 Poster: A snowHead
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Can’t see a thread about this for the last few years..
My kids are finishing their private lessons in Austria. They’ve had an equivalent of 8.5 hours in total and have enjoyed and prospered under the instructor’s tuition.
Is it the norm to tip at the end? If so how much? The lessons cost a fair whack but obviously not all of that goes to the instructor.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The instructor will appreciate it but won’t expect it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Quite so. I've been tipped on only a very few occasions, more often been stood a beer or even lunch, but cash is rarely offered (this all in CH, but I don't expect it to be much different elsewhere, although in the US I wouldn't be at all surprised).
On SCGB trips they might occasionally have a whip-round to share between the leaders, but again it's neither expected nor common. So much so that the first time I came across it, on a four-leader trip to Davos, that I (as the head leader) told them that we couldn't possibly accept it, so it was donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance, of whom one of the members (who I think organised it) was a supporter of some description. I didn't check with the other leaders first, for which I apologised to them, as I was just stunned by it. I think it was something like 300 quid. None of them had come across it before either.
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@Chaletbeauroc, Jnr and his gf have just finished the season. They had a sealed tin that they would put their tips into all season. He opened it on Sunday evening and counted up about €800. This probably averages about €1 an hour in tips which considering when they received a tip they were mostly were €20 or €50 means that tips aren’t particularly common here either.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We tipped ours. Think it was about €50. First year there was a trainee with him as well so tipped both went above and beyond as our youngest was to young to be in the class but they let him have a go and was strong so took him with them
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Tipping chalet host - pretty normal
Tipping guide - pretty normal
Tipping instructor - not normal
Tipping does really seem like some arbitrary thing for some professions without any overarching logic of why 
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It's not easy - they've usually done balance drills. Best to shoulder barge from the blindside while they are pontificating about something.....
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^ post of the week so far 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks for all the insights. Looks like on balance it’s not de rigour.
But if I do give him, say €20, it won’t look derisory.
Very useful.
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@EdYarker,
If I was happy with the kids instructor I would give them €20, always went down well.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@EdYarker, best tip I had this season was €45 from the dad of two kids I taught for 3 mornings in a row. I got them from not having skied to cruising around on blue runs right from the top of the mountain. He was really happy with that progression.
Other than that I think I had 2 x €10 from half day lessons and 1 x €20 from a half day.
I got taken to lunch once, and offered it another day but I had to run off to my next lesson.
So you're probably looking at 90-95% of the time there's no tip.
€20 would certainly not be viewed as derisory.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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That must be an Austrian thing...the minimal or zero tip.
In most of Switzerland it is absolutely the norm to tip a private instructor, less so in a group context.
The lessons are indeed expensive, but the instructor is probably on about E30-40 an hour if they are doing kids lessons.
Bear in mind they get absolutely zero when not actually working. The season isn't that long either.
A full time, well booked, instructor works something like 500-550 hours in a season.
Do the maths!
Tips are a vital part of their income.
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@rungsp, the Swiss based instructors I know in the Verbier area would be on around €55-65 an hour as Level 3's. A decent hourly rate, but as you say it's a limited season.
Generally, the Brits tend to be some of the best tippers, that goes for bars, restaurants etc too. We don't get many Americans here, but no doubt they'd top the list of tippers!
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You know it makes sense.
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I've always tended to tip about 20 euros a session as aware the instructor does not get remunerated very well. Though sometimes I forget as carrying cash is not always something I do. Never had an instructor surprised by it so much that they refuse.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@swskier, I'm just a bit surprised that people who would automatically add 10pct as a tip when eating out to a waiter who has taken their order and bought their food from the kitchen then are the same people who balk at the idea of a tip at a much lower percentage to someone who has taken responsibility for their children for many hours over multiple days.
I repeat:
Tips are a vital part of a ski instructors overall pay
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Poster: A snowHead
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@rungsp, The difference is that it is unusual to book and pay online in advance for a meal in a restaurant. In a restaurant, people are thinking about paying the bill and tipping the staff is associated with that. Most ski lessons in our ski school now are booked online and paid in advance. The financial part is sorted - no need to think any more about it.
