Who is Most Likely to Give A 5-Star Review in Mexico?
Since gaining traction on social media in 2018, the name ‘Karen’ has become synonymous with a privileged, middle-aged woman who likes to complain about everything. According to popular culture, ‘a Karen’ is someone who is confrontational, asks to speak to the manager over minor problems, and involves themselves in other people’s business—every hospitality worker’s worst nightmare!
However, this popular meme has created an unfair representation of those with the name Karen. Many people now hold prejudices against them for no reason at all. This is bad news for the unassuming ‘Karens’ of the world.
To put an end to this, we decided to take a deeper dive into the most likely names to leave a five-star review on TripAdvisor, and explore where Karen fits into the equation. We analyzed over 10,000 names across tens of thousands of reviews, including all historical reviews*, for restaurants, hotels, and attractions in Mexico. We identified the top ten names associated with the most generous reviews to find out whether ‘Karens’ are really as bad as social media makes them out to be.
*All data is correct as of September 2022
Top 10 tourists most likely to leave 5-star reviews in Mexico
By analyzing over 15,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, we’ve identified the top ten names of tourists that are most likely to leave a five-star review in Mexico.
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | David |
| 2 | Michael |
| 3 | John |
| 4 | Mark |
| 5 | Mike |
| 6 | Michelle |
| 7 | Chris |
| 8 | Robert |
| 9 | Paul |
| 10 | Lisa |
David dubbed the ‘Anti-Karen’ of Mexico
Coming in at number one in our rankings, people with the name David are most likely to give five-star reviews in Mexico. As such, we’ve dubbed David the ultimate ‘anti-Karen’ of Mexico—the opposite of pop culture’s Karen.
Instead, we can safely assume that David is someone who would ask to speak to the manager to compliment an employee or tell them they are doing a good job, rather than to cause a fuss or complain.
David is shortly followed by the name Michael, and John comes in third place.
So, where does Karen fit into all this?
Surprisingly, Karen comes in 13th place for the most likely names to give a perfect rating.
This reveals that people with the name Karen might not be as bad as everyone makes them out to be. They are actually very likely to give restaurants, attractions, and hotels five-star ratings and positive reviews.
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | David |
| 2 | Michael |
| 3 | John |
| 4 | Mark |
| 5 | Mike |
| 6 | Michelle |
| 7 | Chris |
| 8 | Robert |
| 9 | Paul |
| 10 | Lisa |
| 11 | Steve |
| 12 | Laura |
| 13 | Karen |
Does your name affect how likely you are to leave a positive review?
Although there’s been some debate, researchers believe there to be a link between someone’s name and their personality. Our personalities are made up of many elements, such as our genes, social interactions and life experiences. However, our names also have an influence from the day we are born, as they are a ‘symbol of the self’.
Research suggests that people with more popular or ‘trendy’ names, such as David or Michael, are more likely to be positively perceived by peers and, as a result, have a higher self-esteem, and positively impact how they treat others. This could make people with these names more likely to leave a positive review after they visit a restaurant or hotel.
Top 10 locals most likely to leave 5-star reviews in Mexico
We wanted to take our analysis one step further and separate tourists names from local names. After all, locals tend to know more about the areas and attractions close to them, so only taking into account tourist names doesn’t give an accurate overview of the state of play. To determine local names, we looked at how popular the names were in Mexico.
By analyzing the local names on TripAdvisor reviews, we can confirm that locals with the name Maria are most likely to leave five-star reviews in Mexico.
Much like the name David, Maria is an extremely popular name in Mexico. Originating from the Virgin Mary, this name has incredible cultural significance.
The top ten locals most likely to leave five-star reviews in Mexico are:
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | Maria |
| 2 | Luis |
| 3 | Jose |
| 4 | Carlos |
| 5 | Juan |
| 6 | Ana |
| 7 | Jorge |
| 8 | Victor |
| 9 | Paula |
| 10 | Angela |
Men or women: who is more likely to leave a 5-star review?
We decided to take a look at the gender differences between men and women who leave five-star reviews on TripAdvisor in Mexico. While many names are not gender-specific, we based our analysis on the most popular use of the listed names.
Men are 1.5x more likely to leave 5-star reviews than women in Mexico
Looking at the top ten most likely names to leave five-star reviews, male names are typically dishing out the positivity more than female names, with eight male names and just two female names.
Similarly, from the top ten local names, we can see there are a higher number of five-star reviews left by local male names than female names in the top ten. This suggests that men are more likely to leave five-star reviews than women. There are six male and four female, so slightly more balanced than the tourist names.
Looking at the top 50 names in the list, there are 30 male names and 20 female, which reveals men are 1.5 times more likely to leave a five-star review than women!
Who are the top 10 male and female reviewers?
