Like any member of the service industry, Tour Directors, bus drivers and local guides depend on tips to make a living. Group Leaders are advised to collect tip money from each participant at the beginning of the tour to avoid confusion and lack of money at the end of the tour.
Who to Tip
Tour Director
Each participant is expected to give the Tour Director at least 3-5 Euros per day on European tours, and $4 USD per day, or local equivalent, on all other tours.
Bus Driver
Each participant is expected to tip their bus driver 1-2 Euros per day on European tours, and $1-2 USD per day, or local equivalent, on all other tours.
For tours to Costa Rica and Belize, $2-3 USD per day is the recommended amount.
Local Guides
Tipping for local guides is at the discretion of the Group Leader. If you would like to tip your local guide it is advised that tip money be collected in advance as well.
Cruises
Please tip your Explorica Tour Director per normal along with the additional cruise tips that are required.
Cruise tips cover all serviced rendered on board – housekeeping, dining service, etc. – and are automatically added by the cruise line to each traveller's personal cruise account card in the amounts listed below.
Participants aged 5-15 are charged €4 EUR per day
Participants aged 16+ are charged €8 EUR per day
Please note that you can only use cash or a credit card to add money to or pay the balance of your personal cruise account card. If cash is your preferred method of payment, be sure to withdraw the necessary amount before boarding the ship.
Any traveller may contact the cruise line's Guest Relations office to change the tip amount automatically added to their personal cruise account card. Group Leaders may also contact Guest Relations if they prefer to put all tips on their personal cruise account card.