$2 bills?

Question

Should I bring some for tips? Would the maids like these? Waiters?

Answer 1

They will not be interested in keeping them as "keepsakes"...they will simply use the money...they live on those tips, so it is the amount that is of interest to them.

Answer 2

They may confuse some people who don't know about them, but other than that you should hold on to them and give the waiters all your 1$ bills.  

My uncle gave a 2$ bill to a checkout guy and he thought it was fake. He ended up calling security to arrest him because he didn't know they existed. Let's just say that in the everyone but the sales guy was laughing.

Answer 3

NO!!! The currency in Mexico is pesos. Change your money into pesos when you arrive. The exchange rate is about ten to one so leave a nice veinte pesos note (20 pesos) instead. They would have to go to a bank and stand in line just to exchange your $2 bill.

A normal tip is 10 - 15 per cent + for a waiter - more if the restaurant is fancy, and a few dollars (10 pesos per dollar) per day that you stay for the maid.

Answer 4

The legend is that people here consider them to be lucky.  I have, in fact, been shown more than one $2 bill that has been carried around in a wallet for years.  

The problem is... those bills aren't going to feed and house their families.  Go to the ATM and get pesos and spend them as needed.  Not only will you paying the locals in a currency they can readily use, you'll also be getting a better exchange rate.  Use your 20 and 50 peso notes and your 10 peso coins as tips.  If you don't get pesos, please tip in something other than $2 bills (unless you give someone a choice and they choose it) and remember that the exchange rate is now around 9 pesos to the dollar instead of 10.  Just a note, US coins are worthless here and it would be an insult to leave one as a tip.