Tipping villa escort

[TomtheCat]

Tipping has been discussed numerous times before but my question is, is there a common practice or expectation of a tip for the person who escorts you to your villa? If so, how much?

 

[JohnC]

If this is the Villa rental person, I would not tip, it is part of the job to orient you. If this is someone assisting with bags, etc. Yes, about $10.

 

[Earl]

Personally, if they are helpful, and enthuiastic, I give them $10...if they are in a hurry to get out, and don't offer instruction in stuff like the cable TV/DVD, or don't know how to use it themselves, I give them $5 for their trouble.

 

[JEK]

I tip more on the number of bags he handles. We arrived with 6 people and 5 bags, which he took in his car, and I gave him €5 a bag. I also give him a glass of champagne as that is the FIRST thing we do when arriving!

PS My experience is that they always go over the villa in detail.

 

[Earl]

Not mine...had the same guy twice in a row from SBP...he had his hand out even before we unlocked the villa door.

 

[JEK]

My most recent experiences are with SIBARTH/WIMCO and they bend over backwards welcoming you, schlepping bags and giving a detailed tour of the villa.

 

[andynap]

My Wimco guy was in a hurry and ran out as my hand was on my wallet. Hey- stay a little longer.

 

[Dorocke]

I've given $20 to agent- 2 people, 2-3 bags. (Usually we're way out on some far end of the island, with a "longer" drive from aiport.)

 

[JEK]

Tipping has been discussed numerous times before but my question is, is there a common practice or expectation of a tip for the person who escorts you to your villa? If so, how much?

Wait! This is France, I think service is included. Midwest Mike,Lloyd?

}:|

 

[Midwest Mike]

Not sure why I do, but always hand over 20 EUROS after the tour...also have been known to give a 20 DOLLAR bill instead when feeling cheap! ) I usually ask myself afterwards why I do it, considering I've already paid between 1-2K for service to wimco.

 

[Dorocke]

I don't have any euros yet at that point... I think I'm just so giddy, sometimes tipsy (SXM x Caribs), and happy to get there, I tip away!

 

[KevinS]

The tip, if any, will vary depending on how difficult my travel day has been, and how helpful the agency rep is. For a particularly helpful rep I reach into the Euro pocket instead of the Dollar pocket. Usually a 20 comes out.

 

[llyon]

I usually ask myself afterwards why I do it, considering I've already paid between 1-2K for service to wimco.

Yeah, we will tip if a good tour is given but really now that I think about it, isn't that what the giant "agency" fee is for????

 

[Sawdustbay]

The two times we rented a villa the owner of the villa agency escorted us and as in a restaurant I am not comfortable tipping the owner. To me tips are for staff. Am I wrong or what do others think about this.
10 more days....

 

[JimD]

Funny story:

I was working for a well know agency on the island, and having escorted the owners to their property, it turned out that there was a problem with the TV.

I called the maintenance guy, who turned up promptly and fixed the TV quickly.

As he was jumping into his van, the owner called "Wait, I want to give you some money"

Speaking no English and not understanding a word he smiled, waved and sped off empty handed.

 

[PBnJ]

Not my experience with SBP. They usually don't even look for a tip from us and show us the ups and downs....unless we know...and evn if we do we tend to give ten to twenty bucks...US. Even if I load the vehicle myself and know where we are going. I can't understand and never will understand how people become so tight with their wads when they spend so much to get to, stay, eat, and love SBH. It blows my mind.

 

[Earl]

It's not SBP/WIMCO/PIV/SBS...it's the individual person that earns a tip; amount dependent on how well they do their job.

 

[MIke R]

I pull up to Auberge...the door is unlocked...the key is in the ashtray...a bottle of cold water and chilled roseay is in the frig....I catch up with him tomorrow...or the next day after that

simple...seamless...uncomplicated....no tip necessary....LMAO

 

[Midwest Mike]

It's not SBP/WIMCO/PIV/SBS...it's the individual person that earns a tip; amount dependent on how well they do their job.

So what do you actually get for the 10% service charge on villa rentals...just curious?

 

[Earl]

The satisfaction of funding the rental agency cost of doing business?