TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Gratuitites

My understanding is that many restaurants on the Dutch side will add a service charge. What is customary on the French side, at a restaurant in Grand Case would you tip as you would in the US? Thanks.

depends. Check the menu, the check and ask before tipping. The french side is france where tips service charges are customary.

Tipping can be a bit tricky to tourists. That's because there is nothing called "tipping" in France. It is called "service". And service is included usually in your hotel rate and in your restaurant prices.

In regards to restaurants, if the service is included the menu will have clearly written on it "Service compris" meaning that service is included and it's usually 15% of the tab. But local custom is that if you are very satisfied with your waiter's service then you may leave a few spare change in addition.

The tricky part is when a patron asks the waiter if the tip is included in the total and the waiter will say "no". That's because it's true, there is no tip so he will say "no". Then upon hearing that the patron will leave a tip of 15%.
Recall that the service of 15% is included already in the total so the service plus additional tip will have come up to 30%!

So don't ask if the "tip" is included-ask instead if "service" is included. If yes, then no need to leave anything unless you are very happy and satisified with your server; in that case leave some loose change or so in addition.

Over on the Dutch side if there is a service charge it is added as a line item to the check . Not all restaurants include a service charge.

"Recall that the service of 15% is included already in the total so the service plus additional tip will have come up to 30%!"
Actually it would amount to a few % points more as you are tipping on the already included tip/sc.

We do 10% all round unless it says it's included.

5% to no more than 10% but that is up to you. Service charge (15%) is built into the menu price. I guarantee, IF you ask if anything is included, the answer will be "NO".

And always in cash. You cannot add a tip on your total bill if you are paying by credit card!

edhouk,

There is a law/rule somewhere which says French waitstaff must be paid a reasonable living wage and French restaurants must include 'service' in their menu pricing to cover this living wage. This way the waitstaff is NOT dependent on 'tips' as in the USA.

The problem, as already stated is when we Americans ask them about a tip, and since the canny French waitstaff knows exactly what we're asking - in most cases, they say no - because there is no 'tip' in France. Ergo, the unwitting American puts another 15 to 20 percent on the bill, in essence double tipping.

Do yourself a huge favor and don't ask in the first place and there will be no confusion. If the service was exceptional you may want to leave a few dollars more but you don't absolutely have to and you shouldn't feel you as though you must.

On the Dutch side this shouldn't be an issue if you look at your dinner check. If there is an unaccounted line item amount on the bill, generally 15% of the check, whatever they call it, no additional tip is required unless you choose to leave one. Again, if you ask if the tip is included, the staff may say either, "No, " or "Yes, the tip is included but we don't get it," hoping you will tip them additionally. Believe that or not as you see fit.

As you can probably tell, the whole tipping scam on the island is out of control. I get it but I don't particularly like it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Then there are some like jimbos that add the 5% tot in addition to the 15% to the bill. Look out for those that do that.

Oh, do you mean that 5% (used to be 3%) tot that was supposed to be paid by the merchant and NOT the end consumer? And who did they think they were kidding when that was passed.

Once upon a time, many years ago - SXM was known as a tax-free duty-free island....... and then they started adding on 'fees' as in departure fee right up to what we have today. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Pretty sure it is illegal to add the turnover tax.

Just because it is illegal doesn't stop some places. Last year the waitperson in Pineapple Pete told me the 15% added was broken down as 10% gratuity and 5% TOT and that I should leave 5% more for the gratuity to make it a 15% gratuity. I just paid what was on the bill and told him to have a nice day.
Jimbos is just open with the fact that the TOT is added as a separate line item.

Some places have been known to add it.

The service is included on the French side. The tip is not. They are two different things, and you will be told that the tip isn't included and must be left in cash. That's completely true, but the tip is a much smaller amount than you would leave in the US.
Here's a guideline for how to tip on the French side.

We bring a "ton" of $2.oo bills and merit them out according to service, a pour bore (tip) or as they say in New Orleans Langnappi.

Worth the surprise look on faces. Some we've tipped in the past even ask if we have some when we visit again.

Saw a new one on our last trip. Went to the Tree Top Lounge at Lotterie Farm. The bill said, "tip non compris" and "tip not included".

Thanks for that link, Georgia. I hadn't seen that page before.

It's disappointing that we all love the food on the island to an extreme, but hate that paying at the end is so confusing and painful to all but the most seasoned SXM'ers. If only the rules were consistent! French side should be straight forward as Service being included, but then again as just one example of inconsistency, Club O's menu shows: Gratuity not included/Service non compris. Grrr!

When I'm in the USA, I tip as I'm in the USA. When I'm in France, I tip as I'm in France. In France, service is included in the menu price and the waiters are paid a living wage plus benefits.

Tipping is a personal decision and you should decide what your policy is going to be prior to dining. As has been stated, don't ask at the restaurant about tipping. I avoid restaurants that are what I consider to be deceptive towards North Americans by stating service/tip/gratuity is not included (or something similar) on the menu. These include Sol E Luna, the Lotterie Farm, Friar's Bay Beach Café, Le Ti Bouchon, and Papagayo.

