Travel Tips

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Do You Tip at All-Inclusive Resorts? (In Mexico? Jamaica?)

Explore tipping etiquette at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and Jamaica. Learn how much to tip for services to ensure a memorable stay. Ideal for travelers.

Tobi Miles
August 27, 2022
Do You Tip at All-Inclusive Resorts? (In Mexico? Jamaica?)

All-inclusive resorts are a coveted luxury that every traveler must experience at some point in their vacation career. The freedom to eat until you’re full and get cold drinks all day without touching your wallet is something anyone can strive for. So, do you tip at all-inclusive resorts?

You don’t have to tip at all-inclusive resorts but most guests do and many resorts encourage it. The average guest needs to bring $100-$200 to spend on tips for a weeklong stay at an all-inclusive resort. Guests typically tip bartenders at least $1 per drink and tip the housekeeping staff between $3 and $5 per day.

An all-inclusive resort won’t punish you for failing to tip their staff, but they will always appreciate your tips. Granted, many guests at all-inclusive resorts are hesitant to tip freely because of the large upfront cost of the vacation. Follow along as we explore what you should consider when you tip at all-inclusive resorts.

Does All-Inclusive Mean No Tipping?

All-inclusive doesn’t mean that you don’t have to tip the employees at the resort. However, you aren’t required to tip the employees at an all-inclusive resort by any means. Most travelers visit all-inclusive resorts under the guise that they won’t have to spend any more money than their travel costs and the hotel bill.

With that said, it is still common to tip resort staff, bartenders, maids, and the concierge at all-inclusive resorts. It never hurts to set aside some cash before your trip to tip the staff at your all-inclusive resort, even if it isn’t that much.

How Much Do You Tip Bartenders at All-Inclusive Resorts?

The average guest at an all-inclusive resort tips bartenders $1 per drink. It is generous to tip more than that for elaborate cocktails or at the end of a long night with many drinks. You can tip 20-30 pesos per drink at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, but you don’t necessarily have to tip for each drink.

It is also reasonable to tip 10%-15% of what the bar tab would be if it wasn’t an all-inclusive resort. For example, it would be kind to tip $6 or more for the equivalent of a $30 bar tab even though the drinks are included.

Related Read: The 10 Best All-Inclusive Tulum Resorts

How Much Do You Tip a Concierge at an All-Inclusive Resort?

You should tip a concierge at an all-inclusive resort $12 per day on average, but some guests tip more. It ultimately comes down to what is included in the concierge service at your all-inclusive resort. For example, some all-inclusive resorts have tiered concierge service that includes more amenities if you spend more money in advance of your stay.

Some concierge services are the equivalent of having a personal wait staff or butler depending on the resort. This is an expensive service, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t tip your concierge. Some guests tip up to $25-$30 per day for this level of service, or $5-$10 per day for basic concierge service.

Do You Tip at All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico?

Mexico is home to many all-inclusive resorts, and it’s extremely common for guests to tip their staff. The resort staff always appreciates tips because they are busy all day and night at all-inclusive hotels in Mexico. All-inclusive resorts in Mexico host tens of thousands of guests each year and it is a labor-intensive job to work at one.

The resorts themselves won’t enforce that you must tip their staff, but it’s the right thing to do. It’s worth it to tip the staff at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico for drinks, meals, and housekeeping. You will find impressive all-inclusive resorts in parts of Mexico such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cabo San Lucas.

Related Read: The 17 Best All-Inclusive Mexico Resorts for Families

How Much Do You Tip at an All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico?

It isn’t required, but it’s appropriate to tip the staff 100 pesos or more at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. The U.S. equivalent of 100 pesos is $5 which is generally considered a reasonable tip at restaurants and resorts. Of course, you can scale your tip based on the situation and the service that the staff member is performing.

Visit a currency exchange before you arrive at your all-inclusive resort in Mexico if you want to tip during your vacation. Some resorts can exchange U.S. currency on-site which is useful if the great service makes you feel generous. You don’t necessarily need to tip for every small task at your resort, but it’s always kind to tip the wait staff and room service workers.

Do You Tip at All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica?

Many guests tip at all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, but some businesses discourage it. Some Jamaican all-inclusive resorts tell the guests not to tip their staff due to the upfront costs. That doesn’t mean that the staff won’t accept a tip if you offer them one in most cases, however.

The average guest will still tip during their stay at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica even if they say they aren’t allowed. This is typically just a message from the resort making it clear that you aren’t expected to tip when you stay at their establishment.

