TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Tipping?

Assuming the service charge isn’t already included on the bill, what’s the usual percentage for tipping at restaurants?

Same as anywhere🙄

The service charge thing is really something in the BVI's..as there is no tax on food you will sometimes see it as a tax as a trick to get you to add service.I look at the bill..I ask if the server gets the tip as some places the owners grab it. If there is nothing added I give 20% at least.If they add some I round it up to that.I always try to tip in cash so it goes in the server's pocket..

An important thing to keep in mind when tipping: adding a tip to a credit card charge when you sign the credit card slip does nothing. When the credit card slip is presented to you to sign, the transaction has already been processed. Adding an additional amount does nothing. It is possible to process it, but it must be done as a manual charge adjustment and is never done. There are some newer credit card terminals that allow you to enter a tip before processing, but very few places have them. This is true in the BVI as well as in the US.

If you doubt this, you can check it. Add an additional tip to a credit card slip when it is presented to you to sign. Then, later, check your credit card account. The additional amount you added will never show up as a charge to your account.

Bottom line: any tip that you want to add that is not already in the credit card slip must be cash.

In the US my tip added to the presented bill for my signiture has always had the tip I added in cluded.

My tip has always been added too. Even in the BVI. Also, the wait staff generally tip out the bartenders, kitchen and bussers from their nightly tips as it's a team effort.

In the BVIs it is definitely worth asking the waitstaff about the restaurants tipping policy.Some places the owners take a chunk of it..some round out the tips amongst everyone for an equally shared monthly amount which does not make staff want to excel at their job. Over the years I have heard every single kind of stories on this from the staff to owners etc..If I like the service I like to give cash and then there's a vgood chance I am rewarding the server..ToInsurePrompService..

Duckfat: Totally incorrect as to the USA and most of the world. Credit card terminals and apps authorize the check amount. Card holders get immediate notification on smartphone showing the check amount authorized. The establishment can then modify the charge for the tip, and the total is what is charged to the cardholder and appears on the monthly statement. Works every time. And actually many places in the world are ahead of the USA in utilizing apps and mobile devices that allow the addition of the gratuity before the card is presented, authorization approved, and charge processed.

I am happy to admit that I was wrong about tipping with credit card. I normally tip in cash, but I had two dinners here on Anegada where I added additional tip to the credit card bill. Initially, my online bank statement showed no adjustment. However, a couple of days later, both transactions were updated to show the additional tip.