Tipping in Puerto Vallarta
The city of Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination for tourists from around the globe, with millions of visitors descending upon the city's sunny shores on a yearly basis. This means that the service industry is the backbone of the local economy, and everyday citizens often rely on “propinas”, or tips, to supplement their standard income, which is typically standardized at about $10 per day in most industries.
Visitors who come into the city from other countries may be unsure of the appropriate amount to compensate service employees for their hard work making their experiences as a tourist as pleasant as possible, particularly in the case of European travelers, who may be accustomed to the automatic gratuity commonly added to bills overseas. To that end, this helpful guide will outline standard tipping amounts for some of the most commonly encountered service professionals.
Taxi Drivers
Unlike in other areas of the world, tipping is not seen as socially compulsory in Puerto Vallarta. The drivers that power the citys network of taxis are associated with a union that negotiates wages and fares that keep up with typical living expenses for a local resident. This is the reason these taxis use standard fares instead of relying on a meter, and so the base fare (which should always be confirmed before the ride begins) is usually sufficient compensation for the services rendered.However, it is acceptable to leave a small tip worth approximately 20 percent, or two gratuity pesos for every 10 pesos of fare, if a driver provides services that go above and beyond his basic duties such as helping carry heavy packages to your door. Passengers who request that their drivers stop at an intermediate location before their final destination should also tip their drivers a modest amount, and it is common practice to ask if a driver would like a snack or beverage if the stop is a convenience store.
Wait Staff
Wait staff at restaurants, bars and other establishments in Puerto Vallarta typically provide world-class service, and should be always recognized for their efforts with a small gratuity. Guests often leave up to 15 percent of their total bill as a tip after enjoying the service these professionals offer, although some local establishments will automatically add a percentage based gratuity for large parties to account for the greatly increased workload. Bartenders also enjoy tips, and 20 to 25 percent of your bar total is more than adequate for a barkeeps gratuity. Resort Servers
Grocery Baggers
A special case in the world of propinas involves the individuals who place items into shopping bags at the registers of many stores in the area. Most if not all of these workers are underage teens and senior citizens who take part in the local workforce as part of a special program that gives them the opportunity to collect tips for their services. These individuals cannot qualify for waged positions for legal or other reasons, and so they depend purely on gratuity as compensation. For this reason, it is appropriate to give a bagger 5 or 10 pesos for a job well done. Other Services
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