Villa tipping?

[Rascal]

I can imagine this starts some varying opinions,
but what amount is considered customary for tipping
the housekeeper that comes to your villa everyday (except Sundays)?

Question is based on the assumption of a tip at the end of a one week stay,
cash in Euros.

 

[JEK]

€10 per bedroom per day is what I usually do.

 

[Rascal]

That was my assumption, and have done similiar in the past on islands
that widely accept US dollars. Exchange rate makes it a bit more expensive,
but that's life. Find it interesting that most villas are quoted in US dollars vs. Euros.

b-t-w how do you make that Euro sign on a US/english based computer?
I have a $ sign, but no euro sign on my keyboard.

 

[JEK]

On my iPad I hold the $ sign down and slide over to € or £ or ¥

On a Mac I type Option +2

Windoze Alt+0128 = €

 

[andynap]

You running Windows, iOS or Chrome

 

[Rascal]

You running Windows, iOS or Chrome

Windows

 

[Rascal]

€10 per bedroom per day is what I usually do.

Just to clarify, my thinking is that it is 10 Euro a day on bedrooms occupied.
If it is just my wife and I, in a 3 bedroom villa, we are only using one bedroom,
and would tip based on that, i.e. one bedroom, therefore 10 euro a day.
If we had two couples, using 2 of the 3 bedrooms, we should tip 20 euro a day.

Is there agreement on this?

 

[andynap]

You can do what JEK said above or go to Start- All Programs-Accessories-System Tools- Character Map- search for euro= €

 

[Bart -my real name-]

What's the etiquette on dishes and plates? Is the renter supposed to clean them or the maid?

 

[JEK]

Right on occupied rooms. The maid will do the dishes, but we usually load the DW and often run it before she arrives. We just don't like a mess even when there is maid service.

 

[Rascal]

We usually do the dishes ourselves too. On the rare occassion we didn't,
the maid always took care of it for us.
However, we had a maid at an SXM villa that told us she
did not do dishes and told us about how it turned into a big issue for her with some previous guests,
i.e. it took her so long to do all their dishes, according to her, she didn't have time to properly
clean all of the rooms.
We've rented many villas before, and it was the first time we heard of this being an issue.

 

[katva]

We rarely leave any dishes, but if we do, then we leave an extra large tip. But we never leave more than a few things. My biggest pet peeve, housekeeping-wise, is dishes left in the sink.

 

[KevinS]

I tip the maid 5-10 a day. The maid and her flexibility (i.e. hours that are convenient for me), thoroughness, and her willingeness to supply extra towels on occasion determines whether or not it is 5 or 10, and also whether or not I tip in $ or €. (Hold down the Alt key, hit 0128 on the keypad, release - you now have a € symbol.) Lately, where I'm staying as a repeat guest, it's a consistent €10/day. There may also be a bottle of Veuve Clicquot that changes hands on a weekend or on a holiday.

Your SXM maid needs a new career, and I hope that you didn't leave a tip.

 

[rivertrash]

We do the 10 Euros per occupied bedroom per day deal, but we also usually leave several bottles of wine with a greater value than the tip.

 

[Rascal]

holding down the alt key and hitting 0128 doesn't seem to work on my computer,
I guess I'll have to pay in US dollars

I can understand 5 vs. 10 depending on service and attitude.

I've only been to SBH via boat, and only have stayed on a boat at anchor.
This is my first time to SBH land based.
I was under the impression that US Dollars were not widely accepted,
and giving a tip in dollars vs. euros would not really be appropriate.
Just my impression, am I wrong?

 

[andynap]

The alt trick doesn't work on mine either. Money is money. The maid won't turn either down.

 

[KevinS]

Check to see if your Num Lock key is off. (On is good.)

Dollars are widely accepted on SBH, but the exchange rate is usually not in your favor. Your maid will do most of her shopping on SBH and paying in €. She will also be shopping on St Maarten/St Martin. Prices are generally more favourable on the Dutch side (SXM), and the $ that you leave will spend quite nicely there, with a completely different exchange rate.

 

[JEK]

As a cultural courtesy, please tip in the local currency. €

 

[Bart -my real name-]

We do the 10 Euros per occupied bedroom per day deal, but we also usually leave several bottles of wine with a greater value than the tip.

I'm available to be your maid.

 

[Karen]

I'm available to be your maid.

Lol! :up: