usvi-on-line
tip amounts
This one confused me when we were recently there. Private villa from vrbo. The villa itself was very nice. The view was beautiful. Way out on the eastend and because of flight delays did not get out there until 1:30 a.m. Talk about a long day!
When I woke up the first thing I had to do was sweep the bathroom floor. UGH! Had to call the villa owner about a hot tub issue and a couple other things...(Yes, I should do a villa review and hoping for time for trip report.) She said her cleaning lady on the island brings her dog with her to clean. I have a dog, this was not dog hair. Dust hanging off the overhead fans, refrigerator not clean,etc. The owner asked ME if I could mention these problems to the cleaning lady because she felt her hands were tied being in the states and other cleaning ladies cost more. I said I didn't feel this was my position to do that it was hers; the villa owner. Long story, shorter. I didn't tip the cleaning lady. Right or wrong?
When I woke up the first thing I had to do was sweep the bathroom floor. UGH! Had to call the villa owner about a hot tub issue and a couple other things...(Yes, I should do a villa review and hoping for time for trip report.) She said her cleaning lady on the island brings her dog with her to clean. I have a dog, this was not dog hair. Dust hanging off the overhead fans, refrigerator not clean,etc. The owner asked ME if I could mention these problems to the cleaning lady because she felt her hands were tied being in the states and other cleaning ladies cost more. I said I didn't feel this was my position to do that it was hers; the villa owner. Long story, shorter. I didn't tip the cleaning lady. Right or wrong?
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I should mention we tipped generously on the island. Funny thing is though, we were lucky enough to buy Mr. Guy Benjamin's book My Beloved Virgin (I'm such a bad typer, can't underline title). We talked to him for awhile and he wrote such a nice author's message in the beginning. He said the book was $25.00. We gave him $30.00. I went home to the villa and started reading the back of the book...tips for rich Americans coming to live on St. John..."Don't tip me every time you come into Fred's and buy your favorite rum..."
So then I wondered if maybe I shouldn't have done that. Mr. Benjamin is such a true gentleman and in the short time I talked with him such a wise and spiritual man. Reading his book, with his fears for St. John's natives is sad though. He has beautiful handwriting and I wish I could have sat there all day with him.
So then I wondered if maybe I shouldn't have done that. Mr. Benjamin is such a true gentleman and in the short time I talked with him such a wise and spiritual man. Reading his book, with his fears for St. John's natives is sad though. He has beautiful handwriting and I wish I could have sat there all day with him.
We try to tip people like bar tenders, wait staff, and cab drivers. They work hard for their money and since we are their "employer" that's OK with me.
I don't like tipping every person who provides anything to us. I am OK with not tipping the bag handlers on the ferry. As we all know the wages are half as much as we see, and the cost of living is twice what we see.
Yes, Chris, the experience is sometimes the best reward for a job well done.
JIM
P.S. I did have a waitress at a stateside breakfast buffet change my tip amount because she thought it was too low.
It was a buffet. What did she do to earn a tip? There was no service. When I found out I demanded the hotel fire her. I contended that what she did was theft.
I don't like tipping every person who provides anything to us. I am OK with not tipping the bag handlers on the ferry. As we all know the wages are half as much as we see, and the cost of living is twice what we see.
Yes, Chris, the experience is sometimes the best reward for a job well done.
JIM
P.S. I did have a waitress at a stateside breakfast buffet change my tip amount because she thought it was too low.
It was a buffet. What did she do to earn a tip? There was no service. When I found out I demanded the hotel fire her. I contended that what she did was theft.Man it's like some dream we live down here....
We tip cab drivers and wait staff but don't generally tip villa greeters. We tip 20% unless the service is bad and tip more if the service is wonderful.
I noticed that at least one STJ villa agency says, "If you feel they (greeters) have done a great job, tipping is appropriate and greatly appreciated" under their Arrival Guide on their website. I don't t take it as "obligatory" but with them mentioning it made me wonder if it's somewhat expected - at least with them.
I noticed that at least one STJ villa agency says, "If you feel they (greeters) have done a great job, tipping is appropriate and greatly appreciated" under their Arrival Guide on their website. I don't t take it as "obligatory" but with them mentioning it made me wonder if it's somewhat expected - at least with them.
I'm not so sure that is a good idea. The next thing you know, they'll expect us to increase the amount of the tip three-fold to cover health insurance, worker's comp and social security. A $15 cab ride will end up costing you a $13 tip....wishwewerethere wrote:Hmmm...maybe if the government actually treated us as the "employers" of the waitstaff, and tips were tax deductible, then we would all be inclined to be far more generous than we already are!
