The Tour Guide and the Missing Tips
Dec 24, 2006 | 3:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 594
The Tour Guide and the Missing Tips
Sorry for the long post!!!
7 years ago, my husband and I, along with another couple took a 15 day privately escorted tour of Europe. We had a van with a driver/guide for the full 15 days. We flew from New York to Paris, then began the tour which was to end in Athens. After finishing in Athens we would fly back to Paris for 2 nights and then back to New York.
The tour was perfect, we enjoyed everything. At the end of each day, my husband would tip the guide/driver $US70 for the 4 of us (these were 12-15 hour days). At the end of the tour in Athens we said goodbye to the guide and he thanked us profusely. We boarded the flight to Paris. On the day of our departure from Paris back to New York we were quite surprised to see that the tour company had sent our guide/driver(the same guy we'd used for the 15 day trip) for the airport transfer to take us back to CDG.
The guide/driver thanked us for our kindness and told us he had enjoyed the tour. Then, he told us that he had taken ALL the money we had tipped him over the 2 weeks and put it in his checked and unlocked luggage for his flight back to Paris. He then went on to tell us that his luggage had gone missing and he knew he'd never see that luggage again. We were sure he was being dishonest with us and didn't give him another cent.
Over the years we've kept in touch with this guide and even recommened his services to other friends because he is so wonderful. We've actually become friends with the guide and hosted him at our home in the US when he visited with his girlfriend. Always in the back of our minds is the tip money and whether or not he was telling us the truth, it's really gnawing at us. We've asked the guide about the incident a couple of times over the 7 years we've known him but he still contends his luggage was never found and for some reason the airline gave him no compensation.
This tip money has bothered us for 7 years. We're now at a point where we just want to ask the guide if he lied to us. We find it unbelievable that a guide who had us thinking pickpockets and thieves were around every corner would take that amount of cash and place it in unlocked luggage and check it with an airline. We also find it strange that he automatically seemed to know he'd never see his luggage again. Also strange is the fact that the airline gave him no compensation. If you were in our shoes, would you simply ask the tour guide if he lied about the incident?
7 years ago, my husband and I, along with another couple took a 15 day privately escorted tour of Europe. We had a van with a driver/guide for the full 15 days. We flew from New York to Paris, then began the tour which was to end in Athens. After finishing in Athens we would fly back to Paris for 2 nights and then back to New York.
The tour was perfect, we enjoyed everything. At the end of each day, my husband would tip the guide/driver $US70 for the 4 of us (these were 12-15 hour days). At the end of the tour in Athens we said goodbye to the guide and he thanked us profusely. We boarded the flight to Paris. On the day of our departure from Paris back to New York we were quite surprised to see that the tour company had sent our guide/driver(the same guy we'd used for the 15 day trip) for the airport transfer to take us back to CDG.
The guide/driver thanked us for our kindness and told us he had enjoyed the tour. Then, he told us that he had taken ALL the money we had tipped him over the 2 weeks and put it in his checked and unlocked luggage for his flight back to Paris. He then went on to tell us that his luggage had gone missing and he knew he'd never see that luggage again. We were sure he was being dishonest with us and didn't give him another cent.
Over the years we've kept in touch with this guide and even recommened his services to other friends because he is so wonderful. We've actually become friends with the guide and hosted him at our home in the US when he visited with his girlfriend. Always in the back of our minds is the tip money and whether or not he was telling us the truth, it's really gnawing at us. We've asked the guide about the incident a couple of times over the 7 years we've known him but he still contends his luggage was never found and for some reason the airline gave him no compensation.
This tip money has bothered us for 7 years. We're now at a point where we just want to ask the guide if he lied to us. We find it unbelievable that a guide who had us thinking pickpockets and thieves were around every corner would take that amount of cash and place it in unlocked luggage and check it with an airline. We also find it strange that he automatically seemed to know he'd never see his luggage again. Also strange is the fact that the airline gave him no compensation. If you were in our shoes, would you simply ask the tour guide if he lied about the incident?
Dec 24, 2006 | 6:27 am
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Exclusively OMNI/PR, for Reasons
Posts: 4,186
Since you've recommended his services to others, have you contacted any of them to see if the same scam was pulled at the end of their tour? If yes, that's certainly confirmation that your suspicions are correct.
Regardless, his misfortune shouldn't be your loss. You've continued to send him business, and even opened your house to him (was anything missing after he left?
)
Regardless, his misfortune shouldn't be your loss. You've continued to send him business, and even opened your house to him (was anything missing after he left?
