likely flag a return that reported no tips.
The software does that for jobs such as a restaurant waiter. If a waiter reports no tips, the software will impute the amount of tips that an average waiter will receive and send the waiter a bill for the tax. It would then be up to the waiter to prove that s/he did not receive tips.
Same if the waiter reports a very low amount of tips.
Some tour directors have told me they only work for part of the year, enough to get Tauck benefits.
Do you have any idea how many days they have to work to get benefits. And I wonder if the salaries quoted by MarketArt are representative of the minimum days.
If they can work a half year for $81,000, that's not too bad.
I have also heard from some tour directors that they work anywhere from 30 to 35 weeks a years. One TD told me recently that since the pandemic he started working 40+ weeks a year to rebuild his bank balance and 40 weeks is just too much so he's looking forwarding to scaling back as soon the bank balance is where he wants it. And yes, the benefit package is one reason they work as much as they do.
I don’t particularly ask tour directors all these questions, they just come out with it.
30 weeks out of 52 doesn't sound bad, but being away that much would really put a crimp in the ability to take care of a family, especially with kids. It's not a glamorous job - not one I'd want to do.
This comment came from a source who does not want to be ‘quoted’, so I think it is OK if I express the thoughts without identifying the author. We have been on seventeen Tauck tours so we know many TDs. I don’t think there are any hints here about who this might be.
Having cash is beneficial in many ways and I prefer it, myself.
A) More personal.
It’s immediate, instead of having to wait for payday.
C) We keep more of it.
D) Guests often will write a nice note or letter, this is SO gratifying and important.
Ultimately, I feel it should be whatever is most convenient for the guests.
Just one opinion from someone on the receiving side.