all inclusive

blaine08 Posted: May 11, 2009 01:42 AM

all inclusive

never been to AI, what is the norm for tipping? Are we expected to tip for each meal, excursion, etc? ty

TommysWife08 Posted: May 11, 2009 08:45 AM

Re: all inclusive

when we went on our HM we stayed @ an all inclusive.. we always tipped our wait staff... depending on what meal it was though

like breakfast was a serve yourself buffet, but you had ppl come around and pour your coffee and collect your dirty dishes when you were done eating... we gave them like $2-$3

lunch was the same way

dinner we gave more b/c they served you everything and went above and beyond

SB7308 Posted: May 11, 2009 08:53 AM

Re: all inclusive

We didnt tip anyone at the AI we went to on our HM
Tips are included. We did give a tip to our butler at the end of our stay.

FinallyEngaged Posted: May 11, 2009 09:10 AM

Re: all inclusive

Posted by SB7308

We didnt tip anyone at the AI we went to on our HM
Tips are included. We did give a tip to our butler at the end of our stay.

We did the same thing. We tipped our Butler at the begining and at the end of our stay

RadiantBride Posted: May 11, 2009 09:19 AM

Re: all inclusive

Breakfast was normally serve yourself, we would tip bartenders (especially at the bar in the pool), and dinner. We ate alot in the a la carte restaurants. During lunch if we had a waiter we would tip them as well.

teenigrrl Posted: May 11, 2009 09:25 AM

Re: all inclusive

we stayed at AI resorts for our HM and our anniversary trip, and we tipped. breakfast and lunch usually $2-3, dinner up to $5. we would tip the bartenders when we first got to the bar - around $5-$10 every couple of days. housekeeping we tipped $5 a day. tips were included, but we always tip - you do get better service, the staff does work hard, and who knows what kind of tip the resort is actually giving them.

for excursions, you generally tip the bus driver and the tour guide.

RisiLeigh Posted: May 11, 2009 09:32 AM

Re: all inclusive

I'm glad you asked this question b/c DH and I are going to Couples in Jamaica in August, and that is an AI resort. There are signs and things all over the website even, telling you NOT to tip... maybe cuz it's included? I know that if we get exceptional service, we will want to tip, so I hope that's ok?

SB7308 Posted: May 11, 2009 09:35 AM

Re: all inclusive

I thought AI resorts included tips I was told you dont need cash (only if you want souveniers)

KK Holiday Posted: May 11, 2009 09:37 AM

Re: all inclusive

Posted by SB7308

I thought AI resorts included tips I was told you dont need cash (only if you want souveniers)

our AI included tipping as well. you can do it as extra but DH and I didnt. honestly we forgot

Jenn04 Posted: May 11, 2009 09:55 AM

Re: all inclusive

I stayed at Sandals and you dont have to tip there, it was great!

kristin597 Posted: May 11, 2009 10:39 AM

Re: all inclusive

We stayed at an AI for our honeymoon. We tipped the servers and bartenders a couple bucks. I felt that they were much more attentive to us after giving them a couple bucks

Bride908 Posted: May 11, 2009 10:52 AM

Re: all inclusive

Tips are usually included in the all inclusives. We have tipped for sit down dinners and def at the bars.

jeanyus27 Posted: May 11, 2009 10:58 AM

Re: all inclusive

At Sandals you're not supposed to tip. I've read that the staff can actually get in trouble for accepting tips. We didn't when we went to Antigua.

lizzie217 Posted: May 11, 2009 11:28 AM

Re: all inclusive

We always tipped at meals bc we felt rude/wrong for not doing so. Most people did not tip (that we noticed) but I felt that we should...also for excursions and stuff

snwb08 Posted: May 11, 2009 11:38 AM

Re: all inclusive

we always tipped, though not as much as we might have if it wasn't AI. They say you don't have to but you should give something (you really don't know how much they are getting) and you get treated even better for it. they are SO appreciative, it's worth it.

NapaValleyGirl Posted: May 11, 2009 11:45 AM

Re: all inclusive

Posted by snwb08

we always tipped, though not as much as we might have if it wasn't AI. They say you don't have to but you should give something (you really don't know how much they are getting) and you get treated even better for it. they are SO appreciative, it's worth it.

So did you tip in American dollars or did you tip in pesos?

snwb08 Posted: May 11, 2009 11:46 AM

Re: all inclusive

Posted by NapaValleyGirl

Posted by snwb08

we always tipped, though not as much as we might have if it wasn't AI. They say you don't have to but you should give something (you really don't know how much they are getting) and you get treated even better for it. they are SO appreciative, it's worth it.

So did you tip in American dollars or did you tip in pesos?

all american $. we didn't need pesos at all.

did you cancel and rebook your trip cheaper?

NapaValleyGirl Posted: May 11, 2009 11:53 AM

Re: all inclusive

[
So did you tip in American dollars or did you tip in pesos?

all american $. we didn't need pesos at all.

did you cancel and rebook your trip cheaper?

Yes we did! We're paying $500 dollars less and we have an ocean front room and we're in the Excellence Club Level! We didn't even need to cancel, he just changed everything around.

Should I be worried about swine flu in September?

Dee0522 Posted: May 11, 2009 12:27 PM

Re: all inclusive

We stayed at two AI's in Antigua and we didn't tip at either one. Our TA told us not to.

ChristineAaron08 Posted: May 11, 2009 12:51 PM

Re: all inclusive

Posted by RisiLeigh

I'm glad you asked this question b/c DH and I are going to Couples in Jamaica in August, and that is an AI resort. There are signs and things all over the website even, telling you NOT to tip... maybe cuz it's included? I know that if we get exceptional service, we will want to tip, so I hope that's ok?

At Couples resorts, some of them wont accept the tip and even get mad at you for trying to give it to them. Others took it willingly. If you get room service, who is going to see if they take $3 from a guest, but they can get in trouble in the dining rooms. One guest tried to bring the waitress her bathing suit in a bag to give to her. there was obviously $$ in there and the manager took it from her and she wasnt too happy after that. I felt so bad for her.

I have seen people crumpling up bills and throwing it in empty glasses making sure the waiter saw them. So there are ways to tip them if they want it.

At other AIs, we gave $2/$3 for breakfast/dinner buffet (they bring you coffee and stuff) And $5/$6 for dinner where you are seaved.

I didn't see many people tipping though. When we went to Mexico the breakfast waiter was excited to get a tip and made sure to introduce his buddy to 'take care of us' when he was off the next day. We found that we definitely got better service b/c we were tipping.

The place we went to had a lot of Europeans there so idk if its a custom of theirs not to tip (I heard somewhere that their menu prices include gratuity)