Hilton HHonors - Curious about tipping maid vs. no service

I have been staying in some Hampton Inns across the mid-west lately for two day stretches. I do not need maid service daily, and in fact, prefer not to get it due to my laptop and stuff that I leave in the room. My question is this:

Since I generally tip the housekeeper two or three dollars a day--- which would she prefer--that I give her the "day off" (not cleaning my room the first day of my stay) or the small tip? I don't tip $6 when I check out--only 3 since she only cleaned my room once. I wonder if, when they report that a room does not request service--if they have to clean a certain amount of rooms per person anyway, and I do no one any favors??

I thought they were assigned by floor or block of rooms, with some maids working the "emergency" shift where they float around to anywhere that needs it.

I thought that hotel maids were generally paid by the hour. I don't see what difference it makes, though. The maid service is included in the price of the room. How the hotel compensates its employees should not be a concern of the guest.

I'd tell the desk you don't want maid service on whatever day it is, leave the DND sign on the door, and that's it. If you really feel you must tip, do so when you leave.

I tip housekeeping because there are 5 of us (3 kids). We usually stay at the Homewood Suites with 1 king, 2 doubles or queens and with a den and kitchen.

If I was by myself, I probably wouldn't tip, and I especially wouldn't tip if they didn't clean your room.

If you are feeling generous and empathetic to the needs of these women, then just give what you feel happy and comfortable with.

(but I'm guessing you are a planner... a virgo perhaps? ;) )

I have been staying in some Hampton Inns across the mid-west lately for two day stretches. I do not need maid service daily, and in fact, prefer not to get it due to my laptop and stuff that I leave in the room. My question is this:

Since I generally tip the housekeeper two or three dollars a day--- which would she prefer--that I give her the "day off" (not cleaning my room the first day of my stay) or the small tip? I don't tip $6 when I check out--only 3 since she only cleaned my room once. I wonder if, when they report that a room does not request service--if they have to clean a certain amount of rooms per person anyway, and I do no one any favors??

I could have written this post myself. I travel the same (on business). I never get room service and I bring my own coffee so I never need the hotel's coffee (yuck, pooey). But I have a lot of confidential files in my room at any given times (not that big of a deal, but HIPPA and all, you know). Anyway, I do the same....no service needed on the door. If I am there for a week, I take out a few small bags of garbage and there are always PLENTY of towels/washclothes.

So, when I'm traveling for business and I'm alone, I just toss $3 on the pillow when I leave...not sure why exactly, because I don't have a clue what type of service I would have received since I didn't get any....but a couple bucks out of my pocket is not going to hurt me and it will help someone else.

If you have it and you are not sweating a few bucks, leave it. If you have more to give, give it. If you don't have the extra (and trust me, some of my peers do NOT have extra), then don't.

Give what you can and if you can, be generous. It comes back to you. But don't sweat it if you can't afford it.

Dawn

I use the maid service and tip $5.00 on the first day of a 2 or 3 night stay. Half the times I get thank you notes and extra water.

You can get extra bottled water by just asking for it. Ditto for towels. There is too much guilt in this world.

MisterNice

You can get extra bottled water by just asking for it. Ditto for towels. There is too much guilt in this world.

MisterNice

That's not true for everyone. Everyone is in a different place--emotionally, financially, spiritually, you name it. It is not about guilt for everyone. It is about the ability to give, do more if you can, and not about guilt whatsoever. It may be about guilt for you, but that is not an "across the board" feeling.

I never feel guilted into tipping. I feel moved to tip because as I get older (45 years on this planet, thus far), I realize just how fortunate I am...I'm amazed by what luxuries we have from the minute we get up (running water) to the minute we lay our heads on our pillows (bed w/linens!). A few extra bucks out of my pocket is not even missed and when I learn of the impact that a couple extra bucks can make in someone that is not as fortunate as we are, it boggles my mind.