I think you are on to something!
lolCid wrote:I'm not so sure that is a good idea. The next thing you know, they'll expect us to increase the amount of the tip three-fold to cover health insurance, worker's comp and social security. A $15 cab ride will end up costing you a $13 tip....wishwewerethere wrote:Hmmm...maybe if the government actually treated us as the "employers" of the waitstaff, and tips were tax deductible, then we would all be inclined to be far more generous than we already are!
I think you are on to something!
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traveler22
- Posts: 853
- Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:17 pm
- Location: New Jersey
I'm with Waterguy, especially since the prices have changed over the years. I don't tip the baggage handler's on the ferry or the taxi drivers NOW that they include a charge for this service. I did prior to them adding this charge per bag. I do give 20% to bartender and wait staff and usually give the greeter a $20 and leave some money for the housekeepers if they do their job well. I always use and tip the porter on the Cruz Bay side of the ferry (can't think of his name) because he's been there forever and he is always polite as they can be aggresive on the Red hook side.
Scott
Scott
Hi VayCay. I can understand your points. Perhaps I should explain my answers. I'm figuring the taxi driver packs 8 of us into the van at what, $15 each? That's $120 plus the bag fees. WAY more $$$ than I have ever made and I can't see tipping someone that makes way more than I do. At the ferry, our 2 bags are 'carry-ons' that I have already carried all day and would be happy to carry another 10 feet, so they only get a buck each. And as nummerous people have said, the villa management agency already gets a huge chunk of our money. I have no idea how much the management company pays the greeters, but hey, it's about as easy a job as I can imagine - so $20 for their gas. At sit down meals, sure, I always tip a minimum of 20% - most of the time it's more like 30% - because I know for sure that the waitstaff gets most of their income from tips. Hope this explanation goes a way towards reducing my apparent cheapness! LOL Jenrale
I agree with Bug. We tip 20% at restaurants. Give the greeter a $20. $5 to the ferry guy. If the taxi fare is $16, we give him a $20. If I'm happy and I feel good, it makes me feel good to share the love. Bug, your description of spending like Midas then arriving back home to "real life" made me laugh!
A relative recently came back from a trip and had lunch at a spot in the BVI's. I was told that their service was lousy, the waitress was rude as H*LL, and so they left her a smaller than normal tip. The waitress got pi$$ed and demanded that they leave more stating it was not enough. They ended up giving her more. I would not have done so in this instance. I thought that was really tacky.
A relative recently came back from a trip and had lunch at a spot in the BVI's. I was told that their service was lousy, the waitress was rude as H*LL, and so they left her a smaller than normal tip. The waitress got pi$$ed and demanded that they leave more stating it was not enough. They ended up giving her more. I would not have done so in this instance. I thought that was really tacky.
Gotta be careful in the BVI - common for some places to automatically add tip onto the bill regardless of party size and it is easy to overlook and tip again on top of that.
Also many credit card companies will hit you with a "foreign transacation fee" of 3% in the BVIs even though its US dollars. Stuff like this adds up.
Also many credit card companies will hit you with a "foreign transacation fee" of 3% in the BVIs even though its US dollars. Stuff like this adds up.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
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Teddy Salad
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:05 am
- Location: Colorado
Like larlardb8, my wife waited tables in her younger days, and I helped put myself through college bartending, so we're pretty generous tippers. 20-25% at restaurants, unless the service is horrible, then we might go as low as 15%. We always leave $3 to $5 dollars per day for housekeeping depending on the service (wife used to do that too).
Taxi drivers usually get 20%, baggage handlers, it depends on how much handling they do, so that's all over the board.
Our greeter got $50 for a late arrival fee that the management company charges. We got in after 10 PM, so we didn't mind. I gave her $100 to cover that plus the groceries she had gotten for us and an extra tip of about $20. She refused to take the tip and gave me back the change.
Taxi drivers usually get 20%, baggage handlers, it depends on how much handling they do, so that's all over the board.
Our greeter got $50 for a late arrival fee that the management company charges. We got in after 10 PM, so we didn't mind. I gave her $100 to cover that plus the groceries she had gotten for us and an extra tip of about $20. She refused to take the tip and gave me back the change.
How about the "tipping the owner" question...
i.e. the owner of the hair salon cuts your hair, do you tip them? I do not.
And to bring it into island context, if the owner of a daysail or power boat takes you out by himself (no crew), do you tip them?
i.e. the owner of the hair salon cuts your hair, do you tip them? I do not.
And to bring it into island context, if the owner of a daysail or power boat takes you out by himself (no crew), do you tip them?
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide