Tipping

A 15 % sales tax, as well as a three percent tourist tax is added to all hotel bills. Cafes and restaurants include a 10 % service charge or tip, so tipping above that amount is not necessary. Of course, employees such as bellhops and taxi drivers are appreciative of any additional gratuity for excellent service. It is also customary to give a small tip to the parking attendants who watch your car on the street, called cuidacarros. One hundred colones is usually sufficient.

Supermarket box boys should be tipped for carrying groceries to your car since they don’t receive a salary. If you live nearby, they will even take your bags to your home. We used to live four blocks from the supermarket at Plaza Mayor in Rohrmoser and like to walk to the market. Our favorite box boy delivers our food to our front door for about 75 cents.