USVI-On-Line

This is our first time renting thru a management company- i know there has been some debate over tipping greeters--but if you were to tip a greeter how much is reasonable ? Also, we are under strict directions to all when we land so that the person can meet as at the dock--I wanted to try to get some grocery shopping done before heading over to Coral Bay, are greeters usually amenable to that ? For instance, could i ask the person to meet us in coral bay or at starfish or dolphin about an hour after we get off the ferry? or does that present problems--
(i guess I should just call the person, but i didn't want to make waves without getting the lowdown here first)

thanks

I would guess it depends on greeters schedule for that day. I'd call the mgt. company in advance and see if that's going to be any sort of problem.
Greeter may have you coming in @2 but someone else due in @4 so might not have the flexibility. But if they can I'm sure they would accomodate you.

I agree, their schedule may have a lot to do with it.

Keep in mind that Lilly's Market is in Coral Bay and has decent prices.

If you do want to shop in Cruz Bay though, hit Pine Peace instead. Not fancy but REALLy great prices.

I'd say give them a time to meet you and see if they will do it.

IF you were to tip a greeter, I'd say $10 - $20 would be good.

After our greeter helped us get our Jeep, she suggested we stop at Dolphin Market to pick up a few things. She showed us where to park and waited patiently while we shopped before leading us to our villa.

The last couple of times we've gone to STJ we told Windspree that we'd rather not even put them out with a greeter, as we know where the villa in Coral Bay is. They just call and verify that the car rental is set. However, when we did have a greeter the 1st couple of times that we went down we tipped $20. each time. It,[the tip] was greeted with a "What's this?" look of surprise the first time. Funny, she bought us a round at Shipwreck later in the week.
I prefer no greeter so as we can go at our own pace stocking up, and to be able to gawk on the ride to Coral Bay. The rental agency was really appreciative of our preference for no greeter next Saturday. Actually, it's this coming Saturday!

JT - have you stayed at the same villa each time?

I'm just wondering if the management company has to show you where things are/how they work to cover their butt.

I can see where it would be less hassle for them if you don't want/need a greeter (and unless the place is hard to find I'd be inclined the same way) but I don't know if the contracts differ to the point where it may not just be a courtesy some of the time, but an obligation.

Tipping - I never tip because the greeters are paid to do their job.
Groceries - I suggest you mention that you'd like to stop for a few things when you call your greeter from the airport. We've never had a greeter who had a problem with stopping. We usually arrive late so Dolphin is where we usually stop. I never rely on Lily's because we've often found their stuff is not only expensive but often found expired dates on too many things. It's good to check expiration dates no matter where you shop. I always do at home but it's especially true on STJ.

Augie, yes, I have stayed in the same villa/villas before. We have stayed in the same 2 villas on each of the 5 previous trips.We would still stay in the place that we stayed the first two times we stayed in Coral Bay, In the Stars, but they added a pool and a few other things and the price tripled. This will be the fourth time we've stayed at Casa Nita. I've already been briefed on the ins and outs of the place. And yes, I agree that having someone show you the idiosycricies of a place the first time is very nessasary. Though someplace new has its attractions, coming back to the same place seems very much like it's a second home.

thanks for your input all.
I guess I will give her a call and see if she doesn't mind us meeting up a bit later after i do some shopping-if it's an issue then we'll roll with that--I know lillys has many things, but their produce isn't so great IMO, but it's probably catch as catch can. if need be we'll just do shopping on Sunday-

If you want someone to wait for you while you shop, you should tip them for their time. I have done pickups where people shop for 45 minutes. Greeters get paid a flat fee generally, and may be kind enough to stop, but they don't have to.

A thought on stopping for groceries, if you don't mind. While I see the appeal of hitting a Cruz Bay market on your way over to Coral Bay so you don't have to run back over there for "big" shopping, we have learned to check to see what the villa already has before shopping. Think simple stuff like cooking oil, basic spices, sugar, butter, ketchup. It is irritating to spend money on things only to find out there was plenty of it at the villa in the first place or to shop again because you didn't get something the villa doesn't have.

wonderlost wrote:If you want someone to wait for you while you shop, you should tip them for their time. I have done pickups where people shop for 45 minutes. Greeters get paid a flat fee generally, and may be kind enough to stop, but they don't have to.

Good to know- I in no way want to inconvenience anyone. just have never dealt with the situation before--thanks

We are staying in Coral Bay also and have made arrangements to meet the greeter in Coral Bay. We will pick up our jeep, head to Starfish and then meet the greeter at Domino gas station to take us "up the hill" to our villa.

Paul wrote:We are staying in Coral Bay also and have made arrangements to meet the greeter in Coral Bay. We will pick up our jeep, head to Starfish and then meet the greeter at Domino gas station to take us "up the hill" to our villa.

yeah, i asked the company about that and they weren't too keen on it. maybe the actual greeter will be more open to this--In any event however it plays out, it plays out--I am not going to worry about it --just wondering what the SOP was.

where in CB are you staying?

We never meet the greeter at the dock anymore. The last couple trips we've stayed in Coral Bay so the greeter was happy to meet us there instead of Cruz Bay.

We get our shopping done before we meet up with the greeter.