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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 91
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Hi.
I have booked my first guided trip...up Shasta...and would like to know what the guides would REALLY appreciate as a monetary gratuity.
Thanks.
Susan.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 38
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I just booked a small trip with REI and the suggested tipping guidelines were $5-$15 per person, per day, per guide. That is a pretty wide range depending on your stay. They suggest if your not comfortable with what your giving, to pool your tips together with other members of the group and put it in an envelope.
Of course, I'm sure they will appreciate the upper end or more than the guidelines suggest.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 144
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Joined: Oct 2005
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15-20% of the guide's fee I believe is the standard range. The guys or girls work really hard for you and their wages are rather small. I figure if I am going to shell out the cash to hire a guide, I should be prepared to tip them fairly for their services. Summitpost has had several threads on this topic and I believe that is the consensus of most the climbers over there as well.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,006
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Hi Susan,
Thanks for the question. I think Scott answered the question well above. If you think they did a great job it's a great way to let them know. Keep in mind that tipping comes from the heart. You shouldn't feel obligated if you don't think the guides met your expectations. If they did meet your expectations I know they will be very appreciative.
I'm out the door on a trip but would be happy to answer more questions upon my return later this week.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 271
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Bear in mind that you don't always know what the guide's fee is. As this person in the Summitpost thread said: Basing it on the total cost of the trip doesn't always work because the trip cost may include hotel expenses and ground transportation expenses, which can vary considerably. The total cost also includes sales and administrative costs. But even if you can't figure out roughly what the guide is being paid, you do always know what the package cost is; so maybe 10 percent of that is a good starting point at least.
Also, how about differences in wage rates in different countries? A $100 tip might seem cheap in the U.S., whereas in a third-world country $100 U.S. dollars could be ridiculously huge (although well appreciated, I'm sure). What's appropriate to do in that case? Personally I have a real interest as I'm going on a guided trek in Asia soon and I'd like to do the "right" thing. Not just tip in American terms and be laughed at - "...Stupid Americans, doesn't even realize he just tipped me a year's wages!"...
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,447 Likes: 11
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Joined: Jun 2003
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If you're talking Nepal, what I've always been told is that you tip the "common" Porters and Guides a day's wage for each week you trek. Of course, if you're having a bad day and dump more of your personal gear on a porter, or guide, it isn't bad practice to "toss" them a 500, or 1000, rupee note at the end of the day. They'll be that much more willing to help you out in the future.
Technical, or high altitude, treks/climbs are a whole different story though. I usually make an agreement about what the bonus (tip) will be for each day spent at altitude (usually over 5000m) and also what the "reward" will be for getting a successful summit. The bonus for a summit is something that the Sherpa expect. (Everest, and most of the other "big" mountains have standard tables for how much compensation the High Altitude Porters/Guides will get for each trip up with a load to a specific camp, so someone in charge of the expedition will tell you how much bonus money you owe each Porter/Guide before the trip is over.)
With my friend/guide Yakpu, if we've had an outstanding time, I will toss him more than he would usually make in a year (salary wise, not tips). He, and the rest of the Sherpa people will not laugh at you, they will appreciate that you've given them enough money to pay for the kids education, or to put away for the Lodge they've always wanted to build.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 271
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Thank you, Richard. That was very helpful.
We're actually going to Bhutan. Won't be higher than in the mid 16,000' range.
Passing through Bangkok, so hopefully Thailand won't have a complete meltdown in the immediate future!
Again, it's not an intention to be cheap that prompted my question. More the idea of not imposing American values on other cultures. I have an adversion to the image of the steriotypical "ugly American" tossing money around and grandstanding like some sort of arrogant, "looking down on the rest of the world" weenie. Even though massive amounts of cash would undoubtedly be appreciated, I'd rather tip generously, but with a bit of tact and respect as well.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,447 Likes: 11
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Bhutan is a whole different story than Nepal or Tibet, so you might want to check with the guide company that you are using.
I could never get myself to go there due to the higher costs for travel there, and there's so much that I haven't seen in Nepal and Tibet.
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