[momto2gals]

We are traveling to p/u our son next week and would like some advice on proper tipping in the hotels, for cab drivers, etc.

It seems like on our past adoption trips ( Matthew is our 3rd), we never quite felt like we were tipping the right amount. For example, I didn't know that on both trips we would never meet our attorney. Instead there was an interpreter and driver. I hadn't really brought gifts for them but ended up tipping them for all their help.

If anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated!

BB

[rjvpmn]

I am going to be traveling soon and am wondering the same thing I am not sure how much to tip each person and who to tip.
Thanks
Becky

[kady2004]

we actually work on the American system, we figure out what we would tip in the US and give them the $ amount, and we pay in dollers, except for at the hotel where we add the tip to the bill, but we usually figure out what the tip is in US and then convert to Q's - we carry enough $1 & $5 bills with us just for this reason

[mattecook]

That is my suggestion as well Tip like you would in America. We tipped mostly in US dollars but at the end we gave some quetzels.

Ami

[nannyisme2004]

Yep, me too. I always tipped in US dollars. And I usually tipped anyone that helped us $5.

[Annee]

We asked the folks at the Marriott's front desk what was appropriate for tipping. The first thing they said was that dollars are preferred. They told us $1 for help with luggage, etc. but we gave $2 per bag and tipped the driver $5. We tipped 20% for meals. I don't know if this was appropriate and will be reading the answers to to this thread with interest.

Take lots of singles and fives w/ you! We ran out and had a difficult time getting our $20s cashed. We resorted to tipping with Quetzales on our last day figuring it was better than nothing and we couldn't afford to tip with $20's which was all we had left!

[Princesa's Mama]

We tip as we would in the US--maybe even better in some cases. We tipped the woman who cleaned our room every day to make sure that she got the money. We didn't want to just leave a large tip at the end and have it all go to someone else. She had been so sweet and helpful while we were there. When we left the hotel, she was the one on duty for cleaning so my dh handed her a $20. We could tell that it made her quite happy. We figured that she works very hard for the money she makes and probably doesn't make a huge salary. We tend to be more generous with those who probably make lower wages.
One morning while we were eating breakfast our dd started spewing the contents of the bottle she had just finished, all over the hotel restaurant floor! The poor waiter, a young man who was probably single, ran and came back with a very small napkin to help with the situation. My dh's solution was to grab a dinner plate! Both solutions did not work well (LOL--sorry guys). My dh tipped that waiter VERY WELL!!!

[2bASingleMom]

why would you tip in US$ instead of Quetzals?

[Devora]

According to Guatemala Travel and Etiquette: A Guide for Adoptive Parents (available from guatadopt.com and a definite must-read):

"* A 10% gratuity is expected at restaurants. A similar level of tipping is also appropriate for taxi drivers and tour guides.
* A tip of a few Q per bag for the hotel porter is appropriate.
* When using public restrooms, you may be in the care of a bathroom attendant, so be sure to have a few centavos ready to compensate them for their service.
* A room tip at the end of your hotel stay is strongly recommended. Adoptive families typically require high service levels (diaper disposal, bottles, formula, twoel use, etc.). Be graciuos and show that you appreciated the efforts of the cleaning staff that took care of you during your stay."


2baSinglemom: also from the guide: "US dollars are readily accepted in Guatemala City." As for why use $ instead of Q, my understanding is that some people prefer $ because it has greater buying power.


I really recommend downloading the travel guide. It answers questions that I never even would have thought to ask.

Devora

[resabelle]

We also tipped on the U.S. system giving what "felt right." We carried many $5 bills and $1 bill. People are very helpful there and we appreciated even the smallest things. With carrying two young babies home and four large suitcases, we appreciated all the help we could get. $$ goes along way there and we knew it meant alot to them.

[rosewarnea]

I agree with all previous posts: I think the official tip amount expected in Guatemala (actually, I think in the rest of the world) is less than what we pay, but given our relative wealth and how little money is at stake, it was always nice to be able to give ones and fives. It's also easier: I never got the hang of dividing one [dollar] by 13 [quetzales]. Also, for those of you who haven't travelled yet, we also found it very touching how genuinely kind and supportive the hotel staff--and actually staff in restaurants we visited with the baby as well--were, particularly since we didn't know what we were doing!

[Mia's Daddy]

While I think it is totally cool to tip based on how we tip here in the USA, this is what my friends in Guatemala said about it. We were at TGIFriday's and our bill was about Q200 or $25. I laid Q40 or $5 as a tip because the service was pretty good. The waitress kind of looked funny at me as we left (though she readily took it). My friend laughed at me and said that when you do that, in some circles there it is a sign of Americans flaunting their wealth. It gives the image of someone with too much money.

I'm not saying everyone thinks this and if you're comfortable giving 20% that is fine. The reason I posted this to illustrate the reason it is recommended to give 10% or slightly higher for great service.

Have fun!

[rosewarnea]

Originally Posted by Mia's Daddy

While I think it is totally cool to tip based on how we tip here in the USA, this is what my friends in Guatemala said about it. We were at TGIFriday's and our bill was about Q200 or $25. I laid Q40 or $5 as a tip because the service was pretty good. The waitress kind of looked funny at me as we left (though she readily took it). My friend laughed at me and said that when you do that, in some circles there it is a sign of Americans flaunting their wealth. It gives the image of someone with too much money.

I'm not saying everyone thinks this and if you're comfortable giving 20% that is fine. The reason I posted this to illustrate the reason it is recommended to give 10% or slightly higher for great service.

Have fun!

I can see that: It is an exorbitant sum of money. It's as if a waitperson at an American TGIF expected maybe $8 on a good day, but got $20. Americanw tip more than most, I believe. Having travelled a lot, I have definitely heard from taxi drivers, etc..., "We LIKE Americans because they tip a lot," but kind of with an amused laugh, as if we are crazy. Bottom line for me, old habits die hard, and I cannot tip 10 percent. I can only try not to seem like I'm flaunting my [relative!!] wealth.

[Lori1000488]

When we were in Antigua, we also tipped the cab driver $5 for each trip. The suggestion about carrying a lot of $1 and $5 bills is excellent.

However, in the marketplace in Antigua, many of the vendors would not accept American dollars so make sure you have some quetzels as well.

We found the banks in Antigua to be less than friendly places. It was the only place we saw guns when we were in Guatemala. We could not get a bank to change dollars for us and our flight in was so late that the bank was closed at the airport. Our hotel would change $60 for us, but I would have liked to have had more quetzels. When we make our pick up trip, I am going to order quetzels from our local bank so I don't have to worry about changing money when we get to Guatemala.

Have a wonderful trip!
Lori

[Devora]

This is a bit off topic, but I noticed Lori's comment about guns outside of banks --- things like that can make US travelers very uncomfortable, but remember that it's very normal. When I was traveling in Italy it took me a while to get used to seeing military guards with machine guns -- they are posted outside of every government building and every synagogue in Italy. But it's a normal security measure there. So it's not just Latin American countries where you see that. We have many armed guards here in the US as well, but they usually carry concealed handguns so you just don't realize it. It is a bit disconcerting to see, but it does not necessarily mean that the area is unsafe.

And thanks, Mia's Daddy, for the explanation on the 10% tipping. It makes sense.

Devora