Tipping in all inclusive hotel - what’s the right thing to do?

[Pooh Bear]

We’re heading to the Occidental Xcaret in Mexico for a couple of weeks at the start of January - first time for OH and 21 years since my one trip to Mexico and only AI experience, so my memory isn’t too sharp on the details!

I have no recollection of tipping last time I went but I’ve seen a few comments about it here so I was hoping you might be able to advise us on what is expected/appropriate, both in the hotel and whilst we’re out and about too.

We’re planning to take dollars (so anything we don’t spend can go towards our next planned holiday) but I’m wondering if we should take pesos too?

Excited to go, after a stinker of a year, but feeling a little disorganised and unprepared so appreciate any tips (pun intended, ) you can offer! Oh and we’re moving house on 27/12 to keep us busy too! Roll on those cocktails at the bar!

[YorkshireT]

I’ve never tipped in an all inclusive hotel.

[novocastrian]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I’ve never tipped in an all inclusive hotel.

See more...

This

as far as im concerned i have paid upfront

[Beth_Disney]

Some people (especially Americans) report on Trip Advisor that they get better service or bigger measures if they tip at the start of an AI holiday. We never have and have not had a problem with service.
I tend to leave a $2 for housekeeping each day and will put $10 in the pot at the bar at the end of the holiday. I’ll tip on trips too but not what they ‘recommend’. It’ll usually be $10 or $20 dependent on how good the guide has been

[greekgranny]

We are going AI on Wednesday, it never occurred to me to tip.

[DisneyDaffodil]

We leave €2-$2 for housekeeping each day. We don’t generally tip waiters but if one has been very attentive/good at an AI hotel, we would give a small tip at the end of the evening (€2-3)

[leenkerri]

We tipped when we stayed at Bahia principe Akumal in September. We used pesos as we heard the locals prefer that, but USD welcomed too. We tipped for good service when brought drinks around the pool or beach areas, housekeeping, and our personal concierge.

[YorkshireT]

I have had (conservative estimate) 30 all inclusive holidays, including Caribbean, Mexico, Dominican and Europe. I have never received bad service nor had any disapproval at all for not tipping, it is not expected or required.
Due to the Americans’ tipping culture, you will see Americans tipping in Mexico etc. But they’ll also try and tip in Japan.
The staff at these all inclusive are very aware of the cultural background and see the American tips as an added, but not required, bonus.

[Pooh Bear]

I, too, was surprised with people saying they were tipping in an all inclusive hotel, it had never even occurred to me that it was the ‘done thing’. I saw a thread in which one person said they tip around $250 in 2 weeks, which is a substantial amount added on to your AI package! That said, I imagine a few dollars here and there can make a huge difference to the life of lowly paid staff.

[Fab Florida 4]

If we`ve had good service, or the same waiter/ barman has served us for a few days and they`re been really good, then we leave a tip. We don`t leave a set amount, just how we feel about the person concerned. I think it`s nice to say thanks if someone`s been really pleasant and helpful. We wait til the end of the holiday to leave a tip for housekeeping, as I don`t want anyone to expect something every day.