A tip in the bathroom

[TotallyOz]

I was staying at a hotel recently and the housekeeper left me a note. It said.

Dear Mr. Oz,

I saw that 6 dollars was in the bathroom area and I thought this may be a tip for me. I really do appreciate it but if that was not your intention, I'll be around tomorrow.

I was floored. I copied the hand written note, told the manager I wanted my money back. It was not the 6 dollars but the thought itself and I forbid anyone at the hotel from ever entering my room. What would you have done?

[JKane]

It actually seems pretty reasonable to me. If the service is noticeably good in a hotel I often leave a tip on the last day, some people leave one every day, and if $6 is just laying out on a counter or nightstand I could see how the housekeeper might think it was a tip.

Personally. I'd never leave *cash* out in a room (that I wasn't giving away).

I especially tried to always tip at least a couple dollars when I visited the 1-hour motel south of Hollywood. I'm sure it couldn't be pleasant to clean that place but it was usually very clean for what it was. (Royal Hawaiian)

When I stayed in Vegas last I was kinda disappointed with the service at my hotel, including them stealing the change I'd left on the desk in the middle of my stay... but I would've most likely left it there for them at the end...

[beetwo]

I was staying at a hotel recently and the housekeeper left me a note. It said.

Dear Mr. Oz,

I saw that 6 dollars was in the bathroom area and I thought this may be a tip for me. I really do appreciate it but if that was not your intention, I'll be around tomorrow.

I was floored. I copied the hand written note, told the manager I wanted my money back. It was not the 6 dollars but the thought itself and I forbid anyone at the hotel from ever entering my room. What would you have done?

Most housekeepers leave a note saying the room was prepared by xxx and a couple of mints, somewhere in the room. This is where I think a tip should be left. If money is removed from any other part of the room, it should be reported as stealing. I think you were justified in chatting with the manager.

[Guest Anton]

Hi Oz (and others),

I now may be in "fast forward" mode, but if we find it normal that money laying around is a tip, then within soon we may expect a note saying:

'I saw that your watch, your notebook, your camera, your cell-phone, your wallet, your navigator, your passport, your car-keys, your iPod, your dvd-player and a number of other items were scattered around in your hotelroom and because of that I thought this could very well be a tip for me. I really do appreciate it but if that was not your intention, I'll be around."

In other words: I think that a hotelroom is your space for as long as you booked the room. The hotel-staff is there only to clean your room and for nothing else, period. The fact that it's normal usage to leave a tip in the US doesn't change that.

Personally I find it difficult to adapt to different tipping-habits in different countries (it's not that I don't want to tip, it's just that you never know what is expected), so if possible I give the tip in person.

Hugs, Anton/Amsterdam.

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[eeyore]

I normally leave a daily tip for the house keeper on the bed next to or on top of the pillow. I always thought this was the customary and usual procedure for tipping house keeping staff.

[Guest scamper]

Well, I don't usually leave a tip unless I am staying more than one night. Then I usually put it in an envelope and write "housekeeper" or the person's name if I know it.

In this case, I would never have asked for it back. It was only six bucks. Big deal.

[TotallyOz]

I have to agree with Anton on this one. The room is my space while I am there. To just randomly choose a place I had left money and take it was wrong. I have left some near my desk as well. That was not touched. It was the money in the bathroom near my 16 bottles of cologne that was taken. I am glad she didn't take the new bottle of Angel for Men as that would have been devastating for me.

I tip for good service in all areas. But, I don't tip when things like this are done. I would also not stay at this hotel again. It was a one time thing.

[Guest epigonos]

If I am staying in a hotel, for more than one night, I usually leave a couple of dollar with a note, thanking the maid, on a table or night stand each morning. That way if I have some special request (extra towels) there is never a problem. These people are usually earning minimun wage and the extra money is greatly appreciated.

[Guest EurythmicThrust]

My style of tipping hotel staff is in line with Epi...though i agree with what happened, or specifically HOW it happened, to Oz, was not kosher, as he was still a guest at the time, and had not checked out of his room.

[Guest Anton]

LOL, I had something in my eye, and for a moment I thought that the title said:

"A top in the bathroom"

So I thought, mmmm, Oz booked a hotel-room and found a gorgeous top in the bathroom when he entered the room.