Keep in mind that just because you are having free time the TD is most likely working behind the scenes making calls to make sure the next part of your tour goes well and other chores Tauck requires.
The Tauck suggestions are in USD or the equivalent in local currency. I just did a different Canadian tour and, other than the tips, used cash only for the funicular in Quebec City. ($7 CAD each way. I walked down; rode up.) I was told that in most places, you can pay cash in USD, but will they will give you change in CAD. Not a good use of your cash!
Just curious: for those who have been on both classic and small group land tours, are the suggested tips for TD and driver the same for both tours, or adjusted for the smaller number of people?
BKMD - That's why most of the TDs who have been with Tauck the longest request the larger group tours.
I talked to a TD on one of the trips about this, especially after Tauck announced those extra small group tours. That announcement was a problem for the TDs. Tauck couldn't ask the travelers to tip more so I think the solution was that Tauck pays the TD more to handle those very small tours.
But the indication I got from the TD was that she wanted the tours with the largest number of travelers because she made more money on those.
Don’t forget, both types of small group tours are fairly recent for Tauck. Many companies have always used the small group model. Apparently Tauck does pay better than most tour companies and I understand they are treated better.. If you are a tour director and that is what you like to do, then you really have little choice but to remain with Tauck even if you have had a cut in pay. Maybe you have to compensate by leading more tours each year.
When this topic has been discussed before, it was found that the wage was pretty average.
Now, this topic is more populated than’ Do I need to take a sports coat’
Comments
Most places in Canada should accept credit cards.
Keep in mind that just because you are having free time the TD is most likely working behind the scenes making calls to make sure the next part of your tour goes well and other chores Tauck requires.
If there are fewer Tauck activities, with the proliferation of free times in recent years, there's less planning to do
The Tauck suggestions are in USD or the equivalent in local currency. I just did a different Canadian tour and, other than the tips, used cash only for the funicular in Quebec City. ($7 CAD each way. I walked down; rode up.) I was told that in most places, you can pay cash in USD, but will they will give you change in CAD. Not a good use of your cash!
Just curious: for those who have been on both classic and small group land tours, are the suggested tips for TD and driver the same for both tours, or adjusted for the smaller number of people?
The suggested gratuity amounts do not change based on group size.
That's why most of the TDs who have been with Tauck the longest request the larger group tours.
Yes, that is true.
I talked to a TD on one of the trips about this, especially after Tauck announced those extra small group tours. That announcement was a problem for the TDs. Tauck couldn't ask the travelers to tip more so I think the solution was that Tauck pays the TD more to handle those very small tours.
But the indication I got from the TD was that she wanted the tours with the largest number of travelers because she made more money on those.
At one time. Tauck did pay the TD’s extra. That stopped about the time of the Pandemic. Several TD’s have told me that.
And then there are the TDs who love the Small Group tours.....and many tours are ONLY Small Group tours.
Don’t forget, both types of small group tours are fairly recent for Tauck. Many companies have always used the small group model. Apparently Tauck does pay better than most tour companies and I understand they are treated better.. If you are a tour director and that is what you like to do, then you really have little choice but to remain with Tauck even if you have had a cut in pay. Maybe you have to compensate by leading more tours each year.
When this topic has been discussed before, it was found that the wage was pretty average.
Now, this topic is more populated than’ Do I need to take a sports coat’