So I'm not guilted into it at all....confused about the amount some time, but I'm learning and growing, in all the ways mentioned above. I just know that I've never seen a U-Haul attached to a Hurst (sp?) and I'm not taking anything with me. Plus I've found that I never feel badly if I've left too much! I try to bless someone every day in some small way and that could be by patting someone on the shoulder at work or buying a stranger lunch if that is what is on my heart.

Maybe it is selfish to give, not sure....because it feels pretty awesome. But guilt? Nah....not at this stage of my life.

Dawn

I have been staying in some Hampton Inns across the mid-west lately for two day stretches. I do not need maid service daily, and in fact, prefer not to get it due to my laptop and stuff that I leave in the room. My question is this:

Since I generally tip the housekeeper two or three dollars a day--- which would she prefer--that I give her the "day off" (not cleaning my room the first day of my stay) or the small tip? I don't tip $6 when I check out--only 3 since she only cleaned my room once. I wonder if, when they report that a room does not request service--if they have to clean a certain amount of rooms per person anyway, and I do no one any favors??A little off-topic, but you should also consider a notebook lock like this (http://us.kensington.com/html/11209.html). I use one like this anytime I leave my laptop in a hotel room if there is not a safe for it.

I use the maid service and tip $5.00 on the first day of a 2 or 3 night stay. Half the times I get thank you notes and extra water.

How do you leave the 1st day’s $5; with a note?
Maids are not supposed to remove money from the rooms for any reason, UNLESS it is after the people check out. People call the front desk all the time, reporting that money is missing from their room (talking dollar-amounts here).
As to helping out the maid who does the work, and someone “new” might get the money on a multiple nights stay, you can just assume that this all averages out OK over time.

How do you leave the 1st day’s $5; with a note?
Maids are not supposed to remove money from the rooms for any reason, UNLESS it is after the people check out...I can't speak for anyone else, but (when I tip) I always leave the bills on the bed. Even when I haven't checked out yet, the money is always gone when I return at the end of the day. ;) Sometimes the maid will leave a thank-you note, but most often not. I figure that when there is no note, the maid probably isn't comfortable writing a note in English.

I can't speak for anyone else, but (when I tip) I always leave the bills on the bed. Even when I haven't checked out yet, the money is always gone when I return at the end of the day. ;) Sometimes the maid will leave a thank-you note, but most often not. I figure that when there is no note, the maid probably isn't comfortable writing a note in English.

I believe I read in some etiquette book somewhere that the proper way was to leave the money on a table (in an envelope, preferably) with a note that says, "For the Maid".

But take that with a grain of salt.

As to the OPs question, I'm fairly certain the maid would rather get a tip than to skip your room...

A little off-topic, but you should also consider a notebook lock like this (http://us.kensington.com/html/11209.html). I use one like this anytime I leave my laptop in a hotel room if there is not a safe for it.


IMO these locks are not effective in a private place like an unoccupied hotel room. 2-3 minutes with a flathead screwdriver and it's over. Yeah the case will be cracked but the machine will still work.

I live money on the table with a note that says something like: for housekeeping, I appreciate your help.

You can get extra bottled water by just asking for it. Ditto for towels. There is too much guilt in this world.

MisterNice

^

If you are tipping out of guilt, I would suggest that you not tip.

I don't think anyone should tip out of guilt. I would say if you feel this way, you either 1) don't tip or 2) shouldn't tip or perhaps, you could be one of the many folks that do not have extra funds that allow you to tip, or 3) were never in the industry that relied on tips or never had any family/loved ones that did either. (Most folks that were in some sort of business of relying on tips have a different perspective.)

What is your intention? Intention is what is important and if your tipping comes from guilt, I don't think that you should bother. But I know that guilt should not be the reason you do it....that much I'm sure.

Dawn

What is your intention? Intention is what is important and if your tipping comes from guilt, I don't think that you should bother. But I know that guilt should not be the reason you do it....that much I'm sure.

I agree, I tip housekeepers regularly and it's not out of guilt. I have an idea how much they make, and they usually work harder for smaller wages than most employees on a hotel property. If my room is clean when I arrive, and is maintained as such, I leave a few dollars a day ($3 to $5 depending on the property) to thank the maid for a job well done. If my room isn't clean on arrival or isn't kept well during my stay I don't.

