Insider's Guide to Tipping on Your Mexican Journey

Ever found yourself fumbling with foreign currency or second-guessing the right amount to tip while on vacation? Say goodbye to those awkward tipping moments in Mexico as we navigate you through the customs and conventions of expressing gratitude through gratuities. From the bustling eateries of Mexico City to the serene resorts of Riviera Maya, our latest episode ensures that you're always on point with your pesos, whether you're rewarding your server, hotel staff, or tour guide. We dissect the often-debated topic of tipping in US dollars versus local currency, offering insight on the most respectful and practical way to show your appreciation without causing inconvenience to those on the receiving end.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

As US expats in Mexico, a lot of us keep in touch with what's going on in the US via social media. We also get a lot of questions from US friends and family who are thinking of coming to visit and see a lot of questions from tourists planning a trip. One of the most frequent questions we get revolves around tipping at hotels, restaurants, drivers and other people while in Mexico. Here are the answers. The first question we get about tipping is always how much should I tip? The answer varies but, like everywhere in the world, it's up to you how much you tip. But the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10-20% of the total bill. An expensive tourist area's 15% of the restaurant bill is a pretty good standard. Same for the bartender, spa treatments, massages, barbers and hairdressers 25-50 pesos per day. For hotel housekeeping, 40-50 pesos for hotel porters. For a tour guide in a large group, around 100 pesos. For a smaller private tour, 200-400 pesos per person.

Speaker 1: 1:04

Another question we often get is should we tip in US dollars or Mexican pesos? This one has an easy answer. While tips in either currency are greatly appreciated, the preferred currency is always the local currency of the country you're visiting. So in Mexico, give tips in pesos whenever possible.

Speaker 1: 1:22

The first problem with tipping in dollars is that those tips require the person who receives them to exchange their dollars to pesos in order to spend them. This means going to the Casa de Cambio or currency exchange, and these places require a passport to exchange the money. Most of the locals don't have the necessary documentation to do this and even if they do, they get a less than ideal exchange rate and pay high fees for the exchange. Second, while some banks will exchange dollars for pesos, few service people have bank accounts, particularly bank accounts, that they can deposit US dollars into. Third, any businesses that take US dollars are generally large chain stores like Walmart, and are few and far between requiring locals to travel, sometimes great distances. And fourth, when you're visiting a foreign country, it's always a sign of respect to use the local currency.

Speaker 1: 2:15

You wouldn't even think of tipping in pesos in the US. Why would you tip in dollars in Mexico? And finally, there may be situations where you may have no choice but to tip in US currency. Maybe you spent all your pesos and only have US dollars. It's okay. These tips are still appreciated, but remember, don't use coins and be sure your dollars are in pristine condition. Mexican law states that legal currency must not be torn, marked or marred in any way. If you follow these guidelines, you'll be making sure that the service people you tip are able to make the most of their hard earned money.