One night last year at Paddy O's I was feeling pretty good and notice a young lady working for the resort quietly going around emptying ash trays and sweeping bits of stuff up off the ground. I thought to myself, there's someone who probably doesn't get a lot of tips compared to the bartenders, maids, front desk etc. Anyway, I caught up to her, thanked her for her good work and handed her a U.S. $10.00 (OK, I was feeling really good..lol). She was so grateful. It was like I had given her a $100.00. It sure made me feel good afterward, like I had done something really nice for her. Anyway, I got me thinking. How much do staffers usually get paid there? What does $10.00 mean to them in terms of their income and cost of living? Anyone know?
Maids make about 1.50 per day and bartenders make 5.50 per day. The all get tips that works out to about 80 per month when split among all of them. P.S you did give her 100.00 pesos. When we want to thank a certain bartender........we hand it to them and tell them it is just for them. We tip our maid 2.00 every day and the bartenders up to 20.00 per day. The wages suck there and the cost of living if anybody has noticed after converting is about the same as Canada.
give er Since travelling there ...over the last 7 years we have been hitting TTR or formerly BBG Lee and I have always made a point of tipping....alot of the bartenders and staff know us so well. They really make our trip enjoyable and its not too much for us to give up 20.00 per day to bartenders and the maid get tipped as well...a little does go a long way and they work so hard for their money.....So like monique said the wage is terrible so a 20.00 tip can be alot to them and they really show their appreciation and thats what make it so worth it....
Last September one waiter had been so nice to us for the 14 nights (he even used to get one of the younger guys there carry my soup /or plate back to the table for me) and obviously we tipped him every night but just as we were leaving Les went and found him and gave him about $20/$30 you have never seen someone so pleased. Like we all say it's not loads of money for all of us... but it's so much for them, and it's people like that, that make your holiday x Lynfa x
That is such a good idea to give to someone who may not get the chance to get tipped - nice one :azzangel: Lynfa x
Thanks Lynfa I suspect the income disparity between men and women in Mexico is even greater than what we see. I can't imagine how they get by on $1.50 a day wages...for $5.50 for that matter. They work hard and make our stay so much the better for it. It a great feeling to think you are helping them out. It reminds me of how fortunate we all truly are.
... so if I'm reading this right if you leave a tip they split it at the end of the day / week etc with the other workers...and if you don't want them to share it, you just say " this is just for you " and they keep it to themselves ? I just want to make sure if I'm giving a larger tip for great service that it goes to them personally and not shared among multiple employees .
I try to tip everyone I deal with because I am so aware of how little they make. Money that is of no consequense to us is a really big deal to them, as an example, I spend over $100 to fill my pickup though I never worry about filling it. I figure I can give them my pickups fuel cost or more while I am down there so I tip a few tanks of fuel over the course of a week. It isn't all charity though, I get away with all sorts of $h1t:wink3:
We tip the maid everyday cause if you wait until the end of the week on the 6th day you get a new maid. So not fair to the one who worked all week or the last 6 days. The bartenders pool all the tips and it is split amongst all of them. We give certain bartenders extra on the side as they are usually the ones that cater to my shooter needs. Rainbow shots etc which are a pain in the ass to make or komakazies. Not too many ways to avoid them sharing tips.....almost all restaurants do it here too. Another thing that we do is Glenn brings crown with him and the bartenders have it behind the bar for him. We usually leave them a bottle to so they can make higher tips for those patrons that want better booze.
If you give it to the bartenders while they are behind the bar, it goes into the pot. Giving it to them away from the bar it goes directly to them. Jamie
