We are looking to stay at Club O in December and we wanted to know if the deluxe mini suites came with a grill? I noticed the boutique sold the BBQ briquettes and lighter fluid, so I kind of figured they did but wasn't sure.

Units do not normally come with grills, no. The previous visitor might have left one there, or you might be able to borrow one from a neighbor, but if you want to have one for sure, you may well have to go buy one. In the old days, they used to provide them at the guard shack for free, but no more.

we asked the front desk and they brought one to us from somewhere <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

For free, you mean? I haven't heard of that recently. They used to always have them available free for people to use.

That was really nice of them!

In recent years we have just stopped at the Ace Hardware as you enter Phillipsburg coming down Cole Bay Hill from the airport enroute to Club Orient, just before the roundabout where le Grande Marche is located.

One of us stays with the car and the other goes up to the second floor and buys an inexpensive $21 round 15 " charcoal grill that suits us fine for those occasions when we want to grill at our mini-suite. We get the charcoal and starter fluid at l'Orientique if we decide to grill something and leave the grill at our unit for future guests when we depart.

Some trips we don't even use it, eating dinners in Grand Case all week... So be it... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

We always ask our cleaning lady for one and she always comes through. Sometimes very nice ones like a weber the last two times. I think the ladies pick them up after guest leave and store them. We always give her a little tip at the end of the trip and I think ladies use the grills as a friendship gesture and to insure their tip.

For free. It was a cheapie (charcoal), but it worked.

Good for them! Very entreprenurial of them! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

very good...

BTW about the tips for the maids, we always leave a small tip on the pillow EVERY morning when we head out. That way the maid who serviced our unit always gets the tip for that day.

We assume that individual maids do not work seven days a week, so that avoids the possibility that the maid who did the work all week gets stiffed while the one who has just started on Saturday gets a windfall.

By tipping every day we also see little nicities like fresh flowers on our table, etc starting to appear each day on day 2 or day 3... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Bill,
we always did the same when we stayed there, and also got fresh flowers every day...

Just curious, how much (dollars) do you tip?

We always tip every day, regardless of where we are staying..

Us also. It is a good habit I developed over the years when I traveled a LOT for business.

In response to anon., when staying in a mini-suite at Club O we usually leave $4 or $5 on the pillow each day... We leave it on the recently used pillow on the bed so she will know it is a tip and not loose change we just left sitting around on the counter.

Thank you! We usually leave at least $5.

Thanks for the info. We're going to buy a folding portable grill and throw it in our checked baggage, since there is hardly any clothes in there anyway.

The housekeepers will also appreciate any other " gifts" you pass on; last stay we left our vinyl tablecloth, a pair of flip flops and we have given left over alcohol to the front desk and boutique staff.

We always leave $5 every day on the coffee table in the mini suite deluxe we rented. I don't know how much they make, but I think a little extra on my part might make their day a little better. It is a sign of appreciation on our part. We have always had a clean room without exception.

Nothing to be proud about, but we never tip and our rooms are always clean without exception too. To each her affordable own. I believe folks should be paid for their work and have always believed tipping culture can encourage lower wages with the hope the worker will make up in tips.
I expect in "France" they are supposed to be paid a wage. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />

You do realize that people depend on their tips to live.

Chambermaids work their butts off, we always tip.

Even without tips, the housekeepers at Club O will do their job, one of the best on the island I have been told. They are always cheerful, interested in the guests yet not intrusive. The bit extra that we give goes a long way for them. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Let's see...

Airfare from midwest US to SXM and return is at least $1000 per couple...
One week in a mini-suite is about $1200 in low season...

Etc.

...and you can't leave $35 in tips (7 days x $5) for the maids who clean your room every day as a simple "thank you"?

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" />

Like I said, nothing to be proud of.

Sorry, that was not referencing your post but one of those above... When a lot of posters are Anonymous, it is hard to (no, impossible without quoting) be spicific about which anon post you are commenting on...

I suspect few Europeans tip daily, if at all. Especially as St Martin is a French Collective and in the EU.

I'd hazard a guess that most French (mainland) chambermaids would starve if they relied on tips and expect their wages to cover living costs. Custom and practice may be different on the island I guess.

That would be interesting to know, and also if the European guests at Club O tip at Papagayo. I believe there have been previous discussions re: tipping. However, even if others do no tip the housekeepers, we will continue to do so; it's a small amount for us, and they can use the extra pocket money.

A few weeks ago we were at Papagayo and I checked the bill against the menu price. There was no tip included in the bill, so I added mine for the excellent service. I don't mind tipping for good service like the maids at Club O. If they don't get one usually and after my $5 tip I can see them feeling appreciated. As one person said, the service is good tip or not. I don't really care what they are paid anywhere else, but I do care that the people that serve us feel like we care. I figured out the cost of the trip and what we paid in tips and it comes to about 2 to 3 percent of the total cost and that is only to the ones that we personally see (taxi drivers, maids and meal servers). My tip is for appreciation and I hope all that served me feel appreciated. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Nicely put.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Just curious, what did you tip the waiter at Papagayo? I have heard $2-$4 is adequate or did you tip a percentage?

5-10% is customary for a tip "pour boire" in France (usually just a few euros). I think the most I tipped the whole week was $12 on a $108 dinner in Grand Case and that was for great service.

I tipped according to the service. I tipped like I would in the states - more if the service was good and less if it was poor. I would rather err on the side of being too generous than on the side of being stingy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

[quote]jennymc said:
Nicely put.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
I agree, tipping for appreciation just seems like a nice thing to do.

On the other hand, I added a 15-20% tip to Papagayo. So I might of got jammed there and was stingy with the maids. AGAIN, I HATE THE TIPPING CULTURE. Charge me for your product. I don't tip the pilots, I don't tip the flight attendant, I don't tip the doctor, I don't tip the nurse. I also don't like to tip out of pity. I also don't get tipped myself. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

We also tip the Beach Boys ($4/day in $2 bills) for the chairs & umbrellas...
They remember us and we are usually three (Deb & I and our daughter)...
They have always given Tracy her chair & an extra umbrella free of charge...
now whether that is because of our tips or they just like Tracy, I cannot say...

Well good on the Papagayo tip, but your rant against the "tipping culture" leads to a question... in feeding your personal quirk, you punish other underpaid restaurant servers and others whose income is mainly dependent on tips, which does NOTHING to impact the establishment owners who set the wages. Do you cause those servers who rely on tips for the bulk of their incomes to get shortchanged and go wanting whenever you dine out in the Dayton / Kettering area? And do you do it all while feeling smug in justifying your stingy, penny pinching behavior on "principle"?????

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />

Carol / Eric, go ahead and lock this thread...I apologize, but this mean, sanctimonious attitude from an anon just set me off...

Yeah, Bill, I get where you're coming from, but the thread is totally on a different topic than where it started and think it's time to put this one to bed..