Because we think you deserve to know. And because knowing this is exactly the kind of thing that makes the difference between booking with us and booking with someone who'd never dream of telling you any of this.
23% — The Portuguese Government
Straight to the state. VAT, taxes, the whole thing. For them to mismanage, as they've been doing with remarkable consistency since pretty much always. We don't love it either. But we pay it, because that's what honest businesses do.
25% — Your Guide
The person who shows up for you. Knows every backroad, every story, every place to stop and every place to avoid. The one who makes the day. A quarter of what you pay goes directly to them — a knowledgeable, passionate local who chose this work because they actually love it, not because a platform assigned them a job.
10–15% — What You Eat, Drink, or Visit
Depending on which tour you're on, this covers entrance tickets, food, drinks — the things you experience on the ground. Real places, real people, real money going into the local economy.
7–10% — Diesel
The van has to move. The Serra de Sintra doesn't come to us. This is the unglamorous reality of a road trip operation and we're not going to pretend it isn't there.
4–5% — Booking System & Card Fees
Every time you pay online, someone takes a small cut for processing it. We keep this as low as possible by staying off the big platforms — which is exactly why you won't find us on Viator or Airbnb.
5% — Insurance
You're covered. We're covered. Everyone goes home safe. Worth every cent.
20–25% — Back Into the Company
This is what keeps us alive and moving forward. It funds the van, the projects, the work we do with the city — from free tours for blind citizens and kids from low-income areas to our involvement in Lisbon Sustainable Tourism. It's not profit for profit's sake. It's what lets us keep doing this for another 16 years.
No hidden margins. No corporation skimming 30% off the top before anyone else sees a cent.
That's it. That's the whole picture.
No hidden margins. No corporation skimming 30% off the top before anyone else sees a cent. No algorithm deciding what you experience based on who paid the most to appear first.
Just a small, independent operation that has survived — and we mean genuinely survived — because people like you took the time to find us, understood what we were doing, and chose to put their money here instead of somewhere easier.
You are the reason we're still here. And we don't take that lightly.
Book directly with us — or write to us at reservations@wehatetourismtours.com if you want to talk first. We'll take it from there.