But really, is the "service charge" ever really distributed to the staff? I always wonder about that and I just assume that it's just kept by the hotel- another way of increasing revenue.
Does anybody know what really happenes? I'd be interested to hear.

I cant speak for Housekeeping, but Im sure if the waiters/waitresses didnt get the 15% in the Hotel owned coffee shop they wouldnt be working there or at least, make it known to the customers in a very Kind way.

Alot of Restaurants in Europe is the same way they add on a Service fee (Tip).

Im sure if theres an Envelope left from the Housekeeping with the name of the person who cleans the room left behind,that they dont get apart of that 15% Fee tahts charged. In the place I stay Ive Never seen an envelope. Nor do I remember seeing one in any Hotel where I was charged a Service Fee.

I leave $2 a day on the pillow. I figure if I can give the guy who gets my car $1 for a minute of work, I can tip the maid $2 for 1/2 hour of work.

I leave $2 per day unless I leave a mess. Then $3.

I have always felt $2 was not going to bother me, but if a person in housekeeping cleaned 10-20 rooms a day and got $2 from each one, they would be clearing a good bit of extra money. I always thought they would be the ones that needed it.

It depends on the hotel. Most Resort properties include a service charge; however the Vail Marriott where I stay often for extended periods does not. When I am there, as I am now, I tip the housekeeper $5/day. The housekeeper from 2 years ago remembered me when I saw her walking down the hall. The down side is, she was very disappointed that I was not in one of her rooms. I got the impression from my current housekeeper and the one from 2 years ago that people generally do not tip.

I usually tip a buck or two per day. Depends on how many singles are in my wallet and how much I messed up the room. I usually leave it on the desk with a note that says "Thank You".

I'm kind of against the proliferation of tip jars showing up everywhere but I feel good about tipping housekeeping.

The one thing I do is leave the tip on the pillow -- that way the cleaning staff knows if for them --

Bob H

asked a friend what she does and she said, on the 1st day she will leave say $2 or so in a book as abook mark right on the bed, when she gets back if its been taken then they got all they are going to get. If on the other hand the book was moved to say onto a Table next to the bed and the $2 is still there then she will tip for each and every day, or $20 for a week.

right or wrong, she feels let Housekeeping decide for her if she'll tip or not, if there for 1 night she doesnt tip unless she really bothered them or made a real mess.

Are you sure you don't mean 50000 IDR or at least 5000 IDR? The exchange rate currently is around 10,000 IDR per USD. So a 50 IDR tip is worth less than a penny. Even relative to the low wages paid in Bali, 50 IDR is not a lot of money and probably would be considered insulting -- more or less equivalent to leaving a 2 cent tip at a restaurant in the US for a $100 meal.

How bizarre
 

So you see it as an insurance policy? How bizarre

I've always found it strange that Americans believe they should supplement the income of others (on poor wages) from their own post-tax income. I don't tip in America and I don't give money to beggars in the street in Thailand - it just perpetuates a lousy tax and social system. Americans have a proud boast about their low taxes - but pay informal taxes to selected individuals through their tipping practices. As I made clear in my original post, even were I inclined to tip the maid, the irritation she causes by stuffing up the bedside alarm day after day after day after day ater day after day after day (and the hotel management won't take corrective action) ...

I do the same. While we've all had stays where the housekeeping left much to be desired, for the most part, these folks work very hard.

I usually tip $1.00 per bed used in the room per night. I also tip $1 - $3 when I ask for house keeping to bring me extra things. I actually love to tip people for good service. It makes me feel good.

If I didn't like the maid or management at a hotel, I would go to a different hotel.

Lucky you. Corporate travel policy mandates Marriott RI and only where one is not available are alternatives allowed

That makes sense. I always choose my own hotels, so I didn't think of having no choice.

Try tipping the maid $2.00 on your next stay and tell her about the problems that you are having and she might respond to them. I know you feel that a tip is not warranted, but it might make your stay more pleasant, and therefor worth the extra expense.

Good luck.

Guilty, your honor!
I must confess that I do not leave a tip for housekeeping. It's just that when I'm in a mad rush every morning and the last thing I think of as I frantically run out of the room to head to the office is leaving a tip for housekeeping.

In the future, would I? Not sure. It seems everywhere I turn, I leave a tip. Cab to airport: tip. Room service tip. Restaurant: tip. Airport parking: tip. Cab back home: tip. That's a lot of tipping out of my own pocket. Tipping is optional so when the housekeepers complain they don't get a tip, it rubs me the wrong way. :confused: