E-tip Cards

[brp]

that is an interesting approach. we bring cash for tipping. we would probably not use that (QRC) method of tipping as i am sure there is a fee from someone, somewhere, someplace.

At the very least there is the 1.7-3+% credit card fee. But I'd be very surprised if the establishment is not taking a skim off the top as well. We rarely use cash for anything since we can't get hotel/airline points for cash. Even taxes (property, estimated, etc.) are CC. This is an exception.

Cheers.

 

[Hoodwink]

At the very least there is the 1.7-3+% credit card fee. But I'd be very surprised if the establishment is not taking a skim off the top as well.

For sure there are fees involved, and on low amounts they can be an even larger chunk. I work for a software company that is a PayFac (Payment Facilitator). You have the swipe fee - a fixed fee for every transaction, successful or failure. Then you have the percentage that the PayFac keeps for their service. I'm sure HGVC has pretty favorable terms, but it still comes off the top of what you are tipping the person.

Before I travel I stop by my credit union and withdraw a chunk of cash specifically for housekeeping and valet tips - ones and fives. On a long trip I've taken out $300-400 specifically for tipping. I'm sure that the person receiving the tip would rather you use the QR code than leaving nothing if you don't have cash though.

 

[ljmiii]

Before I travel I stop by my credit union and withdraw a chunk of cash specifically for housekeeping and valet tips - ones and fives. On a long trip I've taken out $300-400 specifically for tipping.

This. I always bring cash for tips when I travel to places where ATMs are inconvenient. Despite what Karl Malden once said...;-)

 

[zentraveler]

I keep a separate small wallet in my travel bag with small bills -- $1,5,10 -- for tipping: curbside check in, luggage delivery (when we use it), housekeeping (always, and not QR for the aforementioned reasons), airport shuttle drivers (they seem to be ignored a lot and help people haul bags off and on the shuttles all day long) and valet drivers etc. Essentially all of the minimum wage workers who make my trips more enjoyable.

Whatever I think about how they ought to be paid a fair wage, they are not, and they contribute greatly to making our trips go smoothly. It is not complicated or onerous to carry a small stash of small bills. And the dollar amounts are so small for us and significant for them.

 

[Hoodwink]

I always bring cash for tips when I travel to places where ATMs are inconvenient.

Not related to HGVC, but I had a friend find out the hard way that ATMs are not everywhere and not all places take credit cards. He got married two years ago and went to the Philippines. His wife moved to the US from there in the 90's it had been a long time since she had been back. They were going for a month. He took a bit of cash, but figured he'd put most of their daily expenses on a credit card. Well, turns out most places where they went don't take credit cards and he couldn't find any ATMs. He ended up calling me less than two weeks into the trip asking me to wire him $3000 to get through the rest of the trip. Fortunately, Western Union is everywhere and I was able to get him the money.