Looking at the top ten male and top ten female names with the most five-star reviews, we identified the top male and female names most likely to leave a five-star review in Mexico.
Coming in at number one are Michelle and David, followed by Lisa and Michael, and Laura and John.
Michelle is a common girl’s name, deriving from the biblical name Michael, which means ‘who resembles God’ or ‘gift from God’. As such, it seems fitting that people with the name Michelle and Michael leave five-star reviews, as many would associate God with generosity and benevolence, or goodness. Similarly, Lisa and John are also spiritual names, meaning ‘oath from God’ and ‘graced by God’ respectively.
The top ten male and female names appear to be all seemingly tourist names, which indicates tourists are more likely to leave a review than locals in Mexico. Since Mexico welcomes over 30 million international tourists each year, these findings are to be expected.
| Rank | Female Names | Male Names |
| 1 | Michelle | David |
| 2 | Lisa | Michael |
| 3 | Laura | John |
| 4 | Karen | Mark |
| 5 | Mary | Mike |
| 6 | Jennifer | Chris |
| 7 | Susan | Robert |
| 8 | Maria | Paul |
| 9 | Linda | Steve |
| 10 | Heather | Kevin |
Haven’t seen your name on the list? Perhaps, it’s time to reconsider your attitude towards leaving reviews and improve your name’s reputation, and maybe you’ll make the leaderboard next year!
Top tips for writing excellent reviews
Leaving reviews is important for helping other customers make the right choice, enabling you to recommend the good and help them avoid the bad. They can also be helpful to letting businesses understand what they are doing well and what they could improve on. We’ve put together some of our top tips for writing excellent reviews for businesses to make the process easier for you.
1. Give some background about who you are
It can be useful to give other customers an idea of who you are, so they can see how relevant your review is to them. For instance, you may have been a family with young kids looking for a peaceful retreat, but visited an area that may be better suited for people who enjoy nightlife. In situations like this, your negative review may not be relevant to a group of party-goers.
2. Describe what products or services you purchased
You should provide specifics about the services or products you purchased or what experiences you visited, for example the exact exhibitions in a museum or what dish you ordered at a restaurant. This way, other customers will know what to look out for, or avoid, when they visit.
Remember to cover all aspects of your experience, including things like customer service and accessibility, as well as the actual products or services.
3. Be respectful
At the end of the day, you need to remember that real people will be reading your review, such as business owners and employees. So, don’t say anything that you wouldn’t say to someone face-to-face. Words can be hurtful, so choose carefully and be respectful, and fair.
4. Provide constructive feedback
That being said, if you do have some negative comments, why not try offering some constructive criticism? Instead of bashing businesses online, provide useful feedback that they can take on board, and improve their business for future customers.
5. Shout about all the good things
If you’ve had a great experience, then let the business know. Try to be specific, detailing what your favorite food was at their cafe or the names of the servers you were particularly impressed with. You could even consider uploading a few photographs of your visit, so that other people can see authentic pictures, other than those provided by the company itself.
Top 5 attractions in Mexico according to TripAdvisor
According to TripAdvisor’s top-rated attractions by travelers, these are the five best places to visit in Mexico.
1. Xcaret
With over 29,914 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor Xcaret park is one of the top attractions to visit in Cancun, Mexico. Combining a water park, roller coasters and archaeological sites, Xcaret is the perfect place for couples, families and groups, and there’s nothing else quite like it.
Xcaret boasts over 50 natural and cultural attractions, including underground rivers, coral reef aquariums, butterfly pavilions and more. Some of the top reviews for Xcaret praise the beautiful flora and fauna, natural pools, magnificent wildlife, such as turtles and manatees, and quality food and drinks. Though, be prepared for a long day of walking!
Price range: $$
2. Museo Nacional de Antropología
Ranked number one in the best things to do in Mexico City, Museo Nacional de Antropología has over 19,912 five-star reviews. The perfect day trip for families, Museo Nacional de Antropología is a world-class museum, displaying Mexico’s rich history in anthropology and archaeology.
An impressive four-square kilometers in size with 23 exhibition halls, Museo Nacional de Antropología is one of the world’s most comprehensive museums and requires at least a full day to tour all its treasures. If you’re interested in the history of Mexico, then this is the place for you.
Price range: $
3. Tulum Archaeological Site
Located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula looking out towards the breathtaking Caribbean Ocean, the Mayan Ruins of Tulum are a bucket list destination for tourists from all corners of the globe.
As a former trading hub and place of worship, Tulum offers a diverse array of architecture, including both defensive and religious structures. The Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God are must-sees for anyone interested in religious history of the country. Equally impressive, El Castillo and Tulum’s wall showcase the ancient city’s defenses, built on the edge of the cliff and serving as a watch tower for oncoming boats.
