Haggling and Tipping

I don't haggle and it turns me off to see tourists bartering down any vendor, especially when that vendor can't even earn in a year what the tourist is blowing on a week on vacation. If I don't like a price then "no gracias" is my response and I'll find what I want elsewhere. If the vendor wants to offer me a better price it's up to them how bad they want to make a sale. But I never barter.

I don't tip taxis if the only thing they do is drive me from point A to point B. If they carry bags or help with groceries then a tip certainly is in order. Though the way most taxi drivers drive I'm almost tempted to tip if they simply drive like a sane person. I don't get in taxis with political slogans on them, that have music blaring, or that advertise sex businesses or enslaved dolphins. And I never take a taxi that honks at me as I'm walking down the street.

In restaurants I tip 15% for decent service. If it's a cheap restaurant I usually tip 20%, if it's an expensive restaurant it can go down to 10% and the waiter still goes home happy. Bartenders should always get between 5 and 10 pesos per drink, depending on how expensive the joint is. One drink, they still get a 10 peso tip. If they can make a perfect mojito I might leave them in my will.