Cape Town - Anyone who's ever travelled abroad knows what a minefield tipping can be.
Tipping is de rigueur for your guide, driver, concierge, bellboy, waiter and anyone who provides a service. But the question is how much is appropriate and how often should one tip?
Should you be tipping $1 (about R10) per bag for porterage? Is it 15 or 20 percent at restaurants? And should you leave the hotel maid a gratuity? Tip too high and you'll feel ripped off, tip too low and you could incur the wrath of the maître d. All this while you're meant to be enjoying your well-deserved holiday.
Thankfully Trafalgar takes care of the hassle of tipping by doing it all for you. All hotel tips, charges and local taxes are taken care, plus they will see to tips for porters and restaurant gratuities for included meals.
New for 2015 is the option to pre-pay gratuities for your Travel Director and Driver. The benefit of which cannot be underestimated.
Paying upfront in your local currency negates the effects of forex fluctuations, and you can go on your holiday knowing that this little detail is taken care of. The money in your wallet is for spending on yourself not for keeping aside to pay gratuities.
One of Trafalgar's most popular Italian trips is their Italian Holiday. This seven day holiday takes in Rome, Venice, Lake Garda, Pisa and Florence and is priced from R19 900 per person sharing.
Prepaid gratuities amount to R700 per person; this is less than R100 per day for both the Travel Director and the Driver. The nine day Best of Switzerland is priced at R27 150 per person sharing and the pre-paid gratuities amount to R900 per person.
This is yet another way Trafalgar is taking the hassle out of travel leaving you free to enjoy your holiday the way you want to.
For more information contact your ASATA travel agent or Trafalgar on (011) 280 8400. Visit www.trafalgar.com and follow them: #TrafalagarInsider to learn more.