TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Great dinner tonight at Oasis…

…but then the bill came. I paid with my card, there was no line for a tip. After I signed, the server said something to the effect of, “Oh, and for your tip you can leave American cash.” I said, “Oh, isn’t service included?” He said it wasn’t and walked off.

I left some cash - more than I would’ve liked because I didn’t have any smaller bills - but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. How do you handle this when dining on the French side (I know the Dutch side is different)? Kinda feel like I was guilted into paying more than what the situation called for.

Service is included on the French side by law. Dutch side is left to the owner to dictate if included or not. A server should never suggest leaving a tip on either side unless asked by the customer. It's tacky if they do.

The wording was on the tacky side. When I have a consultation with a new client. I explain that there bill can be paid in Check, cash or charge, but we can no longer put gratuities on your CC. I'm thinking his/her english wasn't so good, and that was the only way they knew how to explain the tipping policy. I'd cut them some slack! You try working on your feet for an eight hour shift.

In France, service and tip are two different things. Service is included in the menu price. Tip is a small amount to show appreciation for excellent service, and is never expected.

Once in our September trip, and twice during our December trip we were told that service was not included in the bill (of course not, it was included in their wage, and a component of total cost). This was on the French side, and one was Ocean 82. Seems like this line is becoming more common recently. Nothing on the menu stated otherwise.

How did you handle it? Did you leave a "tip"?

Exactly what GaKaye stated and you NEVER ask as it shows you may not know and opens yourself up to being misled.

biffy--we leave maybe $5 or $10 on the French side (in cash). Not even 10%.

I understand the whole tip thing. But what is "service"? What does that entail?

Service is what is expected when I dine out.

Pony, twice I left 15ish %. For small amounts, I can always be scammed once, recognizing things may have changed, and just ignored the third attempt. Since I generally "round up" about 5%, it essentially amounted to an extra 10%. When we later had lunch at Le Taitu, I asked Jean about this, and he said nothing had changed. When we first started coming to the island, and I asked him if service was included in his prices, he essentially told me "No matter what anyone tells you, service is always included on the French side.

I suspect some of the wait staff is foofing me.

C'est la vie.

Linda, I think you're complicating it. Service is basically what you expect, and we consider it to be valued at 15% in France. We almost always leave an additional $5 for up to a $100 tab, and $10 for $150-$200. Again, it's what makes you comfortable. We've been told on the French side that we can leave the tip in cash, and we simply say that we understand, and leave what we always do.