Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by albuschhoff@gmail.com, Saturday, November 25, 2023, 15:32 (880 days ago)

I am a part timer. I come for a few weeks a year. l would like to hear from a resident who understands the local economy.

l was once told that we shouldn't tip taxi drivers because locals don't , so the drivers will pass up local fares in favor of tourists.

In the US I tip in sit down restaurants , but not in grocery stores , fast food places , etc. I am not wealthy but I am pretty loose with my tips, especially with the staff at my hotel, but I hear that just creates an imbalance between those who have a job with face time with tourists and those who don't . I am not a miser nor a bleeding heart. I know all those smiling faces appreciate that I will be spending my money while in am Mexlco. So what is a fair tipping expectation there?

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Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by Talley Ho @, Playa la Ropa, Saturday, November 25, 2023, 16:02 (880 days ago) @ albuschhoff@gmail.com

Taxi drivers if they do something extra but we almost never use a taxi. Baggers at the store, something, up to 20 pesos. Restaurants, sit down, 20%, taco restaurants, that kind of thing, 15 to 20%.

That is what we do and we live here. Not hard and fast, but in general.

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Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by Craig AKA the cruise ship guy @, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 12:27 (879 days ago) @ albuschhoff@gmail.com

To me the taxi thing is the worst. There are official taxi rates which are not followed, the taxi union got together and made their own rate sheet. To be fair they have issued too many taxi licenses so there is not enough work to go around. I am friends with a taxi driver so this is coming from his side. I understand this is a bad situation for people that live here year round that do not want a car. Before I stopped using taxis I would tip only those that offer a reasonable rate. If you cannot find a reasonable you can always use a combi but that is difficult if you leaving the store with ice cream.

I tend to tip more at lower prices local restaurants and the normal 20% at high end restaurants. Do not forget to tip your maid daily at a hotel and also checkout in an Airbnb. The baggers are not employees and only receive tips, $20 is fine, same for anyone helping on/off pangas. All of this is probably considered over tipping by many locals and causing inflation. My opinion is that it is kinda expected when living in a tourist destination. We are currently in Cabo, you should see the prices here.

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Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by frostbite @, Hamilton MT, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 15:31 (879 days ago) @ Craig AKA the cruise ship guy

For travel in and around Zihua we use Pedro Moreno, who speaks perfect English. 672-119-2398 or pedro.91477@gmail.com

Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by Little Guy @, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 17:22 (879 days ago) @ albuschhoff@gmail.com

I’m here 5-6 months a year. I rarely go to the places where tourists would ordinarily go. When I’m in Zihuatanejo at lunch time I’ll usually go to a Fonda in the mercado. On those few occasions when I am in Zihuatanejo in the evening, I’ll go to Papas Locas or the tracks el pastor place across from Scotiabank.

I follow the lead of locals. I’ll tip a taxi if the do something extra or if it is later in the evening. I’ll tip 10% up to 15% for something special. I’m not as generous at Soriana as some other posters here. I’ll leave M$5 if I am picking up a few things and M$10 if it is a larger order.

I confess to being at a loss when I’m at the airport and need a porter. I’ll usually tip M$100/bag. A few years ago I asked an employee at a car rental company about that. He suggested one-half that amount.

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Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by mosesk @, Ojai, CA, USA, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 17:43 (879 days ago) @ albuschhoff@gmail.com

I am a part timer. I come for a few weeks a year. l would like to hear from a resident who understands the local economy.

l was once told that we shouldn't tip taxi drivers because locals don't , so the drivers will pass up local fares in favor of tourists.

In the US I tip in sit down restaurants , but not in grocery stores , fast food places , etc. I am not wealthy but I am pretty loose with my tips, especially with the staff at my hotel, but I hear that just creates an imbalance between those who have a job with face time with tourists and those who don't . I am not a miser nor a bleeding heart. I know all those smiling faces appreciate that I will be spending my money while in am Mexlco. So what is a fair tipping expectation there?

I get great joy when I can do some little thing that makes another person happy.
Consequently I tip accordingly...

Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by wisconsinjuan @, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 18:05 (879 days ago) @ mosesk

Tipping taxi drivers- No tip if they charge the "union"rate. 10-15% if they charge the real rate. Ends up about the same.
Restaurants. I am a big percentage tipper at little inexpensive places if the food and service are good. In the fancy places, my percentage goes down to around 10%, following the lead of wealthy Mexicans. Baggers ands kids at the mercado who help you- 5-10 pesos depending on what they do. I usually have 1-2 bags at the supermercado-how much is that worth?

Tips, what is the "right" way to do it's in Zihautanejo.

by midalake @, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 19:16 (879 days ago) @ albuschhoff@gmail.com

I am a part timer. I come for a few weeks a year. l would like to hear from a resident who understands the local economy.

l was once told that we shouldn't tip taxi drivers because locals don't , so the drivers will pass up local fares in favor of tourists.

In the US I tip in sit down restaurants , but not in grocery stores , fast food places , etc. I am not wealthy but I am pretty loose with my tips, especially with the staff at my hotel, but I hear that just creates an imbalance between those who have a job with face time with tourists and those who don't . I am not a miser nor a bleeding heart. I know all those smiling faces appreciate that I will be spending my money while in am Mexlco. So what is a fair tipping expectation there?

Never tip a cab.

Everyone else gets 15%. From restaurants, massage persons and fishing captains. Even the guy juggling in the street gets 10 pesos. Heck even tipped my architects work crew last week for going the extra mile one evening. [probably was more than their daily pay] B-)

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Tipping street performers

by Talley Ho @, Playa la Ropa, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 19:43 (879 days ago) @ midalake
edited by Talley Ho, Sunday, November 26, 2023, 20:10

Big yes on street performers! 10 for trying, 20 to the jugglers, fire breathers, acrobats on the highway. The guys around the mercado who carry around a speaker and sing along with the lyrics? We tend to run away, but at least they aren't just begging.

If we are in a restaurant and a musician comes in, 10 pesos, even if they suck.