Tripadeal China Tipping Advice

Lcami087 on 08/03/2024 - 13:35

Hi all,

I booked this deal https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/795938 and so heading to China this year.

Tripadeal recommend a $12 tip per day to cover the guide and driver. For an 8 day tour that is about $96 each, so for my partner and I, that makes it $96x2= $192.

Tipping is not typical in China but I guess it is if you sign up for one of these tours. They do say it is discretionary but looking to see other ozbargainers personal experience with the tour.

Have you been on one of these and did you tip? Did you give the recommended amount or more/less? Do you get treated unfavourably if you tip less or not at all?

I thought I read somewhere you give the tip at the start of the tour, so you don't even get to experience the service first, is that true?

And finally if you have any other tips for this tour!

Thanks

Travel Asia China

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/03/2024 - 13:41
    +4

    comments in that thread seem to say you may be pressured into buying random knick knacks from the places they ferry you to. have you budgeted for this too?

    • cami087 on 08/03/2024 - 13:47
      -1

      Yes, well aware of the hard sell at the gift shops. I have alipay and wechat set up besides some cash but I really don't intend to buy anything, even if pressured too.

    • pinchies on 08/03/2024 - 14:36
      +1

      Regarding being pressured to buy junk, I imagine the locations pay some kickback to the tour companies, so they want to make their investment back from tourists. That's a them problem, not a you problem.

      However, driver tipping, I would ask tripadeal why this is not included in the initial booking cost. As they have indicated it is discretionary, I would check if that is really the case or not.

      • cami087 on 08/03/2024 - 14:38
        +2

        I don't think asking them will give me any more information than what I already have from them. Hence, just asking how was someone's personal experience. Assuming that it had lots of upvotes, that someone here as been on the tour.

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/03/2024 - 08:21
      +13

      Ive been on this tour and a similar one run by ChinaTour.so most qualified to comment on all questions
      Feel free to PM me

      Firstly
      its great experience and the guides do a wonderful job.
      And given you are only paying $999 for the entire tour its nothing to tip the guide and driver $6 ea per day so please dont be a cheapskate. They both put in lots of hours for your benefilt each day.

      Secondly
      the guide will ask for the tips at the end of the tour. They accept both Chinese Yuan or AUD.
      Some even run a money exchange service at a very favourable rate too!
      I think they do advise you at the beginning of the tour so it doesnt come as a surprise.
      EVERYONE on the tour does tip the guide and driver without any reservations so it wont be a good look to refuse.
      And they do a great job! So well worthwhile the small expense.

      Thirdly
      when the total cost is only $999 pp including flights pls be thoughful of how little the driver and guide are being paid!
      Your tip goes a long way to feed them and thier family!

      Fourthly
      You will get taken to some places where the main intention is to sell you stuff.
      From my recollection, the jade factory, Chinese medicines and a Green tea growing place
      You are NOT pressured to buy anything at these places and I recommend that you dont.
      Yes, its a big sell job, but No, its not pressure selling.
      The guides do stay impartial.

      Fiftly,.
      The optional tours are mostly worth it. I suggest you do most of them. eg The night time boat ride through Shanghai see all the amazing light shows on the buildings. It makes Vivid in Sydney look like a side show.

      • MadMax1972 on 10/03/2024 - 13:36
        +1

        I second all the above. We did the trip in 2017 from memory. The green tea is a stand out. They take you into a room and get you to try this tea. Then they try to sell it to you…. it's bloody expensive. Some on our tour bought some… idiots. Around the corner (towards the toilets) is another shop that they don't tell you about. It has heaps of tea and other goodies… at really good prices.

        Always look for the second shop. That was my takeaway from the tour.

        • HeWhoKnows on 10/03/2024 - 17:36

          And be aware that stuff like green tea and chinese medicines might be confiscated when you get to Aussie Customs. So wasted money.

  • AnyFurtherDiscount on 08/03/2024 - 14:33
    +6

    Yes tour in Asia required tips. They may say voluntarily but the driver/guide expecting the exact amount suggestion. It is like more compulsory than voluntarily.

    • cami087 on 08/03/2024 - 14:51

      I figured that was the case. I'm ok with tips when they're deserved but in this case as pinchies mentioned above, if it is expected than why is it not built into the cost and so you know all your upfront costs when signing up. Anyway, I've already signed up, so I'm still seeking someone's first hand experience with it.

      • argamond on 10/03/2024 - 12:05
        +1

        Perhaps it is the best way to get to the driver and tour guide - otherwise you will definitely be paying a premium and the driver/tour guide will not get too much of a cut?

