We are staying at the Wyndham El San Juan in October. The hotel charges an 11% service charge. In the frommers guide I have, it says not to tip at a hotel if they are applying this charge. Any thoughts?

I booked the same hotel for the middle of October through Liberty Travel. I am unaware of this service charge, as i booked a package with air. I just glanced at my travel documents and again, did not see this charge.

I was there in January....as I recall, it is a "Resort Fee".Though I did not book a package,I did see a couple having a "discussion" with the desk clerk about their package deal which did not include the 11% fee.Usually a resot fee is not included and payable upon check out.Check with Liberty,however since it is their package.Good Luck!

Any thoughts on tipping with this resort charge?

Its my understanding that the Resort Fee includes tipping that you would normally do....so DON'T !!

I would see how it's labeled.

It sounds like this is PR's 'casino tax'. I believe the tax rate for hotels in PR is 11%, and if there is a casino on the property it's another 11% (making the effective tax rate 22%).

They are seperate. The tax rate in PR is lower for hotels that do not have a casino, Like 9% I believe. This service charge of 11% is on top of that. 22% when I check out.

Other hotels I saw do not have this "service charge".

It's not a matter of whether the resort has a casino. The extra 11% is called a resort fee and applies to properties that qualify as "resorts" rather than "hotels." For example, the El San Juan has a casino and is called the Wyndham El San Juan Resort. It does have the extra 11% charge. The Ritz Carlton, on the other hand, also has a casino but is a hotel, not a resort, so the 11% resort fee does not apply.

What interests me is the posts that say that you don't have to tip wne a resort fee is added. I never realized this and am not sure how to apply it - does it mean I don't tip the bellman, doorman, maid, food at the pool??

A resort fee is imposed by the hotel..its is optional at their discretion, not a government tax.When there, I tipped the bellman and tipped as I normally would at the restaurants and bars.Resort fees are by nature vague but usually include use of the pool chairs,lounges,etc, use of towels,daily newspaper, high speed inernet, low speed internet,ot and cold running water,housekeeping gratuity,and on and on.And it varies from resort to resort.

BeachBoi explained it very clearly. I just want to add that some resorts add a flat rate (as opposed to a 10%). For example, the Westin St. John added $18 per day resort fee for newspaper, beach chairs, coffee service, etc.