During my stay at Hilton Metropole last week, I had an interesting experience with (attempting) a tip for the housekeeping staff.

First morning I left 2 or 3 GBP coins on the bathroom counter with a small note requesting extra towels, coins were gone when I returned. Second morning I left 2 or 3 GBP coins clearly visible, with nothing else, on the top of the white sheets on the bed in which I had slept, coins still there on the neatly made bed upon my return.

Wondering if tipping housekeeping in London is so unusual that this housekeeper didn’t understand that it was supposed to be a tip?

Oh yeah, bulk toiletries in the bathroom. Lotion and soap dispensers on the wall of the sink counter, conditioner and shampoo and body wash dispensers in the shower. Asked housekeeper, no individual shampoo or conditioner available, was given 2 bars of (usual Hilton) soap. I still think body wash and shampoo are exactly the same .