There can be
difficulties tipping someone who is outside your social circle or geographical
area. For instance, the Japanese do not accept tips and can become extremely
uncomfortable, even offended by the whole thing.
North
Americans are generous tippers who will show their appreciation for almost any
kind of service they receive, regardless of what it is. This concept does not
exist in Iceland and does not exist in Latin America, where tipping practices
differ somewhat from one country to the next.
During a
trip to Argentina, how can you determine how much tip to give to waiters at
restaurants and taxi drivers at the airport? For example, is it appropriate to
tip a waiter at a restaurant in Buenos Aires?
Here in this
post, we are going to take a look at everything you should be knowing about
tipping in Argentina.
So if you
are traveling over there and don’t know anything about the tipping rules in
this country, this post is for you.
Do you tip in Argentina?
When you
receive good service at a restaurant, bar, or cafe - especially in places like
tourist attractions or business districts - you may wish to tip the staff as
well. Tips are also appreciated at hotels and serviced apartments, even when
the staff is not well compensated, such as at spas.
There will
often be occasions when you will receive exceptional service, so you may want
to consider augmenting your tip with something closer to 15-20%. How much you
tip in Argentina depends on where you are and the type of service you are
purchasing. In general, it is between 10 and 15 percent.
Whenever
possible, you should tip in your local currency if you wish to save money.
Below we have discussed tipping of Argentina in different places.
How do you tip in restaurants
and bars in Argentina?
Generally,
Argentinians are expected to tip between 10-15% of their bill when they dine
out. Unfortunately, the tip amount will depend on where you are dining, the
occasion, as well as the size of your order.
Generally
speaking, you would tip your waiter or waitress a little more than the
bartender, as they will likely share the tip.
In
situations in which more than the 10% benchmark is exceeded, it is generally
considered generous. Leaving less or leaving something is also quite common at
fine dining establishments where you are almost always treated well, so there
is no reason not to leave anything.
Large groups
of 8 or more will generally leave a little more. However, much more is
generally recommended.
Restaurants
often charge their patrons a cover charge or a cutlery charge anywhere from $10
to 50 pesos, which is an indirect way of charging their customers something for
nothing.
Unlike a
"service charge," the cover money goes directly to the restaurant and
does not go into gratuities nor do they pass it on to their waiters. The nicer
restaurants likely use the covered charge to pay for the bread, sauces, and
simple appetizers they serve before meals, as well as staff members to assist
their guests.
On your
credit card receipts, there is no tipping section. If you are paying with a
credit card, please ensure that you bring some cash to split the tip.
In an
Argentinean bar or café, you may round the bill up to the next significant
amount, or you may leave a small tip each time you order a drink. Should you be
in a cocktail bar, or if your barista makes an exceptional cappuccino, it is
customary to tip higher amounts.
Take a look
at these examples:
- For an
Argentinean meal costing 100 pesos, you should tip 10 or 15 pesos
- The recommended
tip for a drink priced at 10 pesos would be 1-2 argentine pesos
Whether you
tip a restaurant or pay your bill, it is important not to leave large sums of
cash on the table and walk away. This is particularly important if you dine
outside, since someone may pick it up and take it.
Upon
choosing to take part in a specialty cocktail that requires an edgy or
sophisticated touch, you are requested to leave a tip. So Argentina tipping
when you order an expensive drink is somehow necessary.
How do you tip in hotels in
Argentina?
If you are
wondering how to tip in Argentina in hotels, here we got your answer.
You are
expected to tip between 10% and 20% when you stay in a hotel in Argentina. If
you stay in a top-end hotel with outstanding service levels, you are likely to
want to tip maids, bell boys, valets, and front desk clerks, among others.
If you wish
to tip someone, you should do so at your own discretion. The amount you tip
will depend on both your experience and the available service from that person.
Pay attention to the guide below about tipping in Argentina’s hotels:
- House-keepers:
5-10 ARS
- Luggage
attendants / Porters: 1 ARS per bag
- Concierge/
Receptionist: 10-15 ARS
- Valets: 5-10 ARS
each time
How do you tip in taxis in
Argentina?
