trnorman
SBH Insider
2 cheeseburgers and 2 fries were $37.14 according to my Citi statement
Gustavia most expensive in the world
- Thread starter andynap
- Start date
KZ1300A1
SBH Insider
We have been on the island a couple of days. We always look at the exchange rate on the restaurant receipts. At some we are getting .90 for a dollar. but .80 USD at others like the burger palace. I am wondering if some places are adding 10 pct gratuity? Maybe we are getting ripped off lol. Cant tell.
trnorman
SBH Insider
Are you being charged in Euros or Dollars? Always charge in Euros and let the bank handle the exchange, the exchange offered by the CC companies is not great.
KevinS
Senior Insider
Restaurants that accept payment in USD are doing so as a courtesy, and rarely keep track of current exchange rates. They may not change their exchange rate for weeks, months, or even longer. As noted above, if you are using a credit card it should always be charged in Euros. If you have a pocket full of USD cash that you want to spend you’ll get a better exchange rate at the Currency Exchange in Gustavia.
KZ1300A1
SBH Insider
We paid with Credit Card. But it was the same Credit card. @Eddies it was 90 eu + 10 pct whichis about right. La Langousta was 120 eu .+ 20 pct.
KZ1300A1
SBH Insider
KevinS
Senior Insider
Ah, that helps. I now understand where you’re coming from, and that can be confusing.
If you paid in Euros on your credit card then ignore the USD number. The USD number is only meaningful if you pay at the restaurant in USD, not if you’re paying in Euros on your credit card.
With a Euro charge the exchange rate is determined by your credit card, not the restaurant. It’s usually at a reasonably fair rate, plus whatever percentage your card may add for foreign charges (some add none, some add 3%). What you will end up paying is determined by your credit card provider. I would expect the actual amount that appears on your credit card bill to be somewhere between $34 and $36. If it’s actually $38+ then you can do better, and that’s on your credit card, not the restaurant.
Whatever you pay, the restaurant gets €31, less whatever bite their credit card processor takes.
If you paid in Euros on your credit card then ignore the USD number. The USD number is only meaningful if you pay at the restaurant in USD, not if you’re paying in Euros on your credit card.
With a Euro charge the exchange rate is determined by your credit card, not the restaurant. It’s usually at a reasonably fair rate, plus whatever percentage your card may add for foreign charges (some add none, some add 3%). What you will end up paying is determined by your credit card provider. I would expect the actual amount that appears on your credit card bill to be somewhere between $34 and $36. If it’s actually $38+ then you can do better, and that’s on your credit card, not the restaurant.
Whatever you pay, the restaurant gets €31, less whatever bite their credit card processor takes.
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amyb
Senior Insider
Thank Kevin.Very clear explanation.
KZ1300A1
SBH Insider
Thanks Kevin!
KevinS
Senior Insider
It's common for the restaurant check to show the total in Euros with an optional USD amount. My credit card receipts have only ever had a single currency on them, which with very rare exception has always been Euros (or French Francs in the old days).
The only credit card which I've ever had charge in USD was an Amex at a perfume shop, that was many years ago, and their prices were at par for Euro and USD. Some hotels may still have two Amex machines, one which charges in Euros and one which charges in USD, but I don't recall ever seeing that in a restaurant. In fact, many restaurants don't accept Amex at all, with the reason being given that the fees charged by Amex are much higher than MC and Visa.
The only credit card which I've ever had charge in USD was an Amex at a perfume shop, that was many years ago, and their prices were at par for Euro and USD. Some hotels may still have two Amex machines, one which charges in Euros and one which charges in USD, but I don't recall ever seeing that in a restaurant. In fact, many restaurants don't accept Amex at all, with the reason being given that the fees charged by Amex are much higher than MC and Visa.
