This Dave’s wife here. We bring $1 US for tipping and $20 US to buy back the $1US bills. Their banks are fussy. If there is even the slightest mark on the bill the bank will not take it. We also bring $20 Can and buy the coins from them as the banks will not accept coins at all. We tip in cash daily for room cleaning and leave a small gift. We tip in cash for meal service. We will tip the good performers. We will tip a good butler/concierge. We tip the bus driver. As for gifts. I take the soft drinks and beer from the room and out it in a bag. I give the soft drinks to gardeners on the resort. Give the beer to the bus driver on our way back to the resort. We bring small light things to gift. So for example toiletries or feminine protection to the house maids. I like to make a little ziploc of personal care items to give to someone we might see cleaning the bathrooms. I give food items to the gardeners. For used clothing, for example really nice belts or shoes we find someone who is the correct looking size, we ask if they would like it and give it to them in a bag to protect their privacy. We have brought old cellphones and traded that for a snorkel adventure to someone with a catamaran or to a butler. We gave an old laptop to a waiter who we knew had teenagers. Ideas for things that they need that are hard to find for their jobs: nice shoes, black ladies size 7 or 8. Men’s black shoes size 9 or 10. White button up long sleeve men’s dress shirts. Ideas for children: toys, candy, books, clothing, children shoes are very expensive. General items: condoms, toiletries, soap, shampoo, tooth pastel tooth brushes, hair ties, elastics, fabric and notions, face creams, bug spray, Tylenol, Advil, allergy medication, polysporin, bandaids, pens, notebooks, notepads, batteries. I suggest that before you go, pick up some free condoms from your city’s public health. Ask your dentist for some dental care products. Check through your stationary draw at home for unused or gently used pads of paper, pens etc. check your washrooms for unused, gently used creams, shampoos samples etc. you will have a bunch of things sitting at home unused that can be gifted and will be appreciated. I also keep an eye on my local buy nothing group for items that will make nice gifts. And request any extra reusable shopping bags from your buy nothing group to use to distribute items.
Had that room a few years ago and loved the view .
Cool
Nice Dave! Keep up the good work on all these tours! Cheers!
Thanks, will do!
I'm so curious about tipping, how do you tip and who do you give extra clothing to? We want to pack some items to giveaway while there
This Dave’s wife here. We bring $1 US for tipping and $20 US to buy back the $1US bills. Their banks are fussy. If there is even the slightest mark on the bill the bank will not take it. We also bring $20 Can and buy the coins from them as the banks will not accept coins at all. We tip in cash daily for room cleaning and leave a small gift. We tip in cash for meal service. We will tip the good performers. We will tip a good butler/concierge. We tip the bus driver.
As for gifts. I take the soft drinks and beer from the room and out it in a bag. I give the soft drinks to gardeners on the resort. Give the beer to the bus driver on our way back to the resort. We bring small light things to gift. So for example toiletries or feminine protection to the house maids. I like to make a little ziploc of personal care items to give to someone we might see cleaning the bathrooms. I give food items to the gardeners. For used clothing, for example really nice belts or shoes we find someone who is the correct looking size, we ask if they would like it and give it to them in a bag to protect their privacy. We have brought old cellphones and traded that for a snorkel adventure to someone with a catamaran or to a butler. We gave an old laptop to a waiter who we knew had teenagers.
Ideas for things that they need that are hard to find for their jobs: nice shoes, black ladies size 7 or 8. Men’s black shoes size 9 or 10. White button up long sleeve men’s dress shirts.
Ideas for children: toys, candy, books, clothing, children shoes are very expensive.
General items: condoms, toiletries, soap, shampoo, tooth pastel tooth brushes, hair ties, elastics, fabric and notions, face creams, bug spray, Tylenol, Advil, allergy medication, polysporin, bandaids, pens, notebooks, notepads, batteries.
I suggest that before you go, pick up some free condoms from your city’s public health. Ask your dentist for some dental care products. Check through your stationary draw at home for unused or gently used pads of paper, pens etc. check your washrooms for unused, gently used creams, shampoos samples etc. you will have a bunch of things sitting at home unused that can be gifted and will be appreciated.
I also keep an eye on my local buy nothing group for items that will make nice gifts. And request any extra reusable shopping bags from your buy nothing group to use to distribute items.