TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Tipping French Restaurant

I know we have had many tipping questions and I’m not sure we ever resolved same. Yesterday I ate at Tropicana on the Royals Pier. The bill was 52 US. What is the consensus
Fair tip?

It's not like in the states where we typically tip between 15 and 20 percent of the total bill. When in France, or in a french territory, I typically tip 5 to 10 percent after rounding the bill up to the next whole euro amount. But, I base this top on the service I received and the attitude of the waiter/waitress. So, if my bill was 52 euros and the service was good I would bump it up to 55 euros. If the staff was outstanding, like it was a few times when we ate at Ocean 82 in Grand Case in the past, I would raise my tip to 10 percent and give them maybe 58 euros. Tipping beyond those amounts is really not necessary. Hope that helps.

billy3,

First item - don’t ask about tips on the French side. TIPS are not typically a part of the French culture.

Everything I’ve ever read or known says that by French law a gratuity is figured into the menu prices so that French waiters are paid a decent wage and not dependent upon ‘tips’ to exist. Ergo no additional gratuity is required. If you feel your service was excellent you may leave a small additional amount for your server but IT IS NOT REQUIRED and the recommended amount - pour bois? (Sp?) - is usually cited as being enough cover a drink.

All that said, have at it Peeps.

If it were ME, unless the server did something absolutely extraordinary, I would tip no more than about $5 US..

What pat said!

$52 bill on the French side....$2-$3, perhaps $5 if it was exceptional service.

"pourboire": a "tip", basically enough for a drink.
pourboire

https://www.smartertravel.com/tipping-paris-local-customs/

However, I usually forget and tip extra anyway as if back home, perhaps I just need to curtail myself in future, but quite frankly, I feel that the service I get, particularly when ordering food not on the menu, justifies me paying them back. I'm happy, servers are happy and they don't forget you or your requirements on the next trip.

Thank you for the thoughts. I did leave 5 on the 52 and today for lunch at Wai Plage for lunch left 6 on a 45 bill.

Before the internet the tips were much better in France and another place we traveled a lot, Italy.
I think we have all learned a lot.

The problem is, they were use to Americans tipping a large percentage and were not too happy when they
received less.

We still over tip.....but not as much.

We went out to a fancy French side dinner with another couple this last trip. Near the end we decided to split it and and as he walked away with two credit cards our friends said add 20% tip please. We cringed but didn’t want to debate. Made our half $190 instead of $158 after conversion. And they visit the French side 3 times a year.

It looks like I'm siding with most folks here, as we generally round up, and usually try to keep it around 5%. The only exception is if the MENU clearly states that service (not tip) is excluded, and then we resort to American customs. Clearly, Yvette's cannot possibly include service in their rates, but, L' Auberge Gourmand becomes a pricier proposition, but I'll respect their statement.

As an aside, in a strange land I ask try not to ask either Brits (I never tip) or Americans (I always tip 20%) for guidance. Doesn't always work out, though.

Next time maybe separate checks? 😊😊

Pat, I think you intended to quote Pelican Pirate. No problem.

Cruzer, you are correct. My apologies.
I guess that’s what I get for trying to be funny - sort of?

That is the restaurant that confuses me the most. On the dutch side I have seen them add a service charge. Usually don't see them add it to the bill on french side. So L' Auberge Gourmand dose not add a service charge I didn't see one at la villa either and both are priced fairly similar. Are they expecting a 15-20% tip based on there statement? What would someone visiting from France leave seeing that statement on the menu?

To be honest, the fact that L'Auberge Gourmande puts that on their check is why we stopped going there. It's been several years, but it used to be a rubber stamp on the check, which led me to believe it was only put there for certain (American) diners. As far as I'm concerned, the service is always included on the French side. Period. We generally leave $5, regardless of the amount of the check.

[quote=bran]

Ditto, I’m having a good time. Take care of the staff.

A little bit off topic. I noticed that a lot of the Dutch side restaurants already added a 15 or 18% service fee on the tab. Be careful, you can really over tip. Had a few like Juliette's ask if you want to add a tip before they run the card. French side is very different.

I assume they take both Euro and dollar on French side, do they have a preference?

Euro since it is worth more.

Euro since that is their currency

Depends on the individual establishments exchange rate for the dollar. Some ask a premium for conversion and make a little more than with euro.

We always leave a couple of $2 US bills. If nothing else it starts a conversation. Some tell us it's good luck, some ask if the money is real.

I always take a couple hundred of $2 bills when I go to SXM and also use them for tips. I get a lot of thanks for them. Many say they will keep, not spend, them; I've also been told they are considered good luck.

$5. The service is included in France. Tip is roughly translated as "for a drink".

Seems this discussion has taken place before.

But is seems the OP doesn't think it's been resolved `

At the end of the day.. tip what you feel comfortable with or not at all.