In the U.S. tipping is customary and expected for everything from lackluster to outstanding service. It is an etiquette which is ingrained in all trades, from wait staff at restaurants to our baristas, valets, cab drivers, porters, and many more trades. In Central America, tipping is not as habitual, and in Guatemala, it is not quite as commonplace as it is in the United States.

This guide attempts to cover most situations that you, as a tourist, will encounter. Hopefully using these `tips` will provide a smooth experience when interacting with locals in restaurants, bars, hotels, and tour operators.

The currency of Guatemala is known as the Quetzal (GTQ). While U.S. dollars are sometimes accepted in major tourist areas, restaurants, and hotels, it's generally recommended to use Quetzals for convenience and better pricing.

When it comes to paying for different items in Guatemala, credit cards are becoming a more widely accepted form of payment, although Visa and MasterCard are generally more widely accepted than other providers.

You will find that ATMs are commonplace in Guatemala, with towns and cities having ATMs in most busy areas that have shops and restaurants. However, it is worth noting that ATMS with skim cards are a particular problem and they are often cleverly disguised, so card fraud is a risk when using the ATMS. Guatemalan ATMs also have some of the highest transaction fees that you will find in Central America.

Many times tipping in restaurants depends on the restaurant that you are at, as the higher the standard of the restaurant, the more likely that the staff will be used to having tips. If there hasn't already been a service charge added, then a tip of up to 10% of the overall bill would be a good guide. If the service charge has already been added, but you feel the service was really good, then you might still want to add a few Quetzals as a tip.

Tour guides are one industry that will often receive tips through their work, and this is something that is quite common in Guatemala as well. The amount of the tip typically depends on the length of the tour itself. For shorter tours of a couple of hours, then between $2 and $3 per person would be sufficient, while if you are doing a full day trip or longer, then between $5 and $10 per person per day depending on the service would be a suitable tip for the trip. If you are on a guided bus tour, then a tip of around half that of the tip to the guide is usually a good rule to the amount of the tip.

When it comes to which hotel staff to tip, these will usually be the housekeeping staff and the bellboys or porters who help with your bags. For those helping with your bags, a tip of between $1 and $2 would be sufficient. Regarding tips for housekeeping, the tip is on a similar ratio of between $1 and $2 per night. Because dollars are commonly used in Guatemala, it is acceptable to tip in either dollars or local currency.

When shopping in Guatemala you'll notice there are relatively few chain stores compared to other countries, so more shopping is done from market stalls and independent stores. This means that many people haggle on prices to save money. All of the locals will be used to haggling at markets.

Photography: One area of tipping which is more unusual comes when you are planning on taking photos. Many Guatemalans are very uncomfortable with people taking pictures of children, and can be cautious about being photographed themselves as well, which is different than you'll find in similar places such as Panama. There are some reports of people asking for tips in order to be included in photographs, although generally, it is best to be cautious and respectful when it comes to taking photographs, and always ask permission before taking photos.