In
Argentina, taxi drivers do not expect tips, and tipping is not considered
polite. It is best to round up your fare to the nearest whole peso multiple of
$5.
For example,
if it is $73 pesos, round it up to $75 in order to prevent having to manually
count out coins for your change, which they rarely have.
Occasionally,
however, a dishonest taxi driver will try to hang on to your extra few pesos by
charging you an 'odd fee' for the trip. In such cases, it is totally acceptable
to insist on getting your change as you can be sure your Argentinian
counterpart would respect you.
The cab
driver will generally assist you with loading and unloading your luggage from
the curb upon request, so it is nice to give them a small tip as a thank you.
Additionally,
limos and private rental cars are usually very clean, fast, and professional,
so a 10% tip would usually be appropriate.
For example:
- A tip of 5 Pesos
is equal to 50 Pesos when riding a long distance
- A tip of 7.50
Argentine pesos taxi bill is equal to 0.50 Argentine pesos tip for a short
journey
Tipping tour guides in
Argentina
Many
tourists also wonder about tipping in Argentina when hanging out with tour
guides.
In
Argentina, a good tour guide is essential to ensuring a successful visit, so
whenever you find an excellent tour guide, it is important that you tip the
standard 10%, both for a multi-day, private tour as well as a walking tour.
In Argentina,
don't forget to tip a little when you are on a free tour. Many tour
organizations operate on a 'pay what you like' basis. If you tip during your
tour, the guide may only receive an income.
There are
some tour guides who may suggest that you leave a TripAdvisor review rather
than a tip - but by doing so you can assist them in earning commissions, and
you may also help another visitor have a great experience in the future.
Tipping at a spa in
Argentina
If you have
explored Argentina, it is customary to tip a massage therapist 10-30% of the
total charge. You should budget roughly the same amount after exploring
Argentina.
Therefore,
if the service is of average quality or what you would expect, you might
consider leaving a tip of 10 pesos; however, if the service is exceptional, you
might consider leaving a 15% tip.
Tipping to car Attendants
in Argentina
The majority
of car attendants are in their mid-teens to mid-40s, and their responsibilities
range from directing you when you are parallel parking, advising you on the
amount of cornering space you have between bumpers, and helping you locate your
space, wiping the headlights, and so on.
Your car
will then be watched while you eat dinner, attend a show, or attend a concert
and the thief will promise to wait until you return. In many cases, the thief
may not be there when you return, but your car will still be fine when you come
back.
There are
some neighborhoods such as Villa Crespo and Congreso that may cost $20 to $30
pesos per block, and of course, in other areas such as Palermo Soho or Las
Canitas, the cost might be $50 to $100 pesos per block. For some larger event
venues, the cost may be over $200 pesos per block.
Tipping to delivery persons
in Argentina
There is a
strong likelihood that you will tip the delivery man more when dining at home,
especially if an establishment charges a "delivery fee", however, the
tip itself is separate. The recommended tip range is between 5-10%.
Having your
groceries delivered directly to your office or residence is an option when you
buy a lot of groceries at a grocery store large enough to deliver them. If this
is the case, remember to provide the delivery man with some sort of reward for
helping you unload your groceries.
Tips for tipping in Argentina
Below, we
have wrapped up the most important tips about tipping in Argentina:
- You must tip in
the local currency when visiting Argentina, namely, the Argentine peso;
otherwise, you may leave your service providers with cash they may not be able
to use without incurring a significant exchange rate loss.
- You should be
aware that service charges are generally included in the bill in restaurants,
hotels, and bars in Argentina. Please check your bill carefully before tipping.
- It is fine to
tip when there has been no service charge added to your bill. However, if your
waiter or waitress has to work under difficult conditions, especially if their
wages are below average, think twice before canceling your tip requests at
their terminal.
Conclusion
Tipping in
different regions and countries, including Argentina, can be a tough job for
those who do not have any particular information about it.
All in all,
you may leave a tip in most of the public places in Argentina, such as
restaurants, bars, cafes, taxis, etc.
Therefore,
you can tip freely without thinking maybe it is inappropriate or forbidden in a
special place in this country.