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Travelers add major expenses when planning a vacation — flights, hotels, car rentals, and dining. Some vacationers need to remember to tip hotel housekeepers.
Hotel housekeepers are usually not seen by guests. Unlike restaurant servers or hotel valets, who interact with their customers face to face, they do most of their work without being noticed.
A Cornell University survey found respondents felt less obligated than bartenders and hotel bell staff to tip housekeepers. Tipping these hotel staff is a part of good travel etiquette.
What should travelers know about tipping the hotel housekeeping staff?
Tips for hotel housekeeping employees
Giving a fixed amount to the hotel housekeeping staff is impossible. However, there are some best practices that you can follow to show your appreciation.
The recommended tipping distance
The American Hotel & Lodging Association recommends leaving a tip of $1 to $5 daily. When estimating your travel budget, the tipping range can be helpful. However, how much you information ultimately depends on several factors.
How much to tip your hotel staff
Some guests tip a lump sum on the final day of their stay. However, giving incremental tips daily is better since hotel housekeepers may have different room assignments daily. Daily tips ensure your appreciation is directed to the worker who cleans the room daily.
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Cash is King
Cash is preferred when leaving tips for hotel housekeeping. Some gratuities, such as food, alcohol, or gambling tokens, may be well-intentioned. Some hotel policies limit what housekeeping staff are allowed to accept.
If you stay in a Las Vegas Hotel, you may want to tip housekeeping with casino chips or electronic slot machine coupons. Still, the state’s gaming regulations prevent housekeepers from accepting these items. Some hotels also have strict policies against gambling for their employees, making it difficult for housekeepers to redeem vouchers and casino chips into cash.
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Leave tips for housekeeping
Be sure to place the tip somewhere visible, such as on the dresser next to the sink or in the bathroom. If you leave your housekeeping tip on your nightstand or bed, your money may be lost or jostled when the sheets are changed.
Your tip can be left on top or next to a note of thanks. This will make it clear that you are giving a cash tip to the housekeeper. It also reduces the chance of a misunderstanding.
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What is the tip for housekeeping?
How much you tip your hotel housekeeper depends on your specific stay. What is the standard tip for hotel housekeeping services? Do you list more than the recommended $1-$5 daily range? Take a look at the following.
Several occupants. You should account for extra cleaning that the housekeeper will need to do if you are traveling with a family or group. You may need to buy extra blankets and sheets or dispose of more trash. Consider adding $1 per person to your tip.
Type of room. The size of your room and its amenities will also affect how long it takes a housekeeper to clean it. Housekeeping may have additional duties if you book a room with a kitchenette. For example, cleaning microwaves and restocking dishes and kitchen supplies are part of the job.
Condition of your bedroom. Your housekeeper will appreciate you putting the trash in the bin and treating your room as you would at home. If you have a messy hotel room, such as empty soda bottles or boxes scattered around, tip the housekeeper.
Special requests You may want an extra pair of shampoo from the hotel, for example. An excellent tip shows your appreciation.
Interactions with the staff. The housekeepers will usually do their work while you are away from your bedroom to avoid interrupting your stay. You may also interact with housekeeping in person, for instance, when you return to your room during the day. If you have a positive experience with housekeeping, it may be worth a larger tip.
Your budget. The amount of tip you give to hotel housekeeping ultimately depends on your budget. Consider tipping generously to acknowledge the physical labor that housekeepers perform. A $1 to $2 tip daily, with a thank-you note written by hand, is a thoughtful gesture if your budget is restricted.
Do you tip the concierge?
Consider tipping the concierge staff member $5 or more if they have made several arrangements for you, from simple tasks that take only a few moments to request favors to getting the VIP treatment. Consider the extra effort they have made and tip accordingly.
You can either tip on the go or wait until you reach your destination to pay a large sum.