Tipping Paris Hotel Housekeeping

I don't think there's any "should," really, with respect to that question.

My wife and I generally tip 3€ for a night's stay. If we're staying several nights we commonly decline daily cleaning, as it's unnecessary, in our opinion, and tip 5€ to 7€ upon departure.

Thanks Bob. We prefer no housekeeping. So, we tried to decline, but It seems that we needed to decline every single day because even though we specifically asked them for no housekeeping they still did it. So we’re left in this quandary. And there’s no real clear information on what’s appropriate.

Yes, sometimes it's frustrating to have one's wishes ignored. That said, I understand in this day of moronic terrorists some hotels seem to consider it their duty to have staff enter rooms at least daily to make sure no one is assembling an arsenal or stockpiling bomb-making materials.

Sad but true, however exceedingly rare.

As a general rule, tipping is not an ingrained thing in France or other European countries, so -- believe it or not -- leaving nothing probably would not raise an eyebrow. Consequently, if you left 5€ to 10€ for the week you'd probably make your housekeeper's day.

I'm sure someone else with a stronger opinion may offer a differing opinion.

I have never left a tip for housekeeping. Also how would you know on the day you leave that the same person came into clean as had been cleaning all week??

You don’t tip housekeeper , and even if you do it’s horrible to tip on last day and the lady receiving it may not be the one who did your room for the last week , they do get days off or change doing certain rooms . Always tip housekeepers daily , in places where it is expected . It is not expected in France , but North Americans do it anyways because they don’t understand different countries have different customs , or assume their customs are more important .

Of course one doesn't know if the person providing services to one's room on the last day is the same person who cleaned the room previously -- that's why it's best, if possible, to tip daily. But even so, if one has the means to travel half way across the world and stay in a hotel, perhaps one could find some repository of kindness within to realize that the folks cleaning the rooms may, perhaps, lack sufficient financial resources.

Sure, perhaps "North Americans do it anyways because they don’t understand different countries have different customs," but perhaps simple kindness is more important than an effort to achieve lockstep adherence to local customs.

Whatever -- do what you feel is fair.

But don't let some fear of being overly generous dissuade you from doing what you think is right.

Maybe there are folks who believe they're suckers because they learn, after the fact, that they've been overly generous in their tips to those of lesser means. One would hope there also are folks who derive a sense of well-being for having done something nice to someone of less financial means, even if it's unexpected.

North Americans do it because hotel cleaners and waiters are very underpaid. businesses depend on tipping so they can avoid paying a decent wage. When we impose our odd custom on cultures where it is not then norm the main effect is to create an expectation that North Americans are an easy touch; one of the unlovelier aspects of touring as an American is having tips solicited or demanded when all around you are locals being served and left in piece.

If you do tip the maid, it is a good idea to hand it to them if possible or else the manager who often surveys rooms before assigning cleaning, may scoop it up.

The otherbob , having worked in hospitality for many years I still call baloney on Americans trying to spread their tipping practices around( and calling it “ kindness “ but really are just trying to jab at those who have made it clear it is not the custom ) , in France the maids are paid a better wage than in America , and they have socialized medicine so they don’t worry about medical insurance or costs like ooor Americans maids often have to !

After spending time with Miss Jo, who has lived in Germany, working in hotel/restaurant field for decades, I pay more attention to tipping the maid. Thanks Jo. A little euro a day doesn’t make as big a difference to me as it does to them. Tough job.

I strongly agree with Bob, Bets and Ms Jo. I leave €3 each day on the bed so the person cleaning my room gets it. I’ve spent well over a year in France staying in hotels, in addition to living there, and I have never known anyone but the cleaning woman to enter my room. I also often make friends with the cleaning women. It’s a thankless, difficult job and if I can afford to go to France and stay in a hotel, I can afford to show appreciation and to be kind.

Thank you everyone for the advice. We really appreciate your time.

Well said, Susan.

I am totally with @The Other Bob (TOB)!

"...if one has the means to travel half way across the world and stay in a hotel, perhaps one could find some repository of kindness within to realize that the folks cleaning the rooms may, perhaps, lack sufficient financial resources."

"One would hope there also are folks who derive a sense of well-being for having done something nice to someone of less financial means, even if it's unexpected."

Housekeepers might make a "decent wage" in France and elsewhere in Europe, but I am sure they are not paid like doctors, lawyers, and other professionals. Moreover, if someone is working, they obviously need to earn money to live, so why not leave a little extra for them if you wish for the reasons TOB so elegantly stated. Lastly, please spare me the comments about ruining the tipping culture of a country by leaving the maid a daily tip.

I, an American, simply detest the "mandatory" tipping culture that we impose upon ourselves as a nation. I do tip in the States, but do not in Europe except for exceptional services. I, however, use a differing criteria than most folks for when and how much I tip in both cultures. Anyone who has to touch my corrupt body or clean up its exudate deserves more compensation than their employer is paying them, IMO. A barber, masseuse, or hotel maid in any continent who has to deal with my waste products deserves a bonus. Period. I do leave a couple of Euros for the maid each day, and always will.

