Tipping In Saint Lucia - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🏖️ All-Inclusive Resort - Ask Front Desk (Differs)
🍽️ Restaurant - 10-15% If No Service Charge
🍹 Bar - Optional $2 USD Total
🚕 Taxi - Optional 10% (Agree Fare In Advance)
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - $1-2 USD/Bag Customary
🛏️ Housekeeping - Optional $2-4 USD/Day On Bed
📸 Tour Guide - 5-10% If Satisfied
Whilst Saint Lucians workers will usually appreciate tips (big or small), they won’t expect one in a lot of situations. Tipping is actually prohibited by a lot of hotels and resorts, where service charges are common.
In general, tip at your discretion based on service quality and whether it’s allowed or not.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Saint Lucia using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in All-Inclusive Resorts, Villas, Hotels, Restaurants, Taxis etc.
Saint Lucia Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Saint Lucia
Tip
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Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
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Tipping In All-Inclusive Resorts
If you’re staying at an All-Inclusive (AI) resort, always ask about the tipping policy in advance or at the front desk.
In order to maintain equal service for all guests, some resorts have banned tipping. If there’s not a ban, they can provide you with guidance on how much to tip the porter, housekeeper, waiter, bartender, pool staff at your specific resort.
Your resort bill may already include a service charge (typically 10-15%) in which case tips are at your discretion, unless prohibited.
Tipping Villa Staff
If you’ve booked a stay in a fully-staffed villa, ask your point of contact about the tipping policy.
Sometimes individual staff members will expect specific tips but in a lot of cases you can just tip 5-10% at the end of your stay. That tip can then be split between all staff.
Tipping in Restaurants
10-15% service charges are common, just don’t confuse a service charge for VAT (ask if unsure).
If no service charge has been added, tip around 10-15% for good service, preferably in cash.
Tipping Bartenders
Bartenders, whether hotel/resort employees or otherwise, won’t expect tips but feel free to tip them around $2 USD in cash when you leave.
If you’re drinking at a bar in your hotel/resort, tipping might be prohibited (you can always ask).
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Tipping your taxi driver is completely at your discretion. Consider a 10% tip if you had great service but it’s by no means mandatory.
In any case, always agree on a fare in advance, specifying the currency that you’re going to pay in. If you say “$20”, specify whether that’s $20 in USD or EC$ (East Caribbean Dollars).
Tipping Porters/Bellhops
It’s customary to tip the hotel porter around $1-2 USD/Bag unless your hotel or resort charges a service fee (typically 10-15%) or they have a tipping ban in place.
Tipping Housekeeping
Your housekeeper won’t expect a tip but they will appreciate a tip of around $2-4 USD/day.
If a service charge is added on to your hotel bill or if your hotel prohibits tipping, don’t tip.
Tipping Tour Guides
A 5-10% tip for your tour guide won’t be expected but it will be appreciated. Tip if you’re satisfied with the experience and/or if it’s been a long tour.
Which Currency To Use
You can pay and tip using the official currency of Saint Lucia, the East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) or you can use the US Dollar (USD).
US Dollars are widely accepted, just bear in mind that you might get change in EC$, especially if you’re buying an item from a local store.
Most hotels, restaurants and large stores accept cards and ATMs, which will provide you with EC$, are widely available.
Have a great trip to the Caribbean! 🇱🇨 ⛰️ 🏖️
