We all know the awkwardness of not knowing how much to tip, or not knowing how to tip. While tipping is widely expected in restaurants and hair salons, we are much less certain on how much to tip hotel staff. The general rule of thumb is that you should tip hotel housekeeping, but it can be a struggle to figure out what is appropriate while travelling. How much is too little, and how much is too much? Can tipping be insulting to the hotel maid? As it turns out, it doesn’t have to be this complicated.
Tipping housekeeping is important
Housekeeping is a physically demanding occupation, often with little reward. Hotel housekeepers make beds, wash and vacuum floors, tidy rooms, clean bathrooms, and more – but according to a survey, 31 percent of people don’t tip hotel maids at all.
Rachel Gumpert, a spokeswoman for Unite Here, a hotel and hospitality workers’ union in the USA, explains that housekeepers are usually women who “are providing excellence in service that often includes a very challenging work load and gruelling physical labor.”
“Hotel housekeepers generally work each room alone with strenuous conditions, including women lifting hundred pound mattresses, repetitive bending, and full shifts on their feet,” she said. “The reality is that the women who work as hotel housekeepers are doing valuable work that deserves recognition, just the same as valets, bellmen, or other hotel workers more visible to guests are.”
Although the services provided by housekeeping are often ‘invisible’, hotel maids can and should be tipped for good service. Tipping correctly will show your appreciation for the housekeeping services provided to you during your stay, and in return the housekeepers will take extra care of your room. If you tip incorrectly, or not at all, misunderstandings or poor service may arise.
Different countries, different expectations
Every country has different customs and expectations around tipping. It’s always best practice to take the time to research the destination’s culture and tipping customs before you travel. In most countries, a tip would be appreciated, but there are exceptions.
For example, in China, while most government-operated hotels and restaurants prohibit the acceptance of tips, it is sometimes expected at the more prominent hotels and expectations can vary. Similarly, government notices in Singapore state that tipping is not allowed, but exceptions can be made for hotel porters who lug your heavy bags around.
In contrast, the United States is the tipping capital of the world, and failing to leave a tip can easily offend the service staff at your hotel. Tips in the US supplement low wages in the service industry, so if someone helps you out and makes your trip more enjoyable, you should tip! This definitely includes tipping hotel housekeeping.
When in doubt, do your research, and consider asking the concierge in your hotel what tipping customs are expected during your stay.
Tip appropriately for the country and the currency
Again, when in doubt, just ask! Always do your research before visiting a new country, as the preferred currency for tips can vary. While dollars are often accepted in many countries, it could also be inconvenient for hotel staff to convert small bills. It’s often easier for locals to trade in the local currency.
How much should you tip hotel housekeeping?
TripAdvisor’s tipping and etiquette guidelines recommend tipping up to $5 each night in luxury or high-end hotels. For an average hotel, $2 to $3 per night is suggested.
Unite Here spokeswoman Rachel Gumpert said she hopes hotel visitors leave $1 to $5 a night “as a recognition of the often invisible work hotel housekeepers do that although unseen is integral to an exceptional guest experience.”
In general, accepted housekeeper tipping etiquette is to leave a few dollars per night, alongside a note letting the cleaning staff know that the money is for them. However, if you feel you have been given a high standard of service or special care has been shown to your room, you can leave a larger tip to show your gratitude.
The best way to leave a tip
When tipping hotel housekeeping, it’s best to leave your tip in an obvious place. This could be on the television, the bathroom counter, on top of the desk, or on top of the pillows on the bed. Leave a note to mark clearly that the tip is intended for the housekeeper or hotel maid.
It is also best to tip daily rather than leaving one large tip before checking out – it is likely that different maids will be servicing your room throughout your stay, and this ensures that your tips are spread between them all.
So, why isn’t tipping hotel housekeeping more widespread? Perhaps it should be more normalised. Shane C. Blum, an associate professor of hospitality and retail management at Texas Tech University, told the New York Times that “If hotels really wanted to institutionalize tipping, they could do it through electronic checkouts, or an app, or the TV, with a question like, ‘Would you like to leave a tip for your housekeeper?’” He continues to say, “We live in a tipping society. Even sandwich shops do that now. Why shouldn’t hotels do it?” Next time you are in a hotel, be sure to look up local tipping customs, and show your appreciation for the hard-working team by leaving a tip for hotel staff.
