"Service Charge" and tipping?
 

I see that my hotel adds on 10% service charge in addition to tax. What does the service charge include? And what are the tipping guidelines--housekeeping, restaurants, cab drivers, etc.?

Thank you in advance!

Sorry...this would be for Belize!

If your hotel adds a service charge, you are under no obligation to tip anyone individually, although you can do so if you receive especially good service from someone on staff.

The service charge, typically 10%, is fairly common at more upscale hotels and lodges in Belize. It is supposed to be shared in some fair system with the hotel staff -- housekeepers, bellstaff, bartenders, restaurant staff, etc.

It varies from hotel to hotel, but often the tour guides employed by the hotel are not included in the service charge, so if you go on a tour or fishing trip, you'd tip those people separately.

--Lan Sluder

Lan, Not to sound dense, but would you please elaborate? 10% of what? Total cost of your hotel room? By the way, wonderful, wonderful job on San Pedro Cool. I love it and have gotten so much more out of it than I have my guidebooks!

Yeah, quite a few "better" hotels in Belize levy a service charge of 10% of the total room charge. Many also levy it on restaurant and other charges, if you have any. So, with the 9% hotel tax (10% on meals, tours, etc.) you're talking about 19%+ on top of the room rate.

Thanks for the nice words on San Pedro Cool.

--Lan Sluder