Tipping & other extra expenses
 

Hi,

Getting closer to my trip to Kenya and I'm wondering about the tipping.
Can you all please tell me what is reasonable tipping and what is the absolute minimum in each situation. Also, if you know of any extra expenses I should be thinking about that's great info too.
We have a private guide/driver and me and my brother have cooked up an itinerary together with a provider. Only me, my brother, and the guide. 14 days half in resorts/camps and half camping.

According to the provider these are their recommendations:
Restaurants: 10% of the total bill when service is not otherwise included

Porters / Hotel Staff: US $1 per baggage handling or per day

Stewards and Other Camp Staff: $1 - $2 per person per day (note that some luxury properties have a single staff tip box for everyone)

Private Camping: US $4 - $5 per person per day to be divided among staff

Driver / Guide: US $5 - $15 per person per day


The first two are more than reasonable, but the rest I'd like help with.
In a resort, should we be running around giving every single personel 1-2 USD every day. So if 15 persons work there we should give 120USD extra, per person, in tipping for a four day stay there???

5-15 USD, five to fifteen???, a day per person to the guide? WHY? Arn't they getting payed by the big money we already payed for the trip??

And the private camping. If we only have one personel he geets 4 per person per day and if they are 4 personel they only get 1 each per day. ??.

Please help explain all this. I've traveled a lot around the world but never Africa. Tipping is concidered an extra bonus given for some extra deed we would like to premiate for, not a daily must for personely that should be getting the pay from what we already payed for the trip and arrangements.
I'm confused as to why it works this way in Africa and why diluting the meaning of tipping.

These sums, with my salary, are enormous extra costs. I knew about tipping but had no idea that the trip would get THAT more expensive because of forced tipping.

Thanks for helping me out.

There are plenty of threads on this board re tipping. You can do a search and get much of the info you need.

Generally, I figure $20/day/person (you and your travel partner) to be distributed as: Guide, $10/person/day; Camp Staff, $5/person/day; If you have a tracker, $5/person/day.

Tips are given after the service, not daily (unless you're somewhere for 1/dy). If same guide entire trip, then on last (14th) day; camp staff when leaving a particular lodge/camp; same for tracker.

At city (Nairobi or Arusha) hotels, usually for porters @ $1/bag (in/out)and $2/day for hotel housekeeper.

Unless, someone, somewhere goes over and above providing a special service, you can tip separately... there shouldn't be any other tips required.

The above is a guideline. Of course, you can tip less, but more often visitors tip more.

Tips have nothing to do with the salary given the guide/driver, camp staff, etc. which is often small compared to wages elsewhere in the world.

What kind of camping are you doing? Unless it's "luxury" mobile camping, you usually just have a cook along who also sets up camp, not a full staff. Confirm this with your tour operator. For lodge/camp staff, I usually leave a pooled tip. Use Sandi's suggestions as a guideline. You can tip at the conclusion of your stay (for lodge/camp staff) or conclusion of services (for your driver/guide and cook). You probably won't have a tracker. It's that common in East Africa, particularly if your tour operator is providing the vehicle and driver/guide.

Should read &quot;It's <i>not</i> that common...&quot;

Thanks for those guidelines.

I'd still like an explanation to this weird way of working tips. That's not how tips should be used.

Please, also concider that you can't compare wages between countries. There are a lot of factors to concider, like the expenses you need to pay each month, your true needs each month (just like it's different between the country and the city) and for ex. how much bread and milk/water you can buy for that salary.

$15 per day is still a lot, for me, but of course, we have different wages all of us tourist, coming from different countries with differen professions, who go there and for others that sum might not be much at all.

When you consider travel anywhere, it's not simply selecting an itinerary, that's going where you wish, staying at accommodations that suit, provide activities and tours... at the amount you wish to pay.

You then have to consider getting to your destination (airfare), whether visas are required, what inoculations or meds must be taken and visit to the physician, clothing that has to be purchased, camera/s and related supplies, binoculars, suitcase, special shoes or equipment, meals and sightseeing not included, ATM and credit card fees, trip insurance... and yes, tips. All of these and probably more will add (a few thousand dollars) to that initial price that looked so attractive.

For any trip, one should considered these costs before you book and pay that deposit. And, if this cost will take you over your projected budget, then you may have to look for another destination.

