tipping the maids

Unless you make it clear that any money is a tip you may find it still there when you return to your room! We usually leave about 2 euro per day, rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10, at the end of our stay.

Not common here or expected.

It may not be common, nor expected, but I think housekeeping staff in every country always appreciate tips. Having worked in the hospitality industry, I know what a hard, back-breaking job this is and that housekeepers are usually the lowest paid employees around. If you leave a couple of coins on top of your pillow, this is pretty much understood by the housekeepers. Put a note on it if you think they won't understand, or ask the front desk where the best place is to leave a tip. It is also best to do this on a daily basis and not at the end of your visit as housekeepers often trade off rooms each day. If you are in a private B&B, where the rooms are being cleaned by the owner or family members, then the tipping may be different, but I would probably still tip.

I never leave daily tips. I leave something on a table when I leave. On occasion, I have handed some euros to the housekeeper when the other person cleaning rooms was the owner. For one night I ordinarily leave nothing. For multiple nights, a couple of euros. I often request no daily service, so I am "low maintenance" as a hotel guest.

I grew up in England, and I had never heard of the notion of tipping housekeeping staff until long after I moved to the US. I think it's just another example of the American tipping culture. I've been infected to the point I feel initially uncomfortable in non-tipping countries (it wears off fast), but I still don't tip housekeeping staff.

We have always left 1 or 2 Euros on a pillow for a tip for the cleaning staff. In the UK, usually a 1 Pound coin. It's our way of saying "thanks" for the unseen work they do.

I always leave at least 2 Euros, each day, in the middle of the bed. As Jo said, it is a hard, back-breaking job and I believe tipping is the right thing to do. I would never not tip a maid. I leave it each day for the reason Jo mentioned, because I want the person that did the work to get the tip.

We always leave a couple of Euro. If they are there when we return for the day, we understand. In China, they never pick up the Yuan tip on the bed. No such problem here in California - it's gone.

"In China, they never pick up the Yuan tip on the bed" That's because China is a non-tipping country.

Also, a lot of hotels which cater to foreign tourists in China add a "service charge" to the rate.

I almost always leave a Euro or two, every day.
I also leave a Euro for the breakfast attendant for the 2 or 4 of us so we have good hot coffee ASAP the next day. The professional waiters in Italy who are paid with real wages can hardly compare with what looks like eastern Europeans cleaning up after me. Appreciation goes a long way, money is not the only way to show it but it is nice.

I agree with you melissa, we always leave a euro or two for the breakfast person as well.

I have worked in the hospitality business for years. I always tip unless there is a major problem. Not all "service charges" get passed on to staff as gratiuities. Many times they are kept by management or owners. A cash tip is always appreciated both here and abroad.

"A cash tip is always appreciated both here and abroad."- gross generalization based on thinking everyone thinks like Americans. Some countries, ranging from China to Australia, do NOT have tipping cultures. In these countries a tip can be seen as an insult. Apparently in China it is known as the "stupid foreigner tax". If no local would tip, why would you?

This is a forum about Europe and Italy in particular and what to tip here. Why do people keep talking about China? Now Australia has entered the picture. It is great that those countries don't have a tipping culture, but in Europe it is expected to tip something. Service charges are never given to staff as a tip, so anytime you read this and think the server or whoever is getting that money, they aren't.

I was responding to a general statement, but to get specific: See http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/eurotips.htm Specifically, Italy, hotels: "Tip in a hotel if someone is very helpful or friendly. If they are carrying luggage for you or helping you in resolving problems. " Nothing about tipping maids. Lonely Planet for Italy says: "you are expected to tip the porter at top-end hotels" Again, nothing about tipping maids.

Thanks for all the replies. All your comments help me arrive at a decision. Love this forum!