Found this guide to tipping. This page was about France.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tips/the...BBnb7Kz#image=6

Not trying to start something. just posting info that I read.

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.

I'll bite!
I understand about the service included and the small tip you can leave if so desired

I thought service [Fr side] is always included. However, this is the part that confuses me, someone in these discussions will say if the menu says service not included, then I should leave something approx to the service charge and or tip - guessing a NA type of tip is the target for the resto [assuming I liked the meal and service].

I have always thought that is a scam ie service needs to always be included in the bill [fr side]. This winter at an Orient Village resto, the bill was presented saying service not included, and the waitress echoed that comment - to be fair we did not remember what the menu said. I chose to not believe that and left what I would normally for a meal on the fr side

So my question is - can a fr side resto opt out of the service charge if they note it in writing to the customer?

J&B

Yes, by law, the bill must say "service non compris".

First of all, the menu is not required to state that service IS included. In absence of any other statement on the menu, the assumption is that service IS included.

Sadly, some restaurateurs and servers are less than honest with Americans, who are accustomed to tipping 20%. In France, and on the French side of St. Martin, unless the MENU states that the service is NOT included, then you can assume that it is.

Jon and Bev, the answer to your question is yes, but it must be noted on the menu, not the check. You need to know before you order if you're going to be expected to pay an additional amount for service, as the norm is for it to be included in France. If it's not printed on the menu, but is on the bill, then you're being taken advantage of as an American who doesn't know better.

This is the key. Moreover, I have seen bills where it says "tip not included." Another attempt to take advantage of the ill informed. As mentioned above, "tip" and "service" are one and the same. Of course no "tip" is included when "service" has already been included!

Here now and have had several serves non comprise on the check including some well known places. I will study the menu (will need my readers) for the note on the menu itself. Thanks for the tip no pun intended.

The good news is I've been paying by MasterCard and each time I've attempted to add a tip they say they can't after they've run my card for the original amount and have seem just fine with my signing and going like the ones that don't say "snc". So they must have to pay another fee to run a tip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

The credit card systems in France don't include a line for the tip because there's no such thing there. Think about that. Service is almost always included; the tip is a dollar or two in cash. We usually leave $5 on a $100 meal if we were very pleased with the service, which we almost always are.

The only place on the French side that I remember the menu stating that service is not included is at Friars Bay Beach Restaurant, and it's been many years since we've been there.

I am getting confused, are we talking about France or the French side of SXM. We have been in many restaurants on the French side where there is a tip line. It's not the credit card system it's the software. I could use the same processor of a retail store and their receipt will not have a tip line and mine will.

[/i]The French side of SXM [i]is France. That said, I've never seen a tip line on a credit card receipt there.

Three places that come to mind that bring the check with
service not included.
Lotterie Farm
La Cottage
Le Ti Bouchon.

Leaves a weird feeling as whether to leave 15-20 % or the customary a little extra.

Can't remember if it's on menu when presented or only on check when presented. Definitely don't like the idea though
if it's the Frech law.

If you want to figure it out once and for all, have dinner with a French friend, split the check, pay cash, and follow their lead.

This seems to confuse some people. A lot of people seem to think that the French side of SXM is "sort of" France, but not really. Like the territory of Guam is "sort of" the United States, but not really.

No. It is not like that. The French side of SXM is part of France, just like Hawaii is part of the United States. Go to the French side of SXM and you ARE IN France!

Another one is Sol E Luna where the menu states "We do not make a charge for service as we believe our guests should have the opportunity to reward great service at their own".

Also, Papagayo's menu states "gratuity not included" on the bottom and it has been reported that they expect American style tips from North Americans. Club O's faq says "unlike many restaurants in France neither the Papagayo nor the Perch have gratuities included in the price of the food or drinks". Restaurants in France include service, as does Papagayo, but I don't know of any that include gratuities (the French pourboire) in the menu price.

I believe that each of those statements is designed to confuse Americans. "We do not make a charge for service" is not the same as "service non compris". The other two talk about gratuities, not service. I would not leave an American-style tip in any of those locations. And frankly, I think I'll pass completely on the Sol Y Luna experience. There are too many great places to enjoy on the island where the proprietors aren't trying to scam their customers.

That's the smartest thing I've ever heard said about the subject!