Tipping a private guide
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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Tipping a private guide
Going to CR in April on a Bill Beard pkg. Private guide with car as follows:
Pick up from airport/drive to Arenal
2 days Arenal with zip line, hot springs, preserve, hiking.
Drive to Los Innocentes-1/2 day horseback riding and then on to Playa Hermosa.
No guide for next 3 days as we are diving.
There are 3 of us until this point. Then one goes home. 2 of us go on to Monteverde Cloud forest for 2 days-zip, preserve. Then we get driven to our hotel near San Jose, and that is it.
When I phoned Bill Beard to ask about tipping the guide, they told me 10% of the cost of the land trip. Our land trip for the 3 of us is $4200. 2 of us will have a guide for 5 days, the other person for 3 days. $420 seems a bit steep to me. Any advise from Fodorites?
Pick up from airport/drive to Arenal
2 days Arenal with zip line, hot springs, preserve, hiking.
Drive to Los Innocentes-1/2 day horseback riding and then on to Playa Hermosa.
No guide for next 3 days as we are diving.
There are 3 of us until this point. Then one goes home. 2 of us go on to Monteverde Cloud forest for 2 days-zip, preserve. Then we get driven to our hotel near San Jose, and that is it.
When I phoned Bill Beard to ask about tipping the guide, they told me 10% of the cost of the land trip. Our land trip for the 3 of us is $4200. 2 of us will have a guide for 5 days, the other person for 3 days. $420 seems a bit steep to me. Any advise from Fodorites?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Dear bugswife1,
No, this can't be right. I estimate the actual cost of using the service of a private driver with a car for these trip to be around $400-600, so a nice tip, should be around $50. A tip of a few hundred dollars is more than the average monthly salary in Costa Rica! And believe me, a $50 is very nice. Obviously the more you pay, the better, but do not feel uncomfortable paying around $50, in my opinion. If you feel the service was superb, you should pay a little more, but nothing close to $420!
Please, feel free to write me directly for any more information or advice.
Pura Vida,
Neta Talmor
No, this can't be right. I estimate the actual cost of using the service of a private driver with a car for these trip to be around $400-600, so a nice tip, should be around $50. A tip of a few hundred dollars is more than the average monthly salary in Costa Rica! And believe me, a $50 is very nice. Obviously the more you pay, the better, but do not feel uncomfortable paying around $50, in my opinion. If you feel the service was superb, you should pay a little more, but nothing close to $420!
Please, feel free to write me directly for any more information or advice.
Pura Vida,
Neta Talmor
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Dear Banares,
Yes, the $50 would be for everyone. If you have 2 or more different drivers, give each $15-$20, that is fine. Don't forget, the drivers get a salary, or if they are lucky, they own the van, in which case, they make good money from the company that hired them. Don't misunderstand me, I live in Costa Rica and I know how strong the dollar is, and how significant $10 more can be for a Costa Rican who has to support a family, but a few hundred dollars as a tip is just ridiculous. You can also always show the driver your gratitude by inviting him to lunch when you stop in a Soda (that's a small restaurant that serves lunch on the road) etc.
Feel free to write me directly for more info.
Pura Vida,
Neta Talmor
Yes, the $50 would be for everyone. If you have 2 or more different drivers, give each $15-$20, that is fine. Don't forget, the drivers get a salary, or if they are lucky, they own the van, in which case, they make good money from the company that hired them. Don't misunderstand me, I live in Costa Rica and I know how strong the dollar is, and how significant $10 more can be for a Costa Rican who has to support a family, but a few hundred dollars as a tip is just ridiculous. You can also always show the driver your gratitude by inviting him to lunch when you stop in a Soda (that's a small restaurant that serves lunch on the road) etc.
Feel free to write me directly for more info.
Pura Vida,
Neta Talmor