I don't get extras for doing this, and don't expect them (though I do occasionally get a note to thank me). And if I really need something extra (like an extra bottle of water or towels) I ask and usually receive, and don't give a tip to the maid for that.

If you are tipping out of guilt, I would suggest that you not tip.

I don't think anyone should tip out of guilt. I would say if you feel this way, you either 1) don't tip or 2) shouldn't tip or perhaps, you could be one of the many folks that do not have extra funds that allow you to tip, or 3) were never in the industry that relied on tips or never had any family/loved ones that did either. (Most folks that were in some sort of business of relying on tips have a different perspective.)

What is your intention? Intention is what is important and if your tipping comes from guilt, I don't think that you should bother. But I know that guilt should not be the reason you do it....that much I'm sure.

Dawn

I disagree completely. Intention is irrelevant. Your poor maid just needs money for food, rent, and necessities. The maid assumes that if you're rich enough to afford a Hilton hotel room, you can afford a couple of bucks for her. She could care less what your intention is.

How do you leave the 1st day’s $5; with a note?
Maids are not supposed to remove money from the rooms for any reason, UNLESS it is after the people check out. People call the front desk all the time, reporting that money is missing from their room (talking dollar-amounts here).
As to helping out the maid who does the work, and someone “new” might get the money on a multiple nights stay, you can just assume that this all averages out OK over time.

I take an envelope from the folder in the desk that has the stationary and I put the $5 in the envelope. On the front I write "Housekeeping - Thank You!" and seal the money inside. I put the envelope on the bed.

I agree, I tip housekeepers regularly and it's not out of guilt. I have an idea how much they make, and they usually work harder for smaller wages than most employees on a hotel property. If my room is clean when I arrive, and is maintained as such, I leave a few dollars a day ($3 to $5 depending on the property) to thank the maid for a job well done. If my room isn't clean on arrival or isn't kept well during my stay I don't.

I don't get extras for doing this, and don't expect them (though I do occasionally get a note to thank me). And if I really need something extra (like an extra bottle of water or towels) I ask and usually receive, and don't give a tip to the maid for that.

I agree with marais. I feel that I am very fortunate and they work very hard for not a lot of money. I don't do it from guilt or to get extra water.

My mom was a maid at a hotel in Hawaii a long time ago, I remember her working very long hours and worked very hard for minimum wage and when people tipped her, she really appreciated it and some of those tips were passed to the kids (me) to get school supplies. I tip whenever I can, about $2, guess it almost a full circle.

I disagree completely. Intention is irrelevant. Your poor maid just needs money for food, rent, and necessities. The maid assumes that if you're rich enough to afford a Hilton hotel room, you can afford a couple of bucks for her. She could care less what your intention is.

Uniter:

I was actually making more of a point. The posts from folks mentioning "guilt" as it relates to tipping are probably not tipping or they wouldn't associate the two.

And I respectfully disagree with your reference to intention being irrelevant. Intention is EVERYTHING....I tip because of the reasons you mentioned...."she could care less" of my intention is not relevant...it is not "her" that my intention is directed toward...I know "she" could care less about my intention. My intention is for my own personal direction in life and why I do the things I do....it is not an outward third party connection as to whether someone else cares about my intention, rather my own personal intention.

Dawn

The maid assumes that if you're rich enough to afford a Hilton hotel room, you can afford a couple of bucks for her.

You mean you assume that the maids assume that. Looks like guilt to me :p

How much would you leave for a Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons stay?

I read somewhere that the tip should be 1% of the room total. Well, if my room/suite is $2,000 there is no way in heck that I am leaving a $20/night tip!

A 1% tip sounds low to me...that's less than $1 for most budget chains and less than $2 for some luxury chains!

Well OK, at least $1 and then 1%.

But my point is that if you pay for or get upgraded to a luxury suite at a 5-star hotel (not all that uncommon) you owe a tip of anywhere between $20-$200 to your maid, depending on the price of the suite.

Yes or no?

