Tipping

[CajunDiva]

I tipped $100.00 at the end of the dive week. We did 3-a-day for 4 days. The guys really earned it. Daily they took my gear, soaked it and prepared it for the next day. Did not have to lift a finger. Never had service like that before and really look forward to it again!

Shhhhh...you're not supposed to tell! You must have been a real VIP

 

[BettyfromToronto]

I am totally cool with what everyone is sugesting here. Much better than the $5/tank that was really going to start to add up. I also agree to give this to the DM & Captain and then add some to the jar for the guys who work the dive shop.

Any suggestions of what to tip the instructor doing hubby's AOW?

Betty

**still trying to get the counter added to my signature

 

[LynnB]

We left a couple of bucks each day for the housekeepers and a couple of bucks each meal for waiters. We tipped the bartender a buck per drink. I want to say at the end we tipped the DM and captain about $125 each. I think we were pretty close in line to what others did. I didn't really ask on the boat what others in our group did. There were a few people on our boat that had problems with gear and they were great about helping them get their gear fixed. I am sure if we would have had things like that happen we would have even given more.
They definately appreciate all you give them.
Also don't forget that you have people picking you up from the airport and taking you back. You need to tip them as well.
I tend bar once a week and I definately depends on the people that appreciate and take care of me!
Have a great time!
Lynn

 

[Reef Tank]

I can promise you that the pay rates in Honduras are MINIMAL and these hard working people do rely on tips to help make ends meet. You don't have to spend a fortune, but you should consider what is fair based on the service you receive.

The minimum wage is a little over one dollar per hour, or two hundred fifty dollars per month. Their taxes are lower but their fuel price is higher than ours. If they would have any of our luxuries it would cost them dearly.

They need our help, unless of course we expect them to live on fish while dwelling on the beach.

I am not so kind to wait staff in the U.S.

 

[nagel]

Oddly enough this was an issue with us when we were at FI. They tell you in orientation to tip the DM and Captain separately and also to put something in the tip jar for the shore staff. We absolutely have no issues with tipping, but why make this so hard. Why is it up to us to track down each person and figure out how to divide the tip? One central person or place would be a whole lot easier, but there are issues with that if you want to give more or less to certain people. Here is the scenario for us, the last day is only a 2 tank dive and the only day we didn't return inbetween dives. We got back to the dock around noon. I had to hurry up and get back to room because I was taking the boy zip-lining and I wasn't going to carry this amount of cash with me on the dive. Our DM told us they would be around until around 2pm. I didn't have time to cleanup and go find everybody for a tip; so, I gave my tip to by brother-in-law who spent time tracking everybody down that afternoon to give them all tips. It was a hassle. Had to find the Captain, the DM, put money in the jar at shop, and find individuals that helped specifically with our group doing the shore dives. I think it was a little crazy when we returned from our dive watching people trying to find certain people to tip them.

How do you divide the tip between the DM and the Captain - evenly, DM more, Captain more? These were all questions we debated.

Those working to clean the rooms I tried to tip daily because didn't know if we had the same person each day. Some days I didn't because I was diving. The boy said we had the same person each day. Not exactly sure how much we tipped her because she got something most days and at the end of the week gave her more. The Wait Staff, got something after each meal. They do work very hard and are very friendly.

Didn't really have to worry about those at the airport...they are pretty pushy for the tips. We tipped them, but really to carry your bags about 20 feet from the door to the counter???? The staff at the resort when we arrived and departed got tips as well because they carried all our bags to and from our room.

All I can say is travel with a pocket of $1 and $5 for the constant tipping during your travel to and from.

For the DM and Captain we tipped $120 (each of us) and can't remember exactly how this was divided, I think the DM got a little more. A couple of the shore guys who took our shore divers back and forth all week got I think $40-$50 each from each of our shore divers. We threw a wad of money in the jar.

Snagel

 

[CajunDiva]

Oddly enough this was an issue with us when we were at FI. They tell you in orientation to tip the DM and Captain separately and also to put something in the tip jar for the shore staff. We absolutely have no issues with tipping, but why make this so hard. Why is it up to us to track down each person and figure out how to divide the tip? One central person or place would be a whole lot easier, but there are issues with that if you want to give more or less to certain people. Here is the scenario for us, the last day is only a 2 tank dive and the only day we didn't return inbetween dives. We got back to the dock around noon. I had to hurry up and get back to room because I was taking the boy zip-lining and I wasn't going to carry this amount of cash with me on the dive. Our DM told us they would be around until around 2pm. I didn't have time to cleanup and go find everybody for a tip; so, I gave my tip to by brother-in-law who spent time tracking everybody down that afternoon to give them all tips. It was a hassle. Had to find the Captain, the DM, put money in the jar at shop, and find individuals that helped specifically with our group doing the shore dives. I think it was a little crazy when we returned from our dive watching people trying to find certain people to tip them.