        C'mon, we are talking about $6 per day for each person, and they will be spending a full day with you and translating and guiding you and driving you around. I know this is ozbargain, but I hope you didn't expect $999 was all you expected to pay for flights, accomodation and breakfast

        • cami087 on 10/03/2024 - 18:16

          We definitely have extra money for tips, other meals, side trips and self guided stuff for when we decide not to do the extras.

          At the very least, we can share our experiences about the tour and the tip being an overhead is an important discussion topic. Especially because it wasn't discussed on the original deal.

          Anyway, it's been useful to read about the different experiences from people here.

    • freefall101 on 08/03/2024 - 14:53
      +1

      Yeah, I've always found that, driver/guide makes most of their money out of the tip and the companies use this to get them to deliver a good experience.

      It's a dick move to not tip them as a result, but it's part of why the tours are so cheap to begin with, the companies aren't paying local people well.

  • jv on 08/03/2024 - 14:34
    -4

    Tripadeal recommend a $12 tip per day to cover the guide and driver.

    Why would you tip in a communist country?

    Tipping is a capitalist concept.

    • ihbh on 08/03/2024 - 14:38

      Well, jv, irrespective of whether you went to a capitalist or communist country, wouldn't you, tip your hat?

      • jv on 08/03/2024 - 14:39
        -4

        That is true, I hardly ever tip. It would need to be exemplary service.

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/03/2024 - 08:34
      +3

      dear jv
      Occassionaly you make some valid comments
      But this one is a rather foolish comment!
      Cant believe anyone would upvote this totaly nieve comment.

      The Government is Communist - yes!
      The communist government controls the poeple.
      The people are not communist.
      They are like you and me.
      Except they dont get to choose thier government.
      Tipping is not a capitalist concept at all.
      Its a reward for a job well done anywhere in the world.
      But some places take it as an insult to tip.
      Most dont. You need to be aware.

      I suggest you and your upvoting mates DO NOT go on this amazing SUPER VALUE tour with that very poor attitude.

      • drfuzzy on 11/03/2024 - 15:07
        +1

        I don't think jv ever leaves Australia

        • HeWhoKnows on 16/03/2024 - 17:35

          Agreed.
          Too busy posting here

  • jv on 08/03/2024 - 14:36
    +9

    And finally if you have any other tips for this tour!

    That will cost you $12..

  • 1st-Amendment on 08/03/2024 - 14:51
    +1

    Why would you tip if you don't want to? To me it seems like you are being pressured to handover money that you don't want to, which is a form of extortion.
    Just say no thanks and move on. Encouraging this type of behaviour will only make it worse.

    • May4th on 08/03/2024 - 19:24
      +5

      who asked chatGPT about oil refineries?

    • mapax on 08/03/2024 - 20:14
      +1

      Albos AI?

  • El cheepo on 08/03/2024 - 15:07

    Tipping is not customary in China.
    But when it comes to doing any tours aimed foreigners you can expect to be taken for a bit of a ride on pricing.

    And you will be taken through nicnac stores etc and given a hard sell in many places, but it is all discretionary.

    It’s ultimately up to you if you want to tip or not.

    • cami087 on 08/03/2024 - 15:20

      Thanks but all things I know, and widely discussed on the original deal but hoping to read the experiences from other ozbers when tipping/not tipping on the tour itself

      • El cheepo on 08/03/2024 - 15:52

        Fair enough mate. I have never done that tour but have been there multiple times and done similar trips.

        Hopefully you get some helpful advice more suited to your needs.
        Perhaps try asking people who said they were taking up the offer within the original deal?

  • videlity on 08/03/2024 - 16:00
    +1

    You're expected to "tip". But I think it's not really a tip, it's probably more their wage.
    Maybe wait for them to 'tell' you to tip - that's probably the safest?

    Tip: Don't get pressured into buying things you don't need or weren't planning to spend beforehand. Treat it as a souvenir but don't think you're getting a bargain when they say it's 80% or whatever. So maybe set a budget beforehand or what you're willing to spend at these 'shops' and stick to it.

    • jv on 08/03/2024 - 16:31
      -1

      it's probably more their wage.

      You've already paid for tour.

      Why pay twice?

      • Eeples on 10/03/2024 - 09:27
        +1

        Think of it as paying for most of the tour before you leave in a lump sum and then paying for the rest of the tour in tiny instalments.

