In St. Lucia, tipping is generally left to each traveler’s discretion.
The local standard for gratuities is around 10 percent of your total bill for restaurant wait staff and taxi drivers.
However, tipping may be prohibited in all-inclusive resorts and some larger hotels where service charges are common.
For other services such as bellhops, room service, housekeeping, and tour guides, tipping is customary but not expected. It is recommended to tip at your discretion based on service quality and whether it’s allowed or not.
What are some common situations where tipping is expected in St. Lucia?
In St. Lucia, tipping is expected in certain situations, such as:
Hotel Staff: Tipping is common in hotels, with an average tipping percentage between $2.00 to $5.00 USD. The actual tipping percentage is determined according to the level of service given at the hotel.
Taxi Drivers: Tipping taxi drivers is expected, with a recommended tip of around 10%.
Porter/Bellhops: It is 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.
Housekeeping: Your housekeeper won’t expect a tip, but they will appreciate a tip of around $2–4 USD/day.
Tour Guides: A 5–10% tip for your tour guide won’t be expected, but it will be appreciated if you’re satisfied with the experience and/or if it’s been a long tour.
In all-inclusive resorts, tipping may be prohibited, and it’s essential to ask about the resort’s tipping policy in advance or at the front desk.
