Tipping is part of the everyday culture when you visit your Mexico real estate or live there. This guide will explain when to tip and how much, and why tips – or la propina – are such an important part of Mexican life.

In Mexico, the minimum wage is very low. Some jobs do not have a salary at all. Workers, especially in the hospitality industries, rely heavily on tips to make their salary up to a fair wage.

Although there are exceptions, guidelines for tipping in Mexico are roughly the same as the US or Canada, but more probably more generous than Europe.

Tips in tourist areas where foreigners own Mexico real estate are welcome in Mexican pesos or US dollars. It’s even worth bringing some $1 bills with you especially to use for tipping. The US dollar is worth about 13 pesos at the moment. That means tipping, say, a dollar, is a little more than tipping 10 pesos, but they can be considered almost the same.

Grocery Stores

The bag packers are not on a salary at all, children from the ages of 14 can work after school hours, as a small job to give them work experience, a little like a paper round.

When living in your Mexico real estate, it is acceptable to give them a few pesos depending on how many bags you have and how big your shop was, most people tip 10 pesos or leave them a dollar, there are also people who will want to help you put groceries in your vehicle and then take your cart away, it is a personal choice if you accept this service. Of you do 5 to 10 pesos is adequate.

Restaurants and Bars

When your receive your bill always check to see if service has already been included. If you see a charge labelled propina or servicio this is a gratuity that the establishment includes automatically with each tab, you may wish to leave more for exceptional service but this is not required.

You will nearly always have to ask for la cuenta por favor to get the check as Mexican waiting staff will very rarely be in a hurry to move you from your table, giving you time to sit back and relax.

If you receive good service from your waiter/waitress it is standard to leave a 15 percent tip. If your food was good, your drinks were always full, and you did not have an overly long wait then a 20 percent tip would be satisfactory. You can always ask the waiter or waitress if he/she will receive the tip, that way you can be sure it’s going to the staff you want to show appreciation to.

If you are out for a drink in a bar a good rule of thumb to follow is to tip 10 to 20 pesos per round of drinks or 15 percent of your bill, if you have an exceptionally good bartender then a 20 percent tip would be appreciated.

Many top end luxury hotels and even restaurants have bathroom attendants, some will simply hand you a crisp paper towel when you wash your hands.  There will very often be a dish or a tip jar; it is courteous to leave a 2 – 5 peso tip here, you may find this is the case in some gas stations also.

Other bathroom attendants may have gum, hairspray, perfume, band aids etc, if you take advantage of the services, tip accordingly, $1 or $2 should be adequate.

Transport and Driving

Taxi drivers do not normally expect a tip for a short journey. The prices are quite high so a tip is normally built into the cost. However, if the journey is longer or the driver helps you with bags, groceries etc. you should leave a 10 percent charge of the fair.  If you have a taxi driver on a day trip, maybe arranged through your hotel, a $5-10 dollar tip per day is acceptable.

If you visit your Mexico real estate and drive a car, then always check in the gas station to make sure the gas register is turned back to zero before any gas is pumped. A small tip of 10 pesos to the attendant who pumps your fuel and cleans your windshield would be very much appreciated, tip more if he/she spends time checking tire pressure, oil and screen wash levels.

Some major supermarkets and busy car parks in the bigger cities have attendants that will patrol the car park, help you find a free space, keep an eye on your vehicle and signal you out when you leave. It is optional, but a 10 peso tip is a good gesture.  If you park your vehicle in a valet car lot a $1 or $2 tip on your exit is a standard tip on top of your valet parking charge.

Hotel Services

Hotel maids should be tipped around 30 pesos per day for a couple staying in a room, leave the money where it is most obvious that it is indeed as a tip, like on the bed. It is always best to leave a tip daily as you will not have the same maid every day.  If you are in a condo and have the same maid for the duration of your stay you may wish to leave a tip when you leave.  You can also tip the bell boy 10 pesos per bag.

If your hotel had a concierge and you ask for directions, recommendations for dinner, a film, a show etc, then a small tip may would be appreciated.  If they go the extra mile, like getting you into a fully booked show or a must-see tour that is sold out, you may want to tip more in the range of $5-10.

Even if your hotel is an all-inclusive resort, and your package price says that gratuities are included, it is doubtful how much of this the staff see in their pay check.  So to tip your bartender, waiter and maid as it is very much appreciated and never expected. They are all there to ensure your vacation is a safe, happy and unforgettable experience, so if the service is good a little tip goes a long way.

Tour Guides and Activities

10 percent of the tour price should be left as a tip, more if you feel the tour was exceptional or the knowledge from the tour guide was fabulous.  When fishing you should hand your tip to the captain and not the crew members, but there is quite a bit of debate around tips left for crew when you have a charter trip.

Some people say $50 for the captain then $25 per crew member; others say 20 percent of the cost of the charter.  The common feeling amongst fishing folk is the tip cost should not be tied to the cost of the charter but based on the level of service provided by the crew, the amount of fish caught and if the beer was cold and continuous!

While enjoying the luxury of your Mexico real estate property, bear in mind that Mexican workers do rely on tips to make a living. But tipping should be to encourage proper service, so do not feel that you have to tip the top end amount all the time.

At the end of the day: it’s your choice.

Article from Investment Properties Mexico, experts in Mexico real estate.

For more information email info [at] investmentpropertiesmexico.com or call Mexico (984) 802-8336 or USA (561) 459-5448.