      • Geoff01 on 10/03/2024 - 09:30
        +4

        Really need to get your head out of the sand….the companies make the money not the guides. Don't go on a cruise then. The guides make the day personally enjoyable. It's a small gesture either way.

        • jv on 11/03/2024 - 07:55

          That’s crap. You’ve paid for a guided tour.

    • Cluster on 08/03/2024 - 16:42
      +3

      When visiting the terracotta warriors in Xi'an we were told the 'special clay' used to make the souvenir versions is running out, so we'd better buy lots. Yes, China is running out of clay…

      In South Korea on the way back from the DMZ the tour bus stopped at an amethyst shop. Playing on the TVs (in English only) was a looping ad claiming the gems could cure almost any disease short of cancer.

      When you see these shops and claims just laugh and move on. Buy something if you really like it, but realize you're in a tourist trap and probably paying well in excess of retail price.

      • May4th on 08/03/2024 - 18:07
        +1

        same in Bali.. ignore those shops the drivers take you to, do a customary walkaround to keep everyone happy and just move on, it's part of the game

      • Eeples on 10/03/2024 - 09:30

        I had a similar experience on a Korean DMZ tour in which we stopped at a ginger factory.

        We were told in all seriousness that ginger is an aphrodisiac because sometimes it is shaped like a phallis.

        • SBOB on 10/03/2024 - 09:35

          The following stop at the cucumber factory must have been awkward

          • Eeples on 10/03/2024 - 11:21

            @SBOB: Especially the free samples.

        • lainey13 on 12/03/2024 - 13:46

          Ginger, or ginseng?

  • Kongzi on 08/03/2024 - 16:23
    +1

    Just do it. Put in a hongbao. Gesture of goodwill

  • lddv04 on 08/03/2024 - 16:28

    Did a Trip-a-Deal tour in Europe in 2018 and the same was expected. Tip for guide and driver after each leg of the tour i.e. when we changed drivers / guides or went on the cruise.

    • jv on 08/03/2024 - 16:32

      I did a Contiki tour many years ago, when they 'expected' a tip… I didn't tip.

      • djkelly69 on 08/03/2024 - 17:03
        +1

        I did a Contiki tour many years ago, when they 'expected' a tip…

        Same here. We (a couple) tipped, but not the suggested amount. It was obviously not enough, because we were completely ignored by the guide for the remaining day or two.

        • jv on 08/03/2024 - 17:59

          Our tip was done on the last day, and I was leaving the tour a day early….

          Was staying in Belgium a bit extra with someone I'd met and not returning to London… 😊

          Win-win…

      • 6079 Smith on 09/03/2024 - 22:02

        God I wish I was there to see jv on a Contiki. Wild!

    • cami087 on 08/03/2024 - 16:32

      thanks that makes sense

  • sam-1966 on 08/03/2024 - 16:47
    +1

    We went on the China tour five years ago (actually, exactly five years ago today!) and did tip - the guides and drivers were just amazing and did go above and beyond for us. And there was no pressure from them about buying anything at the 'attractions' at all.

    The tour is well worth it. Must admit though, we didn't do the optional shows, although the ones in our group did enjoy them. Did enjoy a couple of the other extras, particularly the harbour cruise in Shanghai.

  • May4th on 08/03/2024 - 18:05

    it's not a tip so much, tours usually tell you you are to pay a certain amount to the tour guide and that's part of the fee structure. you can call it a tip or tour fee or whatever floats your boat.
    there's no tipping in China thank god the Americans haven't gotten to them with that - payment is easy and nobody expects a tip for anything. even taxi drivers insist on giving me back change when I tell them to keep it as a tip

  • c64 on 08/03/2024 - 18:45
    +1

    $12/pp per day. they must be raking in $$$$. how many people are in a group?

  • KaTst3R on 08/03/2024 - 21:28
    +3

    I have been on good and bad tours. Apparently, the guides dont earn much so tipping is recommended. If you dont tip, they will shame you in front of everyone. Even if you tip but dont make enough kickbacks from the shopping trips, they will lock the doors until the sales KPI is made.

    When I was younger (about 17 years old) and travelled with friends, we joined a cheap tour group and they locked all the tourists in a jade shop. They didnt even let an uncle go out for a ciggy until he made some purchases. My friends and I refused to buy anything and they didnt allow us to leave. I was a young foreigner and why would I need Jade pendants at 17. The tour guides kept pressuring us but we refuse to budge. They had no choice but to let everyone out after 3 hours. It was a pretty horrific experience. I still had to pay the daily tip to the guide, just didnt want to buy stuff that I dont need.

