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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
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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 ....
