USVI-On-Line

Okay, so I know this is a boring topic, but I was hoping someone might be able to offer some suggestions or guidelines on this... The manager/booking rep for the villa we rented will be meeting us at the dock and showing us to the villa. How much do you typically tip them? We're staying for 1 week. Also, when do you tip them? They day they pick you up, or do you leave something for them at the villa? Thanks so much for your help!

If you would like to tip the villa rep., you should do it when they take you and show you the villa since you may not see them again if everything concerning the villa goes well. If you leave the tip at the villa when you depart, the tip will be for the cleaning people.
I’m not sure how prevalent it is to tip the villa rep. Some people do it and some don’t.

We have tried to tip the villa reps in the past and they seem offended and absolutely refused. Do some accept?

We do however, always leave a tip for the cleaning crew.

We offered a tip to Lisa of Vacation Vistas but she refused Lisa owns her business that may have something to do with it! She also does not charge a service fee! Lisa spent a good deal of time with us and showing us the neighborhood. I really can not say enough good things about her management company!

I think if the rental company charges you a fee, I do not think you are obliged to pay a tip. JMHO

Oh crap, your suppose to tip the villa rep? I have never tipped them. Now granted, the last few years we haven't had one meet us because we knew where to go, but I always thought that is what they got paid to do. Oh, now I feel so cheap

Bugblu, I also thought that since it was the rep's job to take you to the house and show it to you, you didn't have to tip. We tipped the last time, but only because I had read about it here. The rep was quite happy to take the tip though.

Honey tips $20 although I don't think it's necessary to do so. We are happy feel good's by the time we're with the rep so I guess we are just more apt to spread the love!

I was a villa rep for almost 5 years and I never received a tip. I was paid to do pickups by my office.

X - What is your take on tipping the cleaning people? Yes/No - How much?

Thanks

I gotta be honest here and say that I have never tipped the Villa people.

Trust me, I am not cheap-- I tip porters (usually $5 a bag), servers (20%), taxi (I usually round up to the nearest $10 -- a $14 fare I usually hand them a $20 and say keep the change) everyone else in a service related industry, handsomely.

But I have never even thought of tipping the villa rental folks. Esp when I rent thru CV and they charge the extra 5%, my attitude is that it's included.

As for cleaning services, most rental co's only send them out once during your stay and I guess it depends on how well they do their job.

I'll continue to tip everyone else well, but I don't think I'll be giving the Villa folks any more of my money.

I am with Gromit (Literally on some trips), I don't tip the person who shows me to the villa. No matter who I am renting through. I figure its part of their management fee from the owner.

Maybe I've been cheap but no one has ever seemed to be looking for a tip when showing me to the house.

I guess the reason I was embarassed by this topic at first is that I am NOT cheap and I never even thought of tipping the villa reps. I feel that I always take very good care of those in the service industry. I never had cleaning people come during the week while I was there so I've never left any tip for them either. I have left tons of food and drink throughout the years, does that count?

Heck yeah, it counts! God only knows other folks have lucked out with all the food and booze we've left behind!

we were in bongo for 9 nights and I think we left $75 or $100. having never stayed in a villa have no clue if we were on track with that or not but it was what we did. they had to clean the bathrooms, strip the beds, towels and what not so I did feel it was the right thing to do.

I can tell you from experience that it is a rush on change over day's to see who will get there first to see what was left And the price to clean the villa is the same if the is one person or 8 The maintenance man gets so much to go Thur on change over day and make sure everything is working.