    • SlickMick on 09/03/2024 - 09:30

      They held you hostage for 3 hours and you still tipped them?

      • KaTst3R on 09/03/2024 - 10:11

        If you dont tip them, they will ridicule you in front of the group. I rather just pay the daily tip and avoid the confrontation. $10 is better than a $300 rip off jade pendant.

  • saltypete on 09/03/2024 - 07:57

    My experience of tourist coach drivers in China is to wait until the end. Most of them seem to have some sort of death wish. If you are still alive at the end and feel that the driver operated in a safe and competent manner with regard for the welfare of passengers - give them a decent tip.
    We have had some fantastic guides in the past - they are generally worth a decent tip.

  • Worldtraveller1 on 09/03/2024 - 08:38
    +2

    Trip a deal China experience. Tipped the guides who gave us a great tour. In one location we waited hours for our rooms. The guide left us to sort it out. We chose not to do a tour so along with half the group who also chose to not go we were totally left. No ideas or assistance for alternate activities.
    When we refused to pay the whole tip, the guide withheld our train tickets for the next part of the journey. Not a pleasant experience at all.

    • cami087 on 10/03/2024 - 16:57

      That’s what I was worried about. I guess each guide and experience is a little different. So I guess i have to see how my guide and group is like and how we will tip.

  • Geoff01 on 10/03/2024 - 09:32

    We did tours in Vietnam. We put money for us both in an envelope. Small change or a few dollars. The recommended amount is a guide by the tour sellers..not the guides. If they were great thank them with a small gesture. They don't earn 100k a year like here.

  • weee on 10/03/2024 - 11:15

    depends on the tour company, you might run into some touters who are part of the business operations as a way of forced tipping if you are unlucky, even so, I would say they are not as harsh to the foreigners as they are to their own fellow citizens, or it can be a genuine and legit business like anywhere else so the tipping is all up to you, some common sense can be used, if its too cheap to be true, it probably isn't

  • nobro25 on 10/03/2024 - 11:21

    Imagine if you have to pay a tip to the Ozbargain poster every time you buy the product/freebie. (Guess Freebie doesn't count coz X% tip x $0 = $0)

  • Diesmile on 10/03/2024 - 15:20
    +1

    I know a little bit about these type of trips. these trips are specific targetting foreigners are often running at a loss, so if you're paying 1000 dollars per head, the total cost will be quite a bit higher. Your travel agent bid on your group and hope you guys will make enough purchases so they can recruit some money.

    Sites where you visit such as shopping places will pay a fee to travel agency and if you make some purchases, a small percentage will also be rewarded to the travel agency.

    The driver and tour guides often well receive fixed amount, however do not consider the so-called tips are tipping, they are more about forming part of the wages. and for the pleasant experiences of your tour, it is really recommended you do the recommended tipping.

    I tip the driver mostly because they are very hard-working people, they often have to wake before everyone else and finish afterwards, and clean the bus.

    • kiitos on 11/03/2024 - 10:03

      What do you mean by "your travel agent bid on your group"?

      • Diesmile on 11/03/2024 - 13:32

        In the travel agency, different tour guy will try to guess which group will be spending, therefore they will earn a bigger commission.

        A bit like waitress will fight for rich looking people in US for the higher chance for bigger tip

        • kiitos on 11/03/2024 - 15:09

          Oh, so the travel agent auctions off their group to different tour companies? So your tour experience could greatly differ depending on which your company wins your group?

          By travel agent, do you mean tripadeal? (Sorry, not sure if this is a trip you'd book through Flight Centre etc or if they are travel agents?}

          • Diesmile on 11/03/2024 - 16:44
            +1

            @kiitos: there are 2 different scenarios:

            1. the company you book with will sell your contract to smaller local travel agency, such as: flight centre sells to a local company, in the bidding process, all local companies will state how much they want to cover all the tours, including destinations, hotels and meals requirement. the lowest cost company will win the bid.

            the local company, tour guy will receive kickbacks from shopping places, and hopefully, they will get some bonus if visitors spend some money.

            1. the company you book with only deal with 1 local agency, then it is still in the tour guy's interest to get as much kick backs as possible.

            however, while there are unprofessional in every area, tour groups dealing with foreigners are often above the rest, and less shady compare to tour gourps dealing with local people.

            chinese people are often friendly, and more people can speak English compare to before, and authority take foreigner's complain very seriously too.

            there was a joke, where a english man lost his bicycle in beijing, after he reported to local police, police station send out over 20 police man to chase after a $ 50 bike and found it less than 24hrs.

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