tipping

While I appreciate the sentiment, my behaviour is different. I consider it appropriate as a guest to adopt the practices of those whom I visit. If I am staying at a friend’s home, I eat when they eat and eat what they eat. When travelling I try to replicate local practices, including tipping.

Where I Iive in Canada, tipping is typically 15% at restaurants and 10% for take out. Tipping a taxi driver is a common practice for the basic service of a taxi.

I have to make an adjustment to the 20-25% that I understand is common in the USA. I make an adjustment to 10-15% at restaurants in the Zihuatanejo area and tipping a taxi driver for additional services or unusual circumstances.

Tipping at this level helps me to make donations to local “good works”, typically SPAZ in Zihuatanejo, SPAT in Troncones, to support funding for a spay-and-neuter clinic in Troncones, and to support a cat rescue operation there.