Is $5 a Good Tip in Punta Cana?

The staff at your all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana will appreciate a $5 tip, and it is a standard amount. This is a fair tip when you eat at a poolside restaurant or get your rental car back from the valet service. You can reasonably tip as little as $2 for simple things like drinks or help from the concierge in Punta Cana.

You will never be required to tip the staff at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. However, it is encouraged to tip in many situations depending on the quality of service and how much money you can spare.

How Much Do You Tip Room Service in Punta Cana?

It is normal to tip $3 for room service at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. You can tip up to $5 or more for room service if you make a large and complicated order. Nobody would reasonably expect you to tip a large amount each time that you order room service if you do it multiple times per day.

Even still, a generous tip makes sense for room service because it is a luxurious novelty for you, but it’s hard work for them. Consider how much your meal would cost if it weren’t included in the overall cost of your stay at the resort. Try to tip at least 10% of what the cost would be if you were staying in a typical hotel if you plan to tip at all.

Related Read: How Late Can You Check Into A Hotel?

How Much Do You Tip Housekeeping at Resorts?

The standard tip for housekeeping at all-inclusive resorts is $3 per day, but it varies widely. Some guests tip $5 per day or more depending on the condition of the room or how long their stay is. Housekeeping is arguably the most important department of the resort staff to tip because of how labor-intensive the job is.

Consider leaving up to $5 in plain view with a note for housekeeping as a sign that you value their work at the resort. It’s not the end of the world if you miss a day’s tip if housekeeping comes and goes while you are one and miss the chance to set money aside.

Is 50 Dominican Pesos a Good Tip?

The U.S. equivalent of 50 Dominican pesos is only $0.93 which is not a good tip at an all-inclusive resort. Granted, tips aren’t required in the first place so a 50 peso tip is better than no tip. It is more generous to tip between 250 and 300 Dominican pesos to give the equivalent of $5-$6 in U.S. currency.

However, a 50 peso tip would be appropriate if you are simply getting a few drinks or something simple like that. It would only be inappropriate to tip 50 pesos for something more complicated like a large meal or a long night of service.

How Much Cash Should I Bring to an All-Inclusive Resort?

You will have enough money to tip several staff members at an all-inclusive resort if you bring $150. This should last you 5-7 days at an all-inclusive resort in most cases. Bring up to $200 if you want to play it safe and tip waiters, bartenders, room service, and maids each day throughout the trip.

Otherwise, $100 may be enough if you only want to tip for large meals, concierge, and maids. There is no golden rule since all-inclusive resorts don’t technically require tips. Your tip budget should realistically include meals, drinks, room service, bus boys, maids, and valet service if applicable.

Related Read: The 17 Best All-Inclusive Florida Keys Resorts for Families

Is it Better to Tip in USD or Pesos in Mexico?

Try to tip in pesos when you stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. Otherwise, the resort staff will have to convert your tip into pesos if you tip them in U.S. dollars. They will appreciate your tip either way, but pesos are the accepted currency in Mexico so it’s a much more practical tip.

You should also consider that the resort staff may lose some of the tip money if they have to convert it into pesos. Many currency exchanges take a percentage of the money that you exchange. In that case, they will generally get a smaller portion of what you initially tipped them upon exchanging it.

How Much Do You Tip a Shuttle Driver in Cancun?

You can tip a shuttle driver between 50 and 100 pesos when you visit an all-inclusive resort in Cancun. This would come out to $2.50-$5 for a shuttle ride which is fair depending on how long the drive is. Shuttles are the most common type of transportation for tourists in Cancun, and the drivers work long and hard hours.

Ideally, you should adjust your tip based on the duration of the drive. It is appropriate to tip more for long shuttle rides because they are more labor-intensive for the driver.

How Do You Tip a Hotel Housekeeper With No Money?

You can tip a hotel housekeeper after the fact if you have no money when they initially clean your room. It is easy to forget to tip housekeeping if you aren’t expecting them to visit at the time. All that you need to do is visit the concierge or front desk and let them know that you’d like to tip the housekeeping staff that cleaned your room.

They will be able to pull up the information and figure out who the money needs to go to based on the housekeeping schedule. Simply conceal the tip money in an envelope or bag and give it to the front desk to make up for the tip that you missed earlier.

Tobi Miles
Article updated:
March 28, 2024
A nomadic wordsmith savoring the world's flavors and penning stories that turn every journey into an epic.
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