known the ins and outs of tipping in Mexico before your trip. This guide describes how much to idea in Mexico, including restaurants, taxis, excursion guides, luggage handlers, bartenders and more.
If you’re reading this article, it indicates you’re planning a trip to Mexico, and that’s awesome. The land of tacos and tequila is an extraordinary country to visit, so get excited!
Before you get to take pleasure in mariachi with a margarita, though, you’ll want to learn about tipping in Mexico. In a country where tourism is so huge, lots of people work in hospitality and rely on ideas to earn a respectable income.
When and how much you idea depends entirely on the situation.
Eating at a street-side taco truck is undoubtedly far different from sitting down to a 7-course tasting menu in a fancy restaurant. staying at a locally-owned guesthouse isn’t quite the same as spending a week in an all-inclusive resort.
After living and traveling in Mexico for the better part of the last 3 years, I’ve figured out what the tipping culture is like here. I’ll give you lots of guidelines in this thorough guide to help you navigate the ins and outs of tipping in Mexico.
Here it goes. My guide to tipping in Mexico.
Table of Contents
Mexico Tipping Information
Is Tipping Customary in Mexico?
Tipping at restaurants in Mexico
Tipping Taxi motorists in Mexico
Tipping Luggage handlers in Mexico
Tipping at Spas in Mexico
Tipping Bartenders in Mexico
Tipping hotel staff in Mexico
Tipping excursion Guides in Mexico
Tipping at All-Inclusive hotels in Mexico
Now You know What To Tip!
Mexico Tipping Information
If you’re traveling to Mexico from the USA or Canada, tipping culture isn’t much different.
Just as you would at home, you normally idea someone if they supply you a service in Mexico. The amount depends on the situation, which I’ll describe in a lot more detail throughout the guide.
One thing to consider when it pertains to tipping in Mexico is the local wage. Mexico just announced an increase in the minimum wage this year to 123 pesos (just over $6). To be clear, that’s a daily minimum wage, not hourly.
Many in the service industry make minimum wage or just above it, so you can imagine how crucial ideas are.
An extra $1-2 here and there isn’t a big deal for you, especially if you can afford to fly to Mexico and stay in a great resort. However, even a small idea goes a long way for locals who are working in the hospitality industry.
As far as when and how much you tip, it depends on a lot of factors. Let’s dive in and learn about the details of tipping in Mexico.
Is Tipping Customary in Mexico?
Tipping is absolutely customary in Mexico, especially in areas where tourism is the main industry like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta.
For the most part, you’re expected to idea people who supply a service. There are some intricacies to this which I’ll describe a lot more in each individual section.
There’s a service charge in Mexico in some places, but this is quite rare. It’s a lot more common for them to present a suggested amount on the check.
However, you need to also be aware of unscrupulous waiters and bartenders who often try to give themselves a 20% idea in a place where gratuities are optional.
They try to sneak a service charge in hoping you won’t notice it and still add an extra tip. This is a problem in places like 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen that are incredibly touristy.
Generally speaking, you can give small ideas (some coins or 20 pesos) when you buy street food or a single drink from a bar. This is also fine for luggage handlers and those who bag your groceries in the shops.
Speaking of those baggers, you must be aware that they are working solely for tips.
You’ll notice that a lot of baggers are teenagers or seniors. They’re not exactly employed by the store and just work for the small tips. I always pay for my groceries with a credit scores card to get points but make sure I have 15-20 pesos to give to them.
When eating out at nicer restaurants, paying a bar tab, going to the day spa or on a tour, it’s better to leave a percentage of the total. I’ll go over each situation in detail to give you certain examples.
If you have horrible service, don’t feel bad about not leaving a tip. For the most part, service is quite good in Mexico, but there are always some bad apples.
Tipping at restaurants in Mexico
Quick Answer: At restaurants, idea 10-15% of your bill.
When eating at a local joint, it’s fine to leave 10% as a tip. I’m talking about the kinds of places that have menu deldia for lunch and the ones where you sit on plastic stools to eat tacos at night.
If you’re eating in a fancy restaurant, you’ll absolutely want to up the amount. It’s better to leave 15% at these kinds of establishments. Obviously, you can leave 20% for stellar service if you feel compelled to.
Sometimes restaurants in Mexico will add a suggested amount for a tip, but usually, it’s up to you to do the math and decide.
When tipping at restaurants in Mexico, it’s much better to leave pesos than dollars. people can’t get their weekly supply of tortillas with a few dollar bills.
Tipping Taxi motorists in Mexico
Quick Answer: Tipping taxi motorists in Mexico isn’t standard.
Generally speaking, it’s not really a thing to idea taxi motorists here. If you’re a tourist, they’ll normally give you a flat rate anyways and never use a meter. You’re probably paying a lot more than locals, so don’t feel bad about not giving a tip.
If a motorist helps you load your luggage and gets it out for you as well, it’s a great gesture to slip him a 10 peso coin or a 20 note if you have it.
I also give taxi motorists a idea when they’re really friendly or when they help me get home from the bar after 2 AM. it all depends on the situation.
Uber is quite popular around Mexico, and the fares are normally very cheap. I always add a idea or Uber drivers, as the fare still comes out less than what it would be to call a taxi. Plus, they have to come to you instead of you just waving them down on the street.
Taking a vacationer shuttle is a popular way to get between the Cancun airport and places like Playa del Carmen and Tulum. In this case, it’s customary to leave a tip.
For example, we had a motorist pick us up at 5:00 AM on Christmas to take us to the Cancun airport. He absolutely deserved the 100 peso idea I gave him as extra.
