Tips and Reservations

[starsdtx]

A newbie question: We have been to several other all inclusive resorts where tips are said to be included but we always tip anyway for those who help with food, drinks, chairs, etc. Since we are not members at Desire, I read in reviews that reservations and chairs are sometimes hard to get. Is there any particular person we should tip more generously to help get restaurant reservations and sitting places? Does tipping the concierge extra help, or are the hosts at the restaurants allowed to make reservations for future nights if tipped?

Also, are the steam room, sauna, and indoor hot tub mixed gender so we can go together?
Thanks for all the great info on this forum.

[SusanAndDavid]

We always tip, as you will find the folks go out of their way to make your stay flawless. Tip the pool attendants daily- that helps. Having money for bartenders and wait staff is a wise move too. As everyone is different, I suggest doing what’s comfortable to you as far as amounts.

Yes the sauna and steam are coed so you can go in together as clothed or not as you’d like. We do a steam daily to start the day.

[SteelerLand58]

Can we assume tipping in US dollars is ok and desired?

[nokidclub]

Can we assume tipping in US dollars is ok and desired?

Yes, the US dollar is common at Desire and for USA Transfers.

[SerendipityCouple]

We always tip, as you will find the folks go out of their way to make your stay flawless. Tip the pool attendants daily- that helps. Having money for bartenders and wait staff is a wise move too. As everyone is different, I suggest doing what’s comfortable to you as far as amounts.

Yes the sauna and steam are coed so you can go in together as clothed or not as you’d like. We do a steam daily to start the day.

We agree with you on everything regarding tipping, we make the rounds when we arrive with the pool attendants, servers, and bartenders. And then when we dine.

Question about the steam rooms at Pearl. We enjoy going to the steam room to start our day as well. One thing always leads to another and we have fun while we are in there. With the exception of our last stay in December at DRM, no one has ever been in the room at the same time. Are the steam rooms popular with guests at Pearl? If so, is fooling around in the steam room frowned upon? We never like to assume anything.

[MadMartigan]

We're somewhat newbys when it comes to travelling, and have never been to Desire before.

I understand that tipping in US dollars is the norm, but what is the normal amount? Do you go off a percentage of the value for each drink (10%, 15%, 20% etc) or is it more of a flat rate?

On a related note, how much cash should we ensure to have on hand during our stay (not including extra excursions, massages, or other upsell offers)?

Thanks all,

[Orcowgirl]

We tip $5 for breakfast, $1 per drink (we don't drink during the day until the hot tub) $5 everyday on the bed in the room, $10 for room service, etc.....

[eddieandjojo]

So, tipping in USD is absolutely fine but we always get MXN pesos at an ATM at the airport or on the way to the resort.....easier for me/them to tip in their home currency! My $.02.....

[Cheers2US]

....
Question about the steam rooms at Pearl. We enjoy going to the steam room to start our day as well. One thing always leads to another and we have fun while we are in there. With the exception of our last stay in December at DRM, no one has ever been in the room at the same time. Are the steam rooms popular with guests at Pearl? If so, is fooling around in the steam room frowned upon? We never like to assume anything.

I think it might be that not everyone knows about it? We've been to Desire about 8 times total between the 2 of them and we only found out about the steam room/sauna on our last visit on our 3rd to last day. We were so sad we had missed out on all the prior trips!

To be honest, no one ever really told us about the steam room/sauna; we just one day decided to ask a staff member and they directed us.

[SecretSmileToday]

We tip $5 each for breakfast, lunch, and $10 for dinner. 5/day for housekeeping and 5 once when we first go to a bar during the day (no pockets so tipping each drink seems impractical). 5 to the folks who set up daybeds and 20 once or twice during the trip to the butler.

