We have arranged a private tour through Turkey through Credo Tours in Istanbul. We will have a private guide for three full days in Istanbul, and three other guides and drivers for the various legs of our trip. We will likely be spending 3-4 full days with each of them. We have paid a lump sum price for our arrangements so i have no idea how much each "leg" actually costs. I have read previously that North American tipping practices are more generous than those in Turkey but that guides now expect to be tipped at that level. Do any of you have any suggestions as to what range we should be considering to reflect our appreciation? There will be four of us travelling-two adults and two teenagers. We have also chartered a gullet for four nights and have similar enquiries for that part of our holiday. Any suggestions?

I'm and once went to an expensive restaurant on Cape Cod. The entry at the bottom of the menu changed my view on the whole issue. It read :

"a small polite note to our English visitors - tipping in the US is regarded as the norm and anything below 20% is regarded as an insult"

The food was aweful and the service poor - they got nothing and I got a very curt response.

Since that experience I simply give if I feel that the service has deserved it.

Incidently, although their waiters will deny it - many Spanish and Italians I know think that you would have to be a fool to tip. Their view is simple - agree a price, provide the service - end of story.

Other than in restaurants where I normally added 10%, I have to say my tipping was all over the board, as I was just as confused. A lot of times it was based on how much money I had in my wallet and was willing to part with. When I asked local people about tipping private guides, they usually responded with "whatever you want." It was hard to get a straight answer, perhaps because it may not be expected??? Anyway, be assured of one thing: no matter what you tip, they will show nothing but gratitude and be very gracious. That's Turkey.

Thanks everyone for your input. I am concerned about the tip on the gullet-the cost for four nights is substantial and even if the service is terrific I do not think that 10% (which would be in excess of $400 USD) is appropriate though I expect the yacht broker may suggest otherwise!

Hi P,

You have paid for a package (I'm including the cruise.)

Service fee is included.

If service is good, you might wish to give each of your guides, drivers, porters, cab drivers, waiters, chamber maids, donkey drivers, bellhops, cabin attendants, washroom attendants, bartenders, doormen, pursers, concierges, busboys and barbers a couple of dollars/day, but certainly not 10-15%.

You do not need to tip the pilot.

Enjoy your visit.

Ira

are you showing an English sense of sarcasm or are you serious?

I am genuinely interested as I find the whole issue of tipping intriguing. It sends some of us English into hours of endless discussions at the end of meals!

markrosy - in the US waiters and waitresses live on their tips, literally. Paycheck is minimum wage, or close to it. They often have no health benefits, either. Agree it's a dumb way to do things but that's the way it is. The statement that anything under 20% is an insult is a big stretch. 15%, maybe.

Your various responses are timely. I received my "information package" from my travel agent in Turkey today. The guidelines suggested are $5 USD pp for transfers, $15 pp/per day for the driver on full day tours, and $25 USD pp/per day for the guide. There are four of us and these guidelines (if followed) would add $160 USD per day to each day we spend touring. That seems very steep. As to the gulet-I booked that independently and it is not part of the package arranged by the travel agent. We have chartered sailboats before but that was some years ago and tipping standards have probably changed. I know not all travellers tip and sometimes those of us in North America tend to over-tip. What to do?????

Hi P,

>What to do?????

I told you.

The suggested schedule is outrageous.

Hi Mark,

I'm serious.

Is this genuinely the case? I have always suspected whether the tips go to fleece the pockets of the Porsche driving owner of the restaurant. Tipping in the Uk is far less common, we have a relatively higher minimum wage.

If it is the case do all staff expect a tip as we have been to many restaurants in North America and had great service but also had absolutely poor service in others. Do those giving a poor service also expect 15% as a matter of course?

Either service is included or not. If not, my husband and I leave around 10%, although it will depend on the quality of the service and the overall price. We will only tip in the real "tip" sense if the service was good and we do not think of percentage, we just reflect our appreciation...

PS to Mark,

If you are visiting the US, you should be prepared to pay 15% to waiters, about 10% to cabs.

You should give the rest of the list about 1 GBP per day.

You don't have to tip the pilot. See
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1288831

Ira - please you are now being very cruel to an innocent Brit is this all a wind up or not - usually the English sense of humour translates well across the pond and vice versa but you are all beginning to worry me now!

Should I tip my wife tonight - the meal was great but the service was average comments please!

>Should I tip my wife tonight ...

If she is in the mood, yes.

My husband and I tip 20% in the US and 20% when we travel outside of the country. We can afford it and part of the pleasure of our vacation is to make our servers happy. We ourselves are in the service industry, so I suppose that makes a difference.

Thanks for your replies. I tend to agree with Ira. I am not talking about restaurant tipping practices or servers, but drivers and guides. I see a distinction. It is also not a matter of being able to afford it-we can. The question is whether we should. We have had similar situations in other places-I recall the laundry people on our houseboat in South Asia seeking $40 for washing some of our clothes. The amount they wanted was totally disproportionate to the service rendered in the context of the local economy and practices. Yes, we paid -but much less than the amount requested. The bottom line is I want to be fair do not want to be played.

Point well taken, pirouette. I also know a rip-off when I see it.

The current issue of the excellent "International Travel News" has an extensive article on this very subject. Try to get a copy!

Considering you are travelling at 4 different places general standart for tipping will be a bit over the normal and hurt your bank.
Transferman or driver each time 10 Usd.
Guide; if you are happy 15 Usd a day
Driver 7,5 a day so if you give 25 after 3 days he will be happy.

If you are extreamely happy with someone than you can be more generous at some cases.

Also they are being paid by the travel agency....But tipping is expected with such services anyway.

Happy travelling,

Murat

<Incidently, although their waiters will deny it - many Spanish and Italians I know think that you would have to be a fool to tip. Their view is simple - agree a price, provide the service - end of story.>

may be true of waiters in Spain and Italy but not in Cape Cod or private tours and bus tours where the 'guide' seems often to solely depend on tips for his wage.

To me if the tip is not included in the price and wait staff do not get a decent wage and depend on tips it's extremely low not to tip - even with poor service - 20% is not an established level generally in US but 15% - poor service 10% but never nothing unless the service was far more horrible than i think