Tipping- now split from TR - pls continue posting

[oldseadog]

Great trip report, but the references to tips concern me a wee bit.
We tip in the European way: we leave tips in envelopes at the front desk when we check out. "Tipping" in advance to get extra special service is called "bribery" this side of the pond, and after all the resort is supposed to be all inclusive. I remember some years ago discussing this with Silvina and she confirmed that a proportion of the cost of the vacation payed to Desire in fact was shared by the staff in lieu of tips, although, rightly, she would not say what the percentage was.

(Puts on tin hat and hides behind parapet.)

[mfay]

oldseadog- a couple years ago, we were told by more than one employee that the average employee share
of the all-inclusive tip fund was $10 US per week.
Can't say if that is still accurate.

[aandk4fun]

we are in the 35-40 age bracket

to be completly honest, we didnt go overboard on tipping, but we were with a couple that tipped very well and they got what they wanted... of course they had extra demands, different type champagnes, liquors, food, etc etc....

i few dollars here and a few dollars there go a long way from taking what would normally be a good experience to beyond

we didnt notice any lack of service if the tip wasn't there or not large, we typically tipped when the service went beyond what was expected or offered..........

[FunResting]

Is it still OK to tip in U.S. dollars? I had seen some mention that pesos were now preferred.

[oldseadog]

FunResting,
It is fine to tip in $US if you have them at home, but if you don't live in the US then it seems silly to me to pay commission buying $US at the bank when you can pay commission buying Pesos and then the recipient has cash in his/her hand that he/she can spend, rather than having to pay commission themselves before being able to use their tip money.
I don't think one currency or the other is particularly preferred though.

mfay,
that could well be pretty near the mark.
But before you say "That's not much", you also have to ask "How much will that buy?" In some places in the world a can of Coke costs much less in relative terms than in other places - you really have to know how long you have to work to earn enough to buy a can of Coke (or a loaf of bread or a pair of shoes for a 10-year-old) before you can make a proper comparison.
Also, that $10 goes to all the staff. How many people tip the gardeners?
And finally, if you tip your waiter $5, he/she puts it into the pot and it is shared by all the staff anyway.

(Ducks back down behind parapet again.)

[mfay]

LOL- I'm not arguing oldseadog- just providing information. We do most of our tipping the last day of our trip as a reward for the week's service to those we feel deserve it (not all-we tip our waiter at the evening meal if deserved and occasionally drink servers at pool/beach) . We understand that they usually pool that together and split it up- but we want the person we hand it to to know that it was their service that earned it and that we appreciate it.

[oldseadog]

mfay,
I understand that YOU aren't arguing, but others might have been offended, as has happened in the past.
Interesingly, (or maybe stupidly), we prefer to tip anonymously.
Another example of two nations divided by a common language and culture. And maybe neither of us fully understanding a third. I have absolutely no idea about what the Maya attitude or custom to tipping is amongst themselves. I must try to find out next time we are over there, just for interest.

[kjc]

come on guys I think someone told me last time these people make 8 dollars a day,and they all work their asses off,a couple of bucks thrown their way goes a long way for them and it usually pays off for us as well.

[oldseadog]

kjc
"...it usually pays off for us as well."
That is what I am talking about.
In my book that is bribery rather than saying "Thank you."

[tout.prest]

kjc
"...it usually pays off for us as well."
That is what I am talking about.
In my book that is bribery rather than saying "Thank you."

but This could go round and round and round......

my $0.02..

I like to tip well because of the way that the staff treat my wife and how "over the top special" it makes her feel. Period.
Its not because of their financial constraints or situation. Using that as logic would mean we should tip them even if they were providing terrible service (not that they ever would at Desire). I dont do that here in Toronto, so I'm certainly not gonna do it in Mexico. I am NOT a fan of the service staff pooling tips actually because the weak are then carried by the strong, but it is a very valid point "what about the gardners?"

If tipping well makes the next round of service even better than the last,and it improves "our" stay at Desire and is "win-win", why would I really care if it is a tip or a bribe?Although, to me, a bribe is $$ given out prior to the service, not after.

As an example of over the top service on one of our previous trips.... we had just arrived and were sitting on a beach bed resting after a long day of traveling when without any prompting from us, CC and Africa surprised us with a bottle of chilled champagne on ice, served in crystal flutes, and a platter of strawberries, because it was Africas B-day and she remembered from a prior trip that our anniversary was the same day !! How awesome is that ??? How could you not HAPPILY tip for that kind of memory ? It was THE LEAST I could do

You will, beyond any doubt, get great service,regardless of tipping, as long as you are not an ass, and say your por favors and gracias ( Don't laugh....It blows my mind how many people I have seen who dont do this simple thing ), but why not do whatever works for you ? Tip..dont tip...bribe...whatever.

As Don says.."its all good"

Steve,

[Powderfinger]

Y'know, there have been a few tipping threads, which would be much more appropriate for all this, rather than cluttering up this trip report.

[tout.prest]

Y'know, there have been a few tipping threads, which would be much more appropriate for all this, rather than cluttering up this trip report.

Agreed..... I actually just tried to delete it for that very reason, but cant seem to anymore. Sorry Just disregard

Maybe Wayne or Mike Delete or move ??

Steve

[oldseadog]

Powderfinger,
You are right, apologies, no more now.

[CokeMann]

OK All - we have split this discussion from the TR and it is now it's own thread

Feel free to continue the discussion if you wish

[cupl4fun109528]

My only observation here is the distinction between tipping and bribery. If the "tip" were provided in advance of the service (whatever that may be) then yes, that could be considered bribery in a way (as in, here's some money, please take care of me). However, providing a tip for services rendered is an expression of appreciation executed after the fact. I don't see anything wrong with tipping throughout the course of a trip (even though it's an all-inclusive).
I think the other distinction that must be made is that it isn't possible to know the motivation of the person providing the tip. Being a "half full" type I would like to think that people generally tip as an expression of appreciation of service rather than the "I'm expecting more and better, later".
We tip for good service. Perhaps it's an American thing, perhaps not. However it's done I think that recognzing the service(s) received at Desire deserves a tip of some sort be it in person or anonymously. What chaps my butt are those that carry the attitude that "I'm at an all-inclusive, I've already paid".
Wow, that turned out longer than I'd thought or intended, but just wanted to express my .02