My preference for French St. Martin dining is to tip around 5% if the service was good. Some posters here tip nothing while others tip 20% or more. You should tip what you feel is right after learning basic French customs. Also, if I'm presented a bill that has a hand written note or rubber stamp that service/tip/gratuity is not included, I tip nothing as I feel that is deceptive and it's probably not done to European patrons.

Just to avoid missing anything that may or may not be included, I always leave a tip regardless of what is charged on the bill.

Thank you for a concise explanation of the SXM tipping issue. This topic has appeared on ttol almost as often as the "my car rental is better than your car rental" thread.
I think that all of us gain when we know the rules that apply and can appropriately reward good food and service. I have long had a problem with the automatically added 15% that assumes everything was fine. No rebate when the food was cold and or the service was lacking without the embarrassment of involving management.

French side---around 5%

Dutch side---15% usually added to bill--it will be a separate
item with food total.

True, in theory, but of course that would be taken into account to keep it at 30% something neither you or I would do in the first place as 15% to 20% is more than enough. .

Have to agree!!! When a service charge is added to your bill, and then on top of that you feel the need to tip? I belive this is a personal choice not an obligation. You can be sure most Europeans either do not tip, or give little... I know that for fact. So this is really an American thing. We are generous people and resturants know that. We will give what we feel, or if the service was so outstanding. But that's my opinion. People do what they want.

It seems there is an expectation that restaurants on the French side routinely include a 15% service charge built into their prices. However, this is apparently not always true - an example being Auberge Gourmande in Grand Case who clearly state on their website that a 15% service charge is not included. When we have inquired about "service charges" being included at other Grande Case restaurants, the answer is typically no. It does get confusing to know how to best approach this without ending up leaving 30+% "tip" whenever we dine out.

I don't think it is as much an "expectation" that 15% is included as it is customary, standard practice and basically how it is done in France.

To me, the best approach is do NOT ask. Leave a few $$ or euros (perhaps 5%-10% or whatever you are comfortable with) and be on your way.

It's my understanding that on the French side the service charge is not added to the bill because the waiter gets paid a regular salary by the restaurant. You don't tip a sales clerk in Macy's because her salary is built into the price of the item you purchased. It's the same idea on the French side.

L' Auberge Gourmande is another restaurant that I will add to my list to avoid as I feel their statement is deliberately made to cause confusion among North Americans and entice them to tip 15% more. I understand service to be the cost of the wait staff which is included in France. Unlike France, servers in the US are usually paid less than minimum wage and receive little to no benefits. They depend on American style tips for their wages.

For the restaurants that add the service/gratuity statements to their menus, do you think European guests dining there tip 15% because of the statement? Do you think that restaurant's prices are 15% lower than their peers for similar items to account for them not adding the service charge?

While I agree about L' Auberge Gourmande specifically saying it on there website and menu which bothers me at least it's specifically mentioned and not just printed on the receipt or stamped on the bill.

We ate there Monday night and it was FABULOUS!!! This was after meals at Piazza Pascal and Le Peminent.

Yes, the tipping this is aggravating and that 15% is probably meant for the US customers as the prices are the same as comparable restaurants that have the 15% added.

Tonight is either LaVilla or Ocean82. We usually do go the crepe truck for desserts!

Trip report after the trip.

Mbrott

Where is the crepe truck and is it there all the time (in shoulder season and high season)?

It's at the parking lot opposite Calmos

I was trying to keep it quick and simple, but it will never work....<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Just ran into someone born and raised overseas. He brought up the subject of tipping. He said that when he came to the U.S. he left up to 10% thinking it was an enormous tip. He then found out how waiters rely on tips here for income.
He also said in foreign countries, with a decent salary and benefits, a small tip is just a little extra that isn't expected, but appreciated. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

No tipping on the French side. Just leave the change if it's small. Forget about service. Doesn't concern us.
It has nothing to do with Americans being generous people.
Think about it. It's about being uptight and worried people will think you are cheap.
You have a check and it's 19 Euro, give 20 euro and walk away.
cheers
i

Right!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Ayup!! This whole tipping thing is insane! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> I'm just going to go to McDonald's for every meal! LOL <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I really don't care about the service charge, if the service was great I always leave 20 percent or more, even if the service charge is included.I am a bartender in the states, so I live on my tips. I always appreciate when I am left a great tip.

Yes, I think most of us would consider approximately a 40% tip a great tip...

What don't you understand? Don't give me that bartender in NY stuff. I was a GM in NY and I have traveled all around Europe.
No TIP! You think of TIP as tip. It is not the same thing.
Stop it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus I lived there. In SXM.
Regretfully and not Cheers
irina

I was a bartender in NY for 32 years. I sure do wish all my tips were 40%.