We are going with another couple. They do not drink - we do. We don't want them to be paying for our alcohol. How do we best ask for separate cheques and is it ok to do so?

canuck
Tell the waiter to take two orders, one for each couple, so your accounts will come separately.
It is Ok with them if that is the way you want it.
In spanish you will say:
"Por favor tome dos comandas separadas".
Then tell him clearly what goes in number and what goes in number two.

it should read, want goes in number one..

Thank you car...will this work for tapas bars as well?

Well, I'm sure you can do it, but as an alternative, you can just look at the bill and your friends can give you their share plus some money for tips. Or you can just keep track and settle up at the end of the vacation.

You ARE friends, right? I'm sure you can do some math and work things out.

Karen

canuck
One of the fun things to do eating tapas is that everything is shared, so everbody has a chance to eat whatever is served.
And then must orders are done over the counter adding up just as you feel more or less hungry. So it will be difficult to keep a precise track.
Then for drinks ordinary wine served by the cup is not more expesive than a Coke.
Tapas bills are normally equaly shared.

"Then for drinks ordinary wine served by the cup is not more expesive than a Coke."

Or actually, more likely even cheaper than Coke!!

Note - this is because the wine is fairly inexpensive - and the Coke is really a lot.

I would simply look at the itemized bill at the end of the meal and each couple carry cash to pay their share + tip. If you feel the need for it to be exact, carry a calculator. Separate checks are going to be a hassle for you and the waiter, at least some of the times. This would get real old, real quick for me on a vacation.

Another idea is to keep a running tally (think gin rummy) with a column for each couple in a small notebook. Adding what you spend and subtracing what you each pay. Add up the columns at the end of the trip and even it up between the two.