Luxury Vacation Home Rental - 7 Insightful Tips to Tipping the Staff at Luxury Vacation Rentals
Whether this is your first or third time renting a luxury vacation home you may still be confused about how much to tip the staff. Luxury vacation villas generally provide more staff and a higher level of personalized service, therefore warranting more generous tips than staff at a luxury hotel. You're likely to be in more direct contact and come to know the staff by name. The amount you tip will depend upon the quality and quantity of service, length of your stay and the size of your group. These recommendations are based on a 5-7 night stay. Follow these insightful tips and you won't under tip or over tip.
Concierge
Your concierge books your tours, activities and services. He'll save you time, energy and frustration by making recommendations perfectly suited to your needs. Any bookings he makes for you will cost the same as if you made them yourself but without all the hassle. Your concierge is just a phone call away and is there to answer questions, take care of issues with the rental and deal with your personal concerns. Unlike hotels that offer limited service, a luxury vacation rental concierge will be available 24 hours a day. Did your back go out and you need a chiropractor? Your concierge will likely steer you to his own trusted chiropractor and maybe even drive you there himself.
If you're familiar with the location and don't need concierge services a tip is not required. But if your concierge made your vacation stress-free and provided great service the tip can range from $150-$350. The size of the house and your party are factors. A larger vacation rental house and a larger party require more time and energy as more things can go wrong. For a small party of 6 start at $150 and for a larger party of 8 start at $200 then add more if you feel extraordinary services were provided.
Chef
The variables here are the number of meals prepared, how much you liked the food and how personable the chef was. Chefs aren't expected to clean the kitchen but if he does that's a big plus. A 10% to 20% tip based on the chef's total fee is an excellent guideline.
Housekeeping
Was the service very basic or did the housekeeper leave imaginative towel origami on your bed every day and special decorative touches around the house? Did she smile and try to communicate even if there was a language barrier? The tip ranges from $20 to 50.
Maintenance
Were you rescued from an overflowing toilet at midnight? Did the fridge stop working or did the hot tub stop heating? If there was an onsite maintenance man who performed one or several services for you a $10-$20 tip is appropriate.
Gardener
Was the gardener there on a daily basis and were the grounds beautifully kept? Did he perform extra services such as bringing you fresh cut flowers or fruit from the garden? If so, $20-$30 is appropriate. If the gardener worked only one day a tip is not required.
Security Guard
The Security Guard is the most overlooked member of the staff when it comes to tips, yet, he's the one who's sacrificed the most. Perhaps his nightly shift was from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M. and you never even saw him. He stayed awake all night and left his own family unprotected so yours could be safe. If there were no incidents $20 is appropriate. If something highly unusual occurred $40 is generous.
Delivery Method
Should you hand the staff individual envelopes with their tip inside or give the full amount to the concierge with a note as to the amount you want each person to receive? Both methods are appropriate but customs may vary. If you're traveling abroad you can always ask the concierge or check the vacation villa's guidebook for suggestions. If you're visiting a 3rd world country keep in mind the staff probably earn very little and your tip can significantly affect the quality of their lives. If in doubt, error on the side of generosity but most of all let your conscience be your guide.
Concierge
Your concierge books your tours, activities and services. He'll save you time, energy and frustration by making recommendations perfectly suited to your needs. Any bookings he makes for you will cost the same as if you made them yourself but without all the hassle. Your concierge is just a phone call away and is there to answer questions, take care of issues with the rental and deal with your personal concerns. Unlike hotels that offer limited service, a luxury vacation rental concierge will be available 24 hours a day. Did your back go out and you need a chiropractor? Your concierge will likely steer you to his own trusted chiropractor and maybe even drive you there himself.
If you're familiar with the location and don't need concierge services a tip is not required. But if your concierge made your vacation stress-free and provided great service the tip can range from $150-$350. The size of the house and your party are factors. A larger vacation rental house and a larger party require more time and energy as more things can go wrong. For a small party of 6 start at $150 and for a larger party of 8 start at $200 then add more if you feel extraordinary services were provided.
Chef
The variables here are the number of meals prepared, how much you liked the food and how personable the chef was. Chefs aren't expected to clean the kitchen but if he does that's a big plus. A 10% to 20% tip based on the chef's total fee is an excellent guideline.
Housekeeping
Was the service very basic or did the housekeeper leave imaginative towel origami on your bed every day and special decorative touches around the house? Did she smile and try to communicate even if there was a language barrier? The tip ranges from $20 to 50.
Maintenance
Were you rescued from an overflowing toilet at midnight? Did the fridge stop working or did the hot tub stop heating? If there was an onsite maintenance man who performed one or several services for you a $10-$20 tip is appropriate.
Gardener
Was the gardener there on a daily basis and were the grounds beautifully kept? Did he perform extra services such as bringing you fresh cut flowers or fruit from the garden? If so, $20-$30 is appropriate. If the gardener worked only one day a tip is not required.
Security Guard
The Security Guard is the most overlooked member of the staff when it comes to tips, yet, he's the one who's sacrificed the most. Perhaps his nightly shift was from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M. and you never even saw him. He stayed awake all night and left his own family unprotected so yours could be safe. If there were no incidents $20 is appropriate. If something highly unusual occurred $40 is generous.
Delivery Method
Should you hand the staff individual envelopes with their tip inside or give the full amount to the concierge with a note as to the amount you want each person to receive? Both methods are appropriate but customs may vary. If you're traveling abroad you can always ask the concierge or check the vacation villa's guidebook for suggestions. If you're visiting a 3rd world country keep in mind the staff probably earn very little and your tip can significantly affect the quality of their lives. If in doubt, error on the side of generosity but most of all let your conscience be your guide.
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