I haven’t travelled to Mexico in 20+ years… Does anybody bring toiletries to gift when you go there? I heard it is very well received… If so what things are important to them?. TIA

Depends what area of Mexico your going to.... over by cancun and playa you don’t leave gifts...

No Mexico has plenty of everything and toiletries can be purchased much cheaper in Mexico than in Canada (national brands anyway). If you feel generous, give tips.

That’s Cuba your thinking of.

I can’t imagine the reaction you would get from doing this today. Mexico is a developed country and unless you’re heading out to extremely isolated indigenous communities, everyone you meet will have access to toiletries and would, without a doubt, rather have cash than any toiletries you brought from Canada. The only thing I MIGHT do is that if I’m staying in a family-run guesthouse, I might email them before and ask if they want me to bring anything. Once I was asked to bring English books for their teenage daughter.

When my friend and I went we brought halloween chocolates and left them in the room every morning along with a tip. Figured we'd have a few they've never tried.
We also handed them out to staff around the resort. It seemed well received.
We didn't hand out because we thought they were lacking, more to add to the tip for the fun of it.

I do this too! ESPECIALLY coffee crisp!

We always bring gifts and they are always well received. We also leave a tip. We have brought all sorts of stuff. We usually bring crayons and colouring books as well as school supplies

I always bring stickers for the children or little colouring books people love that kind of thing. Panty hose for the ladies

Dollarama has a selection of Canadian souvenirs you can pick up. I brought a bunch to Ukraine last year and kids loved them.

Try not to buy plastic crap to give away. It just becomes garbage. People like money so they can buy what they want. If you are staying with a family bring them a locally made canadian gift or maple syrup.

We usually take candy for the housekeepers kids

I totally get where your coming from back in the 90’s we did this but now not so much. I brought “made in Canada “
Treats like mini chocolate bars and Hawkins cheeses and left them with the tips.

If you want to bring a gift, one cool gift I have brought is all natural, biodegradable, package free handmade soaps from Canada. Although many people make soaps and stuff in Mexico, it's a nice gesture. It also shows you are conscious of the environmental crisis Mexico is going through with the water on the coasts (I live and work in Mexico, one of my students works for the World Bank in the area of water and sanitation and she tells me it's a sad situation).
Also I agree with one of the above posts...books in English for the kids. You can get packs of comic books at Costco for $12 for 6 I think. Or coloring books with words in English at Dollarama.
Other than that, money. The cost of living in many of the resort areas is going up, and Mexicans pay more per litre of gas than Albertans. And minimum wage here is about 100 pesos a DAY.

You might be thinking of Cuba. The best gift you can give to Mexicans is to tip them for their serviices. I am shocked to see many tourists in All Inclusive resorts who do not leave any tip for the servers.

Vella Crisostomo Bellaart yes most hotel staff only earn around $10 per day...

Vella Crisostomo Bellaart I agree. I always leave a daily tip on the bed for the housekeeping staff. They work very hard, most I have talked to also have a second job to make ends meet. Last time I was there I tipped the cab driver who took us to the airport. He said about 1 in 10 customers tip because the transfers are part of the all inclusive package. He also said most of the people who do tip are Canadians!

We use to bring small toys, toiletries, (pads, tampons, lotion, soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, brushes etc) They don't get those things there). They were always very thankful & excited to receive them in Cuba

we always leave a tip. But funny that most places state all gratuity’s included. This would be confusing for a beginner traveler.

We always tip and leave a Lindor chocolate

We take USD for tips in Mexico and it’s very appreciated

Jill. It’s way better to tip in pesos. In our town it’s a huge pain to convert to USD. Why not just use Mexican currency?!??

Do you change CDN dollars to USD? Then tip them with that? Do you only bring USD? Hmmmmmm....there are better options.

Tips. Don’t buy cheap crap it’ll end up in the garbage. Majority of people who work in resorts do well enough and don’t want dollar store gifts or toilet paper.

School supplies for children.

We were told by hotel staff that they can’t keep gifts left in the room (except for tips) because they can’t prove that they didn’t steal it.

Cherise you just write what you are leaving and sign your name.

Not anymore. Maybe in Cuba.

Tips in Pesos or school supplies. No great demand for toiletries. Also, volunteer time at schools, shelters, etc. No plastic waste.

We used pesos the last couple times, so they don’t have to exchange it.

I bring toiletries. Coloring books. Crayons. Nylons. Leggings.

Unless you are going somewhere people could actually use that stuff, I'm sure they would just prefer money so they can spend the money on things they actually need

Tips in Pesos are best, then they don't have to pay to exchange it.

Shyloh Prescott I have a friend in Cancun who works in an all inclusive and she said they actually prefer US dollars because they get alot more for it. They have places there that are cheap to exchange. A $20 US dollar is more than what they make in a month sadly

Dental floss

Cash is king everywhere. Then they can get what they really need.

Alan
I have brought everything from an X-box, tool sharpening stone for the gardener,lots of bar swag but my "go to"especially in a resort area is a lapel pin with the flags of Mexico and Canada crossed

Alan where do you find these?

Alan ok

Alan Me too please

Or post a link here.

I prefer not to post a link. PM please

At the princess resort they have a donation bin where you can leave anything you want behind and they donate it to people in the community.

give cash every day, if you do leave gifts they need a letter from you to leave the resort to prove no theft keep it simple cash

Marc-Cat no they don’t

Tip in pesos. Room cleaning staff and luggage handlers do pretty well. Help out the gardener, doorman, gym attendant, cook, laundry attendant...they work hard and don't see much in the way of tips. A kind word and a smile is appreciated too.

I go to Mexico every year.. in my mind bringing gifts and toiletries is more of a Cuba thing, in Mexico I just tip USD or Pesos.

Canadian souvenirs are well liked as well

Cash is King.

Canadian souvenirs. Toiletries is more for Cuba.

No

Lana Hohn-Martens
Mexico is a consumption economy...they have as much choice of stuff as we have. They get paid a lot less...cash is helpful...give cash.

Cash is king.