Tipping in Jamaica

[ECO]

How much do you tip when you travel?

I've traveled with people who tip everyone in site and others that don't part with a penny unless they are at gunpoint. Wahoo has mentioned a few times tipping people so I would like to get a feel of who you tip and how much.

[Wahoo]

I follow the same rule of thumb while traveling that I follow at home: to tip 15% to 20% of the bill. On some occasions, if I've received truly exceptional service or the waitress is exceptionally friendly (or hot) or if I'm drunk or loopy, maybe more than 20%. Something to bear in mind, though, is that at all-inclusives, where tipping is included in your hotel package (and supposedly spread around to those providing the services), tipping is forbidden and can get those who accept your tips fired. That's never stopped me from tipping bartenders or waiters/waitresses or maids at AI's, but I always do it discreetly.

[ECO]

I tip 15% for GOOD service and between 0%-10% for bad service. IMO it's the servers job to inform me if they are understaffed or if they are short a cook or two. One of my biggest pet peeves is ordering spicy food with a beer and a water and running out of something to drink, I'm will generally let people know this up front.

At the roadside bars I leave them all of my change, if they charge $110 for a beer then they are getting a $90 tip..........I hate change! Like wise if they charge $195 they are only getting a tiny tip.

For hotels........I'm a cheap bastard, I'll leave any change I have but I always forget to leave any paper money. Shy of the Ritz in DC I've never had room service that was worthy of a big tip.

FORCED TIPS: Now these piss me off! When someone puts out their hand asking for a tip it boils my blood! I can't blame people for asking and I feel they should not blame me for acting like an ass when they ask.

[Wahoo]

Good advice, Eco. And I agree wholeheartedly about forced tips. Anyone who's ever taken a tour in Jamaica has heard the familiar spiel "I'll take good care of you. Then you'll take good care of me." It's annoying to be told so brazenly that a good tip is expected. I wouldn't think of taking a tour and not tipping the tour guide and the driver, but to be told that a generous tip is expected puts a damper on the enjoyment of the trip and makes me less inclined to sign up for tours. In all fairness to Jamaica, it's not just a Jamaican thing. On my last trip to Mexico, we got the same spiel on the tour bus from Cancun to Chichen Itza.

[ECO]

Wahoo, when you say driver, do you mean the guy driving the bus/van? I would of never thought to tip them while generally I'll tip a taxi driver or ask them what they want for a fare with the tip built in up front.

Speaking of Mexico & Tours, I had a horrible one there a few years ago, "snorkel dive the reefs".......they made us keep our life vest on. To keep a long story short when the guy passed around a tip hit at the end of the tour he got it back without a penny from 20-30 people that took the tour.

[jellybean]

I tip the same as I would when at home but it all depends on the sort of service I get.

I am certainly not tipping a driver when there are 10 of us all squashed up in the toyoto.

[ECO]

In case people did not know, Tip= T. I. P. S.= To Insure Prompt Service. From what I hear, in years past you would tip up front to insure prompt service.

[ECO]

I think doing ones job, which one is being paid to do, to the best of ones ability would insure prompt service... nuh true?

Good point! So why do we tip then? If we already got what we need it's not like they are going to give us bad service once we leave.

[ECO]

When I got my first and only job tending bar the guy who hired me paid me something like $5.00 an hour. I was shocked at the pay since it was over double what I should be making before tips. He added that all of the regulars don't tip and be sure to hand them their 15 cents change from an 85 cent draft.....he was not kidding! I use to pray that tourists would come in and tip like real people since a night without tourists would mean maybe $1-$5 in tips I think on my best night I still made under $100 in tips.

Generally I'll tip bartenders $1 each time I buy a drink if I get prompt service.

[Dancing Susan]

To be honest there really is no reason why we should tip people in the service industry because they are paid twice for the same job. They receive their pay and in addition, they are paid what is called the service charge, which is paid either weekly or every fortnight. This service charge in most cases is a lot more than the paycheque. This is true of hotels, restaurants, bars etc. I however, sometimes feel compel to tip if a person has gone the extra mile to give good service or if the service charge does not apply at the particular establishment. Other than that, no money from me.

Will they say anything nasty if I don't tip them?

[Dancing Susan]

Do you just walk away when they get nasty or do you stand your ground?

[thesarasmile]

Heh, always a good question. I typically pay 15% for above average service. If the server is not very good, or turns me off in anyway, I don't feel obligated to leave a tip. On the other hand, if the service is exceptional, I have left up to a 30-50% tip.

[Wahoo]

Heh, always a good question. I typically pay 15% for above average service. If the server is not very good, or turns me off in anyway, I don't feel obligated to leave a tip. On the other hand, if the service is exceptional, I have left up to a 30-50% tip.

FIFTY PERCENT!!! Allow me to introduce myself, Wahoo at your cervix...I mean service.

[ECO]

Heh, always a good question. I typically pay 15% for above average service. If the server is not very good, or turns me off in anyway, I don't feel obligated to leave a tip. On the other hand, if the service is exceptional, I have left up to a 30-50% tip.

Wow @ 30-50%, you must put some smiles on the faces of the people that service you!

BTW, Welcome to the site

[Wahoo]

I admit, I tipped a lot more...a lot more...than 50% once, but that was before Mexico changed the denominations of its currency, when the exchange rate was 2,300 pesos to the US dollar. Just try sometime calculating the tip at that exchange rate after you've drunk three-quarters of a fifth of tequila!

[ECO]

I admit, I tipped a lot more...a lot more...than 50% once, but that was before Mexico changed the denominations of its currency, when the exchange rate was 2,300 pesos to the US dollar. Just try sometime calculating the tip at that exchange rate after you've drunk three-quarters of a fifth of tequila!

Lol, I've heard about their old Pesos but never heard of someone using them. You must of felt rich walking around with millions

[Wahoo]

I admit, I tipped a lot more...a lot more...than 50% once, but that was before Mexico changed the denominations of its currency, when the exchange rate was 2,300 pesos to the US dollar. Just try sometime calculating the tip at that exchange rate after you've drunk three-quarters of a fifth of tequila!

Lol, I've heard about their old Pesos but never heard of someone using them. You must of felt rich walking around with millions

You bet! I'd exchanged about $180 US for pesos of various denominations and, I swear, had a stack at least an inch thick. I almost ran out of pockets to carry it in! And the hundred-peso coin (equivalent to about 4 cents US) was a heavy coin about the size of a US fifty-cent piece. My pockets were always bulging with those that I'd received as change from purchases. I had to cinch my belt to keep my pants from falling down!

[Wahoo]

At first glance I thought the subject heading said "Tippling in Jamaica," and I was going to ask for a tall Jamaican Rum Punch.

[ECO]

You bet! I'd exchanged about $180 US for pesos of various denominations and, I swear, had a stack at least an inch thick. I almost ran out of pockets to carry it in! And the hundred-peso coin (equivalent to about 4 cents US) was a heavy coin about the size of a US fifty-cent piece. My pockets were always bulging with those that I'd received as change from purchases. I had to cinch my belt to keep my pants from falling down!

Lol, I walked out of a Jamaican Cambio last year after exchanging $1000USD for $88,000JMD and the wad had to of been an inch thick before I folded it. Now I'm glad that they finally came out with larger bills!

[Wahoo]

Here's a pic of that Mexican 100-peso coin (actual size!). Imagine carrying around a pocket full of those! I still got a couple of them, but they're totally worthless now. Maybe I'll buy an aquarium and some tropical fish and throw them in the aquarium...they'd look cool in the bottom of an aquarium with a ceramic diver wearing one of those old-timey diving helmets and with tropical sharks cruising around.