I'm staying at an all inclusive resort but I assume that does not include tips for drinks, dinners, etc. I've never stayed at an all inclusive resort so let me know if I'm wrong here. So as far as tips go in Mexico, 1. can you use american money 2. is it 20% w/ american money?

20% is too much no matter what country you are in.

Tipping 20% at restaurants in the US is not too much, it's what you should be tipping (from a former server)

1) yes, usually welcome at most resorts.
2) Only tip if you are actually going to receive better service. If your waiter doesn't take care of you, then I'd stop tipping them. I usually round up to between $1-2 for a pair of drinks.

some all inclusive hotels will include a "mandatory" or suggested daily tip into your rate that is divided among the service staff... you should find out if yours does. And adjust any other tipping accordingly.

I haven't been to mexico in 10 years, but when I did, I would tip the guy who delivered drinks to our beach chairs $10 with the first round of drinks, and he took good care of us all day long.

On our trips to Mexico, I always stop by the bank and get a $100 in 1's and a $100 in 5's specifically for tipping the staff.

I stayed at a Mexican AI resort earlier this year, and we tipped in both pesos and US (took pesos, but tipped a little more than expected so ended up using US too) - they didn't seem to mind too much which, but as I understand it pesos are easier for them to use as there are now restrictions on US cash. I only tipped for good service, I just point blank refuse to tip someone who is rude, inattentive, brings the wrong things etc - fortunately there were not many. At an AI it is pretty hard to tip a percentage, as the meals are all included, so you have no idea what the actual cost would be (i.e. that meal in a mexican restaurant a few miles down the road, is going to be very differently priced from the same meal in the US - so which do you tip based on?) We just tipped what we felt comfortable doing - some people tip more, some people tip less, some not at all (in fact, our travel package literature specifically said the cost 'includes all tips and gratuities')

I can't say we have ever stayed in a truly superior all-inclusive, but it does seem that tips are appreciated and result in better service at the mid-range places. Most all-inclusive resorts where we have stayed claim that tips are included, but I've found that even small tips (a dollar or two for small services or drinks, maybe $5-$10 for a meal) go a long way towards getting more attentive service or special requests later in the stay. I generally use dollars or pesos, whatever I have.

Since I am incredibly picky about my mixed drinks, I always tip the bartender or waiter for each drink; that seems to help them remember my special requests. (Top shelf liquor instead of well; I don't want sweet and sour mix, I want fresh lime juice and no simple syrup in my margarita. Extra lime juice and just a tiny bit of simple syrup in my mojitos... etc.) Getting the right drink every time? priceless!

We stayed at one all-inclusive resort that had a capacity-control policy (something like you could eat at the nicest restaurant once during your stay), but we left a nice tip ($20 or so) on our visit the first night, and had no problems eating there several times during our stay. We would just stop by and ask the hostess if there were any table available, and magically there would be one... YMMV, or course.

I always tip the maids at least a couple of dollars per day, more if the room is a large suite.

Yes, you definitely deserve $15 for writing down which bottle of wine I wanted, and uncorking it for me. Perhaps you even remembered it without a notepad - memorization!

Highly skilled labor, you. ^

Generally I change into $1 bills and give a couple of bucks out each..

I stayed at two AI resorts in Mexico. One was British-dominated and tipping was rare, but some people did give a tip, it was a small minority though. The other was mainly populated by US guests and people brought dollar bills with them into the pool (for the swim-up bar). In both cases AI supposedly included gratuities.

AIs usually includes tips..

But I bring some extra bucks, because its a small nominal amount, and means so much to the locals in Mexico..

The staff is usually paid peanuts, so $20 I heard is a substantial amount of income to an individual within a month..

Look into the actual resort. We've stayed at (2) AI resorts in Cabo the past 2 years, and both had gratuities included. Very few people tipped. We found a small one-time tip $5-10 to the bartender or server at the pool kept the drinks coming strong and fast all day.

VWTim - Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Welcome to FT!

I agree tipping one lump sum is a good method of keeping the vacation cordial.. We tipped the maid one lump sum after most of the services rendered..

Got a smile.. but I think she expected something for all that hard work, over the many days..