Tipping Housekeeping with Chocolate & Books? Tipping Guidelines?

by Adam

Don’t worry, I tipped with cash as well! However, we had an extra chocolate bar (thanks Rene) and a book that was recently finished that we left for housekeeping along with our normal tip. I generally tip around $2 per day for good service when traveling on my own in the US, but more if the service is exceptional or we have multiple guests per room. I was surprised this morning when the housekeeping manager came and found us in the lobby to thank us for the tip. She said at the hotel we were staying at (Cheyenne Mountain Resort) about 70% of guests do not tip at all. So I ask, what are your tipping practices and recommendations in the US? What about when traveling abroad?

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15 comments

asianfridae May 13, 2013 - 3:12 pm

Swedish chocolates !

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James K. May 13, 2013 - 3:25 pm

I’ve traveled all my life but until I started reading blogs like yours I had no idea this was a practice

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caveman May 13, 2013 - 3:26 pm

I usually pay at the end of my stay around $5, but now I realize that these people might change everyday and only the last person will get the tip which is not quite right.

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Joey May 13, 2013 - 3:45 pm

I didn’t know this was a practice too so I’ve actually never left a tip. Are housekeeping employees paid under minimum wage as well?

On a sidenote, I do wonder whether First Class passengers leave a tip to their flight attendants for awesome/amazing service.

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Carl May 13, 2013 - 3:46 pm

I tip every day, usually $2. I also tidy up myself to make the job a bit easier. I decline housekeeping for hotels that offer points for that and just tip $2 on the day of check-out.

Foreign locations that have service charge, i tip maybe a dollar, eg Thailand i use 20BHT bills to tip.

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Mitty May 13, 2013 - 4:28 pm

I tip if it’s expected in the country I’m staying in (i.e. United States), or if the service was just exceptional. And if housekeeping ever goes beyond the call of duty, I will make a personal effort to thank them or put a note in with the manager as well. (Some hotels, like Starwood, also have thank you cards you can give for exceptional service to employees and they get a reward from Starwood.)

There are also many countries–especially in Asia–where tipping is not only not expected, but also a culture clash since tipping doesn’t exist at all in the country’s culture (for restaurants, much less hotels). I think when traveling internationally, it’s important to look up the etiquette and culture of the country and adapt accordingly.

I like the idea of tipping for good service, but leaving it on a table or nightstand doesn’t mean the person who has been cleaning your room your entire stay will ever see it.

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Scott May 13, 2013 - 5:50 pm

Your chocolates were probably discarded (would you eat food from a stranger?). I tend not to tip housekeeping staff, unless they do something special for me. Call me anti tipping, but I don’t feel the need to personally pay everyone else for doing their jobs. Seems like their employers should to me.

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Daniel G May 13, 2013 - 6:24 pm

I never tipped until I joined the forums some time ago (didn’t realize it was a practice until now). Now I tip at the end but interesting to read about tipping daily since it might not be the same person every day.

So by the $10 in the picture did you tip at the end?

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50e May 13, 2013 - 7:41 pm

I’m not staying in US and where I came from it’s not a practice to tip at hotel or restaurants. But lots of people alerted me that tipping is kinda expected in US, or you even won’t get your room cleaned. So $2 per night is I usually do in US.

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Chris L May 13, 2013 - 9:13 pm

If I’m solo travelling on business, I try to keep the room tidy (i.e. if I’m in a room with two doubles I won’t disturb one of the beds, I stack my used towels, etc.). Solo I’ll tip $2 or $3 per day. Traveling with my wife & daughter, I’ll tip $5 per day, or on the off chance we were upgraded to a suite then more. And I do the same internationally as well (Europe, Hong Kong)

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bluto May 13, 2013 - 10:07 pm

I am fortunate to be able to reward housekeepers for hard work, rather than the other way around. That is why I tip.

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Acker May 14, 2013 - 5:45 am

I try to always leave something each day along with a quick “Housekeeping, Thank you, Acker ” note. My husband pushes for $5 tip but I’m happy to leave $3/day.

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Antonio May 14, 2013 - 10:43 am

I usually tip a nominal value (e.g., $5) at the beginning of my stay. I find that your room will be cleaner and you can get extra towels, waters and all the toiletries you want (I stock up for guests at my home). If it’s extra good service, I’ll tip again at the end of my stay.

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Sandra Sheldon May 14, 2013 - 2:53 pm

I try to always tip $1 a day per person, from the very first day. With a note that says thank you. I find I never run out of anything, my room is always spotless, & there are always smiles when I pass my maid.

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