I’m an ex-hotel cleaner and guests make the same mistake when checking out their room

A FORMER hotel housekeeper has revealed the biggest mistake guests make when they check out.

Stephanie Land, who wrote the book Maid which was adapted into a Netflix series last year, shared her tips for what to do when leaving a hotel room.

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One of the biggest mistakes, she said, was not tipping cleaners every day you stay at the hotel.

This should be at least $10 (£8.50) a day, she said, per person who stayed in the room.

She wrote on Twitter: “Tip. ($10 (£7.50)/day, per person who stayed) If your stay is multiple days, tip every day you expect cleaning service. Seriously.”

Her tweet divided opinion on social media, with some people agreeing with her

One person wrote: “I’m always surprised by people who don’t think of this. Housekeepers work so hard with few spare minutes to breathe.”

Some felt it should be even more money: “And I’d add: Double that tip amount for five star hotels!”

But not everyone agreed, with some arguing that it would be far too expensive to tip that much with some saying it could make a five-star hotel cost another £300 if following the tip rules.

One person said: “$10/day per person staying? Are you serious? I consider myself a generous person but you’re clearly speaking to wealthy people or everyone travelling on expense accounts.”

Another wrote: “I read something a while back (possibly from the UK) that said housekeepers are not allowed to keep money left in rooms, it has to go to lost property, and that some chains test staff using mystery shoppers who leave cash behind.”

Some suggested not getting daily service if you don’t want to tip – but it would mean not getting fresh towels and the room cleaned.

Etiquette expert William Hanson previously explained to Sun Online that if you are staying in a hotel for one night then it is not necessary to tip housekeeping, but if you are staying for a prolonged period of time then leave £1-2 per night.

This is because cleaning staff can sometimes change, so leaving a tip at the end of the trip may mean some staff are missing out.

And if a hotel porter brings up your bags for you then offer him £1 per bag.

Another ex-hotel cleaner has explained why you should also avoid making the bed when you check out.

Guests should also learn which items are allowed to be taken from a hotel room and which are not.

Sun Online Travel previously reported items such as pillows and dressing gowns are often taken but are actually meant to be left behind.

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