I would love some guidance on how much to tip halfday private guides. Is there a percentage of cost? How about length of time or number of people in party? Ground rules for different countries?

thanks so much!

Definitely depends on the country (among other things)! You might consult a good guidebook for the destination(s) you are considering -- better ones detail that information.

There is no one rule -- there are VERY country-specific differences. Small tips in some European countries, huge tips in the States, absolutely no tips in Japan.

kja is correct -- guide books re which ever countries interest you -- or ask on the forums. But be ready to start a big fight when asking about tips on the Europe Forum Happens every time.

That may have changed in Japan. In October, all our private guides were happy to receive tips. I tried to phrase it, would you accept? And put money in an envelope…but they’ve learned about Americans.

i tipped no one else there, not in taxis, hotels, restaurants.

private tours. $200+. 20%?
tip based tours. $20?

>> …but they’ve learned about Americans

[... been corrupted by Americans]

Good chance that an English-speaking tour guide is an American or Westerner or maybe a Japanese who has lived in America (or any country where tipping a tour guide is a thing). Maybe there is a Japanese who has never lived outside of Japan, is not familiar with tipping, who is an English-speaking guide in Japan, but that would be rare.

Good chance that they work for a non-Japanese tour company,

In any case, they deal with foreign tourists who often ask about and even insist on tipping. Some people are apparently uncomfortable with not tipping. The tour guides who accept tips or who suggest a level of tipping are following foreign, not Japanese, custom. Even the rare Japanese who is offered cash, again and again, is going to start accepting it (being polite or just following the non-Japanese custom or yielding to temptation).

I would wager that those same people don't get tips from their Japanese customers, if they have any

I have read that there are two occasions where Japanese will tip in Japan: geisha events and high-end ryokan.

It was a common thing for people to go to an ochaya and be attended to by geisha. The picture is of a group of men using an expense account from their business. The geisha would pour drinks and socialize with the guests, actually drinking with them and having a good time. They would also perform their gei (i.e. their art like shamisen or traditional dance). They would receive gifts, if not money. My understanding is that expense accounts don't allow for this anymore.

A tip to the maid at a high-end traditional inn (ryokan) is supposedly a thing. I have stayed at such places and there was no suggestion at all about tipping. It is not expected. I think that maybe once I left a 1000-yen tip.

I stayed at the APA Gion Hotel in Kyoto in 2001. This is a budget hotel. There was an envelope on the nightstand with the maid's name on it. I ignored it. That is, I acted like a local. This might have been the first of several rude/abnormal experiences I have had in Kyoto, not elsewhere in Japan, at least once on each of multiple visits to Kyoto.

IMO it is unfortunate you offered tips (when in Rome etc . . . ) -- As mrwunrfl suggested, they might have accepted to be polite and not cause you embarrassment.

Ditto.

There was a nice Japan TR where the OP (maybe this OP) mentioned asking a tour operator about tipping tour guides, They were given guidance on how to do so. I did regret expressing my disapproval of doing so, given that it was a nice TR and the OP was just telling us how much they liked their visit to Japan. That OP did nothing wrong: they asked for advice and followed it. My intent was to point out to others that tipping is not a thing, could be problematic. IDK why they were given that advice. I think of it is a matter of a tour operator that caters to foreign tourists following the foreigners' custom. And the tour operator probably not being Japanese.

I don't know about Japan but I've been taking group trips with tours to Europe for two years now run by a US company. They send out traveler documents that everything you need to know listed. Tips is certainly one of them. I've even seen the price listed change between countries but there it is listed. The general rules and it's per person, the tour manager gets $12/10 (USD) a day, the driver gets $7/5 (USD) and local guide as they only do about an hour or two tour is $5/3 (USD). Now with that said, to me a tip is not just given it's earned and I don't always give one or give the suggested amount. I will give on what I feel comfortable with and it's Europe as I don't think they would even want USD. It's only in the US where it's expected but I'm sure it's nice to receive so that's my suggestion.

Sassy - yes, tipping in USD in another country is the dumbest thing I've ever heard (although there are exceptions, like the Maldives). Surely they mean the equivalent in the country's currency, no? If not, the company is truly showing their ignorance and probably shouldn't be in that line of work. Or do you mean these tour guides are from the US? Perhaps I misunderstood.

Melnq8 the travel documents they give out are in USD yet they talk about local currency earlier in their documentation. To me it's a contradiction because tipping is a US thing or if you are on a cruise. The guides aren't from the US only the tour company that runs the trip is and its travelers. The tour manager, local guides and driver are non-American.

Most people would follow the suggestion because they don't know better. Also some people don't even want to keep cash or have local cash just for a tip. Then these guides and driver know the clientele is American so probably going to tip and may expect it.

Huh, interesting.