There’s a popular thread on Threads right now from a guy who goes by the handle @profitsandpoints. He has almost 400 comments after asking: “How much do you tip housekeeping when you stay at a hotel in the US?” RELATED: Has tipping in the United States gotten out of control?
I was quite shocked by the responses, including that of @profitsandpoints. He wrote: “I usually leave $10 per cleaning. $20 if there’s some above and beyond reason. (e.g., We have extra trash, there’s turndown service, they gave us wine/snacks, etc.)”
Post by @profitsandpointsView on Threads
If I tipped $10 to $20 a day, I would be broke. When I travel by myself for work, I rarely even have housekeeping come in. I change my sheets once a week at home and wash my towels every two to three days so I don’t need to have it done daily at a hotel. If I have trash, I either throw it away myself or leave it by the door. But I do leave a tip when I check out.
When I’m with my family, we do often get housekeeping because my wife loves a clean and tidy house. In that case, I usually tip $3 to $5, either when housekeeping comes in or I when I check out. If I’m upgraded to a large suite like at the JW Marriott Palm Desert, then I give more.
I either give the housekeeper the money directly or I leave it under the pillow. You can also write a quick thank you note so they know the money is for them as multiple times, housekeeping has not taken their tip, including this past weekend at the Cassara hotel in Carlsbad.
I sometimes leave the money under the pillow just in case another hotel worker or supervisor comes in. I don’t want anyone else to swipe it from the counter. I want the person who is actually cleaning to get it.
I also tip daily since oftentimes, there are different housekeepers each day and it’s not right that the person who works the last day of your stay gets the whole tip, while the housekeepers who worked the other days get nothing.
I find it best to hand housekeeping the money myself with a smile so they know I appreciate their work and also so they don’t use my toothbrush to clean the toilet because apparently that’s a thing.
I also always tidy the room up, something I learned from my mother. I used to think she was crazy when I was a kid as she would always clean for the housekeeper but now that I’m older, I totally understand. It’s about respect for the hotel and most of all, the worker. We don’t have a regular house cleaner at home but when we do, my wife always cleans up before she comes, again, out of respect.
What I found shocking about the comments left on Threads is how many people said they don’t tip and some were quite nasty about it:
raoul_ny: Nothing. 200+ nights a year for the last 30 years. Lifetime highest tier in both Marriott and Hilton programs.
musicmels22: Why on EARTH would I tip somebody I’ve literally never even seen? This is the epitome of crazy US tipping culture.
Bxtmxne: wait, yall tip housekeeping?? you literally pay for that when you pay for the room
ana.od668: It must be very stressful living in the US always having to worry about when to tip and how much to tip. People should be paid properly for their work.
Cwfromsd: Sorry… spent it on the “resort fee”
Oatmealartist: …I…. did not know I was supposed to tip housekeeping
One comment is spot on: mikeecottle: Unfortunately I don’t think you’ll be able to settle this debate judging from the comments so far. I do tip in the US – typically about $5-10 per night. But it’s ridiculous that we have to do this so that housekeepers can afford to have a decent living. I also do this in Europe but I’m sure in Sweden they probably think “some stupid American left some Krona next to the TV again.” And in Japan if I were to do it they would be offended.
In some countries like Japan, it’s rude to tip. On my first visit there, the bellman refused to take a tip and I thought I was in the Twilight Zone. So make sure you know the local traditions before you offend someone. Unfortunately, in the U.S. most housekeepers are severely underpaid and they work hard.
I just did some research to find out if I’m a cheapskate and according to The Emily Post Institute, $2 to $5 per day is best, with a note marked “Housekeeping – Thank you” so that the housekeeping team knows it’s for them.
KEEP READING:
–Your guide to tipping in the 25 most popular countries in the world
–Should you tip on takeout?
–How much I tip hotel housekeepers and my trick for making sure they get it
–Pay it forward: The trick to ensuring the next guest gets clean sheets at a hotel or vacation rental
–Has tipping in the United States gotten out of control?
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I try to get $100 in $5 bills before each trip so I can leave one or multiple bills, depending on what level of service provided. For an overnight road hotel, I don’t feel need to tip but definitely at a resort where you’re staying for a while. Usually the housekeepers aren’t expecting it and are very appreciative. It’s good karma.
I do the same thing!
I tip $5 or 5 euro per day and leave a note so they know it is for them. That is for ‘normal’ just towels and sheets clean. If there is more involved or something they did above and beyond I tip more.
It would be nice to have service at a hotel. This happened recently at a Hampton Inn (6 six day stay) and Hilton Garden Suite (2 day stay). We were told that there were no extra pillows or blankets at the hotel. Two days after my request at the desk I took action. I left the dirty towels and trash outside my door in the hallway. We took clean towels from the pool area, found toilet paper on a maid’s cart and bagged up the trash again. No way do I tip for that kind of the service, The rooms were expensive enough. My friends say this is the normal now.
It depends. I’ve usually tipped $2 a person, minimum $5 a day. If everything is nice & clean and the sheets aren’t shorted, yes I check, as I do for bedbugs, it goes up. I look at the remote, tv screen, bathroom as well. If I ask for more towels and receive them I tip more. When we traveled with young children, we always played clean up and at times, left a guilt tip. But I know these are hard workers not given a lot of time to do their job and usually aren’t union (though we try to stay at union hotels). Tipping is essential.
$0. Typical
$5 if ive stayed for more than 3days
$5 if ive left room in bad shape or lots of trash
My first job was as a hotel housekeeper, and I remember being beyond thrilled when a guest left me a few dollars or coins. I almost always leave a tip in the room, anywhere from $2-$5/day. It’s rare I stay some place with daily service anymore or request it, so I leave a tip mostly based on how clean the room was when I arrived and if we used one or two beds. Years ago I left a $20 bill after a few nights because I didn’t have anything smaller. The housekeeper went right into our room after we closed the door, then caught up to us at the elevator, crying and thanking us profusely. I figure most of them are paid minimum wage and deserve a little extra since their job can be pretty gross.