Tipping In The Bahamas - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Service Charge + Optional 5-15%
🍹 Bar - $1 USD/Drink Expected
🚕 Cab - 15% Expected
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - $1-2 USD/Bag Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Service Fee + Opt. $2 USD/Day
📸 Tour Guide - 10-20%
🛥️ Boat Crew - 10-20%
The Bahamas have a big tipping culture. Cash tips are not just accepted but expected in a lot of scenarios. Service charges are common but it’s more complicated than that (see the full guide below).
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for the Bahamas using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Cabs, Hotels etc.
Bahamas Tip Calculator
Good Tip For The Bahamas
Tip
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Total With Tip
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Split Bill By
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Tipping in Restaurants
A total tip of around 20% is usually expected in The Bahamas. Since auto-included service charges of around 15% are common, you should usually tip your server extra to get to that 20% figure (e.g. tip your server an extra 5% if the service charge is 15%).
However, since service charges are usually split between all resort/restaurant staff, you might want to (or feel pressured to) increase that extra cash tip to 10-15%, especially if you’re eating in a large resort with thousands of employees.
This double tipping can be frustrating, especially since food is expensive and Bahamian customer service can often feel more transactional than friendly. Expect better service on the Out/Family Islands than in Nassau.
Although some resorts are cashless when it comes to paying the main bill, it’s better to give that extra tip to your server in cash.
Tipping Bartenders
It’s customary (and usually expected) to tip the bartender $1 USD per drink.
Tipping Cab Drivers
It’s customary to tip your cab driver around 15% in cash.
Tipping Porters/Bellhops
Although hotel service charges are common, it’s still customary to tip porters around $1-2 USD per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
Hotels will often add a 15% service charge to your bill but since this is split between all staff, your maid will only see a small fraction of that if you’re staying in a large resort.
So, smaller resort/hotel, no need to tip extra. Larger resort with more staff, tip the maid around $2 USD per day in cash but only if you’re happy with the service.
In either case, if you have any unwanted change, you can always leave this for the maid at the end of your stay.
Tipping Your Tour Guide & Boat Crew
It’s customary to tip your tour guide or boat crew (boat tour, fishing charter etc.) around 10-20% of the total cost as long as you enjoyed the experience.
Which Currency To Use
Whilst the Bahamian Dollar (BSD or $B) is the official currency of the Bahamas, it’s tied to the US Dollar (USD) and both are accepted.
In fact, US dollars are preferred in some cases and you’ll have to use them in Bahamian casinos.
Cards are widely accepted but always tip in cash if you can.
Have a nice time in the Caribbean! 🇧🇸 🏖️ ⛵️ 🥥