I normally don't like to get involved with such questions but having just returned, I feel an obligation to make a case for generous tipping. The guides and camp staff don't make much money, many have a college degree and can't find any work. The unemployement in Bostwana is over 45%. Tourisim is an important part of the overall income of these countries but the owners don't necessarily share their profits in a generous way. My suggestion would be to cut your safari short by a day and take the money saved and tip generously. Once you meet and interact with these people you will feel it was worthwhile. In addition, the guides in East Africa and South Africa work quite hard. Driving under the conditions that they do would wear out even a New York cabbie in just one day. These guides work continually, often acting as spotters and drivers.
Regards, Chuck

Tipping varies so much around the world that it's really important to have an understanding of the customs and the economic situation wherever you're going so you can act accordingly. I have a friend who's Chinese and I won't go to restaurants with her here because she doesn't tip. Apparently, tipping is uncommon in China. But here, servers are paid only minimum wage, if that, and must make their living from tips. My friend would do fine in France, however, where being a waiter is a much more well-paid position and tips--or only minimal ones--aren't expected. Safarichuck gives a great opinion on why tipping is important to the people who are working for you on your safari. Think of it in terms of paying $150 for a pair of athletic shoes. That money certainly isn't going to the people who earn $1 an hour making them.

Sandi:
I thought it was clear that I'm used to travelling all around the globe, so however correct your remarks on seeing to all the costs around the main package deal, it does not help me. All costs, including tipps, have been considered.

The deal here is that you are all confusing tips with salary. A tip is supposed to be something given for the extra service you receive and that you want to show your appreciation for.
Most people simply accept thing in the world as they are, but you WOULD react if suddenly when you arrive to Argentina airport security guys, working for low salaries, demand a tip for keeping the airport safe for you, or the hotel receptionist &quot;demanding&quot; a tip for her help.
What about when u go on a boat tour, either luxury or sightseeing in a town, do you give a tip to all involved in that tour?

You are seeing tipping the wrong way, you are destroying the value of the meaning of tipping.

Btw, I've saved for over 4 years for this trip and I chose Kenya as safari destination, and I've searched the best prices, all because of my less than rich bank account.
I can't travel somewhere else as I can't see Rhino, cheetah, lion, and many other animals.
I'm there for the animals, not any human.
I work to save the world (animals and environment), mostly from humans, and am paying for that in bad salary but feeling good about it.

I still see your view but I would wish more of you would act to change those ways. They should get very good pays from the employers. The employers are making good money on this.

The guide/driver, especially, deserves a good pay, but it's not me who should pay his salary with &quot;tips&quot;.

I will pay tips, but according to service provided and not to conventions set out as salary system.
I wanted a guideline and explanation to the weird system. I got the guide and in part an explanation, that I thank you for.

Kmania:
I support your chinese friend. It is not my problem the salary system is wrong for the waiters in your country. They will have to get together and demand a real salary then.

When you buy something you should get all fees + charges + anything else included so that you know what you will have to pay at the end of the day/meal/etc.. You shouldnt have to carry around a bunch of extra money for every event just cause you got no clue what the final tag will end up at.
Clear simple price tags, no hidden prices anywhere.

Btw, $150 sneakers is something I've never afforded. Not even nice evening shoes for that price is affordable for me. My sneakers cost $50-70 at most and I buy new ones every 4 years.

I see your point of view, all of you, but you all have to realize that we are not all as fortunate to have that kind of money and you can't tell someone that has lived and loved cheetah's all his life and saved for years for a trip, that he should chose another part of the world for a trip. And you can't cut the trip so short that you will regret what you did as it's a once in a life time trip.

If we act against the wrong ways of the tipping system they, after a while, won't get any good guides and the tourist will drop in amounts, or complain on the quality, and then they will see the need to giving the hired guides/drivers a good salary and add that charge on the package cost instead.

Changes don't come from just moving along with the systems.

Again, I do thank you for your view and post though.

WayuU - You seem to know the way you believe the world should work; but you do not accept that this is not how the world works in a lot of places.

In many parts of the world a tip is a gratuity for the service provided, not just for extra service; extra service gets a bigger tip. In most places I have traveled we tip the porters that carry our bags, the housekeeping staff that cleans our room, the taxi driver that takes us to a restaurant, the bartender and waiter that serves us, the tour guide/driver if we take a tour.