)
Dec 24, 2006 | 7:18 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LHR/LGW
Programs: DL Gold, CO Silver
Posts: 1,036
Why woukld you recommend or invite someone to your home who you suspected to be dishonest ?
7 years is a long time-your gut feeling should tell you what really happened by now-and only you can decide if one incident that MAY have happened 7 years agos wipes out what is presumably 7 years of good experience with this guy since.
Incidently if you believed he was trying to scam you-why were you recomending him to friends ?
7 years is a long time-your gut feeling should tell you what really happened by now-and only you can decide if one incident that MAY have happened 7 years agos wipes out what is presumably 7 years of good experience with this guy since.
Incidently if you believed he was trying to scam you-why were you recomending him to friends ?
Dec 24, 2006 | 9:07 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 518
I'm with duchy on this one - I am surprised that you would recommend the guide to your friends if you have lingering questions about his honesty.
How would knowing the truth change how you feel about him? If you know that he lied, would you continue to be friends with him, welcome him in your home, and recommend him to others? If so, does it really matter then whether you know?
If you would end your friendship with him if you know he lied to you, then it's probably worth it to ask the question. If not, I wouldn't bother.
How would knowing the truth change how you feel about him? If you know that he lied, would you continue to be friends with him, welcome him in your home, and recommend him to others? If so, does it really matter then whether you know?
If you would end your friendship with him if you know he lied to you, then it's probably worth it to ask the question. If not, I wouldn't bother.
Dec 24, 2006 | 9:14 am
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt something
Posts: 34,520
$70 a day in tips a day? Seems like he was making more in tips than he should have been being paid.
If he was foolish with the money, then it's his risk, of course. I too would be dubious about what happened to the money.
If he was foolish with the money, then it's his risk, of course. I too would be dubious about what happened to the money.
Dec 24, 2006 | 11:49 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 239
If he hasn't fessed up by now, he's not going to. I'm sure he did infact try to squeeze you for more money, but he's not about to admit it after 7 years, is he? If it's "gnawing" at you, and he has told you multiple times he did not take the money, then you know as well as I do that you feel he DID take the money. You don't want the 'truth', you want him to admit what you already know because you feel you are friends now and the fact that he's lying to you is upsetting you.
I will probably get flamed for this, but it has been my experience in extensive travel throughout Europe that many Europeans (from certain countries) are dishonest. It's often thought of as nothing to attempt to steal from or swindle a foreigner, especially a "rich" westerner. Drivers/cabbies/guides often tend to be the absolute worst, because they are your lifeline at the time, and they know you have cash, and they know they are usually dealing with foreigners who often dont know the score. They also very keenly know the laws and regs on losses and no doubt, had he been wronged by the airline, would be the most vocal ever about getting full compensation - and then some.
The guy is either dishonest to the core and just doesn't care if you believe him or not, or he feels guilty and embarassed about it and doesn't want to come clean. I don't get why you sent others his way knowing he was a thief.
You have to either break off the contact with this guy and go your seperate ways, or put the whole thing behind you and don't bring it up with him again.
There is no option 3, which is what I think you are looking for.
I will probably get flamed for this, but it has been my experience in extensive travel throughout Europe that many Europeans (from certain countries) are dishonest. It's often thought of as nothing to attempt to steal from or swindle a foreigner, especially a "rich" westerner. Drivers/cabbies/guides often tend to be the absolute worst, because they are your lifeline at the time, and they know you have cash, and they know they are usually dealing with foreigners who often dont know the score. They also very keenly know the laws and regs on losses and no doubt, had he been wronged by the airline, would be the most vocal ever about getting full compensation - and then some.
The guy is either dishonest to the core and just doesn't care if you believe him or not, or he feels guilty and embarassed about it and doesn't want to come clean. I don't get why you sent others his way knowing he was a thief.
You have to either break off the contact with this guy and go your seperate ways, or put the whole thing behind you and don't bring it up with him again.
There is no option 3, which is what I think you are looking for.
If it continues to bother you, I'd ask the guy.
Dec 27, 2006 | 1:08 am
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Location: CGK & PBI
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Dec 27, 2006 | 1:51 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Programs: UA, VA, ZL, Priority Club, HH. Rydges.
Posts: 126
You might think this guy is a tour guide but he is actually a fisherman. Fishermen are very patient and after seven years he is still winding you in. Be blunt , be brave and cut the line.
He will always fish.
Have fun in your life, Ray
He will always fish.
Have fun in your life, Ray
Friends don't let friends get conned.