ladyrep

Our trip with Castle and King is complete. Everything booked and insurance purchased. Last preparation is getting Visa's. Not leaving until February so we can relax now.

Please give us some information regarding tipping. Our plan is to put tip envelopes together before we leave as we are going to get some Indian Rupes while in LA before we go. My husband and I did this before our African safari and it worked out well. When there was an exceptional guide we added some extra to the pre set amount. What is the normal amount for the guide and the driver per day, or per trip. We will have the same driver, Krishna, most of the time and different guides.

Thanks all,

rhkkmk

Krishna will thrill you so much that you will want to give him extra. we bought his wife a sari (she craves new ones) and I paid his train ticket home, in addition to a large cash tip..

may I suggest that you wait till you get to india to get $$ as the exchange rate in usa will be terrible..

CaliforniaLady

I usually give 20% to the guide, and 10% to the driver of the cost of service. However, since you are using an agency, this will be hard for you to calculate. I would ask the agency for a tip range. I just looked at your earlier posts--weren't you out for about 12 days? If so, I would give the guide AT LEAST $100 USD, and the driver AT LEAST $50, but probably much more. That would be my bare minimum for average service. Sometimes the guides in India will take you to their houses, spend countless hours with you, so that deserves much more. Just assume you would be helping with a child's university costs, or a wife's medical bills.

And rhkkmk is correct. You will get a lousy exchange rate in the US. ATM's are plentiful in India. Just decide on your tip amount on your second to last day, and then have the driver take you to an ATM.

Kathie

In your case, the driver is who will be with you the whole trip and should get the lion's share of the tip.

I agree that it makes little sense to get rupees in the US. You will pay a premium of at least 10% to buy them here. Wait until you get to India and use an ATM in the airport or elsewhere.

CaliforniaLady

Kathie, you caught my error--I misread the post, and I was preparing to respond again.

The driver is the one away from home, and is obviously the trip team captain, so I would give him maybe $150 to $200, or maybe more. For the local guides, I might give them $10-$15 a day, or maybe a little more for exceptional service, or if they have to stay overnight away from home.

ladyrep

Thanks as always. We will wait until we arrive to exchange money and use the ATM machines. I agree with the $150 to $200.00 for the driver and $10 to $15 for guide. We figured about $35 to $40 per day for tipping and that is about what you all are suggesting.

mrwunrfl

I'm going to retire to the Marigold Hotel in Jaipur and become a tour guide.