How much to tip on bike tour?

[indysteel]

DH and I going on a 3-day supported bike tour in Utah next week. There will be two guides and, presumably, a driver or two. Neither of us have ever been on a supported tour of this kind or this length, and I'm not really sure how much to tip for both of us. Any suggestions?

[SadieKate]

Frequently, the paperwork/web site provides suggestions and, usually, the guides and crew pool the tip money because of the folks working behind the scenes.

We generally give @20% but we always go on mtb tours that camp in the middle of nowhere. Those poor guides are pretty much on-duty 24x7.

[Crankin]

We give 20% to each leader; the only exception has been when one of the leaders is the owner of the company (we've done 3 tours with smaller companies where this happened).

[Veronica]

You'll probably just have the two guides - one drives and the other rides.

Bring your climbing legs!

Veronica

[tulip]

The rule of thumb that I've always heard is $10-$20 per day per guide. That gets pricey for some of the 15-day trips I've been on with three guides!

Why not just call the tour company and ask them?

[Thorn]

20%? Have I been stiffing the guides?

Say a trip costs $1500/ea for a week. That's $3K for DH and I. There are 2 leaders. So I should be giving $600 to each leader? Really?

In the past I've heard $3-5/day/guide, but that would only be $70/leader ($5*7days*2guests) and that seems way too small.

One tour company said 10% of the cost of the trip split between the guides. That comes out to about $150/leader from 2 guests. I usually use this as my minimum, but usually its about $2-300/leader from the two of us. That's too little?

[Veronica]

From Rim Tours FAQ

What about tipping?
The most common question that nobody likes to ask. Tipping is not required but is the customary way to express your thanks for a trip well done. The amount you should tip should be whatever you're comfortable with. If you liked your ride, tip your guide! It will be gratefully appreciated by our hard working staff. A tip of 10% to 20% of the cost of the tour is in the normal range. Remember to have cash on hand at the end of your tour for tipping.


Western Spirit added in that the amount was split between the guides not 10 - 20% per.

Veronica

[SadieKate]

Exactly. So a $900 trip means up to 20% ($180) is split among the staff according to the company's policies. For a 6 day trip, this is only $30/day. I haven't done a trip in a few years, so I'm using a trip cost from several years ago.

I think the type of trip makes a difference. Hotel-based tours where you are on your own in towns for sightseeing and certain meals can be less work for the guides. Guides who are toting groovers a quarter mile from camp every day earn every penny.

[indysteel]

From Rim Tours FAQ

What about tipping?
The most common question that nobody likes to ask. Tipping is not required but is the customary way to express your thanks for a trip well done. The amount you should tip should be whatever you're comfortable with. If you liked your ride, tip your guide! It will be gratefully appreciated by our hard working staff. A tip of 10% to 20% of the cost of the tour is in the normal range. Remember to have cash on hand at the end of your tour for tipping.


Western Spirit added in that the amount was split between the guides not 10 - 20% per.

Veronica

Yes, I found that, too, after I posted my question. I had originally thought of calculating the tip per guide per day. Still, I would have asked the group for feedback anyway because what any given tour company has to say about tipping IMO isn't the final word on it. I appreciate the information all of you have provided.

[indysteel]

Just as a reference point, this three-day trip cost $740 per person.

[Veronica]

I'm pretty WS went as low as 5% in their literature. It's at home, so i could be wrong.

We prepped our cash ahead of time and I brought it in a card so I could add a note of personal thanks.

Veronica

[indysteel]

I'm pretty WS went as low as 5% in their literature. It's at home, so i could be wrong.

We prepped our cash ahead of time and I brought it in a card so I could add a note of personal thanks.

Veronica

That's a nice touch. Thanks for the suggestion.

[DonnaS]

Womantours suggests $7-$12/day gratuity per guide, depending on your satisfation level. I'm doing their Moab tour next week... super excited although the temperatures (90 on our first day's ride) will be tough to take.

The card is a great suggestion!

[indysteel]

Wow; that sounds like a great tour, Donna. Have lots of fun. Out of curiosity, how many guides will there be on the trip?

I find the disparity in tour company suggestions to be interesting, although I'd add that the camping tour I'm doing is different from one in which attendees are staying in a hotel and largely eating at restaurants.

[DonnaS]

Two guides... usually they switch off with one riding sweep and the other driving the sag wagon/preparing lunch. There are just ten of us signed up last I heard. This is the second WT trip I've taken; they do an exceptional job.

I imagine the guides on a fully supported camping trip are on duty 24 hours/day!

[marni]

I have done several cross country trips with Woman Tours, led by two guides, one of which cooks and rides sweep, the other of whom drives the van pulling a trailer of luggage and bike bits, both of whom are mechanics, from three to four of the riders alternate as the drivers of the Sag station wagon ( for a discount from the fees) which meets us every 20 miles or so, alternating with the van with or without the trailer depending on the length of the day. The guides and sag drivers frequently have the baggage unloaded from the van and into the lobby, the sag wagon restocked and the cooler of drinks out waiting at the van for the riders as they reach the van and sign in.

Believe me, these guides earn every penny of tip and more. On the longer trips what usually happens is that someone in the group will offer to get a card and collect the tips and then do a little presentation at the closing night dinner.

I tip 12-15% but I really feel like they earn it because they such super women and they have to put up with all of us and our problems for a month or more at a time.

On other short trips with WT and other companies I usually tip 12%. About the only time I travel or spend any money on anything other than bare necessities is on one of these me vacations but that is just me.

marni

[aka_kim]

I usually tip $10-$20 per day per guide, given with a card to the main guide. On the hotel-based tours I've done costing $3000 and up I can't imagine tipping 10-20% of the tour price! Maybe I'm on the bike tour blacklist for my stinginess. On large tours of 50 or more people I don't usually tip at all ....