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When should I tip? Is it necessary to tip on a self-guided bike tour or a self-guided hiking tour? Necessary – no, but you may feel inclined. Usually, the only time you will meet our staff is at the beginning tour orientation, but sometimes when you need to call us to help with something that arises, our team will do everything to help and get you going. Other services, such as taxis, restaurants, etc., may warrant tipping. We also offer guided tours and ‘supported’ adventures. At Pure Adventures we pride ourselves on having an outstanding crew of support staff, and guides who speak fluent English which is almost always their second language. With our team back home dedicated to customer service, we help our guides and support staff prepare for your visit before you arrive. Our team will most often do whatever they can to ensure your best experience and comfort. Travelers often believe a guide is unnecessary until they get into a tricky situation and need assistance. Then, they realize what a truly valuable service it is. With the hard work and dedication of our support team and guides, our goal is to provide you with the best overall trip experience.
Continue reading to learn more about when to tip on a guided tour and when to tip on a self-guided tour!
To help people decide about when and how much to tip a guide, we refer you to an article from Outside Magazine. Outside Magazine discusses the matter of tipping a guide and references many well-qualified names in the travel industry, and figures that “the established tipping average is about 10 to 20 percent of the total tour price.” The same article also lists a series of questions to ask yourself while on your tour, to help decide upon the monetary specifics of your gratuity:
Here’s a tip: Don’t stress over tipping. While tips are appreciated no matter where you travel, tipping in Europe isn’t as automatic nor as generous as it is in the US, and in many countries, tips aren’t expected at all. The proper amount depends not only on the country you’re in, but also on your resources, tipping philosophy, and the circumstances. Still, some general guidelines apply.
Restaurants: Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. Servers are paid a living wage, and tips are considered a small bonus — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number. In many countries, 5 percent is adequate and 10 percent is considered a nice tip. Locals just leave coins on the table, round up, or often don’t tip at all. Resist the urge to tip American-style. If your bucks talk at home, muzzle them on your travels. As a matter of principle — if not economy — the local price should prevail. Please believe me — tipping 15 or 20 percent in Europe is unnecessary, if not culturally ignorant. You’re just raising the bar and messing up the local balance. And it’s bad style. Tipping is an issue only at restaurants with table service. If you order food at a counter (in a pub, for example), don’t tip. At sit-down restaurants, the tipping etiquette and procedure vary slightly from country to country, but typically, a few euros is sufficient. When in doubt, ask a local!
Taxis: For a typical ride, round up to the next euro on the fare (to pay a €13 fare, give €14); for a long ride, to the nearest 10 (for a €76 fare, give €80). If the cabbie hauls your bags and zips you to the airport to help you catch your flight, you might want to toss in a little more. But if you feel like you’re being driven in circles or otherwise ripped off, skip the tip.
Hotels: At hotels with porters, give a euro for each bag they carry. It’s nice (but optional) to leave a small tip in your room for the housekeeping staff when you depart.
(Source: Rick Steves, 2024 Tipping in Europe)
It is important to remember that whether on a self-guided or guided tour, tipping is at your discretion.
The Pure Adventures Team