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When staying in a hotel in Germany (Bavaria), what are the customs concerning tipping hotel staff, in particular chambermaids?

  • Is tipping expected, and if yes, how much?
  • What is a reasonable amount for a long term stay?
  • Is it better to tip daily, weekly, or just once?
  • How to tip (to avoid an unintentional insult etc.)?

5 Answers 5

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+50

In Germany, service costs are always (§ 107, 3.) included in the compensation. But it’s common to give a tip if you are happy with the service (but you are never required to). If you are unhappy with the service, you should give no tip at all (instead of a very low tip).

I found the following recommendations (sources are in German):

knigge.de, Der Trinkgeld-Knigge (here and here also): for upscale hotels:

  • room service: 2-5 € per delivery
  • luggage carrier: 2 € per item
  • concierge (for special services, e.g., organizing tickets for a sold out event): 10 €

spiegel.de, Trinkgeld-Knigge: Man sollte, aber muss nicht:

  • how much to tip depends on how long you stay, hotel price range, and of course how much money you have
  • it’s uncommon to round up the hotel bill at checkout
  • always tip the luggage carrier and the room attendant
  • you may leave the tip in your room (e.g., in the ashtray or on the nightstand); to make clear that it’s a tip (and that you didn’t forget your money there), you may leave a thank you note
  • to make sure that the whole service staff gets a tip, you can give a summed up tip at the reception before checkout

experto.de, Rainer Wälde: Trinkgeld geben - aber mit Stil:

  • valet parking: 1-3 €
  • porter (for calling a taxi; for helping to get into the taxi): 1 €
  • luggage carrier (often also the porter): 1 € per heavy item
  • if you pay a restaurant/bar bill at the checkout, don’t forget to add a tip: 5-10%
  • concierge (for special services, e.g., organizing tickets/presents): 1-3 €
  • houskeeper: before checkout, leave a tip in the bathroom or at the nightstand
  • houskeeper (for bringing additonal pillows, cosmetics, a vase, etc.): 1 €

berlin.de, Trinkgeld: tips for hotels in Berlin:

  • luggage carrier: 1-2 € per item
  • housekeeping: 2-3 € per day
  • concierge (for special services): 5-10 €

faz.de, Das „Danke“ gehört dazu :

  • luggage carrier: 1 € per heavy item
  • in general, you should say "thank you" when giving a tip (so don’t leave it on the table in the restaurant; don’t hand it over wordlessly); only for the housekeeping team it’s okay to leave it in your room (e.g., on the table or on the bed)
  • tip valet parking service, porter, concierge/reception and housekeeping separately

test.de, So geben Sie im Urlaub richtig Trinkgeld

  • luggage carrier: 1 € per item
  • housekeeping: 1-2 € per day (leave it on the nightstand)
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  • Your answer is very comprehensive and helpful! One additional question: How and how much to tip a receptionist? I'm often staying in one particular hotel and one of the receptionists is very helpful and attentive, so I'd like to reward him in a decently (avoiding a faux pas) and appropriately.
    – Petr
    Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 19:26
  • @PetrPudlák: I have no experience with this. -- The mentioned concierges would be receptionists in luxurious hotels, I guess. According to the sources, you’d only give a concierge a tip for doing something special for you (1-3 €, 5-10 €, 10 €). Not sure if or how that would differ for receptionists, i.e., in normal hotels (I guess it’s rarer that they organize something special for you in the first place).
    – unor
    Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 20:29
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You should, but you don't have to. Tipping is a reward for good service.

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I think tipping for normal paid work is a bad habit to support and is not expected or traditional in Germany. I never leave tips other than (generously) rounding off. And none to housekeepers etc

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I've tipped once when I was on vacation, but not for any of the around 600 nights on business trips in hotels in Germany so far (I work at a consulting company). I wouldn't even have thought of it and even if, it would have eaten into our own compensation quite a bit. I'm 99% sure my colleagues haven't either.

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Tipping in Germany (whototip.net):

Tipping etiquette for hotels in Germany

Tip good service at hotels.

In Germany tipping is expected in hotels. If you receive good service you should tip your porter 1-3 Euros per bag and your housekeeper 3-5 Euros per night (you can leave the tip on the bed or nightstand). If your concierge provides good service, you can tip up to 10-20 Euros.

Hope this helps

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    Based on looking up several other countries on that site, I'm not sure that I would put too much weight in it's answer. At best, it's on the very high end of normal.
    – Doc
    Commented Nov 1, 2013 at 19:11
  • 5
    Does this apply to all hotels or just "star" hotels? I've only ever stayed at the cheapest hotel in town in Germany and Europe generally. I think I paid 50 euro, maybe less in Regensburg, Bavaria. Should I have tipped there? Commented Nov 2, 2013 at 7:46

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