How do you divide the tip between the DM and the Captain - evenly, DM more, Captain more? These were all questions we debated.

Those working to clean the rooms I tried to tip daily because didn't know if we had the same person each day. Some days I didn't because I was diving. The boy said we had the same person each day. Not exactly sure how much we tipped her because she got something most days and at the end of the week gave her more. The Wait Staff, got something after each meal. They do work very hard and are very friendly.

Didn't really have to worry about those at the airport...they are pretty pushy for the tips. We tipped them, but really to carry your bags about 20 feet from the door to the counter???? The staff at the resort when we arrived and departed got tips as well because they carried all our bags to and from our room.

All I can say is travel with a pocket of $1 and $5 for the constant tipping during your travel to and from.

For the DM and Captain we tipped $120 (each of us) and can't remember exactly how this was divided, I think the DM got a little more. A couple of the shore guys who took our shore divers back and forth all week got I think $40-$50 each from each of our shore divers. We threw a wad of money in the jar.

Snagel

Although you had issues trying to figure it out, bless you! At least you knew it was something that needed to be done. As a first time visitor to Fantasy Island, you just didn't know what details to expect. Next time you'll be ready! There is really no need to worry about when to tip...don't let that interfere with whatever plans you have. You wouldn't want to alter any of your plans or make things more complicated just to get a tip to your divemaster and boat captain. But you can tip them ANY TIME. If you've got plans the last day, just give it to them the day before. If you don't feel like worrying about it at the end of the week, you can give them a little each day. It really doesn't matter HOW you do it, but the fact that you do it is important

You also have no need to worry about how the tip is split up. These guys work together every day and they are used to dealing with this. Trust me...it will get done!

 

[DandyDon]

the last day is only a 2 tank dive and the only day we didn't return inbetween dives. We got back to the dock around noon. I had to hurry up and get back to room because I was taking the boy zip-lining and I wasn't going to carry this amount of cash with me on the dive. Our DM told us they would be around until around 2pm.

It'd probly been easiest to just take it with you that morning and give it to them before the dives.

 

[salth2owannabe]

When we first booked the AI the subject of tipping came up. We have done a number of cruises (Yah, I know), but the cruise industry has made it very easy to tip, and I think the AIs could do something similar. The cruise gives you a figure for suggested tips and this amount will be charged to your card at the end of the cruise unless you alter it, which is very easy to do. This basic amount is pretty minimal really, but I'm sure if everyone gave this amount, in and of itself, it would come out a wash for those that tip high and those that tip low. For those that made an extra effort it was nice then to be able to slip them some extra cash as an overt appreciation for their service. This process eliminated any concern about getting the right folks the right amount, and also covered those behind the scene folks. You also don't have to walk around with a wad of small bills in your pocket all the time. Seems AIs could do this very easily.

 

[CajunDiva]

When we first booked the AI the subject of tipping came up. We have done a number of cruises (Yah, I know), but the cruise industry has made it very easy to tip, and I think the AIs could do something similar. The cruise gives you a figure for suggested tips and this amount will be charged to your card at the end of the cruise unless you alter it, which is very easy to do. This basic amount is pretty minimal really, but I'm sure if everyone gave this amount, in and of itself, it would come out a wash for those that tip high and those that tip low. For those that made an extra effort it was nice then to be able to slip them some extra cash as an overt appreciation for their service. This process eliminated any concern about getting the right folks the right amount, and also covered those behind the scene folks. You also don't have to walk around with a wad of small bills in your pocket all the time. Seems AIs could do this very easily.

That's a really nice thought and in an ideal world it would work that way for everyone. But the dive industry and the cruise industry are very different. I suspect if a dive resort (whether all-inclusive or not) started charging arbitrary tips for each customer they'd lose business fairly quickly. Tips are really just one of those additional dive trip expenses that we all need to budget for when planning that all important next dive trip

 

[DandyDon]

Salth, I just don't like Value Added Tipping. The cruise industry is infamous for paying employees little in what amounts to imprisoned servitude and I don't like following their protocols. That tip amount may well be adjustable, but I don't really trust the boats to give all of the money to the employees.

Your suggestion does have merit I guess, but I like to tip the service people directly. One resort owner in the Bay I know likes the pooled tip to be split among others like the gardener, etc. but that's not what the tipping is for to me. Others in Cozumel advertise that their prices include tips, but I think they're just trying to maximize income at the expense of the workers and do tip. The whole tipping thing has gotten out of hand I guess, but I'm sticking to the middle ground I think.