How Much Tip Should You Give to Hotel Staff
Tipping in hotels is one of those things we know we have to do, but we can easily get away from us as we quickly pack our belongings so we can check out.
For years, I never gave a tip on hotel room cleaning because I was young and didn’t realize that people did that. I also stayed at the Motel 6s of the world and not the Ritz-Carltons. I was upset when I discovered that people were doing this and started leaving a couple of dollars on the dresser, not knowing what the “right” amount to leave.
The correct tip is “a few dollars a day,” according to an etiquette expert who spoke with Travel + Leisure . The money should be left with the note to the housekeeper so they know the money is for them and not what you just missed. If you are especially dirty or for some reason the housekeeping was too difficult for you, then increase it a little.
For example, when I travel alone, I am exceptionally clean. But I traveled with friends, where our room is a sea of empty containers of drinks, trays from restaurants and all kinds of other rubbish, or where someone accidentally had a chip disaster in the middle of the room – not quite what is needed for a quick cleaning. For situations like this, I usually leave a little more.
As with restaurants, I scale my tip based on the cost of my hotel stay. While I can leave a few dollars a day in a hotel room for $ 75 a night, if I stay at the establishment for $ 350 a night I can rack up up to $ 5 a night.
Unlike restaurants, there is no specific percentage that is the “correct” tip amount. As long as you leave what is comfortable for you and reflects the amount of work someone has to put into cleaning your room, you are doing it right. And if you’ve got some extra dollars to spare, why not tip the housekeeper a generous tip? They’re picking up your mess; If you can afford it, save $ 5 overnight instead of $ 3 and make someone else’s day a little better.
This story was originally published on 09/03/17 and updated on 06/12/19.