by David McGuffin | Jun 20, 2012 | Culture & Customs
IRELAND has changed a lot in the last fifteen years. Recently, while traveling in Ireland, I decided to take an informal survey on tipping/gratuity customs in the 21st century. My research is based on interviews with restaurant and pub patrons as well as the wait staff, bartenders, and pub owners. To get a perspective on the entire Republic/Country, I surveyed folks in Dublin, Dingle, Doolin, and Galway. The results were quite a surprise and have prompted me to modify the information I give to my tour members. Here is how it all stacks up:
The “old Irish people” never tip. They count their pennies to the tee.
Modern and younger Irish people (under 35 years), usually tip when ordering food. Seldom when they just have “the drink.”
City Pubs – If you are simply served a drink by the guy/gal behind the bar – no tip is expected.
Country Pubs – If it is not busy and the bartender “chats you up” (strikes up a conversation), then leave a 15% tip with each drink or at the end of your drinking session. If the bartender is the proprietor, then no gratuity is expected, however, it does not hurt to offer to buy him/her a drink.
Restaurants and Pubs that serve food – A 15% tip is standard for good service. Up to 20% if exceptional service and extra “chatting up.”
To wrap it all up, restaurant and pub staff are more and more giving good service and hoping for the tip. My advice is to do the right thing and chip in to help the sluggish Irish economy.
by David McGuffin | May 18, 2012 | Destinations, Uncategorized
When we Americans conjure up images of Ireland we often think of rolling green hills, rock walls, sheep, and soaring cliffs plunging into the wild Atlantic. That’s exactly what you can expect from the west coast of Ireland. From north to south, the Counties of Antrim, Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Clare, and Kerry offer some of the most beautiful scenery on the Emerald Isle. So, to whet your appitite, I’ve included a visual photo tour of some of my favorite Irish scenes.
Sláinte!
by David McGuffin | May 15, 2012 | Destinations
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A few days ago I left a very warm Florida bound for the Emerald Isle. After a short overnight flight, I was jostled awake by the flight attendant bringing my breakfast. Raising my window and letting the dawning sun shine in, I was treated to a magnificent view of Western Ireland and its forty shades green. As always, it reminds me of a patchwork quilt, done up in endless shades of green, a concept which is inconceivable without the actual experience.
Landing in Dublin, there was a welcomed climate change from that I experienced in Florida, just a short six hours before. The ninety-degree “spring” heat in Florida, was replaced with perfect blue skies and temperatures in the mid-fifties. Ireland is known for its moderate climate, the thermometer rarely dips below freezing or above the mid-sixties. The trade-off, however, is lots of rain, and sometimes blustery weather.
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This climate is ideal for creating those “forty shades of green” we so often hear about. It is not just a cliché, those forty shades of green, often dotted with little white puffs of sheep, are a true attraction of Ireland. The image is best appreciated from the air, so be sure to look out your window when flying over Ireland. You can also catch a glimpse of this effect from mountaintops, hills, and the seaside. Be on the watch when visiting County Kerry, Wicklow, or the Connemara area.
Sláinte!
by David McGuffin | Apr 9, 2012 | Adventures in Tour Guiding
95% of the time, I personally know my bus drivers and they and I have worked together for many years. On this tour, when the flight itineraries changed, I had to change my bus and driver plans as well. I contacted my tour agency friend in Rome and requested bus and driver service for the tour’s duration to Barcelona. Usually, this would be no problem, as my relationship with this agency has always been a superior experience. However, somehow I was assigned the worst bus driver ever.
Michele, a native Roman, possessed very little people skills and was immediately rude and gruff to the folks on my tour. He refused to unlock the toilet, help with loading baggage, and help with anything beyond driving. In Italy, he was adequate and knew the routings into Rome, Florence, and Volterra. However, once in France, he was lost. Ultimately, I had to resort to using my iPhone GPS to route him to our hotel in Nice and Carcassonne. Michele drove unbearably slow at 75 Km per hour, even on the superhighways. He used his mobile phone to text, talk, and even tried to show me photos while driving. The last straw, for me, came in Aix-en-Provence, when Michele kept the group waiting at the pickup point for over an hour. I had to call his boss in Rome to get him to leave the comfort of the bus parking he found, and come to collect us!
