Is it standard to tip housekeepers here and if so how much? Thanks!

I do recommend you tip your housekeeper. I worked at a rental property on island and know the ladies greatly appreciate it. I hope I am current with times but tip 5.00 USD pp per day. So with my child and I we leave 10.00 a day. We are neat freaks so all they need to do is make our beds and clean when we leave. I even tip when service is included.

When we go down, we always take another couple and stay in a 2BR condo with a kitchen and do quite a bit of cooking.

We tip 15 bucks a day as a group. We always make it a point to hand them 15 bucks on the 1st day to let them know they are appreciated and can expect a good tip at the end of the week if they take care of us. Sort of dangling the carrot? Makes a real difference in the level of service.

Also, make sure the maids know when we leave, we would like them to take any unused food home to their family. We even box it up, and organize it for them!! These people work hard! It's inexpensive, and the right thing to do.

Same thing for divemasters if you use them, in Bonaire, or anywhere else.

We also tip the housekeepers at Divi timeshares. We average $3 per day. This year we gave her $50 for our 2 weeks. I inquired and was told that this is on the high/average side of tipping. Many only tip $1 per day. I know that is greatly appreciated. I think the housekeepers pool the tips and share them on a weekly basis, however, I am not positive.

We also tip when we arrive and when we leave.

We have a favorite housekeeper and we find out when her days off are so we can be sure she receives our left-over food items and tip. We also bring goodies for her family each year. Even if this is your first trip, it's nice to bring goodies..like Easter candy, in our case as we're usually there over Easter. Or perhaps something from your area....I'd like Alaskan King Crab Legs, please!

We have a timeshare at Divi and last year when we were there we had a lovely housekeeper. The first 2 days we left $10.00 for her and she didn't take it, we left another $10.00 on the third day and she still didn't take it. On the fourth day I waited for her and told her it was a tip for her and she was astonished! She kept the unit spotless and even did things I would not expect her to do! It's just the right thing to do. We also box up unused food items and ask if they would like it at the end of our stay.

RosAnne brings up a good point. I always seek out "my" housekeeper and hand her the tip. That way she KNOWS the $$ is for her and won't be accused of stealing.

Linda, Rosanne.....exactly what we do. I hand the money to them prior to departure. We always try to get the same ladybug each year but with Buddy's they could have a different building on our week so it's hit or miss; we do have our favorites though. We always leave money as well as take them a gift basket; usually bath goodies or something girlie. Last year the lady we had was just over the moon with our gift. She ran across the way to show the other ladies that were cleaning at Lion's Dive Made my heart swell. Sometimes the smallest thing is the BIGGEST to them.

I feel a group hug coming , the staff are great and all deserve appreciation and gratuitys! Right On

Thanks everyone for the "tips!" smile

We always tip the housekeepers about twenty dollars at the end of our trip. Though we stay at Coco Palm Garden and choose to maintain the unit while we are there, we never forget how sparkling clean the place was when we arrived. We appreciate that these hard working people will restore the apartment for the next lucky guest.

When we stay in houses that are cleaned once a week we leave 10 dollars for every visit and make sure some nice things are left at the end of our stay. I also leave any nice sachets of bath goodies with the tip and a thank you note so that the ladies know they are welcome to them.

We have always left $5.00 a day out in the AM when we leave the condo with a note saying "housekeeping this is for you Thank You"
$5.00 a day in the scheme of things is nothing and the difference it makes is amazing . I am also a believer in tipping as you go rather than tipping at the end . I may as well reap some benefit !! Tip to me stands for " To Insure Performance" . On Bonaire it works ... unfortunately in a lot of other places of is viewed as an entitlement not an appreciation.

We personally hand the cleaning person 5.00us dollars for each day our studio unit is cleaned. Also note that at least at Sand Dollar staff rules say they are never to touch money left out say on a table or even in the bathroom, and they must check to see if the room safe is closed and locked before they clean. If the safe is open they must leave the room and notify the manager. I agree it is always better to tip as you go, much better service we have found. We also ASK if they would like the end of vacation frig stuff, which is usually happily accepted.

Patrick

Leaving a tip every day assures that the person who cleans on the regular housekeeper's day off gets something. Tipping at the end of the week may leave out the relief housekeeper.

I have no issues with tipping housekeepers and would be happy to hand it to them. My problem is that I often don't see the housekeepers. We leave on diving adventures in the morning and when we return in the afternoon, housekeepers are usually done and gone. I've tried leaving cash (e.g., by the sink or on the pillow), but the money is always still there when I get back. I have left tips with the front desk for housekeepers, but sometimes wonder where that money ends up. Next time I'll try leaving a note as Jack suggests.

Isn't it sort of heart warming that in fact the money IS left alone unless there is a very specific note left with it !!! By the way we always stay on Bonaire for 2+ weeks , by half way thru the 2nd week I get sick of writing the note , but they have caught the drift by then . I love vacationing on Bonaire . It is so damn easy & comfortable so quickly