Should visitors bring dollars or pesos and how should they handle tipping?

Bring US dollars in small denominations for tipping and keep a credit card for other purchases—resorts price extras in dollars and staff readily accept greenbacks for gratuities. Standard tipping runs approximately $1 per drink, $5-10 for meals, and $2 daily for housekeeping and minibar service, with most travelers reporting they brought $200 in small bills for a week-long stay. One detailed report noted that while pesos work for tipping, off-resort businesses convert dollars at poor rates and return change in pesos, making dollars the practical choice for resort-based visitors who rarely venture into town.

The community consensus is clear: staff show no preference between dollars and pesos for tips, but the dominance of dollar pricing across resort menus and services makes currency exchange unnecessary for most visitors. Travelers who do exchange currency report using a rough mental shortcut of 100 pesos per pound for quick calculations. A minority perspective suggests giving staff cash rather than goods so they can purchase what they actually need, though some visitors report success with small practical items like lip balm and grooming supplies as supplemental gifts.

For payment logistics, keep cash designated strictly for gratuities and use cards for everything else—resorts accept major credit cards widely. Store passports and excess cash in the in-room safe rather than carrying large amounts during daily activities.