GRATUITIES. Tips at restaurants are generally not included in the final bill but are welcome for good service. Tipping ranges from 10 to 20 percent, depending on the quality of service. Many French-side restaurant bills include tips.
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Tipping : If the gratuity is not included in the final bill, then a 10 to 15 % tip is standard. In St. Maarten and St. Martin, airport porters generally expect a tip of about $1 USD per bag, taxi drivers usually get a $0.50 USD to $1 USD tip depending how long a taxi trip was taken, and if they handled any luggage.
The US Dollar is accepted everywhere on the island. Local currency and US Dollar ATM machines (Maestro/Cirrus) are situated throughout the island. Major credit cards are accepted in most tourist establishments.
When dining out, it is normal to tip on St.Maarten/St.Martin. Before you leave a tip, check the bottom of the menu or your bill as some establishments automatically add on a 15% Service Charge.
The Antillean Guilder or Florin is the official currency in St.Maarten, which is divided into 100 cents. US dollars are accepted at the majority of businesses on the Dutch side of the island. On the French side, the euro is the official currency.
The US Dollar is widely recognized on both sides, offering convenience to most travelers, whereas the Euro is the official currency on the French side. It is advisable to carry a combination of both currencies to ensure smooth transactions.
This was the official currency of the former Netherlands Antillies, and is still used today. The euro is used in the North (in St.Martin). Despite having two different official currencies, the US Dollar is accepted on both sides, with St.
Taxi Drivers: Should I tip? Tipping taxis drivers on the island is common and drivers usually get around $0.50-$1 depending upon the total distance and final prices. Tour Guides: Is a tip required? Tipping your tour guide between 10%-15% is advisable in St Maarten.
The amount you tip will depend upon the quality and quantity of service, length of your stay, and the size of your group. A suggested gratuity of 20%-25% of the villa rental cost is split among the staff.
Our duty-free markets and shops are filled with brands you love, and unique local specialties you won't be able to find anywhere else. Truly a shopping destination, St. Maarten offers the retail therapy you deserve while staying on the island.
Then we a have rainbow full of places that tipping is frowned upon: China, French-Polynesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Taipei, Nepal, Korea and Switzerland. In these countries a tip is not expected but rounding up the bill is, it's pretty much customary: Italy, Russia, Belgium, Australia, and I probably missing a dozen more.
On average, non-Americans tip around 10%, which amounts to $2.00 for a $20 meal in the United States. Recent data reveals that U.S. citizens tip slightly more, 16% on average, which adds up to $3.20 for a $20 meal.
A famous jet-set getaway, Sint Maarten is known as one of the more expensive islands in the Caribbean. Gary Meenaghan proves it's possible for a family to stay, and enjoy, for a month without breaking the bank. Almost as soon as I paid for the flights, I realized my mistake.
DRINKING WATERTap water on the island comes from desalinated seawater and is drinkable. We do recommend drinking bottled water which is readily available throughout the island.
While Sint Maarten has the upper hand in nightlife, the French side of the island is known for having the more pristine beaches. Notoriously white sands edge up against crystalline turquoise oceans on the shorelines along the island's northern face.