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Original poster

All inclusive American resort - tipping

86 replies

PossiblyDreaming · 01/02/2022 21:54

In a few weeks I’m going to be staying at (what looks like) a very lovely, all inclusive resort in Grenada. Looking at the reviews it looks like it’s an almost exclusively American’s who stay there and it’s American owned. There’s lots of mentions about how the staff can be a bit standoffish and unwilling to help but once you tip they all become lovely and attentive and constantly bringing you amazing cocktails, reserving tables in the restaurant etc.

But I don’t know who to tip, when you tip or how much. Any suggestions? It’s a fairly pricey place to stay - for two of us it’s about £700 per night in the cheapest room but at an all inclusive rate. I just have no idea about tipping and don’t want to piss off the staff by tipping them not enough or tipping them at the wrong time and I don’t know if I have to tip everyone and I’m getting in such a faff about it already.

It’s supposed to be an absolute trip of a lifetime but I hate not knowing what the rules are.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 02/02/2022 20:14

Dip? Tip.

decisionsincisions · 02/02/2022 20:18

Oh we stayed in a secrets, we tipped in dollars most of the time. 5 dollars for a big round and maybe 10 at the end of the day?

We found that we had very attentive staff at all meals and by our pool room, we were away tucked away at the far end of the hotel and we had wonderful staff come with 4 cocktails 4 beers and 4 bottles of water every hour/half hour. We were honeymooning so totally over indulgent and were happy to tip considering the amount and quality of what we were consuming.

We spent quite a lot but were happy to do so. It was fabulous

Original poster
PossiblyDreaming · 02/02/2022 20:19

@mathanxiety that’s the problem though, it’s all inclusive so I have no idea what the price of food/ drink is so don’t know how to do a percentage.

OP posts:
Original poster
PossiblyDreaming · 02/02/2022 20:21

@MrsTerryPratchett I think that’s probably the way to go in future for me. This holiday is a divorce present from my very lovely relative so I’m just trying to work out what all the rules are.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 02/02/2022 20:26

That's lovely of your relative!

I didn't get any presents for my divorce Angry

Grin
underneaththeash · 02/02/2022 22:13

@BackToWhereItAllBegan

Outside of Sandals / Beaches resorts, tipping is fairly standard at all inclusive hotels across the Caribbean. We usually tip $5 with breakfast and lunch, $10 at dinner and $1 per drink at the bars. For housekeeping, I try to leave $5 per day, I know some people prefer to tip at the end of their holiday but you don't always get the same staff every day so I think leaving the money daily is fairer.
Thing is it’s not in Antigua, St Lucia and Grenada. We’ve stayed numerous times in all three and never tipped or seen people tipping. It may be the case in other islands. We’ve tipped in Barbados as we don’t stay AI.
gogohm · 02/02/2022 22:26

You have reminded me how much I hate American tipping culture! I never let baggage handlers near my bags - for security reasons and because they have wheels, we get very funny looks especially in 5 star non European hotels (in Europe they are used to cheapskates Grin)

mathanxiety · 02/02/2022 22:30

If you're all inclusive, then it's wise to leave at least $10 and actually about $15 per dinner for your waiter and bussers, basing my estimate on the room rate.

I think $1-$5 is really on the low end for everyone else.

Original poster
PossiblyDreaming · 02/02/2022 22:35

@mathanxiety $5 every time I get a drink and $15 for meals? I might as well have just gone room only if that’s the case! I wasn’t expecting it to be that much!

OP posts:
Claymorekick · 02/02/2022 22:38

I feel your pain! We are going to Mexico shortly and I am getting myself wound up about who to tip, when to tip and how much to tip Confused. On the FB page, it is all American people who seem to tip everyone every day which, by my calculations on the amounts they are quoting, is about £300!!

Plus I find the whole transaction really awkward - so stressful for what should be a luxury relaxing experience!

oncemoreunto · 02/02/2022 22:40

Mexican's themselves also tip on holiday, not just American's.

mathanxiety · 02/02/2022 22:41

Honestly, tipping anything lower than $5 would be insulting.

If there's any way to figure out if tips are allowed or expected ahead of your trip, that would be the best thing to do. Otherwise, watch what your fellow tourists seem to be doing.

