One thing I don't like: a "tip card" with the maid's name on it left in the room. I don't like being told "put your tip here". I will leave $1-3 on the bedside table if I have it handy and if the room has been well prepared. I agree with many others here who feel fortunate to have what I have and feel no regret supplementing the minimum wage earned by these hotel workers.

I do NOT equate it to giving to a beggar on the street, as someone else suggested. Maids are working their asses off all day, doing a job that I would never want to do. I find this nothing like someone standing on the street with their hand out.

I really don't like the idea presented of "testing" the maid to see if she'd take the dollar left in the book, then rewarding her if she passes your test. Seems cruel to me.

David

I do the same as psychephylax. I tip when travelling for personal travel, but not for business travel. If I am there of my own accord, then I am happy to tip, but if I am there for someone else, I don't feel the urge.

That's probably not fair to the maids, though, especially given all the body hair that ends up in the drain after I shower. :eek:

I do leave a tip when travelling for business if I have made a mess that goes beyond a normal cleaning.

Greg

I'm not a big fan of the tip cards either - I've stayed at some hotels (not Marriotts, but some Cendant branded hotels while on mileage runs) where they actually leave an envelope with a handwritten "Thank You!" on it. I don't really appreciate it - also, it depends on the hotel as well & how clean the room was when I checked in. I've checked into some hotels (again, not Marriotts, but complete & total dumps for 1-night stays while passsing through) where there's streaks in the toilet or trash still in the trash can - in a place like, no way in hell am I tipping & if I'm traveling with a laptop or something valuable, I don't even leave it in the room - I'd feel better leaving in the trunk of my car.

I did do a stay in SLN at a Courtyard there a right after Christmas & on the notepad, there was a handwritten note from the housekeeper that said something like "Happy Holidays - I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay with us, sincerely, [insert HK's name]" - I did appreciate that & did leave a tip there. Often times, if I'm on a multinight stay (and I rarely am in the same place for more than 2-3 nights), if I have enough towels & toiletries & don't create too much trash, I'll leave the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door & not get any housekeeping - then, when I check out, I'll leave between $1-2 per night on top of the TV near the remote or in another obvious place as a tip - but only if the amount of cleaning that needs to be done is more than just a "touch up" and the overall service was good. Often times, while at hotels, I do go back to my room during the day to get some work done & even if I have the DND sign on the door, if a housekeeper sees me walking into the room, they'll ask if I need more towels or anything & I'm sure to tip those ones - who can anticipate my needs - at the end of the stay. I don't do a daily tip though - my tips are always at the end of the stay...

Also, not to open up a can of worms here...BUT....

...Since when is anyone forced to do a job they do not want to do? Or forced into receiving a salary they think is unfair? If the maids/housekeepers are not happy with the salary they make they are free to find a hotel that pays more or get educated and obtain other skills. If the hotel pay is low, then they would not have many takers for open positions..and they would eventually have to increase the wages that are paid.

Like, I moved to the States when I was 12. I spent a few years working at a bagel store making minimum wage. I quickly learned that this was not a viable career path for me, so I went to school and got a degree. Now, I didn't go to Yale/Harvard/Princeton...etc...I went to a state school and was not up to my ears in debt, so it is possible to get a degree that doesn't cost a fortune. Now I feel I get paid pretty well for my age.

I also have a friend who dropped out of college, and is working at a post office, soon he's going for supervisor training.

And another one who's in college who works for Costco as a manager.

There are many paths to a better/wealthier life, and I don't see why it has to be in the form of tips...as a form of supplimental income.

Maybe someone with more eloquence can chime in here, but I can't let this go without commenting. True, not everyone is "forced" into any position, it is not true that all opportunities are open to all people. I'm not willing to accept the theory that just because I was able to go to undergrad and graduate school that everyone else should be able to. There are a multitude of reasons for people, good people, being stuck in their jobs. (just a few: lack of funds for further education, lack of time due to family obligations, lack of reliable transportation, etc.)

Yes, that's why I'm not a lawyer/doctor/rocket scientist....Not everyone will have the opportunity to be one and that's just a fact of life....

I guess it's hard for me to justify "lack of opportunities" as a viable excuse because I've seen both sides of the coin, I have a friend who started working at Costco before it was even known as Costco as a bagger (that be them people who put your groceries into the bag)...Day in and day out he went to work, made sure he did his job the best that he could and went through the ranks as a supervisor...deli manager...manager..etc...I don't know his financial situation but he demonstrates levels of responsibility (for himself, his wife and his new child) that amaze me and I am sure he is compensated for it appropriately. Oh, and he's finishing his college degree that he started the same time as me....one course a semester.

I have another friend who spends his days doing nothing...He has come up with all the excuses you listed below and every one of them can be overcome by a driven person...Walk to work, bike to work, take a bus to work...Once you have a job, don't waste the money you earn, save it for some sort of a course....Take small steps and you will eventually get there. Sitting on the couch all day watching reruns of Saved By the Bell or Law and Order isn't going to get you a better paying job or get you out of the situation you're in..

Work ethic..and personal drive will get people where they want to go...