Most paying mistakes in Grenada come down to three things: not noticing that a service charge is already on the bill, agreeing a taxi fare without saying which dollars it is in, and arriving with nothing but US$50 and US$100 notes. None of them is serious, but each can leave you overpaying or embarrassed, and all three are easy to avoid.
Grenada uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, cards work in hotels and larger businesses, and tipping is appreciated without being as automatic as in the United States. This page explains how payment works in practice, who is usually tipped and how much, and the etiquette around money that visitors rarely get told.
Read the bill before you tip
Restaurant and hotel bills in Grenada often show two additions. The first is VAT, generally charged at 15 per cent on most goods and services, with a lower rate applying to some hotel accommodation. The second, common in hotels and in many sit-down restaurants, is a service charge, typically 10 per cent. Some menus show prices including VAT; others add it at the end. Ask if it is unclear.
If a service charge appears, you are not expected to tip on top of it, though many visitors leave a little extra in cash for a waiter who has been particularly good, because it is not always certain how much of a service charge reaches the individual staff. If no service charge is listed, a tip of around 10 to 15 per cent for table service is appreciated.
Bars and rum shops are more informal. Leaving the small change, or rounding up, is normal; a percentage tip on a couple of beers is not expected. Takeaway counters, roti shops and bakeries do not expect tips at all. At beach bars that run tabs, check the total at the end for a service charge before adding anything.
Who is usually tipped, and roughly how much
Tour guides. For a half-day or full-day island tour, rainforest hike or chocolate and rum tour, tipping the guide around 10 to 15 per cent of the tour price, or a set amount per person, is customary if you are happy with the service. On group tours, tip individually.
Boat crews and dive staff. Catamaran crews, snorkel guides and dive masters are commonly tipped at the end of the trip. Some operators have a shared tip box for the whole crew.
Taxi drivers. Tipping is not compulsory, since fares are agreed in advance. Rounding up or adding around 10 per cent is welcome, particularly if the driver helped with luggage, waited for you or acted as an informal guide.
Hotel staff. Porters are typically given a few EC dollars per bag. Leaving a daily tip for housekeeping, rather than one lump sum at the end, ensures it reaches whoever cleaned the room that day. Some hotels and all-inclusive resorts have specific tipping policies, so ask at check-in.
Spa therapists and hairdressers. Check whether a service charge has been added; if not, 10 to 15 per cent is reasonable.
Route bus conductors. No tip is expected on route buses. Pay the fare and say thank you.
EC dollars, US dollars and getting the right change
Paying in US dollars is easy in tourist areas, but paying in EC dollars is often cheaper and avoids confusion:
- The official rate is fixed at about EC$2.70 to US$1, but shops and vendors accepting US cash often use a slightly lower rate such as 2.60 or 2.65, so paying in EC dollars usually saves a little.
- Change is normally given in EC dollars, even if you paid in US currency. Ending up with a pocket of EC notes and coins is normal, so plan to spend them before you leave.
- Small US notes are useful; US$50 and US$100 bills can be hard to break, and some small businesses will not accept them. US coins are generally not accepted.
- ATMs at banks in St George's, Grand Anse, the Spiceland Mall area and Grenville dispense EC dollars. Your home bank may charge fees on each withdrawal, so fewer, larger withdrawals are more economical.
- EC notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, and there is a 1-dollar coin. Keep a stock of smaller notes for buses, markets, beach vendors and tips.
- Cards are accepted at most hotels, supermarkets, larger restaurants and car rental firms, but small vendors, rum shops, many taxis and route buses are cash only. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted.
Agreeing a taxi or tour price without misunderstandings
Grenadian taxis are not metered. Fares between common points are guided by set rates, but in practice the price is agreed before you get in. The following routine prevents the most common misunderstanding, which is a disagreement over currency.
- Ask your hotel or guesthouse what the usual fare is for your journey before you leave. Staff know local rates and can call a driver they trust.
- Before getting into the car, state your destination clearly and ask the price.
- Confirm the currency explicitly: "Is that EC or US?" A quoted "sixty" can mean either, and the difference is almost threefold.
- Confirm whether the price is per car or per person, and whether waiting time or a return journey is included.
- For island tours, agree the route, the stops, the number of hours and the total price in advance. Drivers often offer half-day and full-day tours at a set rate per vehicle.
- Pay at the end, ideally with notes close to the fare. Add a tip if the service warrants it.
Etiquette points and pitfalls
Bargaining. Hard bargaining is not part of local culture. Market produce is sold at set prices. Craft and spice vendors serving visitors may offer a small discount on several items. A taxi price can be discussed before a journey, but not after it.
Paying vendors on the beach. Licensed vendors at Grand Anse and elsewhere sell spice baskets, jewellery and excursions. If you buy a boat trip from a beach vendor, confirm what is included and pay a deposit rather than the whole amount up front.
Tipping in all-inclusives. Some all-inclusive resorts state that tips are included or not expected; others welcome them. Follow the resort's policy rather than assumptions from elsewhere.
Showing large amounts of cash. Pulling out a thick roll of notes in public invites attention. Keep a small amount accessible and the rest separate.
Forgetting departure. Have enough to cover the taxi to the airport and any last purchases. Exchange or spend leftover EC dollars before you go, as they can be difficult to exchange outside the Eastern Caribbean.
Prices change. Fares, fees and tipping norms shift over time. Treat the figures here as a guide and confirm locally.
A quick routine for your first day
On arrival at Maurice Bishop International Airport, it helps to have a small amount of cash for the taxi and incidentals. Many visitors carry US$100 to US$200 in small notes, then withdraw EC dollars from an ATM once they are settled. Taxi fares from the airport to the Grand Anse and Lance aux Epines areas are short, and your hotel can confirm the expected price in advance.
Once you have EC cash, break a large note at a supermarket on the first day so you have small notes for buses, vendors and tips. Ask your accommodation which local restaurants add a service charge and which do not, and how they handle tipping for housekeeping.
With those few steps done, money becomes one of the simpler parts of a Grenada trip: cards for big purchases, small EC notes for everything else, and a tip whenever someone makes your day better.
Frequently asked questions
Is tipping expected in Grenada?
Tipping is appreciated but less automatic than in the United States. Check bills for a service charge, which is common in hotels and restaurants. Where none is added, around 10 to 15 per cent for good table service is customary, and guides, boat crews and drivers are often tipped.
Should you tip in US or EC dollars?
Either is accepted. EC dollars are more useful to staff because they spend them locally without any exchange, but US notes are welcome too. Avoid tipping in coins of any foreign currency, which are hard to exchange.
Is service charge included in Grenada restaurants?
Many hotels and sit-down restaurants add a service charge, typically 10 per cent, plus VAT. Look for the line on the bill. If service charge is included, an extra tip is optional; leave something more only if service was especially good.
Do taxis in Grenada use meters?
No. Taxis are unmetered, and fares are agreed before the journey, usually guided by standard rates for common routes. Always confirm whether the price is in EC or US dollars and whether it is per car or per person.
Can you use US dollars everywhere in Grenada?
US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, hotels, taxis and many shops, but change usually comes in EC dollars and the rate used may be slightly below the official 2.70. Paying in EC dollars is often a little cheaper, especially at local businesses.
