Like many rules of etiquette, violating a country’s tipping practices can lead to hurt feelings and uncomfortable situations.
Tipping is something you want to get just right. Not tipping enough engenders ill will and poor service, while tipping too much puts an unnecessary drag on your travel budget.
Because tips or “propinas” are a basic part of restaurant meals, it’s a good idea to figure out a region’s tipping practices before you arrive.
Tips Included in Bill
In Costa Rica, I was pleasantly surprised at how little I had to pay at most restaurants. When the bill came, my practice at home of figuring in a 20 percent tip didn’t feel overgenerous at all.
But restaurants in Costa Rica are required by law to add a 10 percent tip to the bill along with a 15 percent tax. Also, as a general rule, Costa Ricans do not tip. (Here is a primer on tipping in Costa Rica).
If I held to my 20-percent tip rule, I’d be paying almost half of the cost of the meal for taxes and tips. This could add up over the course of a trip. I ended up tipping 10 percent on restaurant meals.
Informal Tipping
Other countries in Latin America are more informal about tipping. Tipping 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is customary in Mexico, depending on quality of the cuisine and the level of service, according to the Mexperience blog. “At diners and similar places, 10 percent is sufficient; at higher-end restaurants and bistros, 15 percent is expected for good service,” the blog explains.
In Argentina, a generous tip in a restaurant is 10 percent, said Layne Mosler, who writes the blog Go Where the Taxista Takes You. In her blog, Mosler reviews restaurants in Buenos Aires.
What are your tips on tipping in Latin America?
Photo by Bravesirrobin (Via Creative Commons)
on Jun 6th, 2009 at 9:23 am
In Chile 10% is also a generous tip, but in recent months the tip had been appearing at the bottom of the bill, so check that before you add another 10%. Many Chileans don’t tip particularly well, so I get the impression that it’s been added to help out the waiters a bit. In truth, it shoots them in the foot when it comes to gringos, who are more likely to do 10% and change for a tip, but so it goes.
on Feb 9th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Yes, 10% is standard here in Chile. And while Eileen is correct in that adding 10% to the bill lowers the tip they might get from a non-resident gringo used to leaving 15-20%, visitors from many other countries leave none at all, so I’m sure it works out to their benefit in the end.