If you’re part of the growing sense that Airbnb isn’t worth its cost these days, you’re likely back to booking hotels during your travel. Even if the cost is comparable to an Airbnb, with a hotel you’re also buying certain perks—most notably, housekeeping services. But how do you show your gratitude for the people who keep your room clean and sanitary? Are you keeping up with the times, or are you accidentally stiffing workers who hardly make more than minimum wage? Here’s what to know about the best up-to-date practices for tipping hotel housekeeping.
How much should you tip hotel housekeepers?
As with most forms of tipping, a hard-and-fast rule is hard to come by. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests leaving a $1-to-$5 tip per day for the housekeeping staff. However, those same AHLA guidelines also suggest a 15-20% tip for your server in a restaurant, when most servers would argue 20% is the standard and 15% is out-of-date—especially with inflation these days. For this reason, I’d err on the $5/day side of that range for hotel housekeepers.
Here some other factors about your stay to consider so that you can tip accordingly.
Number of occupants. More people usually means more cleaning. Consider adding an additional $1 tip per person on top of your base tip.
Size of the room. Similar to above, a bigger room with more amenities means more work for housekeepers.
Your personal cleanliness. Did you barely move your bedding, or did you ball out and trash the place? Be an honest judge of how you treated the room that someone else has to now clean.
Human connection. If you had a positive interaction with a housekeeper while entering or leaving your room, consider tipping for friendly guest service.
Remember these best tipping practices
Compared to other forms of tipping, for hotel housekeepers it’s crucial to make yourself obvious. Avoid leaving cash on the nightstand or under a pillow, as it’s at risk of getting lost when the bed sheets are changed. It’s ideal to leave the cash in a marked envelope or on top of a note, so that there’s no mistake that it’s for housekeeping. A brief thank you note doesn’t hurt, either.
One last note: The tip should be left daily, rather than as a grand sum at the end of your stay, since hotel housekeepers might have different day-to-day room assignments.
The bottom line is that no matter your budget, it’s important to factor in a tip for your hotel housekeeper. They provide an essential service to keep your hotel room hygienic, not to mention adding a touch of luxury to your stay. Your tip goes a long way.