5* All inclusive. Tipping?
Discussion
Is it usual to tip staff at an all inclusive resort? Everybody all the time? Housekeeping? Porters? Bar staff? I have no idea.
We've been waiting for a surgery date for Mrs 22 - and with this confirmed, it gives us an unexpected window to get away. There are some cracking deals on last minute trips to some of the Greek islands as they re-open after the fires. As such we're off to a TUI Blue Sensatori hotel whatever that means.
I haven't done a hotel holiday since I was a kid and my kids are teens! We typically book villas/lodges etc and are lucky enough to have bearable family in lots of lovely places. We went on a cruise last year with "tips included" although I did leave a little for the housekeeping folk and one chap who came and cleared up a dropped glass in the cabin (bloody kids!).
It's not the sort of holiday we'd usually be drawn to, but wasn't much more than flights alone to Cyprus (empty family villa). Myself and my son will likely explore the island, wife and daughter will lounge about all day.
Any guidance appreciated.
We've been waiting for a surgery date for Mrs 22 - and with this confirmed, it gives us an unexpected window to get away. There are some cracking deals on last minute trips to some of the Greek islands as they re-open after the fires. As such we're off to a TUI Blue Sensatori hotel whatever that means.
I haven't done a hotel holiday since I was a kid and my kids are teens! We typically book villas/lodges etc and are lucky enough to have bearable family in lots of lovely places. We went on a cruise last year with "tips included" although I did leave a little for the housekeeping folk and one chap who came and cleared up a dropped glass in the cabin (bloody kids!).
It's not the sort of holiday we'd usually be drawn to, but wasn't much more than flights alone to Cyprus (empty family villa). Myself and my son will likely explore the island, wife and daughter will lounge about all day.
Any guidance appreciated.
Absolutely no need at a tui one, it won’t get you any better service, tipping is just very American which is why it’s important on cruises and American resorts like in the Caribbean
The Greeks are so friendly as it is they give you a great service all round anyway
I’ve been on at least 10 tui sensitori/sensimar holidays and never once tipped.
You could leave something if you really wanted to, usually when we leave we will leave any left over euro coins and small notes but that’s more convenience than customary.
The Greeks are so friendly as it is they give you a great service all round anyway
I’ve been on at least 10 tui sensitori/sensimar holidays and never once tipped.
You could leave something if you really wanted to, usually when we leave we will leave any left over euro coins and small notes but that’s more convenience than customary.
Think it can depend where you are & how well the staff are paid.
You tip for great service, however I’ve found, in Turkey at least, the tip “switches on” the great service.
A tip early on means future nights you get sat at a prime table, remembering the drinks you’ll ask for so you get without asking! & glasses topped up continually etc
Whilst the Brit in me is content to wait my turn at a bar, service is quicker if the staff recognise you as someone who tipped them in a previous night, (which if you’re all on cocktails could potentially be a lengthy wait)
I do also usually leave something in the room last day as a thank you too.
So not everyone all the time, bar staff €5/10 once at beginning of holiday (i do at end of 1st night, saying we’ll be back). Probably similar in dining area if I was with a group of more than 4 & we were looking to eat together every night.
You tip for great service, however I’ve found, in Turkey at least, the tip “switches on” the great service.
A tip early on means future nights you get sat at a prime table, remembering the drinks you’ll ask for so you get without asking! & glasses topped up continually etc
Whilst the Brit in me is content to wait my turn at a bar, service is quicker if the staff recognise you as someone who tipped them in a previous night, (which if you’re all on cocktails could potentially be a lengthy wait)
I do also usually leave something in the room last day as a thank you too.
So not everyone all the time, bar staff €5/10 once at beginning of holiday (i do at end of 1st night, saying we’ll be back). Probably similar in dining area if I was with a group of more than 4 & we were looking to eat together every night.
Edited by AndyAudi on Friday 4th August 08:32
AndyAudi said:
Think it can depend where you are & how well the staff are paid.
You tip for great service, however I’ve found, in Turkey at least, the tip “switches on” the great service.
