My husband and I will be be visiting Hawaii this summer. We will be staying at B&B's every night for 3 weeks. What are the policies/customs for tipping the owner of the B&B?

Many B&B's add a 15% gratuity to your entire bill (not just the breakfast portion). Whenever booking at a B&B, I always request that they mail their brochure (for directions as well) so that I can carefully review all the policies they may or may not tell you about on the telephone or in your confirmation notice, if they send you one. It's good to understand all of these things ahead of time, so that you are not surprised by hidden charges when you check out. It's also good to know the cancellation policy, should your plans change.

Dear Nan, Why not? Most B&B's are run by the owners who do NOT add a gratuity to the bill. Take it from one who runs and owns one, not the author of a book on B&B's! We work just as hard, if not harder than the chamber-maids who clean hotels and motels and would like a little extra change also instead of just a "thanks for the memory"!!!

I totally disagree , owners shoud be greatful that people stay with them, hey...where is your pride for your place and your love for your work? ...how can owners expect tips!!!!.......I talk from personal experience, as an owner, I have many times returned 20 dollars bills or whatever ....

If an owner wants more money for his/her efforts, then raise the price of the room. The idea of tipping an owner-run B&B never has crossed my mind.

Having stayed in nearly two dozen B&B's, everyone should know that pricing and policies are as varied as the establishments. So is the service and quality of the accomodations. Having been hugely disappointed more often than not and been victim of unusual (and unmentioned as well as unposted) "policies", we no longer stay in B&B's. The guide books I've read, however, note that it is NOT customary to "tip" the owners of a B&B. Gee, I wonder if the host/owner of that B&B where we stayed, who watched (without offering a hand) as we dragged our belongings to the third floor through a steep and narrow staircase was expecting "a little extra change". On the other hand, whenever we are the recipient of memorable service, we tip like mad no matter what is "customary".

As a B&B owner, I would not expect a gratuity of any kind NOR do I accept them. When folks leave money in the room as a housekeeping tip or whatever, I throw it in my "money jar" in the kitchen and then donate it once a year to our local homeless shelter.

In many cases, using a reputable reservations service can eliminate the chances of any "quality" problems. Our service in New Orleans tries very hard to match callers with the "perfect" B&B, and it works...

Part of the joy of being in a B&B is the illusion (or reality) of a host who regards you as a guest of the house. I'd rather the owner state that a gratuity has already been included in the price, and let me get on with my illusion. The same with drinks, nibbles and so forth. Wiser to up the price a bit and let us feel that the experience is different from a hotel. People should not have to feel that tips are expected in B&Bs--or even desired, as with the previous owner. They are expected enough in the "real world" that we are escaping from.

If you want to "TIP" the owner of a B&B,
recommend the place to others!!

We run a 17 room Bed & Breakfast inn in Kennebunkport, ME. It would be impossible for us to clean all the rooms ourselves so me have a housekeeping staff like a big Hotel or Motel. Our Housekeepers take great pride in doing an excellent job for our guests. We are rated 3 diamond by AAA. We leave an envelope in our guest rooms for guests to leave a gratuity for the housekeepers
at their own discretion. We do not believe in adding a service charge on to the room. Some guests leave a gratuity and some do not. I do not undestand my people think that is a terrible thing to leave a tip for housekeepers when they tip bellmen, porters, room service,wait staff, concierages etc... at Hotels & Restaurants. People like to be recognized for a job well done and going above and beyond. Just because housekeepers may be invisible to a guest as opposed to a bellman, I don't think they should be forgotten!

I don't understand why everyone questions the 'tipping rule'. I am from Australia where we do not routinely tip anybody. However, in general, we do leave a little 'extra' if the service we receive deserves it. It makes me laugh when people here in the US still expect a 'big' tip even when they provide appalling service. I'm gladly generous when we are treated well. What is the difference between a B&B, a chain hotel, a restaurant or a bar?

Tipping the staff at a B & B is one thing; tipping the owners is ridiculous. As someone else has said, if the owners want more money, they can raise the prices.

What I was trying to say in the above reply was that I think it is a shame that the US in general, has this tipping rule. Good service should be rewarded and bad service shouldn't. If it all comes down to poor wages, then perhaps owners/corporations should pay their workers a little more by incorporating my 'compulsory tip' into their employees' pay and let me enjoy outings/holidays without constantly added on 'extras'

Dan, I agree with you completely. I don't mind paying a fair price for fair service. I hate the way everyone in the service industry (it seems) in the US has always got their hands out for another tip. I realize its not their fault they aren't paid well. I always tip wait-staff, porters, chamber maids etc. But it drives me nuts. And gets ludicrous too.

It was so pleasant in Italy to have room service breakfast, and have the delivery person leave without even giving me a chance to tip them. It clearly wasn't expect.

We just stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in charleston South Carolina. I never thought about tipping. We were treated like family and they went out of their way to accomodate us, recommended restaurants and made reservations. They also recommened tours, etc. and gave us great information so we could enjoy our stay even more. I will recommend it to anyone and I think that is the best tip of all. It was Fantasia Bed & Breakfast on George St. Bonnie

I agree with Bonnie and others....but not all b&b provide the same service or hospitality feeling. I am not staying more on b&B because often they have too many requests, like paying in advance all the stay, and then a lack of service.
As I posted earlier in this same page
tipping to the owner seems absolutely
out of the question, and I feel that if the owner takes a tip it means he has no pride at all.
I tip maids whenever I ask for something extra, like an extra pillow, room service , etc. to tip because she or he did their job seems out of the question.

I'm a B&B owner and I agree the best tip one can offer an owner is to tell all their friends about the wonderful B&B they just stayed at. However, when I travel I always tip for service....that's what tipping is about....service received.