I don't remember seeing the envelopes for years but seems like I've seen them in a couple of properties in the past month. Wonder if its a trend.

I've always assumed that one of the reasons that more upscale hotels provide stationery including envelopes is to make it easy to tip housekeepers.

Do you honestly believe that "most of us" leave a tip for the room attendant?

Other threads.. especially in TravelBuzz would not support that statement.

I always leave a tip...I would not want to clean someone else's scummy bathroom habits - I think they well deserve it.

Maybe a higher end hotel has the envelopes to make it more "refined" but we don't frequent the uber high end places, and I've never had someone leave behind the tip (I always write "for housekeeping - thank you" on a note, except on the last day when the note is not necessary.

I usually end up with extra shampoo and towels, and nice smiles in the hallway.

The FS Cambridge (MA) has had tip envelopes out for many years.

I usually leave tips for various people. To me it is a reward for a very good or exceptional service. Then again, I do always tip the bartender and server even if the service is standard.

If I am paying a fair fee for a hotel room I would not leave a tip if it is expected I should subsidize salaries. They should increase rates, pay their staff accordingly, and not accept tips like the RC in Seoul.

Same here. I have probably stayed at 40 different CY's in the US (corporate rate is CY friendly) and have never seen an envelope. Seen the card at most of them.

Stayed there in March for 3 nights and didn't see an envelope.
Just a card.
Yours more recent.
Wouldn't bother me as an FYI just curious.

Courtyard in Malvern, PA uses envelopes. I believe the envelopes are in the Burlington Marriott in Massachusetts as well. I always try to tip everyday day but sometimes I forget. I like the gentle reminder but that's just me.

I avoid CY's like the plague so I don't have much of a sample to go on but I'll just be another data point that I have never seen the envelopes. I have seen the cards though for years in all ranges of hotels from FI's to FS Marriott Resorts

Beat me to the punch

I was going to say this as I read thru the threads.


First of all, the room should be clean on check in, the maid has no idea who will be in this room next. So if I don't tip on my last day, then the next guest is going to pay for it by her not doing a good job? I don't think so, the maid won't have a job long if thats her M.O.

Second, They are paid to do their job. Unlike the restaurant industry where they make a wage less than minimum wage (another thread for another day) maids hourly wages have to be at least minimum wage (I said at least). There is no reason for me to subsidize their wages. Now I can if I have a reason too such as when my kids were little and the mess was above what I thought was ordinary. Those days deserve a tip. When I'm traveling alone especially for work. There is very little for maid to do beyond what is required by her basic job duties. I don't make much of a mess. No reason to tip. Its a pretty easy gig to get my room when traveling alone.

Third, anytime I have EVER wanted extras whether it be towels, shampoo etc. I've always rec'd it. I will leave a note and/or just ask. Tips have never played a role in whether I get extra or not

There is Always a Tip Envelope in your room at the Full Service Newark International Airport Marriott.NJ

Looks like another reason to be hatin' on Curtyards.

I've never seen a tip envelope, but maybe I just never noticed while moving all the stuff aside so I have room for my laptop and phones.

I'm a low maintenance guy. I use one towel and one hand cloth. I tidy the room up before I leave. Why should I tip, unless I requested some extra service? The only time I request something is when it's missing. I'm certainly not going to tip when I receive something that should have been there in the first place.

The little note cards signed by housekeeping always seemed to me to be like an "Inspected by #9" kind of thing.

I tip my car service driver, shuttle drivers that help with bags, bell stand folks that hold my bag or shipments, the Lounge attendant if they have a plate set out, etc.

I've never left a tip for housekeeping. I don't understand the point of tipping an employee merely for doing the basic job (except in positions that are considered traditionally tipped in the US and thus where employers in many states are allowed to pay them below-minimum wage salaries -- and IMO housekeeping is not one of them).

Part of my rationale, of course, is that I don't wreck the room. If I were to spill a plate of sloppy food on the carpet, or throw up all over the bathroom, or rearrange all the furniture while playing the "The floor is LAVA!" game then I'd leave an appropriate tip in recognition of the fact I made the housekeeper's job much more difficult than it ought to be.

Now, as for your argument that staff at some business track who tips and who doesn't, and deliberately give sub-par service to non tippers-- I've heard that before from a lot of people in various industries. But you know what? I keep track, too. I pay attention to which businesses give me at least "par for the course" service and which fall short.

If I get a crummy room or my room service food is delivered cold, I call to complain. I expect Management to fix it (to the extent possible -- I understand when I get an undesirable room because I checked in late, with no status, on a night with few or no vacancies). If Management can't or won't address fixable problems, or if there's a pattern of problems, I will escalate to corporate management and will also leave negative feedback on ratings sites. And I won't come back. Several times I have shifted thousands of dollars of business away from one travel provider to one of their competitors because they delivered poor service. You REALLY don't want to screw with me just because you're pissed I didn't tip you $1 for cleaning the room like you're supposed to.

I grew up in a family of tippers (waitress mother and bartender father). EVEN IF someone makes minimum wage (and I doubt housekeepers make more than that), I live by the philosophy of "there but for the grace of God go I", so yes, I will tip if I think someone does a job I would never want to do. And cleaning up someone's room and bathroom after them...no matter how clean and neat you think you are...falls into that category.

We tip delivery guys if they have a difficult time. My husband had a guy come out to fix his treadmill (under warranty, no bill)...guy had a heck of a time. Gave him a tip. I tip my window washer guy (we have a 3 story house, and he charges a ridiculously low amount).


Can't explain it. We don't feel obligated. We feel very lucky for everything we have and truly appreciate those that make our life easier.

YMMV. I'm happy with what I do.

Yeah, I'm just adding another data point, but I have never seen a tip envelope in any hotel from any chain, from Motel 6 to the Renaissance. If I ever saw one, I would never stay at that establishment again, for sure. An envelope marked "tips" is only one small step above having the employees' kids beg for change at the entrance to the hotel restaurant.

OTOH, I have seen the card with the housekeeper's name many times. No problem, I never thought the card seemed pushy.