Tips on tipping

Make tipping easy on tour

We recommend collecting tip money before you leave for your tour. Use the convenient tip envelopes enclosed to make it easy to keep tips organized. Many of our group leaders make tipping a fun farewell gesture on tour. Consider having students sign a card and present it with the group's tip to the tour director and bus driver before your trip ends.

Suggested tip amounts

Tour Director
Your tour director is with your group 24 hours a day, taking care of all the logistics on tour and becoming a partner and friend on the road. We suggest tipping your tour director $6 per person, per day.

Bus Driver*
Set aside an additional $3 per person, per day for your bus driver.

Local guides*
Plan to tip local guides $1 to $2 per person. Many group leaders tip local guides for half-day sightseeing tours. On a full-day excursion, it is typical to give a small tip to both the professional local guide and the day's driver.

Tours that include a cruise
If your tour includes a cruise, travelers are required by the cruise company to pay an extra $10 per person, per day, for the cruise staff, in addition to the tour director.


*For planning purposes, please ask your tour consultant for details about the number of guides you will have on tour and the number of days you will be with your bus driver.