Although the official Sandals tipping policy is that tips are not allowed since they’re included in your rate, butlers are an exception. If you’re staying in a butler suite, you should tip your butler to show appreciation for their service.
In this article we’ll tell you all you need to know about tipping Sandals butlers, plus explain a little about what Sandals butlers do.
Is it worth having a butler at Sandals?
You might be wondering if a butler is worth it at Sandals, since not only are butler level suites more expensive, but you’ll also need to factor in money for tips.
While it’s a personal choice, most people who have experienced Sandals butler service say it’s definitely worth it, as they can really elevate your stay and make it extremely special.
The butler suites at any Sandals resort are the most luxurious and unique accommodations, so in addition to the personal service you also enjoy the best accommodations and views, with extras like full bars stocked with sparkling wine, separate living rooms, private pools, and 24-hour room service. Some of the top butler suites at Sandals are SkyPool suites, Rondoval Suites, and overwater bungalows, but every butler suite is pretty fantastic.
When you stay in a butler level suite, you also get access to special events during the week like a cocktail party and all of the Club Sandals activities. Butler suites also come with private airport transfers—in luxury vehicles like Rolls Royces and BMWs at some locations.
What do Sandals butlers do? They are focused on making sure your stay is as wonderful as possible, so they go above and beyond to not only meet your needs but anticipate them.
Here are some of the things Sandals butlers do:
- Greet you when you arrive with a welcome drink and escort you to your suite
- Handle check-in in your suite and make sure it’s all to your liking
- Unpack if you like and iron clothes if needed
- Give you a tour of the resort plus their recommendations
- Make restaurant reservations and notify the chef of any food preferences
- Arrange spa services and/or excursions
- Set up romantic private dinners in your suite or on the beach
- Decorate your room with rose petals
- Have chilled champagne and a bubble bath waiting for you
- Reserve chairs by the pool and beach
- Bring you food and drink by the pool or on the beach
- Bring you breakfast in bed
- Take you around the resort in a golf cart
- Help you pack when it’s time to depart
- Get your luggage and you to the airport transportation
How much do you tip the butlers at Sandals?
Sandals recommends tipping butlers around $20-$25 per day (per butler; you will have 1 to 3 butlers per day).
Sandals butler tips reviews recommend anywhere from $20 to $50 per day. Some people suggest around $150-$300 total for a week’s stay, while others recommend 5-10% of the room rate.
The American Society of Travel Advisors suggests $25-$75 per butler per day.
How much you tip your Sandals butler will depend on how much you use them and whether they do anything that is “above and beyond.” For example, if you ask your butler to make dinner, spa, and excursion reservations, as well as reserve pool and beach chairs and bring you drinks and snacks throughout the day, you would want to tip more. If you only use your butler’s service a few times, you could tip less.
If your butler provides extra “surprises” like rose petals in your room, sweet treats, or bubble baths after a long day sightseeing, you will want to tip extra.
Something to consider is that butlers work in shifts, so you will have more than one butler during your stay. You can tip each one separately, according to the considerations above.
How to give a Sandals butler tips?
You can tip a Sandals butler each day, or at the end of your stay—it’s up to you. Some Sandals butler tips reviews recommend doing it at the end of the stay, but letting your butlers know in advance that you will be tipping. You can also tip once at the beginning and the remainder at the end.
It’s a nice touch to leave your Sandals butler tips in a thank-you note. Whether you write a note or not, it’s best to put tips in an envelope labeled with each butler’s name. You can either give them to the butlers directly or leave them with the Sandals staff. If you don’t have envelopes, they will be able to provide you with some.
They also recommend tipping Sandals butlers in US dollars rather than local currency, with no bill larger than a $20. Cash is preferred. You can also add it to your bill at the end of your stay, but consider adding a little extra as fees are taken out of the tip when it’s on a credit card.