No Tips No Service
Nov 20, 2024 Trip40485048962
It was really a pleasant and enjoyable stay, and we really enjoyed the beach and sea views along the resort, if not for some hiccups:
1). We were charged USD/BSS 95.70 for quoted “Resort Fee and Taxes”, for which we had already been charged by our agency Agoda.com for “all fees and taxes in included”.
Even though we were rebated for the amount…
Read more
It was really a pleasant and enjoyable stay, and we really enjoyed the beach and sea views along the resort, if not for some hiccups:
1). We were charged USD/BSS 95.70 for quoted “Resort Fee and Taxes”, for which we had already been charged by our agency Agoda.com for “all fees and taxes in included”.
Even though we were rebated for the amount by Agoda.com later, it sounds initially a bit sleazy for us.
If it was meant to be some sort of “security deposit”, please state so accordingly. Or else it sounds extremely sleazy at the expense of the customers.
2). The housekeepers always came when we were in the after touring which seemed extremely intruding and rude to us initially as they did not do the cleaning in the morning but they were expecting we would have left the tips in the room for them. They expected tips apparently before cleaning up.
There is only “Please do not disturb” sign on the room. To avoid any future miscommunication I would like to make the following suggestions:
(a). To have a tag shows “Please do not disturb” and “Please tidy up our room” on each side. Customers could hang up the sign at the door knot outside the room and the housekeepers could expect what to do with the room. Even if there is tips available and it is a routine for them to clean up customers’ rooms, they should do so with or without tips.
(b). Some sort of small packets should be placed in the room saying something like :”Tips are not compulsory but it would be nice if you like to show some appreciation to our hard working housekeepers”. Then your customers would know what to do.
If some circumstances which we encountered were that the housekeepers would not take the tips fearing being accused of theft. Therefore such message and special packet would solve the miscommunication.
3). It is unusual elsewhere when waiters in your restaurant expecting tips at the morning buffet session. They even stood there watching us writing off the bill expecting us to fill I. The tips, which is viewed as extremely RUDE and undignified. Giving tips is totally up to the customers’ discretion especially no where else in the world we had ever travelled to, would expect tips at self-service buffets.
I know life is extremely tough for everyone, and the costs of living are extremely high in the Bahamas for ordinary working people, especially after the COVID pandemic. First I think the management should consider pay hikes for all your staff so that they can live in a more dignified way; secondly, communication between the management and staff with the customers should be more forefront, and there should be be a no-tip-no-service attitude.
Honestly speaking for us who come from a culture where service always comes before tipping, certain behaviours are deemed extremely intruding and rude for us.
I hope my 5-cent worth would ring you a bell.
Read less