A tip early on means future nights you get sat at a prime table, remembering the drinks you’ll ask for so you get without asking! & glasses topped up continually etc
Whilst the Brit in me is content to wait my turn at a bar, service is quicker if the staff recognise you as someone who tipped them in a previous night, (which if you’re all on cocktails could potentially be a lengthy wait)
I do also usually leave something in the room last day as a thank you too.
So not everyone all the time, bar staff €5/10 once at beginning of holiday (i do at end of 1st night, saying we’ll be back). Probably similar in dining area if I was with a group of more than 4 & we were looking to eat together every night.
This.You tip for great service, however I’ve found, in Turkey at least, the tip “switches on” the great service.
A tip early on means future nights you get sat at a prime table, remembering the drinks you’ll ask for so you get without asking! & glasses topped up continually etc
Whilst the Brit in me is content to wait my turn at a bar, service is quicker if the staff recognise you as someone who tipped them in a previous night, (which if you’re all on cocktails could potentially be a lengthy wait)
I do also usually leave something in the room last day as a thank you too.
So not everyone all the time, bar staff €5/10 once at beginning of holiday (i do at end of 1st night, saying we’ll be back). Probably similar in dining area if I was with a group of more than 4 & we were looking to eat together every night.
Edited by AndyAudi on Friday 4th August 08:32
Doesn’t add a fortune to your holiday but makes a better holiday.
Vasco said:
No, no need. It's another of those silly 'Americanisms' that make them feel better about themselves.
Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance on the bill for a tip - it's effectively already included in the price so that the staff can receive a decent wage.
Is that a fact, or something you've assumed to make yourself feel better when not leaving a tip?Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance on the bill for a tip - it's effectively already included in the price so that the staff can receive a decent wage.
LordGrover said:
Vasco said:
No, no need. It's another of those silly 'Americanisms' that make them feel better about themselves.
Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance on the bill for a tip - it's effectively already included in the price so that the staff can receive a decent wage.
Is that a fact, or something you've assumed to make yourself feel better when not leaving a tip?Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance on the bill for a tip - it's effectively already included in the price so that the staff can receive a decent wage.
1 - it's an Americanism. Care to disagree ?
2. Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance for a tip. Care to disagree ?
Just back from a “blue” and observed a lot of tipping by every nationality there.
I tip because the staff work stupidly hard, in conditions I wouldn’t work in (heat, long hours) and are friendly and helpful.
I tip the room “maid” at the beginning and end - extra drinks in the mini-bar, free laundry, anything else they can do.
Identify a good barman/woman at each bar at the beginning and tip them well - means I don’t have to worry about waiting for a drink for the rest of the time I’m there.
I tip after meals but only if there is a box where it goes to all staff - I wouldn’t want to be a chef in a 40 degree kitchen - they guys cooking in the open kitchens where I was were slaving away for hours on end and don’t get the exposure to guests that the bar staff do so are a bit hard fine by.
AI guests usually assume all inclusive means all inclusive- it certainly doesn’t when it comes to the service staff wages.
I wouldn’t tip anyone who I thought didn’t deserve it but I believe it makes a difference and it’s always genuinely appreciated.
Making a small difference to their week can make a big difference to yours.
I tip because the staff work stupidly hard, in conditions I wouldn’t work in (heat, long hours) and are friendly and helpful.
I tip the room “maid” at the beginning and end - extra drinks in the mini-bar, free laundry, anything else they can do.
Identify a good barman/woman at each bar at the beginning and tip them well - means I don’t have to worry about waiting for a drink for the rest of the time I’m there.
I tip after meals but only if there is a box where it goes to all staff - I wouldn’t want to be a chef in a 40 degree kitchen - they guys cooking in the open kitchens where I was were slaving away for hours on end and don’t get the exposure to guests that the bar staff do so are a bit hard fine by.
AI guests usually assume all inclusive means all inclusive- it certainly doesn’t when it comes to the service staff wages.
I wouldn’t tip anyone who I thought didn’t deserve it but I believe it makes a difference and it’s always genuinely appreciated.
Making a small difference to their week can make a big difference to yours.
r159 said:
Just back from an AI resort in Dominican Republic.
Over two weeks tipped about $300 dollars from bar staff to our ‘butler’
For good service, not because I thought I had to but because I wanted to show appreciation.