Tipping Luggage handlers in Mexico
Quick Answer: idea luggage handlers around 20-40 pesos ($1-2)
This next one is pretty simple. If you’re staying at the kind of hotel that has bellhops, you can (and absolutely should) idea them. They’re normally young people who are making very little and working long hours.
The standard seems to be 20-40 pesos per bag or a bit extra if you’re the type who travels with everything but the kitchen sink.
Once again, it’s more effective to idea in the local currency but us dollars work if that’s all you have — don’t idea in Canaidan currency.
Tipping at Spas in Mexico
Quick Answer: Tipping at spas is around 10-15%
One great thing about traveling in Mexico is that it’s very affordable to visit a spa. My wife and I recently took pleasure in a 90-minute couple’s massage for under $50 total!
That exceptionally kicking back hour and a half only set us back 900 pesos, so it was an easy call giving them 1,000 pesos total and letting them keep the change. I actually wish I had been prepared with an extra 50-100 pesos on top of that.
Of course, if you get a horrible massage and deal with unfriendly staff, don’t feel like you have to leave a tip.
Tipping Bartenders in Mexico
Quick Answer: 20-40 pesos ($1-2) per round of drinks or 10-15% of the total bill
If you’re just grabbing drinks from the bar one by one, it’s fine to leave some coins or a 20 peso note in the idea jar.
I normally run a tab (when a place allows it) and just idea 10-15% on the total depending on the quality of service.
The thing about tipping bartenders in Mexico is that the a lot more generous you are, the a lot more generous they are. Bartenders remember who’s a good tipper and who’s a cheapo.
Your ideas are much appreciated and normally get rewarded with large pours and quick and friendly service!
Tipping hotel staff in Mexico
Quick Answer: 50-80 pesos ($2.5 – $4) for cleaners
For this section, I’m just talking about standard hotels and not the all-inclusive resorts. I’ll get to those in a little while here. If you’re staying in a hotel, it’s not really a thing to leave ideas for the staff.
At your average hotel in Mexico, there’s never an envelope to leave a idea for housekeepers. If you feel like being really nice, of course, you can absolutely leave a 50 peso note as a sign of appreciation.
Tipping excursion Guides in Mexico
Quick Answer: 80-100 pesos ($4-5) if part of a big group, 15-20% for a private tour
There are lots of awesome excursions you can sign up for in Mexico. excursion guides here work very hard and normally supply exceptional service. It’s customary to reward a good excursion with a good tip.
When you’re on a big group tour, it’s fine to leave something like 100 pesos. If a lot of guests do this, itadds up to a really great tip. remember that daily minimum wage is just over 100 pesos after all.
If you’re taking a private excursion or doing something like chartering a fishing boat, you must undoubtedly idea more. In these instances, it’s better to leave 15-20% of the total.
Tipping at All-Inclusive hotels in Mexico
Quick Answer: 20-40 pesos ($1-2) for buffet, 80-100 ($4-5) for sit-down meals, 50-80 ($2.5-4) for housekeepers
Tipping at all-inclusives in Mexico is a controversial issue. lots of people are of the belief that considering that the hotel is “all-inclusive,” they shouldn’t have to worry about carrying around cash.
I can absolutely see why some are of this mindset. You paid a lot of money for a kicking back vacation. The last thing you want to do is worry about exchange rates, getting change, and doing math!
When I first went to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico back in 2012, this was absolutely my thinking.
I spent a ton of money to be there already and didn’t even consider bringing cash to the resort. Plus, I was living in China at the time where tipping just isn’t a thing and I was used to that.
After a few years of living in Mexico, I now realize what a jerk step that was. The people who work at these all-inclusive resorts make peanuts for their daily wage.
A idea of $1-2 may not seem like much to you, and in fact it may be a pain to make sure you even have those small bills on you, but it’s much appreciated and goes a long way for locals.
My best piece of recommendations is to try and get a great stack of 20 and 50 peso notes before your all-inclusive stay. If that’s too much trouble, $1 bills are fine.
The general policy of thumb is to give a small idea to baggage handlers (20-40 pesos) and a daily idea for housekeepers (50-80 pesos) depending on the state of your room.
Speaking of housekeepers, if you personally slip them a great idea and ask them nicely, they’ll make sure to stock your mini-fridge with drinks and replenish it often. Nobody’s counting how lots of cervezas you’re getting at an all-inclusive!
For buffet meals, you can just leave 20-40 pesos on the table if a waiter brought you drinks. When you sit down to nicer meals, it’s better to leave 50-80. If you’re a huge group, you must undoubtedly leave a bit more.
When it pertains to bartenders, ideas go a long way at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico. Not only will you be first-served, but your drinks will be stronger, potentially made with top-shelf booze, and staff will be extra friendly.
Now You know What To Tip!
That’s all you need to know about tipping in Mexico. I can’t anxiety it enough how crucial ideas from international tourists are to locals. Not only do lots of people rely on tips, but they also work very hard for them.
It’s crucial to keep things in perspective when traveling to Mexico. If you’re spending $300+ a night on a hotel room, you can absolutely afford to idea the bellhops, housekeepers, waiters, and bartenders.
If you had an extraordinary excursion or an extra helpful driver, be sure to reward their exceptional service.
I always recommend carrying small change in Mexico so you have money helpful for tips. Those 10 peso coins and 20 peso notes are great to have around for leaving ideas as you go.
One final thing I’ll add is that it’s always best to leave ideas in cash (local currency is best, followed by us dollars).
You can add a idea to your bill and pay the total by credit scores card, but it takes longer for that money to get into the staff’s hands and it’s taxed. I always use my credit scores card to pay the bill and tell them I have cash for the tip.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand a lot more about tipping in Mexico. I also hope you’re even mor