TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin 15% Service Charge on French side

Only if I am beating a dead horse.

Hmmmm. I gave up a long time ago on the 'tipping - gratuity - service' issue but I'm still laughing at the mosquito comment. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

so what I've seen on some international Sat. TV, it looks like you may be getting a little snow tomorrow?

Will keep the deer ticks away along with the Lyme disease that comes with them. My advice is not to have any sex with deer ticks either! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />



_{Yes, J.D. I've changed my IP address again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />}

Are you already down there? If so, I'm very jealous!!

And re the deer ticks - that sounds like a good plan to me. You're getting to be quite the source of useless but humorous info these days but I'm lovin' your suggestions. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I'll send you a PM

I shake my head in despair that this even has to be said.

I will add, though, that it is not JUST North Americans. Here in Florida we see tourists from all around the world. I have seen people from every continent demonstrating the very same sort of arrogance; demonstrating annoyance that we don't do everything just the same way they do back home.

It is a real shame that this whole subject can't be simply summarized into a good two paragraphs that could be posted under FAQ's. As this thread attests, most SXM visitors have real lack of understanding on proper tipping practices there.

DandM
But then a lot of people will be spending a lot of time with nothing to do.

Never a good idea to generalize or assume sir. Even Rasputin knows that.Cheers.

What a great idea!!! Don't know if many people would actually visit that forum, but I like this suggestion. Include both sides of the island.

The OP didn't have a problem understanding the concept of service charge being included IN the price of a meal.

The problem was that this specific establishment was trying to scam those are used to leaving a tip by making it seem normal to leave that 15% (or more).

Informed visitors should feel free to leave whatever they want (or nothing) and not be criticized (by Nationality) for either choice...but the key word is "informed" and this does not refer to a menu statement.

So we should keep reporting such establishments but the thread could be shortened by a cut and paste statement saying:

"There is no requirement to add any additional fee, tip, service charge to ANY establishment on the French side. A small addition will be appreciated but is not required."

Great page, but now I'm a bit confused regarding the Dutch side. If you look at The Netherlands section of this same website, it states that tipping isn't customary there; yet many Dutch side establishments are now adding 15% to their checks, and if they don't we always tip in the 20% range. I guess Sint Maarten isn't a part of the Netherlands like St. Martin is a part of France?

Just a question of curiosity; not wanting to stir anything up, although it probably will.

Tipping as we North Americans know and understand it is not a custom on either side of the island or in the Netherlands or France. The fact that some establishments and their employees on both sides try and obfuscate this fact for personal gain should not surprise anyone. It is absurd to allege that those of us who tip according to our own customs and consience are doing so to insult or force our ways on someone else.Let your conscience be your guide.Cheers everyone.

Thanks Boucharda.....I only commented on a specific restaurant! 4 weeks and counting.

Mbrott

Well, in that case, add Sol e Luna to your list. I haven't returned since the time I had a discussion with (can't remember her name ... the owner's daughter). I told one of my companions that evening that a 20% tip was not necessary, since the SC is included. (She knew my friend, from frequent visits in the past, to be a big tipper.) Even the printed check stated "service compris". I pointed this out to her in our (French) conversation and she had the nerve to tell me that it's what the printer automatically puts on their checks, but that it's not true at their restaurant ... she was willing to blatantly lie in order to retain my friend's "tips".
Needless to say, I've never returned.

We asked the owner of Le piment in orient beach Saturday night as we had a wonderful meal. Great spot. She said they need and expect a 10-15% tip. She feels none of her workers would last more than one months with tips rounded up by a few euros.

She could not be nicer and prices with tipping were very reasonable.

We tipped 15 and 10%!on the bottle of wine, even in the USA 10% on the alcohol portion is perfectly fine

'Compris" past participle of "comprendre" which means "to understand" or in this case "to comprise" or "to include" therefore it means that the bill has "service included". Kapish.

"We tipped 15 and 10%!on the bottle of wine, even in the USA 10% on the alcohol portion is perfectly fine"

in my 40 years in the restaurant business, I never heard this one. You actually separate your bill by alcohol and food?

I've never heard that one either, although frankly I do reduce the tip a bit overall when it's a bottle of wine, that all the server does is just put the bottle on the table and then I have to serve the wine myself. Mostly that doesn't happen in SXM though.

Perhaps it is a localized thing. Way back when, I do recall the "suggested" tip for a bartender was 10% and food service 15%. We mostly eat at the bar at most restaurants we go to and just roll the drinks and food together.

I will also say again, in all my trips to St. Maarten/St. Martin, I have ONLY had one restaurant owner or server (when asked) be honest when it came to the service charge on the French side. That was Bruno from La Petite Auberge des Iles.

Based on the comments written previously, I have taken some of these restaurants off our to-go list. I'm one of those stupid Americans who hates being taken advantage of. Thanks for mentioning your experience with Bruno's place. Added to my list!

Sadly, Bruno and his wife/chef no longer own the restaurant. It is still in business from what I understand (Marina Port Royale Marigot) but I have no idea the policy of the current owners. It was one of our favorite places for many years.

You have hit the nail on the head! After 17 years of visiting St Martin all at the same Orient Beach location we have made quite a few friends who are full time residents and severs in many different restaurants. They need the tips that the Americans leave for them. Remember they pay the same for food, drinks, and recreation as we do. The so called living wage that they make may be OK in France but it is not enough to live in a island resort area. Now we can say maybe they should live and work elsewhere if we want to be flippant but if they did St Martin would not have the charm it does now.
Some here called us obnoxious for tipping 15 to 20% but i know that is very much appreciated. So I will continue to tip because the money i save would not change my life in any way and it may help a now or future friend.

I love how the tipping thing comes up every 6 months or so. Have watched this discussion go on and on and on since i joined the old Travel Talk Board