Tips on safaris
Tips can quickly add up when it comes to safaris, but there’s a silver lining: It’s highly likely that, compared to the large amount you spent securing your spot at that swanky safari lodge in the first place, the gratuities will seem tiny.
“On a classic multi-day safari, the main tipping relationships are with your driver-guide and the lodge or camp staff,” says Lydia Eva Mpanga, founder of Nkuringo Safaris. “Many lodges have a central tip box that’s shared between the whole team. For a couple, a sensible guideline is around US $5–10 per night, left in the shared lodge tip box.”
Tips on expedition cruises
Our top advice when it comes to tipping for expedition cruises? Follow the guidelines laid out by the company you’re sailing with, as approaches vary.
For example, HX Expeditions has tip boxes at the onboard customer services desk, while Quark Expeditions suggests gratuities (which can be added to final bills) of $15–$20 a day.
Jeremy Clubb, founder of Rainforest Cruises, points out that tipping protocol for expedition-style cruises isn’t the same as for those embarking on ocean-going cruises with larger lines such as Royal Caribbean.
“Expedition ships operate in some of the most remote parts of the planet, so while the levels of service often rival that of the best resorts and ocean liners, guest comforts are generally somewhat secondary, so the tipping culture tends to be less transactional,” says Jeremy. “While a few operators include gratuities in the fare outright, the majority still suggest a daily amount that gets pooled among the entire crew. I advise guests to follow the individual cruise line’s guidance, then adding a little bit extra if someone goes above and beyond.”
Tips for escorted tours
This can be a complex one as different companies have different policies, but the official line is usually that gratuities aren’t always expected because they might already be included.
“Almost every operator has different policies regarding tipping,” says Bruce Raber at Lap of Luxury Travel. “When gratuities are not included, I’d still suggest $5 to $10 per person for a day guide, $2 to $5 for a driver, and $50 to $150 (total) for a tour leader accompanying you for multiple days. Private full-day guides, who are more akin to trained experts, should receive $25 to $50 per person per day.”
Tips for luxury train travel
“We’ve found that a good rule of thumb on luxury train journeys is to begin at around $20–30 per person, per day,” says Rachel M. Hardy, vice president of sales at The Society of International Railway Travellers. “On many trains, like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, you can leave a tip for the entire staff on a credit card at the end of your journey. Just remember that around 3% will be taken for a credit card fee.”
If you’re in a larger suite, we would suggest you tip more than that.
Tips on oceangoing cruises
Whether it’s a Royal Caribbean sailing around the Pacific or a foray along the Norwegian fjords with the likes of Regent Seven Seas, getting to grips with gratuities is usually somewhat simpler, and a growing number of cruise lines now automatically add gratuities to your final bill.
For example, Royal Caribbean adds a daily gratuity charge of between $18.50 and $21 (depending on whether you’re in a suite or a stateroom) to SeaPpass accounts, while Norwegian Cruise Lines adds a daily $20 gratuity charge per person.
“On large ocean cruises, tipping is much more systematized,” says Clubb of Rainforest Cruises. “Daily service charges usually appear automatically, and additional tips for speciality dining, bar service, spa treatments, and room service are often stacked on top. On land, for drivers and guides, tipping is more of a direct personal exchange. Local norms vary widely though, so a bit of research [about your destination] goes a long way.”
Tipping at all-inclusive resorts
The good news? The official line often rolled out by all-inclusive properties is that tipping isn’t necessary.
Now for the bad news: In reality, it’s often still expected. “While all-inclusive resorts often claim that tipping is unnecessary, it’s generally appreciated by the staff, who may rely heavily on gratuities,” says Bruce Raber at Lap of Luxury Travel. “If tipping is allowed, I recommend offering a dollar or two at the bar, $3 to $5 for sit-down meals, and $3 to $7 per day for housekeeping. This small amount of cash can significantly enhance the level of service you receive throughout your stay.”
Tips at family-owned inns and B&Bs
Generally, tipping at family-owned inns and B&Bs isn’t expected. However, due to confusion surrounding the issue, a growing number or owners are adding guidance to their websites.