Add to that, a lot of people don't carry cash and we end up only occasionally receiving a tip.
In the past, lessons were booked and paid for in resort, often at the end of the week, so the guests would add a bit extra to be given to the instructor, when they paid their bill.
In answer to @EdYarker, if you're happy the instructor did a good job, then the instructor will be happy with whatever you give them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rungsp, I agree, I've taken some lessons/coaching this season ahead of an exam and I tipped my own instructors/trainers, mainly as they were doing me a super deal anyway, and I felt like I'd got a lot out of it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
the same people who balk at the idea of a tip at a much lower percentage to someone who has taken responsibility for their children for many hours over multiple days.
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How much do you tip their school teachers?
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Tips are a vital part of a ski instructors overall pay
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The issue is lessons are already expensive. The fact that the ski school decides to line its pockets while paying the staff peanuts and expecting the consumers to pay further to cover this is imo a broken system.
A better way would be to hire independent ski instructors directly. You know exactly who you are getting and how much they are being paid, no middleman taking a cut for not doing a whole lot. (I say this as someone who basically does a similar middleman job taking a cut finding guides for tourists).
Or if the pay is that bad simply find a different job. There are lots of bad paying jobs that we don't tip just because their wage is low. The fact you knowingly decided to go into a low paid seasonal job without guaranteed hours means you shouldn't really complain when you aren't making great money.
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| rungsp wrote: |
@swskier, I'm just a bit surprised that people who would automatically add 10pct as a tip when eating out to a waiter who has taken their order and bought their food from the kitchen then are the same people who balk at the idea of a tip at a much lower percentage to someone who has taken responsibility for their children for many hours over multiple days.
I repeat:
Tips are a vital part of a ski instructors overall pay |
I assume you also tip train conductors, bus drivers, fast food workers, cashiers and shelf stackers at the supermarket etc. etc. all worse paid and less enjoyable than being a ski instructor.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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For context, the husband did many years teaching for the local ski school - Austria . He would be paid for the hours teaching 10-12, then 1.30-3.30. He would not be paid for arriving for 9ish, sorting stuff out or doing anything after or before teaching started. He would receive €50 for the 4 hours teaching and would be out the house about 6.5 hrs. The cost of private lessons is high, and a lot of that this swallowed up in running costs. Tipping was rare but very welcomed. He hasn't taught for two of three years now though.
Ange.
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Mr Pink has entered the chat….
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| It's not easy - they've usually done balance drills. Best to shoulder barge from the blindside while they are pontificating about something..... |
True ... but probably easier than Cow Tipping ... which really requires you to get the timing just right ...
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| rungsp wrote: |
I repeat:
Tips are a vital part of a ski instructors overall pay |
It really does depend. Tips have never been a vital part of Jnr and his gf’s pay - it’s a bonus. They get a minimum wage if they don’t meet the required hours - 75 hours for the month. They always exceed minimum hours easily so get paid much more. They also don’t rely on their instructor’s pay for the rest of the year although they do finish the season having saved money.
They’ve used their tips from this season for a 5 day holiday to Menorca. Very nice for them but not vital.
Much more common is being bought a coffee/beer or lunch by a client. They did have one client who took them out for the evening so they could help him and his family celebrate his 50th birthday but that was a very odd exception (and they felt a little awkward too!)
Last edited by After all it is free  on Thu 9-04-26 0:13; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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In this household no one gets an automatic tip, including wait staff, hairdressers/barbers and taxi drivers. They and others often do get one, but it depends entirely on whether they have given a good service, gone the extra mile over something, and been friendly / personable. Or if we have caused them some unnecessary hassle, like the grandchildren leaving food all over the floor! 
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@EdYarker, Yes please!! Ski Instructors in Austria, especially the young ones are on minimum wage. Like most other Service Industry employees they appreciate any tips. Obviously you're tipping by results and it's not obligatory.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I tip 50chf/ euro to each instructor for my kids. Its about 2% of the holiday budget, so it doesn’t feel excessive.
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FAQ
