Trip Report - Turneffe Island Resort

[promocop]

how much tipping we talking about here???

 

[Stoo]

I thought the suggested gratuities were way out of line. Too low for the DMs and too high for just about everyone else. Why should I be expected to tip the gardeners, etc?

The tipping "suggestions" were the subject of a long discussion between some friends and ourselves. Our friend (who is an accountant) calculated that if you follow the guidelines you would be tipping something like $420 per couple. I like to think that I am fairly generous in that regard, but as was pointed out above, tipping staff that we never met or even saw, seemed unusual to say the least. I was left wondering why guests were expected to pay staff that worked in the background... I mean, isn't that the resorts job? Anyway, we tipped out dive guys and the wait staff that looked after us every day. We also left some left over Belizian cash for our housekeepers who kept our place clean. In other words, we tipped the way we always do, and I got the impression that that was what other people did as well.

 

[Hoffa]

We just returned from TIR, and we also had a discussion about the tipping. Tipping is for personal services. We had no problem tipping the dive staff, the luggage handlers (though we thought the suggested tip for the luggage was pretty high), and even the ladies who cleaned the room. The resort suggested a gratuity for "maintenance", which we disagreed with. Maintenance is a resort overhead issue, and not a personal service.

Also, with the limited number of staff, we realized that there were likely certain employees getting a couple dips in the trough.

Great trip, though. Poor viz, but saw some amazing things. The Elbow is the single most magnificent dive we've ever experienced.

I'm a reader-not-poster to this board. Should I do a trip report?

 

[peterbj7]

The British are renowned for "not tipping". Let me explain what that really means, as I am British. It means that we tip if the service has been over and above what was expected, the better the service the greater the tip. There is no "norm". If the service was average, what we expected anyway, we don't usually tip at all, or maybe just leave a nominal tip. If the service was bad we complain. If the service provider advertises prices lower than the amount he expects people to pay that is dishonest, and I and many other people resent being treated dishonestly. Unfortunately the "point" staff member gets the brunt of that, but that is utterly inevitable -when I go into a restaurant the most senior staff member present, whether my waiter or maybe a supervisor standing nearby, IS the restaurant.

I have been known to leave a tip for more than the cost of the meal (ie. over 100%). Equally, when I know I'm being taken for a ride, I will refuse to pay a "service charge" that has been added to the bill. If I pay a bill with a denomination of note slightly larger than the amount of the bill, so that only a small amount of change is due, I will expect that change to be offered to me. If it is I will almost certainly refuse it, but if it isn't I will stand my ground and demand it. I will only tip after the bill has been tendered and paid, and change offered if due. I and many Brits (no all, of course - we've been influenced by others) resent fixed "service charges" and "standard percentage tips".

I have a big problem with places that operate a "standard tipping" regime.

 

[Downing]

I don't remember the suggested range on TIR's tip sheet, but I do remember that two people staying for two weeks cost me a fair amount of $$ in tips at the end of our stay. I was surprised that tips were suggested for the landscape and maintenance crew.

I didn't have an issue with tipping everyone else and was glad to have the sheet to use as a reference. I'm with Stoo on this one: I tipped the personal service folks, i.e., the maid/food service gals, the bartenders and of course our dive master/boat captain, all at the top of the suggested range plus more for the DM/Captain. They were all outstanding and took really good care of us, and I wanted to show our appreciation.

I didn't start tipping for maid service until maybe 10 years ago, when we began taking vacations that involve staying at the same hotel or resort for a week or more. I started leaving $10 or so on the unmade bed in the morning and found that often in return we got all sorts of little extras. I also like to leave little packages of cookies or crackers, too, in case they want to take that sort of stuff home to their kids. But if we stay for only one or two nights, I don't bother. And I didn't do that at TIL since I knew I would be tipping them at the end of the stay plus it's not like there's anywhere for them to spend it on the island.

I'm a pretty decent tipper and like to reward good service, but on the other hand I won't hesitate to not leave a tip if the service was poor or inadequate.

Speaking of 100% tips, I once tipped a taxi driver $5 on a $5 fare in Cozumel. She looked stunned and seemed really pleased. It reminded me of how fortunate my life has been and how good it is to be able to share that with others perhaps less fortunate.

 

[redgym]

The tipping "suggestions" were the subject of a long discussion between some friends and ourselves. Our friend (who is an accountant) calculated that if you follow the guidelines you would be tipping something like $420 per couple. I like to think that I am fairly generous in that regard, but as was pointed out above, tipping staff that we never met or even saw, seemed unusual to say the least. I was left wondering why guests were expected to pay staff that worked in the background... I mean, isn't that the resorts job? Anyway, we tipped out dive guys and the wait staff that looked after us every day. We also left some left over Belizian cash for our housekeepers who kept our place clean. In other words, we tipped the way we always do, and I got the impression that that was what other people did as well.

From what I recall the $420 figure is accurate. We also tipped the staff that we had contact with - George, the wait staff, etc.

 

[promocop]

sure seems like a lot of dough to me and I consider myself a good tipper! And that place aint cheap with all the add on'S!!

 

[Hank49]

We just returned from TIR,
Great trip, though. Poor viz, but saw some amazing things. The Elbow is the single most magnificent dive we've ever experienced.

I'm a reader-not-poster to this board. Should I do a trip report?

Yeah man...post some pics. In my limited amount of dive travel between here and SE Asia (Philippines, Malaysia...including Sipadan and Tubbataha) the Elbow is right up there with the best. The current movement really enriches the marine life there and it's loaded with fish.

 

[Downing]

sure seems like a lot of dough to me and I consider myself a good tipper! And that place aint cheap with all the add on'S!!

Yes, Master.

I don't have anything else to add. I just wanted to be able to use "yes master" in a sentence.

 

[promocop]

Thank you,it took a while...now...I added up that me as a single diver, view room, low season, nirtox, food w/o airfare but including tips...about $4,000!!!