Take Colorado Springs’ Holden House 1902 Bed and Breakfast Inn, where a page dedicated to tipping etiquette states that, if guests want to leave a tip, the accepted tipping ranges $3–5 dollars if you’ve received exceptionally good service.
Bear in mind that the above only relates to North America—tipping in small, family-run hotels and B&Bs outside of the U.S. and Canada is almost unheard of and certainly not expected.
Tipping on river cruises
River cruise tipping can admittedly be a bit of a minefield. In Europe, certain river cruise companies (including Avalon) include tips, while others (such as AmaWaterways) provide information on their websites about recommended tips.
In Ama Waterways’ case, it’s around $118 for a seven-night cruise. This tip is then split between crew members, and it roughly reflects what’s considered a good tipping range for cases when tips aren’t included: between $10 and $25 per day, split between crew.
For cruises operating in countries outside of Europe (such as in Asia), tips are usually included. Scenic, which offers sailings along Vietnam’s Mekong River, and Uniworld, which offers river cruises in Asia and South America, are two examples of lines that include gratuities.
Tips for tour guides
Enlisting the services of a private guide? This is one situation where the rules are surprisingly consistent—apart from in Japan and South Korea, where tipping is still regarded as, at best, unnecessary, and at worst seen as an insult.
“For a private guide who is with you for several days, a useful rule of thumb for a couple is around US $10–30 per day,” says Nkuringo Safaris’ Lydia Eva Mpanga, who works closely with various local private guides. “For shorter, one-off activities, such as a half-day trip, a tip of between $5 and $10 for the guide is appropriate if they’ve engaged well, kept you safe, and added real insight.”
Tips for private guides in Europe tend to be slightly lower than in the U.S. In Europe a common gratuity would fall between $2.5 and $6, or 10% of the excursion cost, while in North America, a good rule of thumb is to tip 10–20% per cent of the excursion or tour cost.
Riviera Travel’s posted tipping guide, produced after thorough research into regional tipping customs, is particularly useful when it comes to tips for guides.
Tipping at hotels
Tipping housekeeping staff is almost unheard of in Europe and Asia, but it has become somewhat standard in North America, the Caribbean, and certain parts of Central America.
“A good rule of thumb is to leave $2 to $5 per day, depending on the level of service and the size of your party,” says Elle Rustique, Founder and CEO of TipBrightly, a company known for its cashless tipping tech. “For luxury accommodations, consider leaving $10 to $20 per night, especially if your room requires extra attention.”
For hotel luggage porters, aim for $2 or $5 per delivered bag, depending on the size of what you packed. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) advises a tip of $1–$5 to valets when they retrieve your car from parking. Tip a concierge $5–$10 for standard tasks such as securing restaurant reservations or tickets, but tip more if your ask is more complicated or difficult.
Given the huge regional variations in approaches when it comes to tipping hotel staff, it can be hugely beneficial to do a bit of research. Consider downloading Tip Check, a brilliant app which provides up-to-date tipping information relating to 60 countries and various scenarios.
Another tip for tips? If you’re staying at an all-inclusive hotel with a no-tipping policy, stick to the rules. “If the resort enforces a strict no-tipping policy, it is crucial to respect this rule, as their service model will be one which aims to ensure equitable treatment for all guests,” warns Bruce Raber at Lap of Luxury Travel.
Tips for baggage handlers
We’ve all been there. You arrive at the airport and an overly keen baggage handler grabs your bag before you’ve even had time to exit the vehicle. This is the reason we suggest keeping a firm grip on your bag if you don’t want or need assistance—most airport porters hoping for a tip will quickly realize that assisting that other passenger dragging five supersized suitcases out of their taxi will prove more lucrative.
If you need the assistance offered to you by a luggage porter, a tip of around $2 to $3 per bag will usually suffice.
In recent years, several airports, particularly ones in Europe, have tried to standardize procedures by rolling out porter services with fixed prices and no obligation to tip (London’s Heathrow airport and France’s Nice airport are two examples). In these situations, expect to pay around $40 for fully loaded luggage, with pre-booking advised.