I leave money for the maid daily and usually say hi to them in the hallway(most people don't). It's a thankless job and while European maids might be paid more than in the US, it still usually falls to immigrants and others that have few choices. Plus they have to clean a certain amount of rooms a day, which is easier said than done, not to mention what they find in some of the rooms. The documentary about English expats in the Costa del Sol will make you feel sorry for every hotel maid that has to clean up a drunk tourists room(think poop).

I find a euro or more-depending on the hotel is the least I can do for a thankless job. I had a friend who was a cleaner in college and the stories could stand your hair on end.

I find it best to write the word "tip" in whatever language is spoken and put the money on top of that. I once just put the money on the bedside like I'd do in the US and they would never take the money until I wrote tip.

Tipping is a way to thank folks who do the thankless jobs that makes our lives comfortable.

I strongly agree with Bob, Bets, Susan and Ms Jo. I tip maids.

I do tip maids ahead of time and I think I get more service as a result...at least more chocolates or bathroom items. ;) Tip means 'to insure promptness' so to tip at the end of the week or after the fact seems a bit absurd. I tip daily with a little note of thanks so the maid knows the money is for her...and it gets to the correct person that way. And I, too, speak to the maids in the corridor. It's not our grandparents' era, so it is no longer appropriate to pretend the service staff doesn't exist as we walk by them. I am not superior. I don't tip because I have to, but because I want to. On the other hand, if you don't want to tip, that's your decision.

What goes around, comes around.

I leave a note "To Housekeeper" with my tip. Some houskeepers are so honest, they will not touch the tip money if it is just left out.

Wray, I really like what you wrote, especially: “I am not superior. I don't tip because I have to, but because I want to.” Exactly how I feel.
I stayed in a wonderful hotel in Paris last year, and this year. In addition to tipping, I also bought them a large box of really good chocolates both times to thank them. They were all (all 3 maids) amazing, hard working and very kind to us/me.

There is absolutely no need to tip hotel staff.

It is no more appropriate for an American tourist to throw tip money around to service staff he sees, (there are plenty unseen), than it is for a French traveler to visit the USA and tip no one.

Both indicate a lack of awareness and a failure to understand and to respect cultural differences.

That’s pretty harsh—unaware of cultural differences. Hmm? Bob has lived and worked in France for several years, Susan grew up there and returns often, I live there on and off and have French nationality, Robert, Edgar, Wray are all extensive travelers who have spent years interacting in other cultures. Indeed, there is unawareness of cultural differences, but I wonder where.

"There is absolutely no need to tip hotel staff."

I don't think anyone has said one "needs" to tip; instead people have pointed out that it is the decent thing to do.

Nationality is not, I think, an issue. I'm not American, but I do tip the chambermaid, simply because I was brought up properly. It's not a pleasant job cleaning a stranger's lavatory, it's not well-paid and it is only polite to show some appreciation.

Perfectly said Bets and Nick.

Tocard, very rude and very wrong.

Sorry, but I call baloney on the cheapskates who say it's wrong to leave at least a small gratuity for the housekeeping staff. "Better pay" and "socialized healthcare" aside, the people cleaning up after you are not living high on the hog. Nor do they live close to the (no doubt) tourist central neighborhood you've selected for your lodging - they commute, some of them quite a distance because even with (marginally) better pay than their North American peers, they still can't afford to live that central.

I worked as a General Manager in Facilities for a number of years and oversaw a 24/7 operation so I had a large team reporting to me that included 3 shifts of housekeeping staff. I can assure you I've seen first hand what they faced cleaning up every day and so many people are just disgusting pigs. "Cultural Differences" aside, you'd be singing a different tune if you had to clean up even a fraction of what they face.

I therefore assume that you would agree that it is perfectly fine for a French tourist to travel the entirety of the US and never leave a tip anywhere because that´s his normal practice.

Tocard, very rude and very wrong.

Is it not rude to attempt to belittle someone for no other reason than his opinion differs from your own.

"Cultural Differences" aside, you'd be singing a different tune if you had to clean up even a fraction of what they face.

If as a manager you believe that these employees were not sufficiently compensated for the work they performed, why would you not pay them a fair wage commensurate with the unsavory aspect of their work?

I have never tipped housekeeping staff - anywhere in the world. That's more a function of me and my husband being pretty low maintenance than anything else. But if we made a huge mess or asked for something extra, I would definitely leave a few Euros.

Because, Tocard, they (like me) worked for a large corporation who set the salaries for housekeepers. I clearly stated I was a Manager, not the CEO, CFO or Human Resources who decide what the salary ranges are for any given position within the corporation.

For what it's worth, given the number of hours they had me working (I was salaried but towards the end was working nearly double shifts 6 days a week) I wasn't being fairly compensated either. However, I had the luxury to say screw this and quit. Housekeeping staff rarely have the ability to do that (whether they work in North America and have to rely on tips, or Europe where they have a supposedly fair and livable wage).