That same day, we drove onward to Arles, a mere one hour drive for most coaches, while it took Michele almost two, because of slow driving and getting lost. Arriving in the city center, we only had time for a one hour tour of the town. I made certain to make a firm rendezvous time and location with Michele, as he insisted we should return within one hour. So, all the group assembles at the appointed time, only to have to wait on Michele to arrive twenty minutes late for our pickup. He told me later he had gone to the hotel to check to his room.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind: Michele spoke only Italian, I speak enough Italian to communicate my intent and to lead/guide him into our destinations. At the outset, the only thing he was interested in was that I provide him with 200 euro for his meals on the tour. I laughed at that because I usually give my drivers a salary (in the form of cash payment) well over the “expected” group tip.
The next morning, I put in a call to my friend and Michele’s boss. After that, there was an immediate change in Michele’s attitude. He helped load the luggage, did not use his mobile phone, and was more friendly with the group members. Luckily, I had a friend on the tour who could mediate and help translate our conversations, and this seemed to help as well.
In the end, Michele worked out, but not before a valuable lesson on my part. Stick with drivers I know (like Peter, Alain, and Brendon), all others, give ’em a test drive before turning them loose on my travel partners.
by David McGuffin | Apr 6, 2012 | Adventures in Tour Guiding, Destinations, Experiencing Europe
A couple of weeks ago I struck off for Rome for what I now call my tapas tour. Tapas are little bite-sized snacks meant to be eaten with toothpicks or your fingers. Often tapas bars serve up twenty or so different selections meant to give a tasty sample and whet your appetite.
This tour itinerary morphed into a sampling tour consisting of three countries and nine destinations, all in seven days! Not the kind of tour I usually design, but how could I help it? Originally, I planned the tour to begin in Tuscany and finish up in Barcelona, a lot of bus travel, but very doable. Seven days on that route would have given us a leisurely itinerary along the Mediterranean coast.
Then the problems began, first the airline changed the routing to Rome and ultimately departing from Madrid. It made little sense to arrive in Rome, but not “experience” Rome. So, I altered day one to include a “tornado” tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum, plus a look at St. Peter’s Basilica. As it turned out, the arriving flight from the USA was delayed by two hours, turning our time in Rome to a mere three hours.
We had a peaceful drive up to Tuscany, as most people took a chance to sleep and shake off the jet lag. Arriving in Volterra, we were off the bus and in our hotel by 6:00 p.m., pizza dinner at 7:30, and finished up by 9:00.
The next day was delightful; this is one part of my original plan that did come together. We spent the entire day in Volterra, a place I call my favorite Tuscany hill town. There was a wine tasting at La Vena di Vino which was a big hit for the group. But, mostly, everyone just relaxed in town. That night we dined in gourmet style at Ristorante Del Duca. A smashing success!
The next day, we were on the bus and out of town by 8:30. This, I knew, was the longest day of the tour. We visited Florence, where I conducted a rapid walking tour that took in the San Lorenzo Market, the Duomo, Piazza Della Signoria, and the Ponte Vecchio. The weather did not help matters. About halfway through our walk, the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour, soaking almost everyone in the group.
Later, back on the bus, we all settled in for the six-hour drive to Nice, France. Little did I know this would begin the worst “bus driver” experience of my career. Episode two coming soon…
IRELAND has changed a lot in the last fifteen years. Recently, while traveling in Ireland, I decided to take an informal survey on tipping/gratuity customs in the 21st century. My research is based on interviews with restaurant and pub patrons as well as the wait staff, bartenders, and pub owners. To get a perspective on the entire Republic/Country, I surveyed folks in Dublin, Dingle, Doolin, and Galway. The results were quite a surprise and have prompted me to modify the information I give to my tour members. Here is how it all stacks up:
