I hired guides in four of my five destinations, for either urban or hiking tours, and tipped them the equivalent of $15 to $25 each.

Jeff Greenwald, Executive Director of Ethical Travel
A+ You picked a great way to support the local economy and make tourism a profitable enterprise for local people.

Tricia Barnett, Director of London-based Tourism Concern
B+ People should, of course, be paid fair wages. Did you check out what the going rate was?

Martha Honey, Executive Director of Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
B+ Sounds good. I assume there was a wage in addition to the tip.

When small children asked for gifts in one village, I gave each one a colored pen.

Jeff Greenwald, Executive Director of Ethical Travel
F Bad move. That's a surefire way to ensure that all future visitors will be hounded by packs of kids screaming for handouts. Next time, ask a schoolteacher, parent, or community leader to distribute your gifts.

Tricia Barnett, Director of London-based Tourism Concern
F This doesn't remove the underlying reservation about begging. It's demeaning to everyone. You should give presents directly to the school.

Martha Honey, Executive Director of Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
D- Very tempting, but it would have been better to give all the pens to a school or day care center. I'd tell the kids what you are doing—'assuming you have a common language.

When small children asked for gifts in another village, I heeded my guide's advice and used a Berber phrase that means, "I have nothing."

Jeff Greenwald, Executive Director of Ethical Travel
B+ I'm sure the kids weren't fooled—but you're on the road to undoing the damage wrought by previous pen-flinging tourists. (If you'd shown them a magic trick or a prism or a blow-up globe, you would have gotten an A.)

Tricia Barnett, Director of London-based Tourism Concern
A+ Always seek advice about how best to manage children asking for money and presents because it distorts relationships with visitors. Whenever you have a cultural concern, it is always wisest to seek local advice.

Martha Honey, Executive Director of Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
D- Say that you are making a donation to a village project. Saying you have nothing doesn't sound true to the children and only makes you look stingy.