We are leaving for Cairo tomorrow evening (Thurs.) for a short stay. We have arranged for sightseeing there with LE. What is the recommended tip per full day for a private guide and driver? We will be staying in Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel. (How is the food there?)

Then we will be off to Kenya, where we will be staying at Il Moran.

Thank you again for all your help (last year) in planning this wonderful trip! Many thanks in advance for the answer(s) to the above question(s). We are of course very excited!!

I usually allow for $10/day for guide; $3-5/day for driver. More, if deserving.

Otherwise, it's up to you.

Sandi, thanks for your prompt reply.

Sandi, I have to disagree with you there. The sums you gave, I assume in US dollars seem way too low. The Lady Egypt guides and drivers look after you so well and are with you ALL day.

I felt for the drivers. What a boring day just waiting around all day for us yet they took so much pride in it. They would make sure you got in to a cool car even if it meant them sitting in it for 15 mins prior to you getting in with the air conditioning on. I thought their income potential was a lot lower than the guides/Egyptologists who have been to College so I felt that I should offer them more than what was suggested.

I loved my time in Egypt with Lady Egypt and my 1 regret, was not that I wished I had seen more, I wished that I had tipped more. I gave money to street sweepers in Luxor as some of the workers we came across were doing a fabulous job and everything was so tidy, bought grain for horses, bought stray street cats food, little kids coca cola (one poor kid's dad made him sit outside for ages in the street whilst he went inside a cafe to watch football and smoke sheesha - I thought if I gave him money he would have to give it to his dad. I thought he would appreciate a cool drink). I did share my luck at being an Australia and employed but wished I could of done more.

With Egypt relying on tourism to make ends meet, please give what you can to help the fabulous peope of Egypt as they have been struggling. One of our fabulous Egyptian guides is still in touch and begs me to tell people to go there.

Rule of thumb for me 10-15% of cost of service divided

between providers of service tipped separately and directly.

Lots of abuse so for $100 tour $15 for me.

Qwovadis - why are all of your posts double spaced.

The bakery/coffee house in the Le Merdien lobby is quite good. I don't know if it's still in operation, but when we were there in August 2008, there was a Tex-Mex restaurant in the hotel that was very good (albeit at hotel prices).. There is a Felfela falafel stand next door that is fabulous - I think a felafel sandwich was something like $.25.

Miss Green says: I felt for the drivers. What a boring day just waiting around all day for us yet they took so much pride in it. They would make sure you got in to a cool car even if it meant them sitting in it for 15 mins prior to you getting in with the air conditioning on. I thought their income potential was a lot lower than the guides/Egyptologists who have been to College so I felt that I should offer them more than what was suggested.
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Well said. The drivers are the least paid and they do work hard for their money. If you can give them a bit more of a tip, please do. There are hardly ANY "rich" drivers in this country.

I said I allow $10/day for the guide whether on safari or other such services other countries. And, did mention for people to up the amount or reduce it depending on service provided. When I'm traveling with others, $10/person x 2 or 3 or 4, does add up. But when I'm on my own, the $10 is more often $15 and even $20.

Gratuities/tipping - a very touchy subject for many and you'd be surprised at how even the numbers I show are considered too high. Some people are really cheap, figuring "hey, I'll never see this person again."

What I indicated is only a guideline and for all the searching you'll do on this forum and others, you'll find as many responses... more or less.

When I think of it, except for countries where tipping isn't expected, even frowned upon (I've never been to any of those) I've never asked this question. Guess when you live in NYC where it's a way-of-life, you just do!