Not just an instructor, but a sherpa too!Happy Birthday!
Just my own experience - I have tipped as little as 10% when that’s all I could afford, to 40% when the instructor carried my skis to make my hike easier. Lessons cost were between $300-$1600.
My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.I tend not to tip instructors based on the cost of the lesson. Just because one resort charges $500 for a 3-hour lesson and another charges $1000 doesn't sway me to tip the instructor more who is working at the resort with the more expensive lesson. Not really the same thinking as for a server at a restaurant.
For a 3-hr or Full Day lesson that is semi-private with friends, the number of people doesn't really change what I tip either. All my friends tip. So the instructor generally gets more than if I were taking the lesson solo.
I tend to tip in cash. I bring along enough money that I can make a decision about the amount at the end of the lesson. For a 2-hour private lesson the range for me is from $20-50, depending on the situation.
Just to say, I paypal my instructor - and he doesn't have an issue with that. So some are open to other forms of payment. I mean, the mountain is cashless as it is, so it's not strange that they've had to work it out in other ways.My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.
Many of us do, don’t be afraid to ask. Enjoy your lesson!My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.
Many instructors do Venmo. Just ask. My preference is cash because for me it's quicker. I started tipping instructors when my started ski school in 2005, so can remember to bring extra cash just for tips.My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.
I recently saw the instructor handing out his card with a QR code to make it even easier for electronic transactions!I've encountered more instructors passing out their business cards at the end of a lesson lately with both their ski school contact info so you can request them if/ when you return as well as their Venmo info on it. But good to have some cash on hand just in case.
^^^^^Where I work most experienced instructors find 10% to be mediocre, 15% to be average, 20% good and anything above that great.
If the lesson costs are high chances are that the cost of living is super high. Rooms for rent in a shared house start at $1,800 where I live.
Most resorts pay their staff a max cut of 30 per cent after many many years of training and certifications, with 10% shares of lesson costs being the norm when starting out. These are the larger well known resorts.
We don't get health insurance and have to show up and stand around even when there are no lessons to be had and get paid for a half hour on those days. Some are lucky enough to have remote work they can do until the lunch time line up, most don't.
For a one time lesson many of us have low expectations. If and when the clientele becomes regular the amount becomes more important and is often a factor when deciding which students get first dibs booking busy holidays.
Sadly, tips for most experienced career instructors represent a large part of our income, just the same as it does for wait staff. Almost all of my colleagues keep notes and when trying to find someone to cover a lesson, tip amounts are mentioned because even a day of no tips when a full time season is about 90 days can hurt.
I have had students who did not tip for years as they did not know to. You are way ahead of the curve to even ask.
Is that for a full day lesson? If so it is still less than a half day where I work. Have you requested a level 2 or 3 or DECL instructor? Lesson costs are the same for the guest no matter what the qualifications of the instructor are. Make sure to ask for the best!
This is a really good idea.I recently saw the instructor handing out his card with a QR code to make it even easier for electronic transactions!
Some do. My Taos instructor did in 2023.My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.
Most of us do!My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.
A lot of them do -- ask.Some have a card with their info.My plan was also to bring a few 20's. I wish instructors did Venmos/Zelle. It would make things easier.