Tipping in Cuba as a Canadian

I will go to Cuba in the following days and I am not sure how to tip.

It says: Do not tip with coins of your own currency, because foreign coins can not be exchanged in any country

It says : The best currencies are Euros, Canadian Dollars, or...

The problem is that 1$ Canadian is only available in coins. The lowest paper money we have is a 5$. Which is too much for me to tip each time. I'm not that rich yet.

How can I solve this problem?

EDIT: Back from vacations, I can say the best is to exchange money at the hotel and tip with their CUC money. But don't stress it if you tip with Canadian 1 dollars because they understant that you've just arrived. Their 1 dollar is also in coins like Canadian 1 dollars.

Best Answer

The second page you link also has a section on tipping, which talks almost exclusively in terms of CUC.

However, since the CUC is really a substitute for the US dollar it certainly used to be acceptable to use 1 USD bills. In fact, US dollar bills appeared to be more common than CUC notes, although I don't recall seeing many US coins. (Note that I haven't travelled in Cuba since 2000, so this advice may be out of date).

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How much is a good tip in Cuba?

A standard gratuity at a restaurant in Cuba is 10-15% of the total bill. Of course, feel free to leave a larger tip if you felt that the service was excellent. Always be friendly with your waiters and waitresses and talk with them as much as you can.

What is the best way to tip in Cuba?

It is usual to add a 10% tip or gratuity as a minimum at restaurants in Cuba.

Do Canadian debit cards work in Cuba?

You can use your Canadian Visa or Mastercard in Cuba, but many merchants don't accept credit card payments.

MUST Watch Before Travelling to CUBA from CANADA

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