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How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 7:58:50 PM

NigeloftheNorth

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From: Minneapolis
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Staying at a villa in Akumal. The house book tells suggested tip amount for cook and maid but no suggestion for the guard who hangs out in the yard every night. What do people usually do? Thanks - need to know by end of tonight

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 9:18:21 PM

panesh

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From: San Rafael, CA
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If you've been there a week $100P would be greatly appreciated. They have to stand out there for close to 12 hours every night. It makes the place extremely safe and easy to walk at night.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 9:24:12 PM

walleyeguy

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I've given them 100 pesos before, and they seemed happy with that. Of course, I think they'd be happy with anything.. I'm not sure that everybody always remembers them.

I have no idea if I'm cheap or not though! I didn't have anything to compare it to!

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 9:33:27 PM

gamecock nemo

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From: Columbia, South Carolina
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I would not have even thought of that.. we rented in S. AKumal in 2006 and they were always their....
and it did make us feel safer.

you are right to think of them.....

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 9:35:44 PM

NigeloftheNorth

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Thanks everyone! Panesh - especial thanks for multiple helpful replies for this trip!

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 10:32:53 PM

tendebar

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From: South Jersey
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This may be too late for you but ....
We would bring him a bottle of water and cookies or ice cream (helps to keep him awake!) when we were coming back from dinner each night. Then, on our last night there, we would give him a cash tip.
The villa book usually recommends a percentage based on length of stay.

Karen

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/9/2012 11:07:45 PM

lhoppe

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From: Port Orchard, WA
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I've never thought of tipping the security guard, and I'm sure they get overlooked alot. Good idea about bringing him bottled water and a treat at night. Bet they'd be happy with any amount. $100 tip seems a bit more than I would consider. How much do you typically tip the maid each day?

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 4:36:24 AM

Badger

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quote:

ORIGINAL: lhoppe
$100 tip seems a bit more than I would consider.

Panesh wrote that he give them 100 PESOS, not dollars.

If you stay for a week, that's not bad at all.
Since I am a very early riser, I have also sometimes brought the security guard a cup of coffee in the morning.

< Message edited by Badger -- 3/10/2012 6:44:11 AM >

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 5:57:26 AM

Puppylove

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Badger

quote:

ORIGINAL: lhoppe
$100 tip seems a bit more than I would consider.

Panesh wrote that he give them 100 PESOS, not dollars.
If you stay for a week, that's not bad at all.
Since I am a very early riser, I have also sometimes brought the security guard a cup of coffee in the morning also.

Good idea :) So nice...

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 7:56:15 AM

GWilma13

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Love these ideas and didn't even think of doing this last time we had a villa. Will definitely do this this year. I like the cup of coffee int he AM and snack/water at night. Also I think $100pesos at the end of the trip is not out of line, if anything I would say that seems on the low end in comparison to what you tip the maid/cook.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 9:37:53 AM

Fordx4man

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From: Hamilton, Canada
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100 pesos is cheap foe piece of mind.
its also a very kind and appreciative gesture

Oh and maybe bring him a Timmies in the morning, he might like that

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 1:09:33 PM

lhoppe

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From: Port Orchard, WA
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My bad....I thought he meant dollars! Yes, I would definitely give a 100 pesos to the security gaurd.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Badger

quote:

ORIGINAL: lhoppe
$100 tip seems a bit more than I would consider.

Panesh wrote that he give them 100 PESOS, not dollars.
If you stay for a week, that's not bad at all.
Since I am a very early riser, I have also sometimes brought the security guard a cup of coffee in the morning.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 1:59:40 PM

xelgoer

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Don't know why, but Taxi guys all love Coke, perhaps a coke for the night watchman/person???

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 3/10/2012 3:59:31 PM

panesh

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From: San Rafael, CA
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Like I mentioned in another post, I couldn't get the alarm working one night and needed to get up and go fishing the next day. I went out and asked one of the guys if he would knock on my door before he left. At 5:55am there was a knock-knock and "buenas dias". Best alarm clock ever!

$100P is roughly $8 so it won't break the bank but they will be very happy to get it.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/21/2013 1:31:12 PM

el gran chico

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We gave our security guy a tip on the last night before we left (first time that I knew we had one -on previous trips we'd seen them outside other condos). I'm sure many people must forget them. He was very happy to receive it.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/21/2013 3:45:43 PM

reefhugger

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100 pesos is about $8, so for the guy to stay outside the private villa 10-12 hrs a night to hopefully deter anyone from getting on the property or breaking in, for a week's stay that's just over $1 a night. I know the staff are always very gracious and appreciate whatever tips they get, but to me that seems a little light. If it was a condo with several units occupied, I'd probably tip around 200 pesos because I'd hope other guests tipped too. Staying in a villa, I'd be a little more generous since we'd be the only ones tipping the staff that week.

