Question on tipping a tour driver

[mssocks]

Hello All!

Well, it's getting close - we are supposed to leave this Sunday. I say supposed to because I still do not have a passport. My holiday may very well be spent in my back yard. If it does come through though, I have a question for you.

There will be 14 of us in a private hire mini tour bus. What would be an appropriate amount to tip the driver/guide each time?

Part 1 - pick up at Gatwick, drive to Stratford-upon-Avon, tour a bit, then to Warwick Castle for a visit, then to our hotel in Birmingham.
Part 2 - Pick up in Birmingham, drive to a B&B right next to Gatwick
Part 3 - Pick up at B&B, drive to and tour Salisbury, Stonehenge, Bath and Winsdor - return to B&B
Part 4 - Pick up at B&B, drive to London, general tour with designated stops of our choosing, return to B&B.

We want to make sure we do the correct thing here!

Thanks and still hoping to see some of you next week!

 

[arieliwish]

Hi,
I work for a coach firm in the north east uk. Do you know if it will be the same driver for each trip? If it is you can give him a combined tip at the end of the bookings.

If its just a taxi type trip probably £5-£10 max for the driver, but on sightseeing trips, if he's friendly and pleasant and informative maybe £20+, depending on how good he is.

Our drivers have 49 seater coaches and can get £20 upwards. If they get £1 per person its a very good day! Some organisers work an amount into the coach costs and divide it up between everyone on the trip, so they pay say £20 per head for the trip and out of that comes something for the driver, the organiser will put an envelope out for him and they don't need to have a tip box relying on peoples generosity (or not!).

Also - the UK isn't as big on tipping as in the USA!

Regards

Lynn

 

[mssocks]

I don't know if we have the same driver, it would be nice though! The first part will be on Monday, then the rest will be the following Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Perhaps it is possible. This person will also be acting as a tour guide I've been told. Someone else is making all the arrangements.

Someone who really enjoys their job and goes out of their way to be hospitable does deserve a little something. I'll check and see if it has been worked into the costs. We really made out better with the minibus than if we had tried for BritRail passes due to the length and locations of our visit. Only about $320.00 a person for all....so that's what, 160 BPS?

Thanks for your help!