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Tipping
Whereas before tipping was not allowed in hotels and restaurant, this has now dramatically changed. Cuban workers earn incredibly low salaries. Typical salaries range from factory worker's 400 Cuban pesos a month to doctor's 700. That is around 17-30 US dollars a month. So, tips are an extremely important and much desired source of supplemental income, tourism workers depend on it.
Musicians, parking guards (0.25 CUC for a short watch, 1 CUC for a 12-hour period), porters (0.50 or 1 CUC per bag), toilet attendants (0.10 CUC in exchange for a few sheets of toilet paper), tourist guides (2 CUC per person for a full day). Taxi drivers prefer not to give any small change on a fare and usually expect a 10% of the meter fare. If you agreed a flat fare you can be sure that the tip is already included. Some restaurants include a 10% service charge, although you should tip the waiter an additional 5% to 10% depending upon the quality of service, since they will not see any of that 10% service charge. In casas particulares tipping for lodging or food is not required.
Tipping can also be very useful if you want to bend the rules a bit. For a small tip, staff will look away.
Instead of tipping, you could leave basic items when you leave, or give presents. See also the section ‘PLANNING YOUR TRIP - what to pack - gifts’.
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