In U.K. - We have received a thank you card with money in it from the pets - bottles of wine, chocolates, a box of biscuits, a cake , flowers from the garden , a hamper from a luxury store , a fridge stocked full of groceries, a joint of meat and vegetables for our first meal , steaks from the local butcher and nothing at all .
We never expect but always appreciate an owner’s hospitality however they chose to show it .
It’s so true, as mentioned, here in the US we feel like we’re supposed to tip everyone! I tried to tip a three month sitter and he kind of awkwardly refused it so now we leave things sitters can use while they’re here, like state and county parks passes. We also have a baggie with reusable local gift cards sitters can use and put back in the baggie when they leave. Works well.
In over 60 sits we’ve never been given money and we wouldn’t accept it. As I mentioned it’s more thoughtful to be left home baking or some chocolates but nothing monetary. As you say everyone is different though and some prefer hard cash.
I have been given a transport card with credit by two different owners and it was really helpful to get started. After that, I only had to top it up.
Cash is king
Yes, that kind of thing is helpful! I have that kind of cards for a number of cities. And when one comes back after a few years, the system has changed again!
Also nice would be to use the HO’s museum card etc.
Hi I’m an oldie sitter.
Very good question and very interesting responses. It is evident that tipping is cultural and can be well appreciated by some while offensive to others. It’s how we interpret the gesture. How we feel in the act of giving and receiving.
I would be hesitant (note to self: Why is that?) to share publicly the kindness and generosity I have experienced over the last 6-7 years. I have never been offended and always grateful. But my HOs are exceptional above average people as am I.
There is no protocol and you should do what feels comfortable to you.
Completely agree. I leave some goodies and comfort items (guest robes and slippers) but a tip is given to employees, like wait-staff, not guests.
A specific gift certificate (we have a local restaurant in walking distance to us - for longer sits we leave a nice gift card to cover a nice dinner there on us) is fine, but just a random money card? Ick.
@KChev Agreed!
@jblack4 Everyone has a different opinion about this. However, why would you leave a tip when you don’t know yet whether the sitter has done a good job?
We are sitters and homeowners. We have never left a tip nor have we received one. We have all 5-star reviews so thankfully things are going well.
Our “tips” to sitters include a clean home, starter groceries, plenty of room to spread out, pets as described, and a safe, private sitting experience.
As sitters, the tips we hope to receive are as described above.
A cash tip would make us feel awkward and changes the mutual exchange to one like employee/customer.
Why is cash “hard”?
Lots of home baked goods are hard.
That would be a lovely idea! I’ve always bought food from a local shop on my arrival. X
Sorry it’s a British phrase for prefering physical money rather than goods or items. The OP was asking about leaving a monetary gift. I would happily accept home baked goods, hard or soft!
Hard Cash definition: money in the form of coins or notes but not a cheque or credit card.
@Amparo
This is a good way to explain it.
I’m from the US and know the phrase Cold Hard Cash . Something we say too
A tip is not expected, i was however very grateful a few times for the unexpected generosity of Ho’s .
I don’t think cash tipping is a good idea. It can be considered income and if someone is sitting in a country they are not allowed to work in, it’s illegal. There are plenty of the things a HO can do to show appreciation. You can offer use of staples in the kitchen so a sitter doesn’t have to buy everything to prepare meals. Leaving coffee or tea , passes to a museum, arrange a dog walker one day so the sitter can have a longer day to sightsee, pick them up from the airport or train station, …
I would just ask the pet sitter in the conversation before the sit. If you decide to tip them, choose the amount of the tip when you get home. Or consider emailing an e-gift card to a common grocery or home goods store. In this thread, people mention buying wine, chocolate or flowers. But your sitter may not drink alcohol, eat chocolate, or may not prefer flowers. You can even wait to ask until the end, “If I want to express my appreciation for the sit, would you like a gift card, and if so to where?”
Welcome to the community @AuntyBeth As mentioned elsewhere, THS is not about a monetary exchange. I do like the question, "“If I want to express my appreciation for the sit, how might I do so?” And the answer is to give a glowing review.
If someone offered me any kind of monetary compensation - cash, gift card, or whatever - I would never sit for them again. It takes what is a beautiful mutual exchange and turns it into a commercial transaction. There are other sites for that.
