Tipping the Housekeeping Staff at a villa

[Voosh]

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

People work hard. Stealing from them just ain't right. We tip and have no burrs in our asses about it.

 

[Petri]

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.
...
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.

I guess this is one of the things where americans would fix the problem with tips (see how well Las Vegas is doing today..) and europeans with trying to fix the difference between salary and living costs.

If the maid is paid something like 50 euros a week for a villa, the tips mentioned here will basicly double his/her salary (there's no income tax, I think).

BTW, are there any published statistics about arrivals to St. Barth from various countries? I remember seeing them for St. Martin and Anguilla.

PS. I don't have anything against tipping as such (apart from seeing it a "bad fix to a problem elsewhere"), if it's the custom then it's the custom. But like tip-everywhere americans think that tip-everywhere is the default elsewhere, my default starting point is never-tip which is the norm here. The frequent tip questions here just emphasize that there's very little clear and simple in tipping, be it american or european.

 

[Fraz]

Most of the Caribbean rental agencies I've worked with have provided guidelines for household staff tips. I, however, don't recall any mention of it by the St Barths agencies. I, myself, only learned of a resonable guideline (quite accidentally) through this forum. Also considering discussions regarding restaurant tipping, I could understand the confusion.

I would hope that the various villa rental agencies would be proactive in providing this information. I always travel with personalized "Thank You" notes to use for tips and try to present both in person to the appropriate staff member at the end of my stay. Never thought about a "left" tip being appropriated by a villa manager - truly sad if true.

 

[Petri]

I had so weird experience with the first (and last) St. Barth villa rental agency that I won't be renting other but directly from the owner.

If the tipping policy is american, perhaps the local government should start giving out a flyer at the airport explaining the customs. This forum is just a small portion of the visitors.

Also there are plenty of villa owners on this forum and they seem to be absent from these type of discussions..

 

[Graham]

If you dont tip on SBH, you unfortunatly run the risk of being seen as a tad mean. I believe that in SXM this is not the case at all.

Personally, if I was not comfortable with tipping, I would not feel comfortable enjoying the hospitality offered in SBH, and would consider spending my winter sojourn in SXM instead. Might that be something you would consider?

 

[Earl]

Nice...professionally you are a hostage negotiator--right?

 

[Graham]

No, I'm a maid.

 

[Earl]

No surprise there.

 

[Earl]

Nice timely edit.

 

[Midwest Mike]

If you dont tip on SBH, you unfortunatly run the risk of being seen as a tad mean. I believe that in SXM this is not the case at all.

says who?.....just curious why the difference as far as tipping maids on the two islands?

 

[andynap]

If you dont tip on SBH, you unfortunatly run the risk of being seen as a tad mean. I believe that in SXM this is not the case at all.

says who?.....just curious why the difference as far as tipping maids on the two islands?

Excuse me- who says? We tip the maids the same on St. Martin as St. Barts

 

[Midwest Mike]

exactly

 

[goldold25]

To all of you who advocate frugality in tipping. Please read Barbara Ehrenreich's book "Nickel & Dimed". If we can afford this Island and can afford a vacation of this type we can afford to tip reasonably well to those whose job it is to make this type of a vacation what we've come to expect.

 

[Graham]

You should change you signature to :

Always planning my next tip.

 

[NHDiane]

We always stay in a villa - and we tip according to service. Always has been that way regardless of where in the world we are staying. Excellent service receives excellent tips - and vice versa. We set a minimum (for iffy service) according to our rules...that's it. We tend to overtip if service is exceptional...it's probably the American way but oh well---we're from the USA. So what?

 

[Petri]

If you dont tip on SBH, you unfortunatly run the risk of being seen as a tad mean. I believe that in SXM this is not the case at all.

Personally, if I was not comfortable with tipping, I would not feel comfortable enjoying the hospitality offered in SBH, and would consider spending my winter sojourn in SXM instead. Might that be something you would consider?

I heard the first time about tipping the maids just a year or two ago, and we haven't been to St. Barth since then (just in 30+ other countries).

My experience has shown that hospitality is more about the people and the local culture, not the money you throw at people. But that's just me and I don't push that view to others.

PS. Still missing the villa owner's view to the topic.

 

[Lrob]

Hello:
I have been reading the threads with great interest. Heading to SBH over X-mas / New Year. First time on the island and we will be tipping the maid at the villa. Any problem with leaving the tip each day she comes as opposed to tipping at the end?

Thanks

 

[MIke R]

no, but you have tip double that week..its the rules

 

[andynap]

Don't listen to Mike- just because the rates are double that week- }:|

 

[Voosh]

I'd say, leave your thanks in person (if possible) at the end of your stay.