Holidaymaker’s gift of used toiletries for cleaners at Spanish hotel sparks online debate

The woman also left toys, sweets and a thank you note written in Spanish

This cleaning tip divided opinion (Facebook/Lizzie Hansbury)

An online debate has been raging following a British holidaymaker’s decision to leave used toiletries as a tip for her hotel cleaner.

Lizzie H posted a picture of a range of toiletries – including shower gel, shampoo and face wipes – sunglasses and a thank you note written in Spanish to Facebook.

She accompanied the snap with the caption: “Ready for the cleaners tomorrow, includes toys and sweets if they have little ones. Flying home in the morning.”

Lizzie uploaded the post to Benidorm Seriously, a Facebook group dedicated to the Spanish resort, on 29 April.

However, her well-meant gesture triggered very different reactions.

While some applauded her, with one commenter writing, “I used to work abroad and loved it when guests left me their toiletries, it saved me so much money and enabled me to use things from home that I couldn’t get over in Egypt!” others were not as impressed by the gift.

“Worked in many hotels when I was young and always appreciated tips rather than left over toiletries,” wrote one, while another commented: “I think I’d prefer a monetary tip or wine/chocolates. Toiletries a bit personal and might seem condescending IMO.”

The post garnered hundreds of comments on both sides of the debate.

Eventually the group’s administrator, Tracey, had to switch off the comments to curtail any further insults.

“Unbelievable, someone does something nice for a change and gets abuse for it.

“Post closed, please respect your fellow members, everyone is entitled to a difference of opinion, but please think about how that opinion comes across in the written word, read it back to yourself before pressing OK.”