Tipping advice for Belek trip

[timd77]

We’re off to play golf in Belek, stopping at the Cullinan, all inclusive.

I’ve read that if you give tips then the staff will treat you like royalty, and so I’m just after a bit of advice on that if anyone knows?

When do you tip? Is it just the waiter who sits you down? Every time you have a drink? Once at the end of the night? After breakfast?

What currency is best?

 

[nickjdavis]

We’re off to play golf in Belek, stopping at the Cullinan, all inclusive.

I’ve read that if you give tips then the staff will treat you like royalty, and so I’m just after a bit of advice on that if anyone knows?

When do you tip? Is it just the waiter who sits you down? Every time you have a drink? Once at the end of the night? After breakfast?

What currency is best?

All I tip when I go to Turkey, irrelevant whether its a golf trip or family holiday is...

I'll leave maybe €20 for the ladies who clean my room and maybe €10 in the communal pot for the restaurant/kitchen staff, both left on the day that I leave. The lads who bring fetch cases/bags to/from the room might get €5 if they are lucky.

Certainly have never bothered tipping every waiter that brings me a drink or sits me down at my dinner/breakfast table....and I do not believe that I'd have got any better service if i had done.

 

[CliveW]

I've been to Belek many, many times and if it is all inclusive I rarely carry cash. At meal times you sat yourself down and it was buffet service so no waiter to tip. Drinks in the bar are brought to you so again no need for cash therefore no tips. I do however tip the bell boy when he brings your luggage to your room and the chambermaids on the day I leave. If buying drinks after a round at the clubhouse, then I will tip, normally 10%.

Preferred currency is Euros.

 

[IanMcC]

I dont tip every time I am brought a drink, but probably most times.
I take some lira for this purpose. Giving a euro each time could be expensive over the week, but 30 or 40 lira each time is managable.
The bellboy, chambermaid and starter at the course should all receive a gratuity as well, of course.

 

[Yorkhacker]

Went in a large group and had a whip round for the bar staff at the end of the week. Individually, I tipped the guy who took the case to my room, the waiting staff and the room cleaner.

Of course they're grateful for anything, but due to the high rate of inflation, Euros are preferred.

 

[sjw]

I found in Belek everything is done expecting a tip - none of the customer service is real, it's all plastic

 

[Yorkhacker]

I found in Belek everything is done expecting a tip - none of the customer service is real, it's all plastic

Never got this impression at all. Even the people who wouldn't get a tip (eg reception staff) were brilliant. And the quality of service never dipped when they weren't tipped.

 

[sjw]

Never got this impression at all. Even the people who wouldn't get a tip (eg reception staff) were brilliant. And the quality of service never dipped when they weren't tipped.

Maybe it varies by hotel (although I was at a decent one) but when I've been to the Caribbean or Mauritius it's like night and day. It's not like you're treated badly at all, but it just didn't feel like it was genuine. People around the hotels asking you to give them good reviews, lingering that little bit after you've dealt with them etc, was my experience

 

[rudebhoy]

Been to Belek 3 times, twice for golf and once for a family holiday. I tip the bar staff a couple of times a night, definitely ensures you get good service the next time you go to the bar. Leave a bit for the cleaner at the end of the holiday, and also leave something in the mini bar after the first day, normally gets you a few extras when they come to top up.

 

[irip]

On any all inclusive holiday I have always tipped any staff I’m going to tip on the first day there.
I’m hoping it will get me better service during my holiday, if you tip them at the end of the holiday they can’t improve the service you have already had

 

[Neilds]

Never tipped waiters or bar staff on an all inclusive trip, or any other. I think it is patronising and a bit ‘look at me, I’m special and deserve to be served first’. What better service are you actually getting for your tip?

 

[irip]

Never tipped waiters or bar staff on an all inclusive trip, or any other. I think it is patronising and a bit ‘look at me, I’m special and deserve to be served first’. What better service are you actually getting for your tip?

It’s not a case of wanted being served first.
For example in the Caribbean we tipped the lady looking after us.
She was actually in tears as it was a lot of money to her and certainly didn’t find it patronising.
She was happy to tell us which excursions were worth going on and which were not.
She advised us on good places to go and which to avoid on the island.
She even invited us to her house one evening and we had a great night with her family.
Her and my eldest got on really well and are still in touch now.
That was well worth giving her a tip as her advice and knowledge were invaluable in helping enhance our holiday

 

[Neilds]

It’s not a case of wanted being served first.
For example in the Caribbean we tipped the lady looking after us.
She was actually in tears as it was a lot of money to her and certainly didn’t find it patronising.
She was happy to tell us which excursions were worth going on and which were not.
She advised us on good places to go and which to avoid on the island.
She even invited us to her house one evening and we had a great night with her family.
Her and my eldest got on really well and are still in touch now.
That was well worth giving her a tip as her advice and knowledge were invaluable in helping enhance our holiday

That is different, I am talking specifically about waiters and bar staff. You got an additional service and wanted to give something for that.

 

[cliveb]

Been to Belek many times - here's who I tip:
Airport transfer driver, usually €5
Bellhop for bringing luggage to room, about €2
Room cleaner at end of stay, €20
Never tipped any other staff, never had a problem with service.

 

[timd77]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds as though we don’t necessarily have to keep on tipping. I was just under the impression that we’d need to tip to get good service.

I am slightly concerned about appearing patronising so will just play it by ear and see what happens!