I agree with Mrs Terry Pratchett on tipping culture and how it is part of a 'screw the workers' approach in general. It truly sucks.

But not tipping if people are relying on tips isn't going to change the culture.

oncemoreunto · 02/02/2022 22:43

Brits not tipping is talked about a fair bit by service staff, it doesn't go un-noticed.

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/02/2022 23:43

@oncemoreunto

Mexican's themselves also tip on holiday, not just American's.
I struggle with this. It's not done and sometimes insulting to tip in a few countries. Going and doing it everywhere is just cultural imperialism and is making the world worse. If Mexicans and Americans choose to tip in China, Japan, any one of many non-tipping nations, how is that better than Brits not tipping?

Workers should be paid a living wage. Or be able to negotiate a proper fee for services. Tipping is rooted in serfdom.

oncemoreunto · 03/02/2022 00:31

It is worse to not tip in a tipping country because you are depriving people of wages that they need to eat, pay bills etc.
My point was in Mexico, Mexican's tip. It is part of their culture.

If Mexican's choose to tip in a non tipping culture isn't going to lead to material harm. The opposite isn't true.

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/02/2022 00:55

My point was in Mexico, Mexican's tip. It is part of their culture.

You said, 'on holiday'. I've seen lots of Mexicans on holidays in other countries.

TigerLilyTail · 03/02/2022 01:23

It reminds me of a friend who left a tip for the cleaners at a hotel in Japan. As she was leaving a staff member came running after her with the money she'd left behind. She was really embarrassed about it.

I have no idea about tips, OP, but I agree 5 dollars per drink is a lot!

coraka · 03/02/2022 01:32

@Anotherhill

That sounds so stressful. Surely the point of AI is that you don’t have to worry about money!
This! Bloody hell! I hate tipping; it makes me feel so uncomfortable. I just want to know the price (whatever it is) and pay. I don't want to guess. I don't want people simpering around me; I just want people to do their job politely.

I hate cash too, even my own currency. What a palaver to procure and to carry around a big bag of coins in a foreign currency.

mathanxiety · 03/02/2022 03:34

It's not $5 per drink.
If you were to spend an evening in a bar then $5 for your server for the evening would be acceptable.

mathanxiety · 03/02/2022 03:36

@coraka, you often find a line for a gratuity along with a line for the total including gratuity for you to fill in yourself on the receipt you are presented with to sign if you pay by cc in the US. There is no need to schlep currency around.

ISpyCobraKai · 03/02/2022 03:42

Is this really standard?
Not that I'm going anytime soon but friends of mine went AI in Jamaica last summer, and weren't expected to tip at all.
I understand it's the done thing in the US, but I thought AI would mean it wasn't necessary.

TigerLilyTail · 03/02/2022 03:48

@mathanxiety

It's not $5 per drink. If you were to spend an evening in a bar then $5 for your server for the evening would be acceptable.
Ok, that makes more sense!
Bussinbussin · 03/02/2022 04:05

I'm on a cruising forum and the Americans love to gloat about how they get fabulous service by pressing $50s into everyone's palms on the first day.

I get the same service by not being a ridiculously demanding arsehole. I tip more modest amounts as appropriate at the end of the trip.

BestestBrownies · 03/02/2022 04:38

I’ve just come back from a week on an AI resort in Mexico. Absolutely not our usual style of holiday, but we wanted a relaxing break in the sun and thought it would be a good fit.

We will definitely not be doing another. The white privilege was stark and horribly uncomfortable.

The vast majority of guests were really fucking rude, loud, selfish, mannerless pigs. It was embarrassing to witness. Those who tipped expected extra special treatment and were really demanding of the (already super attentive), staff.

We found just being chatty, friendly and acknowledging everyone like fellow human beings instead of servants was very well received.

Claymorekick · 03/02/2022 06:30

[quote mathanxiety]@coraka, you often find a line for a gratuity along with a line for the total including gratuity for you to fill in yourself on the receipt you are presented with to sign if you pay by cc in the US. There is no need to schlep currency around.[/quote]
But if you are in an All Inclusive hotel, you aren't paying for your drinks or food so there is no bill to pay - so you would need cash to tip wouldn't you?