Originally Posted by bigguyinpasadena
It is a case where some small amount-$2-$5 which I will never miss and means nothing to me will make a big difference in someone who is less fortunate(finacially)than I.
I also get a few goodies and perhaps a little more time is spent on my room.
Now at hotels with turndown it does start to add up-but it is still less then the price of a good drink or movie.
So yes-I tip,but if the room is not cleaned well,or supplies not restocked then the tips tend to decrease-til the level is raised again.
Frankly, I do wish that hotels paid the housekeeping staff at a rate that would make tipping a non-issue.
But the fact is they don't and I feel very fortunate that I don't have to do what these folks do to make a living.
So, I leave $2 on the pillow each AM; if there's turndown I leave another buck on the bed before going to dinner. When the wife's with me we leave double since she's celebrating not having to pick up after herself (or me).
This thread reminds me of something that happened to us this past November as guests in the Renaissance Mayflower in DC.
We weren't paying attention to the time this one day and were late returning to the hotel to shower and change clothes before going to dinner. And, as a consequence were just getting ready to leave when there was a knock at the door and when I answered, there was the evening chambermaid coming to do the turndown (asked us If we desired it and we answered in the affirmative.)
We were in the living room (hotel had upgraded us to a beautiful suite) when the chambermaid reappeared on her way to get something from her cart (Mints, I supposed).
I realized I'd neglected to leave a couple of singles on the bed, so I got her attention, and simply handed them to her.
Her reaction was surprising, (and in a way, heart-breaking). She voiced her thanks (in heavily-accented English - she was from somewhere in Asia, I think), lowered her head and then
preceded to bow to me!
I remember muttering something along the lines of "Please, that's not necessary; you're very welcome."
She then scurried out the door and returned in an instant, not only with the expected mints, but also with a ton of towels (far more than required as replacements for those used) and disappeared into the bathroom and then into the bedroom.
Then she came through the living room once again, our robes under her arm.
In an instant she'd returned with two fresh ones (was not necessary, believe me), put them in the bedroom, came out one last time, gave us a smile and a short bow (before catching herself), said something I didn't catch and finally left.
The wife and I talked about it over dinner.
We agreed that we'd just gotten a pointed reminder as to how fortunate we are and that we'd never forget that expression of gratitude tendered to us in return for what we consider a pittance.