10/24/2026
Crazy stuff we've experienced in Airbnb... except this time, WE were the crazy ones. 😂
Episode 12: The Tip
Yesterday, we had a wonderful guest check out of one of our Airbnbs.
Seriously. Great guest. No issues.
Then we got their checkout message:
“We’re all checked out. Thank you for the stay! We left a little tip for the cleaner on the dining room table.”
And immediately...
Me: 😳
Julia: 😳
The owner: 😳
Because somehow ALL THREE OF US read “we left a tip for the cleaner on the dining room table” and thought:
Oh no. They left us a TIP about how to clean the dining room table better.
😂😂😂
Now, to be fair, this particular table has a lacquered top that's starting to show some wear. When the light hits it from just the right angle, it can look like it has water spots or isn't completely clean.
It IS clean.
We've tried everything.
So naturally, our brains immediately went to:
THEY NOTICED THE TABLE.
We're discussing what they could possibly be suggesting. Is there some magical cleaning method we haven't tried? Did we miss something? What are we doing wrong?!
The owner's husband casually says:
“Maybe they mean they left cash.”
Us:
No. Surely not. 😂
Because apparently we've been in property management and hospitality long enough that when someone says “I left you a tip,” our first assumption is:
CRITICISM.
Not money.
I stopped by the property this morning.
And sitting right there on the dining room table...
💵 CASH.
An actual tip.
For our cleaner.
Who was absolutely THRILLED. ❤️
And I couldn't stop laughing.
Because sometimes the guest isn't complaining.
Sometimes nobody is mad.
Sometimes you actually did a good job.
And sometimes...
a tip is literally just a tip. 😂
Maybe we've been doing this too long.