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Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa #160453
05/08/2018 12:45 PM
05/08/2018 12:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
NJ
D
Donna Michelle Offline OP
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Donna Michelle  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2018
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NJ
We'll be renting a Villa in SXM this summer and have some questions regarding tips.

It's a 4 BR, 4 Bath with daily maid service provided. The staff includes:

• Caretaker
• Gardener
• Housekeeper
• Pool Service

What are the customary guidelines for tipping. Does everyone receive a tip or is it limited to Houskeeper and what would be appropriate?

Thanks.

SXM Sponsors
Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: Donna Michelle] #160462
05/08/2018 02:03 PM
05/08/2018 02:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Don't know what anyone else does, but I've never tipped anyone except the housekeeper. Are all 4 bedrooms going to be occupied? If so, if it were ME, I'd tip $20 a day, unless there was a big mess on a particular day and then I'd tip more.


Carol Hill
Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: Donna Michelle] #160476
05/08/2018 05:26 PM
05/08/2018 05:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 381
CT,USA
DICKG Offline
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DICKG  Offline
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CT,USA
$ 2 per day per room for Gardner and $5 per day per room for maid

Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: Carol_Hill] #160480
05/08/2018 06:40 PM
05/08/2018 06:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 8
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Donna Michelle Offline OP
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Donna Michelle  Offline OP
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There’s 8 of us so 4 bedrooms will be occupied. We’re pretty much neat freaks so no big messes. Thanks for the suggestion.

Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: DICKG] #160481
05/08/2018 06:40 PM
05/08/2018 06:40 PM
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Posts: 8
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Donna Michelle Offline OP
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Donna Michelle  Offline OP
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Thank you smile

Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: DICKG] #160556
05/09/2018 11:20 PM
05/09/2018 11:20 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,766
Med/ Caribbean
sailbynight Offline
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sailbynight  Offline
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Med/ Caribbean
Originally Posted by DICKG
$ 2 per day per room for Gardner and $5 per day per room for maid


I think a cleaner who takes care of a vacation property that probably rents for $3-5,000 per week, expects to walk with a bit more than you advise.

We all know these cleaners are paid below what it costs to live on the island.

You trust them with your vacation, your valuables and your family and friends.

My advice? Ask yourself, "who needs that money more?" And be generous, not greedy.

Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: sailbynight] #160602
05/10/2018 03:25 PM
05/10/2018 03:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,613
originally Long Island, NY/now...
irish1223 Offline
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irish1223  Offline
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originally Long Island, NY/now...
Personally, I think $5 per room per day is fine, not greedy in the least. In a 4-bedroom villa, that's $20 per day for housekeeping. Let's not forget, they are also getting a paid salary, and as employees of the place are EXPECTED to be honest and not steal as part of their job. JMHO.


Robin & Ed

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. - Henry Miller

Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: sailbynight] #160605
05/10/2018 04:04 PM
05/10/2018 04:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 355
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sasasal Offline
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sasasal  Offline
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Posts: 355
I have to wonder why we americans are so worried about tipping... Tipping is just that!!!! You will not find this kind of question anywhere else, I do not think... Americans are the most giving when it comes to this... However!!! This is up to the person who is getting the service... If they feel the service is way and beyond what they expected, than they give according... If the service was less or nothing, than give or not give. And yes, these people make very little in salary, but this is there job... I have to say, my husband is a big tipper when we go out to eat, and I argue with him on this... Most of the time he is tipping just because he thinks he has too. Nope. this is a very private issue... My thoughts... Would not spend my time wondering about a tip.... But of course just me

Re: Tipping Suggestions for staff at private Villa [Re: Donna Michelle] #160607
05/10/2018 04:37 PM
05/10/2018 04:37 PM
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 363
The Villages, FL
deputydog1157 Online content
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deputydog1157  Online Content
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The Villages, FL
While I agree that tipping is a private issue, one has to understand how it works here in the USA. Other countries, I cannot say. I am also not familiar with hotel/villa staff in regards to this topic but I know that when we go on a cruise, I search out the steward and give him/her my requests and immediately hand him or her a $20 bill. This has always made for my ice bucket for my "beverages" being filled, those beverages not being confiscated and my stateroom cleaned very shortly after I leave it. Now when it comes to servers at restaurants, that is a totally different story. I know this from fact because my son is a server at a nationwide chain restaurant. Restaurants can get away with paying the servers much less than the minimum wage. For example here in Florida the minimum wage is $8.25 but servers get paid $5.23 per hour. The restaurant will report to IRS that they make at least the difference up in tips even though the work done setting up and closing down are paid at $5.23 per hour. Oh and from their tips they have to share them with the bartender (if at a restaurant with alcohol), busboys, hostess and expediter. So even though other countries may not have a tipping policy, it is not the norm here. In Florida we get a lot of tourists from the world over and unfortunately the tourists that don't tip or tip very poorly make the servers amount of compensation very very low. I understand that to be a service person is their job but we need to understand that the business owner pays as little as they can to protect their bottom line. I'd be very happy to have the prices at restaurants and hotels be increased to give the employees minimum wage so I wouldn't feel obliged to leave a tip. My rule of thumb is I will tip a minimum of 20% (pre-tax) unless the service was horrendous. There is a standing joke in the restaurants and it is, "What's the difference between a (resident of whatever country) and a canoe? The canoe will tip."



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