IMO these locks are not effective in a private place like an unoccupied hotel room. 2-3 minutes with a flathead screwdriver and it's over. Yeah the case will be cracked but the machine will still work.Most criminals are looking for easy targets, even the most minimal of defenses, such as a tethered lock on a laptop computer, will deter 90%+ of criminals. Besides, I once read that one of the common ways for a hotel room to be burglarized is for someone to come while the maid's in the room and just say "Oops, just forgot something" ... grab something that looks valuable, then leave. That would be a little tricky if the valuable item is tethered down.

I'm sketchy on tipping for maid service. I feel housekeepers are paid to do a regular job, and if that's all they do, their compensation is an issue between them and the hotel management. I will add a tip on top of that when I feel a housekeeper has gone (or has to go) "above and beyond." For example, I've gotten sick on the road twice in the past year. In both cases I cleaned up after myself as best I could but also left a tip for the housekeepers as a way to compensate for the extra work I created.

It's worth pointing out that, for the most part, I'm a low impact traveler. A messy room for me is one in which a few of the pillows got knocked off onto the floor. Contrast that with one of my sisters, who has an active toddler. When they're done with a hotel room, there's food scraps all over the floor, towels sitting in puddles, sofa cushions in a pile with half the bed sheets -- and that's after some self-policing. My sister and brother-in-law tip aggressively because of the mess they create, and as a person who worked in the service industry many years ago, I'm glad.

There is this universal discussion on FT whether to tip maids or not. The result seems to be that some tip and some don't. For the most part I don't.

As the previous poster I typically leave tip if I have received service beyond of my expectation or if I leave a mess behind.

There is this universal discussion on FT whether to tip maids or not. The result seems to be that some tip and some don't. For the most part I don't.

As the previous poster I typically leave tip if I have received service beyond of my expectation or if I leave a mess behind.

If I'm staying that night, I'll leave a tip on my pillow....

and I've had trips where I've come back to the room and found the ice bucket has been replenished.... a pleasant surprise.

I've also had them where neither the coffee pot, nor the ice bucket is even emptied and haven't received a full set of towels.

Bob H

I always leave a tip the first morning of any stay, even if for only one night, with a note written on the hotel notepad saying "Thank You", in whatever language of the country I am in. Sometimes, I have to look it up online, but most times when I return to the room, the same note is on the bed and is written "You're welcome" or "Have a Nice Stay/Day".. in English or whatever language. Often I have no clue what it really says, but I assume it isn't cussing me out or calling my mother a bad name. I am sure they are more than grateful for a few extra zloty, euros, rubles, or dollars to help them scrape by.
I am often amazed at the hotel maid dynamic. In London, they are often Polish. In Poland, they are often Ukrainian. In Ukraine, they are Moldovan, etc etc etc..

I'm sketchy on tipping for maid service. I feel housekeepers are paid to do a regular job, and if that's all they do, their compensation is an issue between them and the hotel management.

I'm sorry, but to me that's like saying I'm not going to tip my waiter since they are paid a wage by the restaurant...

I agree about tipping when staying with kids. I tip 20% for good service in a restaurant when by myself, but significantly more if my kids have trashed the table (which they don't do much now that they are a bit older).

I never feel guilted into tipping. I feel moved to tip because as I get older (45 years on this planet, thus far), I realize just how fortunate I am...I'm amazed by what luxuries we have from the minute we get up (running water) to the minute we lay our heads on our pillows (bed w/linens!). A few extra bucks out of my pocket is not even missed and when I learn of the impact that a couple extra bucks can make in someone that is not as fortunate as we are, it boggles my mind.

How refreshing to read this after have read so many posts about how dumb/stupid/unnecessary tipping is! Well said, kymbakitty! ^

How refreshing to read this after have read so many posts about how dumb/stupid/unnecessary tipping is! Well said, kymbakitty! ^

I agree. Well said! ^

I agree. Well said! ^

^

Agreed!

I'm sorry, but to me that's like saying I'm not going to tip my waiter since they are paid a wage by the restaurant...
Yes, I was thinking the same thing.