Tipping In Argentina - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% If Satisfied
🥐 Hotel Breakfast - $1-2 USD PP in Pesos
🍹 Bar - Optional Loose Change (Tip Jar/Directly)
☕️ Café - 10% If Table Service + Satisfied
🏍️ Delivery Driver - Tip 5% If Prompt
🚕 Taxi - Not Expected - Can Round Up
🚙 Private Driver - Tip 10% If Prompt + Safe
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - $1-2 USD/Bag in Pesos
🚪 Doorman - One Tip of $3-5 USD in Pesos
🛏️ Maid - Optional $2-3 USD/Day in Pesos
🅿️ Trapito/Car Attendant - What They Request
📸 Tour/Trek Guide - Tip 10-15%
⛺️ Trek Assistant/Cook - Equal To ½ of Guide’s Tip
🚶♂️Free Walking Tour - $2-3 USD/Hour PP in Pesos
Tipping is a big part of Argentine culture but tips or “propinas” should be reserved for good service in most cases.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Argentina using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Argentina Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Argentina
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Standard practice is to tip 10% as long as the you’re satisfied. Excellent service is rare here but if you’re really impressed, feel free to tip 15-20%. Anything over 10% is considered very generous and always optional.
If you’re dissatisfied by the service (not that uncommon in Argentina), feel free to skip the tip.
You may see “cubierto” or “servicio de la mesa” on the bill. This isn’t a tip but a cover charge that goes straight to the restaurant to pay for bread, butter, pre-appetisers, water etc.
Cash tips in Pesos are preferable but if you want to tip by card, you’ll need to tell the server to add it on before you pay. You can’t tip by card after the fact.
Bear in mind that if you hand over cash to pay the bill and say thank you (“Gracias”), they’ll probably take that as “keep the change”. If you’d like them to do that, just say “está bien así, gracias” (“that’s fine, thank you”).
Never leave tips on the table, especially if you’re outside. It’s best to hand them the tip directly.
For a hotel breakfast, tip the wait staff around $1-2 USD per person in Pesos using the current exchange rate (if satisfied with the service).
Tipping In Bars
Most bartenders don’t expect a tip but many Argentines do leave loose change for great service, attentive waiters and complex drinks.
Put it in the tip jar if there is one. If there isn’t, you can hand it to them directly. Your tip might get stolen if you just leave it on the bar.
Tipping In Cafés
If you have table service (common in Argentina), it’s customary to tip around 10% for good service. It’s uncommon to tip baristas for to-go drinks.
Tipping Delivery Drivers
Whether you’re getting take out or a grocery delivery, tip the driver around 5% in cash if prompt. Some restaurants and apps may charge delivery fees but that 5% should be on top of that.
Tipping Taxi & Private Drivers
Taxi drivers, most of whom are unionised and relatively well-paid, don’t expect tips unless they help you load/unload your luggage (5% in Pesos fine in that case).
However, for simplicity’s sake, it is common to round up your fare. A lot of them won’t have change anyway.
Some questionable taxi drivers may mention “baggage fees” if you hand them a large bill. In this situation most Argentines would be adamant about receiving their change.
Private drivers, like the “Remis” you’ll fine in Buenos Aires that charge a set, pre-paid fare, should be tipped around 10% in Pesos as long as the driver offers a clean, safe and prompt ride.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Hotel, airport, bus terminal and long distance bus porters will expect tips of around $1-2 USD per bag in Pesos (at the current exchange rate).
In the case of airport and bus terminal porters, it’s more of a payment than a tip.
Tipping Housekeeping
Most housekeepers won’t expect to tipped but if you want to tip them for good service, $2-3 USD per day in Pesos (at the currency exchange rate) would be appreciated.
Just make sure to leave your tip with a note so they know it’s for them.
Tipping Trapitos/Car Attendants
Trapitos (Ragmen/Car Attendants) are basically extortionists who may appear when you go to park your car on busy, city streets. They can be young or old.
If they get to you before you finish parking, they’ll “help” guide you to a space, they might wipe off your headlights and/or promise to look after your car whilst you’re away (whether you want their help or not).
In this situation, it’s best to pay what they request, either all up-front, all on exit or (preferably) half-now and half-later. Usually, no matter what you pay, they’ll be gone when you return.
If you’re rude to them or you don’t pay them anything, you may find your car has fresh dents/ scratches or it might not even be there when you get back.
Tipping Paid & Free Tour Guides
It’s customary to tip tour and trek guides around 10% of the total tour cost as long as you’re satisfied. For more expensive private tours, like private fishing or hunting trips, tip closer to 15% if good.
Feel free to tip tour guides in Pesos (preferred) or US dollars.
A good tour guide will be friendly, engaging, they’ll demonstrate in-depth knowledge and will have a good command of your language.
Trek cooks and assistant guides should be tipped separately. Give them an amount equal to half of what the tour guide gets.
Free tour guides should always be tipped around $2-3 USD per person, per hour in Pesos (at the current exchange rate).
Which Currency To Use
For everyday tips, stick to Argentine Pesos (Symbol: ARG$, Code: ARS). I might tip in US dollars if it was a large tip for a tour guide but Pesos are good in any situation.
Most service providers prefer to be tipped in Pesos so they can go out and immediately use it (US dollars may need exchanged).
Try to keep some small notes and loose change set aside for tipping as a lot of people won’t have change. Cash tips are preferable but you can tip by card in some restaurants (as long as you say that before you pay the bill).
¡Buen viaje! - Have a nice trip! 🇦🇷 🍷
