While researching here I came across a post recommending a resort and stating that the cost of the room included most meals and the gratuities – even though the service charge that the resort imposes is only 10%.

Would you ever NOT tip extra? I found the post bothersome since it makes it sound that since the resort charges a service charge you don’t have to tip extra for housekeeping or food servers.

When we have traveled we have always had wonderful service which I think should be rewarded. After all, How many of the people that make your stay comfortable could afford the resort you are staying at?

At Nisbet last year we tipped 10% on the cost of the meal (60pp but included in the room charge) and the wine we ordered - Most nights we rounded it up and tipped $20.

I understand that if you stay at an AI they discourage tipping but what aboout other resorts?

Thoughts?

I do agree with you, alya. We always tip extra for housekeeping and at all restaurants, even though the menu states that service is included. I think that we, in the US, are used to not having tips included, so reading that "service is included" is another way of saying..."no extra tip needed". Wrong! We always tip,well... everyone that helps us or serves us in some way. Hence::: the trip cash is for tips and the credit card is for dinner!

Hi iw,

If the resort or restaurant said that the service charge was included (and it was a fair rate) then I wouldn't tip - I'm a Brit, so I'm used to a check where service is included and we wouldn't tip extra.

I just feel that 10% isn't a realistic percentage and if the service warrants an extra tip then I am perfectly happy to do so.

We have in the past left a bad tip here in the US ($3 for a $45 check) since the service was soooo.... bad - I feel a bad tip is better than no tip, that way the server knows that we were upset by the dreadful service and not just ignorant of the 'tipping rules'.

BTW - I also posted this in the Fodorite Lounge.

One cheapskate has already posted a reply, How cheap can you get???

I completely agree witth you Alya.

A 10% "service charge" is divided by many behind the scenes folks, and certainly is not the percentage that I tip here at home or anywhere I travel.

Recent experience has been at Nisbet, Jamaica Inn and Cambridge Beaches, and I opted for a meal plan at all of them.

At Nisbet checks were presented and I always added enough to bring it up to the 20% range. Additionally, I presented those *special* folks ( Roslyn, Patterson, Allison, Steve and the housekeeper) with a personal note of thanks with cash included, at the end of my stay. Knowing that those who had been so kind and attentive to me would not have to share with anyone.

At JI, checks were not presented for anything , so I again wrote personal notes and added cash to each envelope. I based the amount given on the length of my stay. It's not that hard to do, even for mathematically challenged me ;-) !

At Cambridge Beaches, there was an additional service charge for absolutely everything ! I sometimes felt that I was being charged to breathe. So, my enelopes were few and far between.

My rambling point is that circumstances and level of service will vary, even at "high end" resorts.

But I do agree that 10% is well below the industry standard.

Marion

I do something very similar to what Marion does. When checking out of a resort/hotel/inn I always add enough money to the service charge on my final bill to make the service charge around 20%. This is divided equally among the staff, including groundskeepers, dishwashers, and other staff members we may never encounter. I then use cash in small envelopes to tip the people who were of particular service to me, with housekeeping tips usually left each morning in case the same person doesn't do my room each day.

I find that most places these days have a service charge included in the bill. Usually it's 10 or 15%. We add to it to round it up to 20%. For us, 20% is fair. If service was awful, we won't add... that has rarely happened I'm happy to say. We also do tip housekeeping on a daily basis.

While in Anguilla recently, I learned that the extra tip should be added in cash if you wanted your particular server to get it. If you pay by credit card and add it to the cc total, they'll split it among all the workers. I'm sure other islands do the same. I just never realized that.

I do think a lot of resorts add a ridiculous amount of fees these days and it probably makes it difficult for people to feel generous.

Think of the service charge as another "tax". Unless, expressly indicated by the establishment, most employees will be expecting and appreciating gratuities. The small hotels seem to be better than the large chain hotels on this. It's kind of a scam because in many cases, the service charge never gets to the employees, instead the owners use that charge to pay for employee benefits.

I think if any of us realized just what these employees are paid hourly, with or without the "service charge" added, we might be more generous in many different ways.

As Americans, we are used to at least one vehicle in the driveway. In most of the Caribbean a car or any sort of vehicle is a luxury.Most Caribbean women don't even have a license to drive...what would they drive ?

So the cost of their transportation is considerable and usually involves LONG walks to get home, and the morning and yet another trip, comes all too soon.

I'm just suggesting that we think more about our hosts while on island. And hopefully if we can afford to be there, we can afford a little bit of understanding of a different way of life. It's not about a percentage or who gets what, it is more about appreciation.

Marion

Recently our trips have been to the same hotel in Negril, which tacks on a 10% service charge to our hotel charges. I make sure to tip the server or bartender in cash (or add tip to room charge) when closing out the bill to make it roughly 20% in total. We also leave daily gratuities for our housekeeper(s).

I am a first time visitor to ANYWHERE south of Florida...
We are planning a 25th anniversary getaway to Antigua next March and have chosen a modest AI resort. This post caught my eye because I assumed that AI meant no extras. I have never been to a resort before and the time we took our kids to Florida, we stayed in a cabin in the Disney campground. The basic message makes sense if your rate includes only a 10% service charge. Anything else we should know about tipping?

Hi Laurie,

AI resorts have already added gratuities to your charge and you don't need to tip further. If you are still planning on Coconut Beach on Antigua then the website states that gratuities are included, so you're all set and don't need to worry further

It's a complicated thing (service charge versus gratuity) and I'm not suprised you are confused - after all we all want to do the right thing

Laurie,

I have spent extended time in Europe and Latin America and I can tell you that Americans are quite obsessed with the whole tipping business. It's not a bad thing at all, just a curious thing. Anyways, regarding tipping, don't fret about it. At an AI resort, you will not be brought a bill after every meal, so there isn't even an opportunity to tip in that fashion. Having said that, if you encounter someone at the resort that is particularly helpful and service-oriented, by all means, feel free to discreetly give that person a couple of dollars (cash). They won't turn it down.

I've never stayed at a resort that has a "service charge", but it sounds like the service charge at restaurants in Europe. If that's the case, management uses that money to pay a livable wage to its employees. In the Caribbean, some of the best jobs are the ones in the tourism industry (there are many execptions to this, one of them being the banking jobs in the BVIs, which is why many of the people who work in the tourism industry are not originally from the BVIs, but rather Trinidad, Jamaica, etc.). Remember that cost of living is simply not the same in many of these islands as it is in the USA.

Again to emphasize, if you choose to tip further, please give it cash to the employees, to ensure they receive 100% of what you left on the slip.

Thank you. It really does get confusing when everything is new.

Laurie,

Anything else you need to know will be answered on this forum - we're a friendly crowd and love to encourage new visitors to the Caribbean.

My 25th in June will be spent at Nisbet Plantation on Nevis - we stayed there last year and loved it.

Could you do me a favour and come back and post a trip report - I'm more inclined to 'adult only' resorts since I don't have small children. Coconut Beach looks like my kind of place - small and doesn't encourage children

I really do appreciate all the tips and friendly advice! I am planning to take LOTS of photos and will let everyone know how it goes. I was very grateful to Mark and Donna on http://www.geographia.com/ who shared 2005 photos of the resort from various locations. That gave us a better idea of its proximity to the beach and the condition of the buildings, etc. We even found a panoramic video clip! Its not a high end resort, but we are obviously simple folk. Small, clean and friendly is our idea of perfect.