My husband and I are staying in a nice resort near Manzanillo. I was wondering about how much to tip the hotel staff. I need one of tip computer cards you find in Hallmark! Any ideas where I could find one?

Thanks!

Even in an all-inclusive resort, one does tip. I read a post on my group yesterday which said the average daily pay is 52 pesos. Wow. We complain about the price of gas, and these people pay what we do, look at the markets. Bellhops get $1 USD per bag, taxi drivers nothing unless they haul something for you or go out of their way to make you happy. Desk people nothing, but Maids!!! Yes!!! They really need it. Give them $2 per day per person and I like to give them a little after a day or two [rest when checking out] as then they know they will be paid for the duration and will do at least twice the work for you, even bring fresh flowers into the room! Give them any leftovers the day you check out and if you have a kind heart, find out if they have kids [most do] and buy a few little trinkets, like coloring books, toys, dolls, balls, even candy, as those items are low on their priorities. School folders, notepads, pens, crayons are a huge plus and the wide white smiles you receive will pay for such a small gift of appreciation. Waiters 15-20% tip depending upon the work, but never less. I have a free email restaurant guide if you care for a copy.
Gary

Tourist resorts- tip as in the U.S. Off the beaten path away from the tourists 10% is more than most folks are used to getting.

Living in Mexico, I've seen that at restaurants the standard is 10%. More than that says "Great Service", while less than that says you were not satisfied.

Generally speaking, the tipping culture in Mexico is not as developed as in the US. For instance, nobody I know leaves a tip for the hotel maids, nobody tips taxi drivers if they didn't go out of their way to be helpful and people usually tip 10% at restaurants (and we're talking mid and top management at Mexico's top companies. Speaking of companies, it is usually company policy to leave EXACTLY 10%)

I tip 10 -12% in restaurants in San Miguel de Allende, MX and I request that the guests in my often leased home tip my maid $10. (MXP $0.88 USD) a day per person and that they not offer to take her home to N.A. or Europe when they leave.
Taxis are $15 MXP in town and virtually no one tips. Airport shuttle drivers get about $1.00 US per large bag on the door to door routes.
M

But you'd need to find that Hallmark computer card for tipping in peso!

I tip 15-20% in restaurants, or even higher when the meal is fantastic and cheap (i.e. breakfast at my own hotel patio restaurant which was only 50 peso I'd leave the waiter maybe 12 peso).

I tip the room maids 10-20 peso each day (again this is a very inexpensive hotel, so maybe more is appropriate at a "nice resort&quot.

I tip taxi drivers a small amount also, just by rounding up the fare. My thought is often they are supporting a large family and I'm sure any extra amount is appreciated.

I would also give something to anyone who carried my suitcase.

My travels in Mexico mostly frequent local family-owned businesses, so I feel it is right to be generous. But even in huge corporate-style resorts, most likely those who are serving you are local people working at low wages.

I live here in Mexico (Southern part)

I tip more than 10% if the service was superb and if I?m planning on coming back, so I do expect great service the next time around. I give luggage carriers from 1.5 to 2 dlls depending on the weight of my luggage and the extent of walking they will do.

Tipping other people here in Mexico is not usual.

We found that tipping the bartenders helped with the quality of the drinks.

Contrary to what Jean Valjean writes, tipping is very much a part of the culture at least in the Cancun/Riviera Maya, and that includes for hotel maids. Many guests tip them daily, leaving a dollar per person per day, for example, while many others do so at the end of a stay, leaving anywhere from 70-150 pesos or more for a week's stay, for example. I think you can find this corroborated in others' comments online here (garyrbeck's remarks, for example) and in other forums, where how much a day or exactly how to do it is a common topic.

Steve

I agree with Steve, and we tipped his staff daily when we stayed at his hotel in May. That included the fellow who was always sure to get me a nice spot for my beach chair every day, the cleaning staff, and all of the wait staff - even when our breakfast was at no charge because it was included.

We prefer to tip daily to make sure that the person who is providing the service gets the money.

Sometimes different people may clean the room on different days, and someone who may have cleaned the room all week will not get a tip if it's left in the room if perhaps someone new is cleaning because it is not specified who is to get it.

As a general rule, we tip anyone who provides a service for us except for front desk staff - unless we get a super upgrade at no cost - then we give that person $20.

We also tip taxi drivers around 10% of the fare - more if he went out of his way for us. For example, in Cancun in May, the driver who took us from the airport to the ferry pier took us downtown first to Sam's so we could buy some alcohol. The charge was a fixed rate, so he did not have to do that, and it took him quite a bit of extra time. He was handsomely rewarded

We tipped waiters/waitresses/airport driver 20%. Gave $5 for our luggage to the room. Left $2 daily for the maid.
I had a guide at the Coba ruins who I gave $20 to because he was so great.

Gringo (usd) coastal Mx is not real MX, imho
M

Thanks for all the help everyone! One more question...tip in pesos or dollars?

marnie: you can do both. we did.

If you pay in pesos, tip in pesos, lol!
M

Tip in peso! you're in Mexico, get into the currency of the country, it's not hard to do and saves who you are tipping having to go to the bank and change money.

I concur with Suze. Some of the other posts sound a bit on the cheap side for tourist locales. Interior or very southern areas, OK, but where gringos gather, I urge a little more in tipping. It will not break the bank and you are on vacation. For those who live there, do as you are used to. What is wrong with a few more pesos? And maids are usually supporting several kids back home, so a few nice gifts for the kids when you leave are really appreciated! Schoool supplies, dolls, candy, pens, crayons. Food servers deserve more than 10% IMHO...!

Gary
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Puerto...Town_SouthSide


<<I tip 15-20% in restaurants, or even higher when the meal is fantastic and cheap (i.e. breakfast at my own hotel patio restaurant which was only 50 peso I'd leave the waiter maybe 12 peso).

I tip the room maids 10-20 peso each day (again this is a very inexpensive hotel, so maybe more is appropriate at a "nice resort&quot.

I tip taxi drivers a small amount also, just by rounding up the fare. My thought is often they are supporting a large family and I'm sure any extra amount is appreciated.

I would also give something to anyone who carried my suitcase.

My travels in Mexico mostly frequent local family-owned businesses, so I feel it is right to be generous. But even in huge corporate-style resorts, most likely those who are serving you are local people working at low wages.>>

garybeck,
Are you a "congressional staffer"?
M

An important little P.S. to this thread: I also think all in all it's best to use the local currency, but if you do use foreign currency to tip, do not use any coins. It is virtually impossible to exchange foreign coins here, especially for waiters, maids, etc. (I know firsthand of cases where maids were throwing foreign coins in the trash on a regular basis, in fact.) And if you do manage to save up a lot of them and convince an exchange house to take them, it's often only at 1/2 or 1/4 their value. So either pocket your change for the trip home or drop it off with the Red Cross people usually in the airports precisely to collect that.

Steve

Ryberg,
Magnifique!
My Maid is a cert Massusse. Best Christmas present for her is a folding mass. table - she may double or triple her annual income with that.
Small things often mean lots!
M