Do we need to tip ski instructors at end of week????

[randommoniker]

DCs have been in ski school this week and wondering if it is 'expected' that we tip the instructors at close of play tomorrow. And if so - how much, roughly? We are in Spain and they only had morning sessions if that has any bearing on anything….. TIA

[flashheartscanoe]

there was a discussion about this on the snow heads forum-
I think the general consensus was that some people do and some dont! I like to tip for good service- I did tip last year in austria as the girl was so lovely and made a real effort to meet where was convenient for us - I think I gave her 20 euros.(2 kids) This year I think I wont as the kids have been in a huge esf group which has been chaotic and the instructor hasnt been very friendly.

[randommoniker]

Many thanks flash. I will take a look at the snow heads forum too. We were thinking about 20 euros actually so good to know that is the right ballpark.

[Tiredemma]

WE tipped our instructor in Austria (20 E).

[randommoniker]

Seems like 20E is going rate if one is going to tip - many thanks. Have texted DH who is on the slopes with them!

[uc]

I never thought of that. Have been skiing loads of times, and never tipped an instructor...

[randommoniker]

Ok, so FWIW one of the instructors was really offended at being given the tip! God, impossible to know how to do the right thing. He scowled at my husband saying 'this is NOT necessary'. Hey ho….. The other one accepted it happily so not sure if one can draw any conclusions from this…..

[flashheartscanoe]

I wonder if he meant to be so rude.

[OwlMother]

I don't think it's necessarily expected- but we so tend to. This week- because the kids are all quite advanced- their instructors took them miles away, really good ski safaris. This meant that we dropped them at 9.15 and picked them up around 3.
The instructors ( all in their mid 20's) managed to make the whole experience fun and the kids came back full of stories- "Tom says....." It really felt like they'd gone above an beyond, and in a job that cannot be that well paid.

We tipped the dc instructors 20E per dc and our private instructor that dh and I shared got 50E. We felt that the quality of the instruction had made our week. The instructors were appreciative but we didn't feel like it would have been poor form not to tip.

So I suppose it's the same as taxis, hairdressers etc. If you feel a good job was done- reward accordingly.

[Paddlinglikehell]

We didn't this week, but usually do around 15 euros, but like flash we used ESF and wasn't good.

[DaisyFitz]

The Espirt instructors we've had when DD was 3 and 4, we didn't tip as I often spied the instructor gazing into space, not interacting with the kids at all.
Last two holidays in Les 2 Alpes and Andorra, gave 20E tips as both instructors went above and beyond the call of duty. Both kept her in the over 6s class when she's only 5.5 - she can ski, but they carried her skis and poles and generally looked after her like she was a princess. And OMG, can that kid ski now. Frighteningly good. And fast.

[BeckAndCall]

As mother of a ski instructor in Canada, yes! They get paid $11 an hour and can wait all day 'on duty' and only get called for a 2 hour lesson. ( not that that is the clients problem but they really don't get paid much).

[irisha]

I found it to be the norm in Austria - that's actually how I found out about as some Austrians in my group started to discuss amounts. So I asked. Was told it's EUR 20 per kid for the week (if you are happy of course!) and that's a full day of lessons, 6 days. We tipped EUR 25 each for adults on that occasion but the instructor was brilliant. In Cervinia seemed to be the norm too. Not so sure about France - our ski instructor seemed surprised, but appreciative.