Post #: 16

RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/21/2013 6:03:47 PM

uphillklimber

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From: Bryant Pond, Maine
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The issue about tipping the security guard is that it can be a slippery slope. Some years ago, a restaurant owner gave free meals to law enforcement. Turns out he was a huge pedophile, and since they were getting free meals, service (or blind eyes) was being bought, and not just [provided as it should be. When guards get to the point of expecting tips, and then don't get one, how well will they guard?

That being said, I'd not feel bad for giving a reasonable tip to the guards, as they work long hours for a pittance, perhaps an hours pay for us.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/21/2013 8:38:43 PM

panesh

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From: San Rafael, CA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: uphillklimber

The issue about tipping the security guard is that it can be a slippery slope. Some years ago, a restaurant owner gave free meals to law enforcement. Turns out he was a huge pedophile, and since they were getting free meals, service (or blind eyes) was being bought, and not just [provided as it should be. When guards get to the point of expecting tips, and then don't get one, how well will they guard?

That being said, I'd not feel bad for giving a reasonable tip to the guards, as they work long hours for a pittance, perhaps an hours pay for us.

Sorry, but I need to respond.
This is sooooo wrong. These guys work as a team and I'm sure thay have a certain amount of pride in their work. To compare working as a guard in a resort town in Mexico to the corruption you've been exposed to in or near your own town is kind of insenitive and disrespectful. If word got out that people were being robbed or there were break-in's it would affect many many people not just the night watch people. That is why they are there. When was the last time you heard of anything happening to someone on the road in HMB at night (other than being grabbed by the sand monsters after a night at LBV)? I would bet the crime in that area is close to non-existant.

They provide a service and I just felt is was something I appreciated and tipping is a good way to show it.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 5:44:46 AM

uphillklimber

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From: Bryant Pond, Maine
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quote:

They provide a service and I just felt is was something I appreciated and tipping is a good way to show it.

Hey, I don't disagree with you. It's just that it happens so often in so many different places, with so many different people.... I do not believe it is a majority, but only a very, very small minority who violate their codes of conduct. I've even read it here where some security men were not so god with their job and the poster felt it may have had something to do with.... well... I can't remember how they worded it, but they were very unimpressed with the security at their resort. I really don't know what is best. Anyone is free to vote with their pocketbook, and you have done so.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 6:57:55 AM

crunch

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I would probably give about $5.00 per day. Heck, we tip the maid more than that per day in a condo and we are super neat. That said, I think anything you choose to give will be very much appreciated and you cannot go wrong.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 9:42:13 AM

panesh

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I'm pretty sure these guys don't even expect a tip. Most of the time you can't even see them! I don't think it's on most folks radar, but they have been very friendly and helpful. If you are there in the early evening you'd be surprised how many of these guys are on the HMB road. From what I've seen there has to be over a dozen guys along the road. I've gone out at night to work on my Spanglish .

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 11:53:53 AM

Isla Chica

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I definitely tipped the guard who came & woke us up to see the sea turtle laying her eggs on our first trip to HMB!
He didn't speak English, but my Spanglish is good enough that he knew exactly what I asked!
Plus, I gave him one of my plug-in rechargeable Turtle Safe lights. I think he liked that best!

Last Sept at ABR, I was a wee bit over-served & 2 guards helped me to my room. Tthe next day I found one of them, thanked him profusely (I was embarrassed too because I had forgotten to eat ), and also gave him a $5 tip.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 12:34:17 PM

Tomas

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Crunch tips more when she's "happy" on the way home from eating her shrimp and having her margaritas.

We had a friend for life after she tipped the night guy $10 US at PC condos. From that day on he hooked up the charger to our golf cart at night and stowed it in the early morning so that I never again had to reach over the smelly trash area to hook it up. Simply awesome this guy was.

For panesh, the funny part was the five minutes it took the security guy to explain to this bonehead gringo how to say "battery charger" in Spanish. It was interesting. And no, I don't remember the word.

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 12:55:25 PM

Johaffy

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I think a lot of these guys get overlooked... We really enjoy talking to them even though our Spanish is bad.. When we come down we will bring them a jar of Maple syrup and tip them some pesos when we leave... and we like to bring them a Coke and a pizza every once in a while when they are getting off shift..

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RE: How much to tip security guy? - 2/22/2013 1:01:53 PM

panesh

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From: San Rafael, CA
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Where do you find pizza at 6am?