Cowboy1968

Interesting insight - and welcome to Fodor's.
Still I don't get the concept (probably because I'm not familiar with B&Bs, which I willingly admit): When B&B owners decide that they do not like to clean the rooms themselves (which I thought was more or less the concept of this whole B&B issue), and hire a help, wouldn't the wages be calculated into the rate?

Anyway, as much as the Irish people must like to tip, I would obstain from that practice if you ever spend the night at a B&B in Germany, Switzerland, Austria. To give the man or the lady of the house a €5 bill or leave coins on the nightstand would be more or less an insult.

bratsandbeer

Luisah We have stayed in many b&bs and some have more than just a couple of rooms. Sometimes the owners have outside jobs. We have stayed where the owners are elderly and still like to keep the b&b going but need help doing it.

For the most part the b&b owners do all the work themselves.

MaryMurphy - We have stayed in many b&bs in Ireland and we were always treated so well. The families were so wonderful about taking us into their homes. I always have the feeling of someone there for us if we have a question or a need. That is worth a tip for sure.

Luisah

<<When I go to my hairdresser she is the owner but I always give her a tip why not just because she ownes the place does not mean she should not get a tip I treat her the same as the other staff.>>

But the owner is not staff. The owner sets the rates, but the staff is paid what the owner decides and if he/she gives good service deserves a tip. I used to tip my stylist (shop owner) until she told me not to.

I think like Cowboy1968 on this. I thought the concept of B&Bs was people offering rooms in their home for a specific rate, which would include the costs of food, coffee and cleaning the room. There seems to be something off about giving a tip to a homeowner.

Having kitchen and cleaning staff and tipping for coffee sounds more like inns or hotels to me. But customs are different I guess.

MaryMurphy

Please don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that you should tip anyone, as it is not expected , all I am saying is if you do leave a tip we will not take it as an insult, we love to get tips ask anyone next time you stay in a b&b. Our staff do not depend on tips as we have to pay a minimum rate per hour as laid down by the government, but the person that you tip will never say "no thank you".
Most of us here in Ireland have had children that have either worked in a b&b or waiting in a restaurant, for school holidays they love it when they get a tip so I suppose it just comes naturally to us when we are out we don't think about it.

Luisah

<<all I am saying is if you do leave a tip we will not take it as an insult>>

Thank you, that's helpful. We're used to tipping in restaurants here, not so much in B&Bs. But you have definitely answered the OP's question.

Thanks for posting.

Padraig

I do not believe MaryMurphy's claims about Irish tipping. We have our tipping customs here, as anywhere. It is not the norm to tip in B&Bs.

tarquin

As a B&B owner in England, I can say categorically that tipping is not the norm here. In five years of business, I have been handed a tip ONCE. My first impulse was to refuse it but I decided that it would embarrass the guest. Small gifts like a plant or chocolates (there is an excellent chocolate shop in my village) are another thing.

ribeirasacra

Above someone suggested they do not tip the owner. Fair enough, but one has to ask would you tip a tour guide? They normally work for themselves.
If you do tip a guide could you perhaps explain to me the difference?

travelme

ribeirasacra:"You will never convince those who do not like to tip to tip. But you can with good service, convince those who like to tip to tip. It all comes down to your personality."

JanisJ wrote:That's crazy. This has nothing at all to do w/ personality.

JanisJ, a politer way of responding would be" I disagree or I respectfully disagree(even better).

Cowboy1968

Now that's crazy.