Tipping at a B&B?

Not in Europe.

Tipping the B&B owner is not customary.

I don't leave any tip at a B&B in London, neither do I generally in the 2 star hotels I stay at in France. But with regards to a Pension in Germany, especially after an extended stay of more than six days, I do give a tip to to the proprietor on the day of check-out, especially in Berlin, regardless of it being customary or not.

The only tipping we do at a B&B is in the breakfast room. If the owners bring in someone to help serve, we usually leave a small tip on the table. We never leave a tip otherwise. When we are staying at a hotel for multiple days, we leave a tip on the bed EACH morning. Always seem to get better service when the staff knows that they are appreciated. Why would you wait until the last day? They may think that you'll leave them nothing, as most people do!

I agree with Bob, we do the same. And we definitely leave a tip of 1-2 euros each morning when staying in a hotel no matter how many stars it is. Maids work very hard and deserve a tip. If you can afford to go on vacation, you should tip the maid.

Leaving a tip for the housekeeper on a daily basis is the proper thing to do, but if the B&B owner is also the housekeeper, then no. One doesn't tip the owner usually. It often depends on the size of the B&B. They may have some help come in for stuff like cleaning rooms or helping with laundry or breakfasts, but each B&B is different. Simply ask if they do it all themselves.

Almost every B&B I've ever stayed in, I was taken care of by the owners/proprietors. However, there was one time in England where (due to my keeping irregular hours, I guess) I never saw the owners. I heard about them, but was let into the house, shown my room, given my in-room breakfast both mornings, had my bed made , and booked a cab out of town, by the same young woman who was hired to assist the owners. I left her a tip given how much she had done for me. Five or ten pounds, I don't recall how much I left.

We don't leave tips at B&B's, but if we've stayed there 3 or 4 days and have gotten to know the owners a bit, we'll often leave a small gift, such as a nice bottle of wine.

Usually, in B&B's it's the owners who does everything (there are times that they have hired help), tipping isn't done. The owners do not expect a tip.

In Bruges 2 years ago, I asked the owner of our small hotel what would be an appropriate tip for the maids. Well, he launched into a tirade about what he paid in wages, holiday bonuses, and an additional month wages paid each year. I confess I was pretty rattled and didn't hear everything he said, but the upshot was leave them nothing. Maybe it's a Belgian thing. On the same trip I asked a gentleman with whom we'd been seated for dinner and spent a nice evening about the appropriate tip. It was clear he was regular and friend of the owner. He became clearly upset, and frowning replied, "Ve do NOT do zat in Belgium!"

If the B&B is more like a guest house with a few staff, I will tip the staff who have helped me in any way. If it is an owner operatored B&B, I do not. They told me how much they wanted before I checked in.