There is a saying that if one cannot afford the meal with a tip; then one cannot afford that restaurant.

I think thats a bit harsh and perhaps a very US-centric view of the world.

A tip should be exactly that and not obligatory in the same way that it is in the US. It is for the lodge owners to ensure that their staff is paid a decent living wage and not for visitors to make up the difference between a poor wage and a degent wage with tips. I am afraid constant tipping by visitors leaves no incentive for lodge owners to start paying decent wages.

Perhaps we need to assess what our home currencies are worth in the countries we visit and tip accordingly and in the local currency if required. Just because the US dollar is the smallest denomination note available, doesnt make is the 'right' tip amount.

For example - At current exchange rates, the pound is worth 2 US and I am not sure a lot of people would take kindly to British people going around the world handing out pound coins (or its dollar worth) in tips, effectively doubling what Americans are used to handing out as tips.

Amol,

I think you can &quot;tip&quot; in any major currency.....dollar, pounds, euro....

Hari

Hari

Its not the currency of tipping that I have issues with. Its the amount that seems to be multiples for American units thats the issue.

You live in India and know as well as I do that 10 rupees is a reasonable tip for a porter. Yet foreign tourist setting this figure to $1 or 1 Euro (note there are convenient round figures) simply doesnt do any good to the local economy.

Do you agree that this is a fair argument?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if people the world over were paid a salary they could live on and not be appreciative of tips (To Insure Propper Service) when rendered from those they serve, drive, clean, etc.

You are under no obligation to tip, but you should know that if the service you receive from the guide, camp/hotel staff and others who make your trip wonderful, it's a show of appreciation (not a law) to proffer a tip with a gracious thank you to these individuals. Believe me, with few exceptions, these service people deserve tips.

Wages/salaries aren't the same worldwide (the idealism you show won't happen in my lifetime or yours). Those who work, especially in tourism, in many &quot;third-world&quot; countries make very little on a daily basis. And, while tipping might not be a custom in some countries (either from where a visitor resides or destination one is visiting), then one isn't obligated to do so.

Since you asked the question, it's of concern... and you got some replies. If $15/day is more than you can afford, then so be it. Tip as you see fit with the budget you have, or not!

As to the police in Argentina or receptionist assisting with some service that's his/her job, expecting a tip... kind of reminds me of the Tip Jars that have popped up everywhere from Starbuck's, the dry cleaners, bagel shop or other small business ... give me a break! For pouring a cup of coffee, handing me my laundry... I don't think so!

Yes, whenever i go to any of the major hotels here in India....i see people carry around a whole stack of $1 bills.

Btw, Amol...don't know if you follow the cricket (why would anybody, anymore) but, Tendulkar seems his old self tonight!!! FINALLY!!!

So, gotta go.....will chk back tomorrow!

Not a huge fan (anymore...), but following this game..

WayuU
I'd hate to see the look on your guides face after 14 days of driving you and your brother around, showing you cheetahs and everything else you wanted to see, setting up camp, breaking up camp, keeping you entertained, fed, watered, warm and safe and you show your appreciation with a handshake and a couple of dollars. I feel sorry for that guide!

WayuU,
It appears that you were not seeking tipping advice but rather an excuse not to tip. If you don't get it after reading all of these posts, then forget it you never will. Perhaps you need to save up a bit more cash so that you can pay for the services you receive. In general, Americans tip well, perhaps it's because many of us have earned our way theough Universities and Colleges doing jobs that paid only token wages and so we learned the importance of tipping. I cannot speak for others, but I earned my way through Undergraduate and Medical School in just that way. I remember observing that those individuals who could afford it least seem to tip most generously. If you are as widely traveled as you claim, then pehaps you need to learn a bit more about the culture of the country you plan to visit. To use a U.S. phrase, &quot;Don't stiff the locals&quot;. I certainly hope your countrymen, whatever country that is, don't share your attitude. Remember you choose your destinations and you have the choice of spending one less day on safari and using that savings to pay your guides and supporting staff. This is probably the first post I have ever replied to in the hope the poster would choose NOT to go to Africa.
Good Luck,
Chuck