This is our first time staying at Bed and Breakfasts. They range in size from two to ten rooms, with a couple owning each place. Do we tip each night as we do in a regular hotel? How about after breakfast? Breakfast is part of the room rate, do we just leave a tip on the table? Also, how much? Since this is someone's home and not a restaurant, I am not sure what is right. Thanks for any feedback.

You might want to have a look here for a discussion on tipping in British B&Bs.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34947239

Personally, I've never done it and wouldn't and that includes after breakfast (we've been travelling to England for more than 20 years). It seems surreal almost to contemplate it.

I'm sure you will find some, primarily Americans, who will insist that you tip.

Well I'm American and I've never tipped at a B&B. It never crossed my mind.

Hi A,

Where are you staying?

In general we leave about 1E/day for the hired help.

I have never heard of anyone tipping at a B&B before.
Please let's not start it and make it popular!

I have never heard of anyone tipping at a B&B either. If there is some outside employee who comes in and does an exceptional job, I may imagine tipping the person, but the whole point of a B&B is to get away from the traditional hotel procedures.

No - tipping is not customary in B&Bs. An exception is if they offer an evening meal w/ an extra charge. They may bring in wait staff for dinner service and then I would tip a small amount based on the cost of the meal. But if dinner is served by the owners than - no tip.

Tips are for employees. No one tips the owners. The mere idea of leaving a tip on the breakfast table is a laugh.

Well, as an American, I'm a slave to the idea of rewarding for great service - tipping. However, I have instead found a compromise that won't upset the apple cart.

I bring postcards from my hometown, and leave one - with a message written on the back - for each B&B owner. This gives them a little something from somewhere else in the world, as well as a personal note.

I've gotten great thanks from those I've done this for. That reminds me - gotta pick up more for our trip next summer

GreenDragon - nice idea. Good manners.

Hi, anniebe

>do we tip each night as we do in a regular hotel?<

do you? where? why?

i may leave a small tip for the chamber maid in a hotel or B&B, if we've been there several nights and had good service in the room. but I wouldn't normally tip in a hotel - the rate should include service.

I certainly wouldn't leave a tip on the table in hotel or B&B at breakfast. in the UK it is not expected at all.

if the cost was £49, I might make it up to £50.

I now have this vision of hoteliers and their employees all over europe telling each other about those cheap-skate brits. [ie us]

regards, Ann

It's never entered my mind. Either in Europe/Canada/Mexico/US.

I guess there truly are some people who tip everyone everywhere. Maybe even at motels?

Although tipping is one of my least favorite things, I still leave something for the maids who clean the rooms. They are generally poorly paid, and it's back-breaking work.