Although in the Dom Rep and much of the Caribbean you really do have to, it’s very much customary there.Over two weeks tipped about $300 dollars from bar staff to our ‘butler’
For good service, not because I thought I had to but because I wanted to show appreciation.
Vasco said:
No, no need. It's another of those silly 'Americanisms' that make them feel better about themselves.
Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance on the bill for a tip - it's effectively already included in the price so that the staff can receive a decent wage.
Tipping is customary in many places the world over, even places where very few Americans visit. Throwing money at all and sundry constantly is an Americanism. On the other hand not tipping because you struggle with the etiquette is a Britishism and it’s why we’re not fondly looked upon in some places because of the above assumption that tips are not expected when they very much are.Many UK restaurants no longer make allowance on the bill for a tip - it's effectively already included in the price so that the staff can receive a decent wage.
What do you mean by not making an allowance for a tip?
twing said:
I always tip bar staff on first couple of days and at the end if service has been good. If we have the same housekeeping team throughout I'll leave a decent tip at the end, if not I'll leave any change and small notes behind. If waiters at dinner have been excellent I will.
Same, if the bars busy and there's a queue then guess what, you get served first...you look after them and they look after you..pidsy said:
Just back from a “blue” and observed a lot of tipping by every nationality there.
I tip because the staff work stupidly hard, in conditions I wouldn’t work in (heat, long hours) and are friendly and helpful.
I tip the room “maid” at the beginning and end - extra drinks in the mini-bar, free laundry, anything else they can do.
Identify a good barman/woman at each bar at the beginning and tip them well - means I don’t have to worry about waiting for a drink for the rest of the time I’m there.
I tip after meals but only if there is a box where it goes to all staff - I wouldn’t want to be a chef in a 40 degree kitchen - they guys cooking in the open kitchens where I was were slaving away for hours on end and don’t get the exposure to guests that the bar staff do so are a bit hard fine by.
AI guests usually assume all inclusive means all inclusive- it certainly doesn’t when it comes to the service staff wages.
I wouldn’t tip anyone who I thought didn’t deserve it but I believe it makes a difference and it’s always genuinely appreciated.
Making a small difference to their week can make a big difference to yours.
Absolutely all of this for me too.I tip because the staff work stupidly hard, in conditions I wouldn’t work in (heat, long hours) and are friendly and helpful.
I tip the room “maid” at the beginning and end - extra drinks in the mini-bar, free laundry, anything else they can do.
Identify a good barman/woman at each bar at the beginning and tip them well - means I don’t have to worry about waiting for a drink for the rest of the time I’m there.
I tip after meals but only if there is a box where it goes to all staff - I wouldn’t want to be a chef in a 40 degree kitchen - they guys cooking in the open kitchens where I was were slaving away for hours on end and don’t get the exposure to guests that the bar staff do so are a bit hard fine by.
AI guests usually assume all inclusive means all inclusive- it certainly doesn’t when it comes to the service staff wages.
I wouldn’t tip anyone who I thought didn’t deserve it but I believe it makes a difference and it’s always genuinely appreciated.
Making a small difference to their week can make a big difference to yours.
Just back from a 4 star AI Tui holiday in Turkey, we tipped the bar staff, cleaner and waters/waitresses.
We left 100TL (it's about £3) daily for the room cleaner and put the odd 100TL note in the tip box and tip glass for the waters and bar staff, they were all fantastic and got to know what you wanted, with very good measures.
I wasn't really up for it initially, however the wife did a bit of research and whilst it isn't expected, it is very much appreciated, they do work very long hours, particularly the waters and waitresses who are there in the morning and still there late at night plus the pay is crap and the heat, my god how do they work in that heat and not break a sweat, they were all very helpful and always had a smile.
We left 100TL (it's about £3) daily for the room cleaner and put the odd 100TL note in the tip box and tip glass for the waters and bar staff, they were all fantastic and got to know what you wanted, with very good measures.
I wasn't really up for it initially, however the wife did a bit of research and whilst it isn't expected, it is very much appreciated, they do work very long hours, particularly the waters and waitresses who are there in the morning and still there late at night plus the pay is crap and the heat, my god how do they work in that heat and not break a sweat, they were all very helpful and always had a smile.
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