Tipping the Housekeeping Staff at a villa

[RickyG]

"Not everyone start by tipping their mothers for breast feeding. No other country hand out tips as often or as large as the Americans do."


Well said....I have learned that Americans are among the most generous people in the world

 

[Eddie]

I usually tip about $10/day. Some maids do my laundry, and I'll leave about $20 for those days.
In a villa, I've often spoken to the maid about when I'd like them to come. Since they're adjusting their schedule to accommodate me, they deserve something extra.

 

[Voosh]

Re: "Since they're adjusting their schedule to accommodate me, they deserve something extra."

Bingo! When it's appropriate, I tip. The ugly American I am.

 

[gk1182]

Will do Rosita.

Thank you for the congratulations, and we are really looking forward to our visit in a few weeks.

We will be out and about, and we are sure that a bumping into may occur.

best

 

[PIRATE40]

Voosh said"all good work should be properly compensated in the first place"..True, but we all know that that is not reality. The housekeepers may well be paid a proper wage when they work, but how many of them get paid a 40 hour week? I have no problem leaving a generous tip to whoever is giving me great service..it makes me feel good to make them feel good and appreciated, and help keep them on the island a while longer...

 

[Sunshine]

I did know who to reply to on this topic but since you changed your avatar you are the chosen one! There are times when we have seen a "housekeeping" fee on our rental agreement, however, I feel they work very hard and deserve something extra. I hope there are others who feel the same.

 

[RickyG]

I did know who to reply to on this topic but since you changed your avatar you are the chosen one! There are times when we have seen a "housekeeping" fee on our rental agreement, however, I feel they work very hard and deserve something extra. I hope there are others who feel the same.

We agree 100%...housekeeping is not the most glamorous job, however it has an immediate impact on the customer (me). We like to show our appreciation to the wonderful women who relieve us of the daily routine chores. They can make or break a good vacation. I think JEK has defined an appropriate standard.

 

[Dorocke]

I follow JEK's guideline- 5e per day, per bedroom. Tipped the agent 20e (or $20). I'm happy when I get there and really lose my head with the agent-guide!

 

[Jeanette]

Ashley, your new avatar is great. What a smile!

 

[GramChop]

super cute avatar, ashley!!!!

 

[Voosh]

I've spent a fair amount of time in Indy on bidness and I don't particularly care for the city (maybe it was the deals that soured that left me with those feelings.) But, obviously, there are bright spots there.

 

[Earl]

We tip $50/week.

 

[Libt]

Steve and I were just told of a practice a couple of weeks ago that concerns us and we'll share it with you at the risk of angering some villa managers; so to qualify, this is about some/maybe a few managers but of course NOT all.

Our manager, a very honest guy, told us that some villa managers have been giving the maids the day off, the day of the guests' departure. Thus allowing the manager to come in take the cash tips and raid the fridge. You have to give them credit for being creative and slimy!

We were surprised and offended to hear of this practice. Forum members who tip staff should probably be giving those tips directly to those who've earned them -- in person. The intent here is to inform, not offend.

Through all this cleverness the end result is that the clients think that their tips went to the maid, the maid thinks that the clients didn't like their service and didn't tip them. And those managers walk away with the goods and a smirk.

 

[Earl]

Hi Libby...we always pay (hand the cash to) the maid the day before we depart. And we always ask the maid which days she is working so we make sure that she gets the gratuity personally. What you describe sucks on so many levels.

 

[ChasBidd]

My advise, for what it is worth, is to give the "tip" directly to the server. I bring clothing or something unavailable on SBH to my housekeeper. We make a big deal of the exchange for her help. Face to face. Hugs and kisses. If, and when we rent, I recommend the same. Keeps the help happy. Happy help is invaluable. Keep them happy and they will return the favor(s). Pi$$ them off and you are in serious trouble.

These people are not stupid. They know you and will remember you. It is a small place. The help is not transiant.

You can not do without them.

Treat them with supreme respect. As you would expected to be treated yourselves. Changing beds and cleaning bathrooms, kitchens etc. is not a pretty job. The pay they recieve is meager.

Such is my advise.

 

[KevinS]

I have always tipped the maid. The amount is not too different than what has been discussed here. The maid determines, by her flexibility and willngness to work with me, whether the tip is in $ or in €. Most (but not all) maids do a decent job. The number/day won't change much unless I'm unhappy, but the currency will.

Libby, thanks for your note. Chas, your points are noted too. I'll make a point in tipping in person in the future.

Over the years I've noticed that our repeat visits to villas often come with a higher level of service, so I must be doing something right...

 

[Voosh]

We always "check in" with the "maid" before leaving. I don't like leaving money on the table.

 

[Petri]

Isn't that basicly what happens in many restaurants and other bigger establishments as well? The tips are put in a pool and the higher your rank, the more you get. The person that actually served you is probably at the bottom of the ladder and barely gets anything.

A hint to those villa owners raiding the tips; leave a little bit for the maid as well. The maid will not think the guests were cheapskates but that he or she did a bad job as a maid. The next time the maid will do a better job to get a better tip. Isn't that how tips are supposed to work? A bad tip means you need to improve your work.

 

[Gwen]

Wow, thanks for this tip - we just got back a few weeks ago and left the tip in the room the last day. We have always tipped the maid in St. Barts, but never anywhere else. Never occurred to me that someone else could come in and take the tips!

 

[Islander]

When we travel, we do check what is the culture at the destination(s). You really need to know if tipping is the norm or if it's considered an insult, or something in between......

In St. Barth we usually follow the french customs, leave something for the good food and/or service.

Petri,

About 80% of the visitors in St Barth are North Americans. Therefore even if St Barth is French, tipping is a recognized "custom" on the island... and that is true in all aspects; not only at restaurants.

Even if the rental agency would charge $500 more to allow for maid salaries; the maid would not see the color of it. The only way to make sure the "tip" goes in her pocket is to hand the cash to her directly.

All will agree here that people on St Barth aren't Japanese, and will accept tips happily.

Being a maid isn't an easy job, and I believe that 50 euros a week (let's say for a 1 to 2 bedroom rental) is common practise.

The cost of life on the island has become almost unbearable for most low salaries. And tipping is often the only way to reach that minimum wage.