Tipping for Housekeeping

It’s fine to leave a tip for the housekeepers- I doubt anyone would take offence at it, and if they don’t want the money, they can always give it to charity.

I tipped housekeeping when I was in York this past May.

I bring these little envelopes with me and write “Thank-you!! 😊” on it. Put a few coins or a 5 in it and leave it on the bed.

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Not in England, but sometimes I have gotten a little note back from housekeeping.

I tip often, especially for an extended stay, and I always hand it directly to the housekeeper. I never just leave it in the room, on the bed...I also tip the breakfast room servers, if at a hotel where breakfast is included.

If you like to leave a tip for the housekeepers feel free to do so.

On one of our international trips, perhaps Egypt, we were told to leave it on our pillows or housekeeping would not take it.

On one of our international trips, perhaps Egypt, we were told to leave it on our pillows or housekeeping would not take it.

Of course always ask the front desk about these matters of custom, but I have never encountered anything like that in my travels in Western Europe or the UK, with England being the specific subject of this thread.

In fact I have had hotels tell me to not leave money on the side table, or on the bed, as their housekeepers have been told to not take anything of value from the rooms - leaving money in an envelope could just wind up in the trash, too. The same thing applies in restaurants - never just leave a tip on the table, always hand it directly to the waiter - also if you want to tip a waiter using a CC, ask them first if the tip goes to them, or does the restaurant simply keep it, in which case I either pull cash out of my pocket or I skip the tip.

Custom can cut both ways...better to ask than to assume.

Thanks AmandaR, Carrie, Jojo Rabbit, Claudia & Suki - this forum is great for unseasoned travelers!

We were in a RS tour in Italy this summer. I actually asked this housekeeping tipping question to our tour guide at the orientation meeting. Her answer was not tipping because she will take care of all the tipping. I assume this implies that when we're on our own, we should tip. So we tipped the extra days we stayed that not covered by RS tour.

We like to bring a postcard from Seattle and a candy bar made by a Seattle-based chocolate company. We write a big THANK YOU on the card in the native language. We leave it on the dresser/desk when we leave.

We always leave a tip for the housekeeping maid no matter where we are traveling. My tip money won’t break the bank, but that money could make a difference to the hardworking anonymous maid.

When we were on our Rick Steves London tour we had such a sweet lady that worked in the breakfast area at the hotel. I came down with a bad cold the last few days of our tour and stayed behind because I was not feeling well. She was so kind and made me a special tea with honey, ginger and lemon slices. She had inquired why I wasn’t with our group. When I told her I wasn’t feeling well she asked if she could make me a tea that might help. She did this for me on two separate occasions. I really appreciated her kindness. We gave her a cash tip on our last day and she actually began to cry. She was so touched and appreciative. A tip for someone who does their job well or does something extra is always a good thing.

alibaker0508, that's sweet.

Oh my...I never do. I thought it was considered offensive to leave a tip in England and I thought that extended to housekeeping. I will be visiting again next spring, and I guess I'll leave a tip then!