Tipping is expected in Grenada and a meaningful part of how service workers earn their living on the Spice Isle. The most important thing to understand before your first restaurant meal is Grenada’s bill structure — a 15% VAT is added to all food and beverage bills, and many restaurants add a further 10% service charge on top of that. Understanding which charges are on your bill before you decide whether to tip will save you from accidentally double-paying for service or leaving nothing when a tip was genuinely warranted.
Restaurants and Bars
Always read your bill carefully in Grenada. You will see:
- 15% VAT — a government tax on all restaurant bills, not a service charge or tip
- 10% service charge — added by many restaurants on top of the VAT. If this is on your bill, no additional tip is strictly necessary, though leaving an extra 5% in cash for genuinely excellent service is appreciated
If neither a service charge nor a gratuity appears on your bill, a 10% tip is the standard for good service. As a local Grenada forum participant put it: “If the service is good, leave 10%. If there is a service charge, that IS the tip.” At bars, a $1 USD tip per drink for a bartender is a standard gesture, particularly at beach bars and hotel watering holes.
Cash tips are strongly preferred since card tips don’t always reach individual staff members directly.
Hotels
Hotel tipping in Grenada follows standard Caribbean norms:
- Bellhop/porter — $1 USD per bag
- Housekeeping — $2–3 USD per night, left every couple of days or as a lump sum at checkout. A Red Savannah specialist notes that “leaving a few dollars gratuity for hotel housekeeping every couple of days goes a long way in continued good service.”
- Concierge — $10–20 USD for genuinely helpful assistance with bookings or arrangements
At all-inclusive resorts, gratuities are often built into the package. Check whether a service charge is included before adding anything extra — if it is, a small end-of-stay cash tip for your regular server or housekeeper is a thoughtful but optional bonus.
Taxis
Taxis in Grenada are unmetered — always agree on the fare before getting in. A 10–15% tip on top of the agreed fare is standard and expected. If your driver doubles as a tour guide (many Grenadian taxi drivers are licensed guides who know the island’s history, spice plantations, and hidden spots well), tipping toward the higher end reflects that added value. A surcharge applies for taxi rides between 6pm and 6am and for trips outside St. George’s.
Tour Guides
Grenada offers excellent eco-tours to Grand Etang Lake, Annandale Falls, the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park, and its famous spice plantations. Tipping 10–15% of the tour cost for a knowledgeable guide is the standard gesture. For sailing charters and boat tours (Grenada is a major sailing hub), crew members appreciate similar amounts — $1 USD per drink served and a 10–15% tip at the end of a day charter.
Outer Islands
Grenada’s outer islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique are accessible by ferry or water taxi and follow the same tipping norms as the main island, though in a more relaxed, low-key way given their smaller scale.
Cultural Notes
Grenada uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD), pegged to USD at 2.70 XCD per dollar. USD is widely accepted, though change is typically given in EC dollars at slightly less favorable rates. Carry some EC cash for local vendors, markets, and small tips.
One practical warning for beach visitors: the Machineel tree grows along some shorelines in Grenada and is highly poisonous — its sap, fruit, and even standing under it in rain can cause severe skin reactions. Never shelter under one or touch its apple-like fruit. Your hotel or guide can point these out.
Grenada’s electrical outlets use UK-style three-pin plugs at 220 volts/50Hz — US appliances require an adapter and possibly a voltage converter.
| Situation | Typical Tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (no service charge) | 10% |
| Restaurant (10% service charge included) | Not necessary; extra 5% cash optional |
| Bar/bartender | $1 USD per drink |
| Hotel bellhop/porter | $1 USD per bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–3 USD every couple of days |
| Hotel concierge | $10–20 USD for meaningful help |
| Taxi (agreed fare) | 10–15% on top of fare |
| Tour guide | 10–15% of tour cost |
| Sailing charter crew | 10–15% at end of charter |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is tipping expected in Grenada?
Yes — 10% is the standard tip at restaurants where no service charge is included, and 10–15% for taxis and tours. Always check your bill first since many restaurants add both a 15% VAT and a 10% service charge.
What is the VAT on Grenada restaurant bills?
Grenada adds 15% VAT to all restaurant and hotel bills — this is a government tax, not a service charge or tip. Many restaurants add an additional 10% service charge on top. If both are present, you have already paid for service.
Should I tip in USD or EC dollars?
Either is accepted. USD is widely used at tourist venues, but EC dollars are preferred for local vendors and markets. Change is typically given in EC dollars.
Do taxi drivers in Grenada have meters?
No. All fares are negotiated upfront. Add 10–15% on top of the agreed fare as a tip, more if your driver provided tour guide-level knowledge and assistance.
More Caribbean Tipping Guides
Traveling elsewhere in the Caribbean? Check out our other tipping guides: