USVI-On-Line

I think it has to be a fair plan for sure.

Picking up the tab one night and another couple picking up the next is a great idea, but it still didn't work in our situation.

For instance....We basically had 4 total people with us, they had 8.

8 - 20 somethings can drink ALOT of beer. At first, we were picking it up because we were the first out in the morning, but after awhile, we just said "get your own beer".

I think the best thing for us next time is to just leave the 8 "kids" at home and the 4 adults go )

I would think they would have to have a way to split the booze out. I used to work for a government contractor and we were not allowed to expense any alcohol to our government accounts, and I had to always get any checks for business lunches divided by food and drink and use a different card to pay for the drinks. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who's had to do that.

I have gotten in this argument before. One time, I went out to dinner with some friends. Being out on my own for the first time, I didn't have much money and ordered ONE Miller Lite (the drink special) and a sandwich. Another lady ordered several courses and a bottle of wine. Of course, when the bill came, she said "Let's just all throw in $25." Unlike the person here who paid up, I handed her ten bucks and said "I had a Miller Lite and a sandwich, so this should cover what I ate and drank." She was pissed, but so was I.

All, that being said, we didn't have trouble splitting our tickets up in St. John. I think it's easy to figure out who owes what when there's no tax involved and most places seemed OK with splitting it on to different cards or doing separate orders.

In my day to day life, I'm a big fan of "I'll buy your supper this time, and you get it next time." It generally works out. As long as I don't get stuck with a totally unfair bill, I figure it'll all balance out eventually.

Has never been a problem for us since we travel alone. However, when we are with another couple here in El Sur de California. If it is with another couple who we feel drink as much as us we just split the bill and give two credit cards. Otherwise, I just politely ask the waiter/waitress if they would do separate checks. If she seems to have some resistance, I usually ask again politely if I can speak to the manager. Most will accomodate, hopefully, without spitting on my tamales.

I really don't get this at all. Basically we pay for what we eat and drink. Kids, drinks and all. Doesn't matter if I drink/eat a lot or a little. Now all things fairly even I am all for splitting it. If we are talking $5-10 no biggie.

We used to have a friend, really a mooch, who used to try to pull this stuff all the time and get a little something for nothing. Let's just say ... USED TO are the operative words in that sentence. He's no longer a friend. Just not worth it. Someone who would take advantage of me to eat and drink and be merry is not a friend I want or need.

Sorry that doesn't answer your question in a constructive manner, but I'd say get the bill, add up what is yours, add 20% and be done. Simply done w/ a wad of cash or by saying, "Put $65 on this card" and let everyone else figure out their parts.

Thanks all for the input. Appreciate it.

I'll throw in my two cents. Talk about it in advance, especially if you are not used to dining or traveling together. On our trip last year the couple we traveled with suggested the "I'll get it tonight you get it tomorrow." Unfortuneatley they were not on a budget and were intentionally being cautious when ordering. I have a group in which we always just split the check, but we have been travelling together for years and it never felt like someone was funding another's binge.

I just make the kids drink. This is St. John, if you're old enough to sit at the table then you're old enough to drink.

I do know people who are always a round short and nit-picking the dinner tab. I just don't know them on vacation.

Cheers, RickG

RickG wrote:I just make the kids drink. This is St. John, if you're old enough to sit at the table then you're old enough to drink.

I do know people who are always a round short and nit-picking the dinner tab. I just don't know them on vacation.

Cheers, RickG

Now that is funny!

My nearly three year old started requesting "beer" at dinner. He refers to seltzer water and club soda as beer.

His nana does not find this funny. His father and I should not find it funny but we do.

We get a "travel kitty" wallet.
The group all puts equal money in the wallet at the
beginning of the trip to cover groceries and
splits dinner on credit cards evenly.It works with
shopping and each couple cooks a different night
when not going out, but food costs all shared.

This has not included kids- not drinking, but it saves
hassles and balances out.
I think idea of getting bar bill separated-great idea.