All told we budget about 500 in tips for a trip; works for us but never got the sense service would be worse without tips

Last trip (our third) we went converted to pesos (100 pesos = about 5 usd), but none of the staff we asked said it was better, so we won’t bother converting away from usd this time

[Lakeozarkcouple]

We tip $5 each for breakfast, lunch, and $10 for dinner. 5/day for housekeeping and 5 once when we first go to a bar during the day (no pockets so tipping each drink seems impractical). 5 to the folks who set up daybeds and 20 once or twice during the trip to the butler.

All told we budget about 500 in tips for a trip; works for us but never got the sense service would be worse without tips

Last trip (our third) we went converted to pesos (100 pesos = about 5 usd), but none of the staff we asked said it was better, so we won’t bother converting away from usd this time

You described our tipping plan so close that i checked to see if i had written it.

Regards,

John and Trish

[MadMartigan]

Thank you all so much for the breakdowns for tipping best practices. All the responses were very helpful.

[spanky67]

Just came back yesterday. Would parrot most of what everyone has said.

I took $500...should've taken a bit more...but not too much more

2-50's
5-20's
10-10s
20-5's
80-1's

We had a butler...actually 2. If you have one, they are SUPER helfpful with restaurants. 50's were for them
Didn't do too much with the 20's. Actually wound up getting change to smaller bills when those started to run out
10's were for dinner and pool/guy. They can also make your trip much easier. Go early in the morning...8am-ish if possible. I went to gym so swung by pool, tipped...got chairs...went to gym
5's were for maid and drink tipping depending on drink order. We drank a ton...and our drink orders got more intricate as the trip progressed. When the pool guy makes you a half frozen margarita and half frozen daquiri, a couple singles just don't seem adequate.
1's were for breakfast...it's buffet and they honestly don't do much. They're super nice...they just don't do a whole lot...left $3 there. Also for basic drink orders. LOTS of Tekate light, so thats a buck or 2 in my book

When we go back in December, I will probably up that by a hundred or so...and definitely more 1's and 5's

Pro tip...when (notice I did not say if )you go to jacuzzi, tip the bartender a 5 or 10 upfront. They WILL remember you. MOST important...even if you don't get naked...where are you keeping dry money?? Exactly! Tip upfront and you won't have to worry about cash.

Just my $.02...ymmv

[Lakeozarkcouple]

Just came back yesterday. Would parrot most of what everyone has said.

I took $500...should've taken a bit more...but not too much more

2-50's
5-20's
10-10s
20-5's
80-1's

We had a butler...actually 2. If you have one, they are SUPER helfpful with restaurants. 50's were for them
Didn't do too much with the 20's. Actually wound up getting change to smaller bills when those started to run out
10's were for dinner and pool/guy. They can also make your trip much easier. Go early in the morning...8am-ish if possible. I went to gym so swung by pool, tipped...got chairs...went to gym
5's were for maid and drink tipping depending on drink order. We drank a ton...and our drink orders got more intricate as the trip progressed. When the pool guy makes you a half frozen margarita and half frozen daquiri, a couple singles just don't seem adequate.
1's were for breakfast...it's buffet and they honestly don't do much. They're super nice...they just don't do a whole lot...left $3 there. Also for basic drink orders. LOTS of Tekate light, so thats a buck or 2 in my book

When we go back in December, I will probably up that by a hundred or so...and definitely more 1's and 5's

Pro tip...when (notice I did not say if )you go to jacuzzi, tip the bartender a 5 or 10 upfront. They WILL remember you. MOST important...even if you don't get naked...where are you keeping dry money?? Exactly! Tip upfront and you won't have to worry about cash.

Just my $.02...ymmv

Only reason to wear a ballcap into the hit tub is to have a place to stash tip cash.

[m43999]

We tip much like everyone else has said - 20 for driver, 20 pool attendant and a few 5's through the week, 5 for server every other round, 5 daily for housekeeping.

One thing that i will say about taking Pesos - they are a kind of plastic feeling (laminated?) currency that wont be saturated by water. I just throw them in any pocket that I can find and don't have to worry about them getting wet.

M&E