Tipping May Be the Norm, but Not for Hotel Housekeepers (Published 2017) (2024)

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Tipping May Be the Norm, but Not for Hotel Housekeepers (Published 2017)? ›

The tip doesn't have to be big — $1 to $5, says the American Hotel and Lodging Association. But fewer than a third of hotel guests leave any money for the housekeepers.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests leaving a $1-to-$5 tip per day for the housekeeping staff. A Los Angeles native, Jennifer is a freelance personal finance writer and editor whose goal is to help readers get excited about improving their financial health.

Pro tip: Tip everyone: While most travelers know to tip a bellman or valet, few leave anything for the front-desk agent—despite their enormous power to influence the quality of your stay. “The front desk isn't a tipped position, so when you do tip, it makes them beholden to you,” Tomsky said.

In the event that you check out of your room and forget to tip the housekeeper, you can still make sure they are tipped sufficiently! To do this, just be sure to go to the front desk and give them the money.

How Much Should You Tip Your House Cleaner? On average, tips range from 10 to 20 percent of the price the client paid for their service, says Kanipe. “It varies from client to client, and there are some who may not ever tip, or only tip around the holidays—and if only then, it's usually very generous,” she adds.

The standard tip for hotel housekeeping in the U.S. is $2 to $5 per day, says Cohorst. Now, with all the additional work housekeeping must accomplish, it's only fair to tip a consistent $5 per day—even more, if you're feeling exceptionally benevolent.

The average suggested tip amount is $2-3 per day and up to $5 per day if you're staying at a 4 or 5-star hotel.

It seems obvious, but it's much easier to clean your room if you're not in it. The staff needs space to go about their tasks and don't want to interrupt your Zoom call with the noise of their vacuum cleaners. If you have executive lounge access, that's a great place to stay while housekeepers clean your room.

You do not have to tip every time you take out your car. Are you coming and going several times a day? It's unnecessary to tip with each interaction. But, at minimum, it's customary to tip when you check in and out of the hotel.

Do you tip at a hotel breakfast buffet? ›

Complimentary hotel perks, such as breakfast buffets and evening receptions, involve attendants. It's unnecessary, but $1-2 is welcome, especially if they made an effort to be extra helpful or clear your table.

“The standard tipping amount varies widely based on the quality of the hotel,” says Bergen. “For example, a $5 or $10 tip for a one-night stay at a two or three-star chain hotel is not unusual, but a five-star Hotel guest will usually tip $20 or more.”

Tipping for room service is expected in destinations where tipping is customary and when a room service charge has not already been added to the bill.

But there's one important place they're often forgetting to pay gratuity altogether amid the “tipflation” debate, according to one etiquette expert: hotels.

If you need extra towels, sunscreen, bottled water, food or other amenities, let your pool-hand take care of it for you. But make sure you tip him/her at the end of the day. The more service you require the more tip you leave. Towels = $1; Food/drink = $2-$5, depending on the total bill.

Housekeepers, bellhops, valets, and massage therapists are just some of the hotel staff travelers should consider tipping. In the United States, tipping still makes up a large portion of hospitality staff wages.

When to tip your hotel room cleaners. Some travelers like to leave one tip for hotel housekeeping at the end of their stay. But most experts say it's better to leave a tip every day of your trip. “We recommend tipping nightly, as your room may be serviced by different people,” said Ten Eyck.

Since you may have many "mousekeepers" throughout your stay, you may want to leave your gratuity every night, although leaving one tip at the end of the week is also acceptable. Tipping is never required, but it is greatly appreciated for all of their hard work.

Tipping is typically done for a service that is provided to you. In a hotel, that generally means wiping down the bathroom, vacuuming, clean linens/towels, trash removal, etc. If there was no service provide to you, you don't have to tip.