Tipping Decision: Should You Tip When Staying at a Friend's Holiday Villa and If So, How Much? (As Suggested by Sophia Money-Coutts)

Tipping Decision: Should You Tip When Staying at a Friend's Holiday Villa and If So, How Much? (As Suggested by Sophia Money-Coutts)

Sophia Money-Coutts, a renowned freelance features writer and author, shares her insights on the etiquette of tipping house staff when visiting friends this summer.

Leaving a remote location or embarking on a yacht trip often means running out of cash, making it essential to remember to visit the bank before departure. In rural areas, ATMs might be limited, and opening hours may be restricted, so it's wise to have cash on hand for tips.

When staying somewhere remote, it's considered good manners to discuss tipping before departure. Asking your friend about tipping is recommended, as some people might find discussing money uncomfortable. Tipping while staying on a friend's yacht tends to be much larger.

In urban areas, the act of tipping is appreciated when staying with friends, especially if they have household staff. A suggested rule of thumb for tipping is €10 per night. Tipping the staff in cash and handing it to them personally is preferred, ensuring the tip directly reaches the intended recipient without risk of misappropriation.

If your friends manage the staff's tipping or prefer to handle it themselves, it is polite to ask about their preference to avoid any awkwardness.

When it comes to the amount and manner of tipping, it depends on the role of the staff and the level of service provided. For example, typical tipping amounts for various building or house staff range as follows:

• Custodians or housekeepers: around $20–$30.
• Handymen: $20–$30, adjusted based on how much work they have done during your stay.
• Garage attendants or valets: $10–$25.
• Other staff (like mail carriers or garbage collectors) typically receive $15–$20 for their services.

It is appropriate to tip the staff directly based on their role and service quality, and to do so discreetly and personally for best etiquette. Tips can be discretely given on the day of departure or left in your bedroom.

Sophia Money-Coutts, who was previously the Features Director at Tatler and appeared on the our platform Frontispiece in 2022, has also written for The Standard, The Sunday Telegraph and The Times. She has six books to her name.

One method is to use a designated jar for tips, such as an antique jar labeled 'opium'. When staying with friends who have house staff, it is considerate to tip the house staff directly as a gesture of appreciation, especially during your stay or at the end.

[1] Source: http://www.etiquetteer.com/tips/

[2] Source: http://www.etiquetteer.com/tips/

When staying in rural areas or yacht trips, it's vital to have cash on hand for tipping, as ATMs might be limited. Tipping staff in these situations, such as custodians or housekeepers, often ranges from $20–$30.

In urban areas, it's appreciated to tip house staff when staying with friends, particularly if they manage the staff. A suggested rule of thumb is €10 per night, and tips should be given directly to staff for best etiquette.

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