Tulum Archaeological Site has over 18,164 five-star reviews, praising the beauty, history, and culture of this pre-Columbian fortressed city. Some points of interest include the unique shoreline location, helpful tour guides available, magnificent coastal views and wildlife.
Price range: $-$$
4. Chichen Itza
As one of UNESCO’s ‘New Seven Wonders of The World’, it’s easy to see why this historical site has racked up a total of 18,044 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor.
Also located in Yucatan, eastern Mexico. Chichen Itza welcomes over 2.6 million visitors who come flocking to see the beautiful ancient ruins and explore the Mayan history surrounding it. Built between 550 AD and 800 AD, Chichen Itza is home to stunning historical architecture, including The Pyramid of Kukulkan, an impressive thirty-meter tall pyramid, which is about the same size as a football field.
Chichen Itza is one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological sites and a must-visit on your next trip to Mexico. Some of the top reviews praise the site’s knowledgeable tour guides, picture-perfect views and outstanding history, but warn visitors of busy car parks.
Price range: $$
5. Quinta Avenida
Quinta Avenida, also known as Fifth Avenue, is the vibrant street in Mexico, best known for its local restaurants, bustling bars and souvenir shops along Playa del Carmen.
Although Quinta Avenida is not one to be mistaken for Manhattan’s luxurious shopping street, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, offering rustic Mexican charm with a host of shops and eateries—just a stone’s throw from the beach.
Quinta Avenida is ranked as the second-best thing to do in Playa Del Carmen and has over 11,466 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor. Many visitors enjoy strolling along the street for the fantastic ambience, friendly locals, traditional artisanal shops, live entertainment and fun nightlife.
Price range: $-$$$
How to keep your money safe when traveling abroad
When planning your trip to Mexico, you’ll need to consider how much money you’re going to bring with you. On average, you should expect to spend around $1,734 MXN each day, which is around $86 USD – taking into account your food and transportation costs. However, you may need to budget more for shopping, activities and other luxuries.
Traditionally, many of us would have gone down to the money exchange to convert large sums of cash to last us the whole trip. While this is still very common, you run the risk of falling victim to theft or misplacing your cash during your vacation.
At Remitly, we are leading providers of digital financial services and helping people from all over the world send money to Mexico. Here are some top tips to keep your money safe when traveling abroad:
1. Use a prepaid travel card or international bank card
Using a prepaid travel card or international bank card means you can reduce the amount of cash you bring with you. This limits the risk of being targeted by pickpockets or misplacing your cash. Just double-check your cards work abroad before you set off, as some banks have automatic international security measures in place.
2. Store your cash in different places
We’re not recommending ditching cash altogether on your travels. In fact, cash is always handy, especially when it comes to paying in remote locations or tipping at restaurants. However, to keep your cash safe, it’s best to store it in different places, so that it is less likely to be stolen or misplaced. Why not keep some of it on your person and some in your suitcase, for instance?
3. Make use of a safe if available
That being said, it can also be a good idea to store some of your cash, and valuables, in the safe provided by your accommodation – if you’re certain it’s secure!
4. Don’t carry more cash than you need
Carrying around too much money can put you and your cash at risk. Ideally, you don’t want to be carrying around more cash than you would usually at home. It’s worth checking if you can withdraw more cash during your vacation, rather than withdrawing all of it beforehand.
Similarly, try to keep a range of bigger notes, smaller notes and coins with you at all times. Some vendors may not accept certain notes, and it can be difficult to pay for items under $1 with larger notes.
5. Don’t rely on one type of payment method
We recommend using a combination of payment types, such as a bank card and cash, rather than relying on just one method. This way, you’ll be covered if you find yourself in a sticky situation abroad.
6. Get to know the foreign currency
Understanding the exchange rate is crucial on international travels. It’s easy to get mixed up and result in you overpaying for goods and services, or accidentally underpaying. Before traveling, we recommend getting familiar with how much everyday items should cost – for example, a $2 USD coffee would be about $40 MXN.
Methodology and sources
Remitly analyzed data from TripAdvisor to create a list of the ‘most likely names to leave a five-star review’ in Mexico. The data includes all historical reviews and is up-to-date and correct as of September 2022.
This data was compiled based on the ‘top 10’ pages for restaurants, hotels, and attractions in Mexico on TripAdvisor. Remitly then crawled over 10,000 names across nearly 15,000 reviews to identify the reviewers. The 10 names that appeared most often were named the most generous reviewers and therefore the most likely to leave a five-star review.
These data points were also analyzed and segmented to create a ‘most likely’ list for tourists, local tourists, and men/women. Local names were selected based on the most common names in the country, while the tourist list was based on all the reviews with traditionally non-local names.
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