Suggest appropriate tip at Pedro's & Papagayo's

What is the proper tip when eating at Pedro's and Papagayos?

Zero. Its on the French side. Should be built into the menu pricing. If you really want to leave something leave a Euro or two.

One of my favorite threads on this topic happens to still be available. The manager of Club Orient even weighed in on this issue (which was really unprecedented) on page 5! See it all here. Club Orient Reviews

Always a confusing topic for us poor Americans. On the one hand we are told it is actually an insult to leave a tip and the servers are automatically compensated by a built in charge on the check.Then we are told by folks like Steve at Club O that this is not so and tipping is welcome. Willie at Club O's Perch bar has a tip bowl (which I always contribute to) I love Willie. What we have found works for us is to ignore the "noise" that this subject generates and follow our own guidelines on tipping. We have yet to be told we have insulted someone or had our tip refused.The one factor you may want to consider is that wait staff and other workers at these places are compensated much better than they are here in the US but you will be fine tipping as you would at home.
Cheers.

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.

We have been at Pinel twice in the past two weeks. We ate at Yellow Beach. The first time the check was rubber stamped service not included and the second time it was not. I just left a small tip both times.

The key is the check. When service is included it will say so, the much talked about " service compris" and when it is not there will be a line on the check for a tip or "service" if you prefer.

This is the noise I referred to above. Let your conscience be your guide, ignore this nonsense and enjoy your vacation.
Cheers.

It has nothing to do with consience. It is a cultural traning. Here in the USA we are trained to tip. And for some reason many from the USA seem to think we need to show our traning to a culture that tipping is not needed.

SXM??? Wendell

You figured it out ! We are all on a mission to show these poor ignorant islanders how it's done. Conscience is about doing what you feel is the right thing so it has everything to do with it.
Cheers.

Same thought pattern of people expecting places to honor "1 to 1" for Dollar to Euro no matter what the real exchange rate is, I'm sure that is a matter of conscience too?
Things (money, tipping, etc.) should be as they are back in the U.S. so one feels more comfortable?

So what would you have us do here ? While I agree the customs and practices of whatever country you are in need to be honored, those rules need to be clearly defined. That is not the case here regardless of the anecdotal information offered on this board. Conflicting information abounds from all manner of sources making it impossible to know what is true and what is disingenuous. It is therefore a matter of conscience.
Do you truly believe anyone is trying to offend and force their own beliefs on the folks who live and work on the island or are you just being obnoxious. I suspect the latter. I've been polite with you to this point and I will leave it here. Respond if you must but I won't read and therefore will not have a response to whatever ill intentioned nonsense you post.
Cheers

Some places seem overwhelmed when we leave 15% so we leave 10% everywhere & feel good about that.

I guess anyone who does not agree with you is obnoxious, but since you won't read my reply, I guess you have the last word and are right! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Another thread where some feel it is good to tip, and others say it is an insult to tip when the tip is supposedly included in the price. When we pay our bill, we ALWAYS leave a tip, usually 10 to 15%. I have never noticed a reaction where the server was "insulted" by us leaving the tip. Quite the opposite, it seems they are always grateful, and respond with a "Thank you" or "Merci" and smile at us.
If I am out of line as a Crazy American, I would apologize to the server for being as such, but still leave the tip anyway.

Of all the employees throughout Club O, the most grateful, gracious recipient of a gratuity had to be Willie at the Perch, and it was only a couple of bucks each round ordered. Nice person.

Why is it that when someone says tip on this forum, it is time to get out the dueling pistols?