I have visited the Cayman Islands on many occasions as a tourist and thoroughly enjoyed your beautiful island and friendly people.
On my last visit I was bitterly disappointed because there seems to be a cunning trick to extract more money from tourists in some of your restaurants. I experienced this at two restaurants.
After paying, the waiter shouted out ‘do you want change’ even though there was a 15 per cent service charge.
One waitress expected a 100 per cent tip when she asked if I wanted change – the change would have been $24. I thought that was excessive and I replied that I did want my change.
I am quite sure the proprietors know about this practice because the staff shout from a distance to intimidate you.
I do not know if this is widespread. I did not come across this at the Ritz-Carlton or the Lighthouse, so it seems just a few restaurants are giving the Caymans a bad name.
To me it’s a form of begging. After all, if I had said to these restaurants ‘have I got to pay all of the bill?’, I wonder what their reaction would have been.
I hope by publishing this letter you can shame these restaurants for their sheer greediness. It will be a long time before I return if I ever do; it’s left a bitter taste.
Irene Jones
London, England
Related Videos