Curious as to how much you think the average Paris housekeeper is pulling in for wages each year, and if you'd be ok living on that same amount if you had a family of 4 to support.

"I have never tipped housekeeping staff - anywhere in the world. "
So you don't tip US housekeeping staff?

What I see, reading these responses, makes me think of the economic class of the various people posting.

And I'm reminded of our neighbors in Lyon. We lived in a newer apartment building and got to know the other folks on our floor (it was a pretty small building -- only three other apartments on our floor).

Two of the other apartments were occupied by full time residents. They lived there, as we did. And we knew from interacting with them that they came from modest economic backgrounds, just as we did. But they (as did we) had some fortunate circumstances and the chance to get good educations and jobs and consequently were able to move into a nice, newer, apartment building in Lyon's sixth arrondissement -- the most expensive real estate in town.

The third neighbor was different. They were an older couple, perfectly nice and gracious, but they only appeared two or three times per year for perhaps a week at a time. Their apartment stood vacant the rest of the year.

We learned when we were invited over to their apartment for apéros on one of their visits that one of them was a retired attorney (avocat in French, same word as avocado -- go figure) for an insurer in Paris. But they lived now in their retirement in Saint-Rémy in Provence. They drove up to Lyon periodically to visit their children and grandchildren.

The topic of tipping came up with our neighbors. Those that lived on our floor invited us out to dinner one night, and we observed they tipped the server, saying that they worked at similar jobs when they were young and know that such folks appreciate and depend on tips.

The older couple -- the retired ones from Saint-Rémy -- invited us to their house while we were in the area visiting the hospital where van Gogh spent his final days. We had apéros in a beautiful shaded patio near their pool followed by dinner at a restaurant in Saint-Rémy. It was a nice house in a nice area; as he drove us there, our host pointed out where Princess Caroline of Monaco lives when visiting Provence, just down the road from their house. At dinner, still being fairly new to France, we feigned ignorance, described the tipping custom in the U.S., and asked their advice about tipping in France. We were advised not to tip. These people earn good wages, we were told, and the government takes care of them.

The evidence I've seen suggests that the further one is from the day-to-day struggle of paying bills, the less one feels compelled to leave tips.

With all due apologies to those who seem adamant that one should not tip, I tip. I tip because, although I now have the means, in my heart I still do not live that far from those who struggle to make a living in today's world.

JHK - Nope. Never have tipped housekeeping in the US. I'm not saying that I never will, but I never have.

We travel overseas with a French organization--sorry RS. The other travelers are retired French professionals who I've observe tip for services, but always very discreetly. What they leave in their hotel rooms remains a secret to me, however.
I wonder what has generated this adamacy that cultures are so black and white.
My husband says his family never left a tip but then I doubt his postwar, working class family ever stayed in a hotel.

I agree with Susan Wray and others. I believe that I am blessed to be able to travel, and tipping makes me feel good. My dad once went out for dinner with my aunt and uncle, my mother's brother and his wife, who left a very miserly amount, even though they could well afford to leave a tip. My dad was embarassed and made up for the tip that they did not leave. He told my mother that he would not go out to dinner again with them, and if they could not afford to tip, they should stay home, as the wait staff depended on their tips (they did not make a minimum wage). Although he worked in a factory and didn't have much, he was generous. I am 65 years old and always tip the housekeeping staff, remembering my dad's lesson. With that said, my son lives in China and has fits with my tipping, as he tells me that the government discourages it because the staff person will "get used to it." Different points of view, no right or wrong, but leaving for China in a few days and I will continue to tip...it makes me feel good, and I am sure it is appreciated. Don't we all love to find that bill in your coat pocket you had forgotten about?

Now that many of us have advocated for tipping for a number of excellent reasons, I recommend to never respond to this topic on the RS Italy Forum page. You will be eviscerated!

Housekeepers in every country are low paid.
Leave a small tip each day on the pillow. Let it be just 2euro. It is always appreciated.
Those who feel they don't make mess, congrats to you, but the housekeeper still needs to scrub your toilet, bend over to scrub the tub, change your sheets when required, vacuum, check the lights, dust, etc. Truly one of the most back-breaking jobs around. If you are fine with tossing a dollar bill to the person pulling your draft beer, (tough job, yes?) why woudn't you give one to the housekeeper?

It is funny that the anti-tipping crowd is ignoring this topic. Maybe they're all distracted by someone asking about RailEurope.

Ms. Jo - I assume your comments were directed at me. Fair enough, I always tip the bus staff at the "free" breakfast buffet, but really never thought about tipping the housekeeping staff.

The other bob and others who think people who don’t tip or don’t over tip must never have worked in hospitality.

Um no , I’ve waitressed , hosted , even served fast food . Did not grow up rich or privileged.

I however don’t over tip in Europe , a few euros for excellent service , no maid tipping etc . It is the custom I was taught by my French family , who btw owned a hotel in Paris for many many decades .