Tips for Housekeeping Staff
 

Does anyone do this? Meg Schullte(?) had a column in US Today recently where she recommended that travellers leave a tip.

Personally, I have been doing so you a bit over a year, after David Grossman authored a similar column. Don't get me wrong, I am not a big tipper. As a rule, I leave $2.00 per room for the first night and $1.00 for each succeeding night. I leave the $$ on the bed, partially tucked under the pillow.

I would appreciate learning what others do in regard to tippingon housekeepers.

Regards,

Tom

I always leave a couple of bucks per day at the end of my stay. Close to the holidays, a bit more . . .

$2 per day for me left each day in case there is a different person each day. $3 if its a big city or I made a big mess.

I usually leave $10 per stay, and usually have 2-3 night stays. $20 when I make a mess or use all the amenities, etc.

Usually, I leave the tip on the first day of the stay, with a note that says, "Thanks in advance for your service during my stay."

This leads to much enhanced service during my stays, like second robe in C level, lots of towels, etc.

albatross

Couple bucks a day - usually at the end of the stay. Thinking about changing to daily, though.

A funny reason why I started tipping - my daughter worked as a housekeeper for Country Inn and Suites. She came home one day and asked "would it kill you to leave a tip once in a while???"

So now I do. And have been for a years now, otherwise I have to answer to her!

Cheers

I always tip housekeeping, but the amount depends on my location, however method is always the same.

I put the equivilent of $5US on the pillow after the first night, and then every fifth night if it's an ongoing stay. While $5US doesn't mean a lot to US housekeepers, when you're in Asia, I've found this to be quite effective.

I was staying in Bali a few years ago to return home to see my laundry bag (that I planned to take home and launder myself) had been cleaned, and ironed, without me asking. I was never charged for this, but I assumed that my 50 IDR was clearly enough to keep housekeeping in my good books.

I'm not an American ...
 

... so I don't tip (and neither do my American colleagues). I particularly don't tip at the Residence Inn where I ordinarily stay as the maid is always using the room radio to listen to some Spanish station as she cleans the room and then she switches it to Alarm On (not Radio Off) as she leaves, three days out of four. You can walk down the hotel corridor on that floor any morning and know absolutely which rooms are unoccupied - their alarms are going off! I am always complaining about this, and the housekeeper keeps saying that the maid has been told. I suspect however she hasn't been shown, which is something else altogether. So, tipping? For what? Doing her job? I don't tip the woman who prepares the breakfast nor the check-in/-out staff. Why single out the maids? Because she's "in my space"?

I've never suspected the woman who prepares my breakfast of rifling through my clothes, nor does she have access to steal my belongings.

I tip 2$ per night when doing personal travel because maids do switch so whoever cleaned the room on a Monday may not be the same person who did it on a Tuesday, so every day seems to work better.

If I tipped every night I travel for business I'd be broke! And as RTWFF pointed out, I am not quite sure they warrant being tipped as much as say a waiter/waitress or a barber.

From my experience it isn't uncommon but it's not too frequent either

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.

Good point about the different people doing the room. Also, your $2.00 per day seems appropriate.

Thanks!!

FWIW, as one might expect, this has come up before in several threads previously and these are a few of these:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ip+housekeeper

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Hope this helps. :)

Mark

Not likely in any US property maybe a Resort, But the Ren I stay at for 50+ nights throughout the year Overseas has a 15% Service in the rate, so I assume that it inludes tips in a pool kind of way.

didnt know it until I left a tip in the Coffee Shop and the Waitess came after me to thank me, seems the Bills there also had a 15% added on for Service so I ended up tipping Her twice. the next time I ate in the coffee shop I didnt leave an extra tip and she was surprised as she asked me what was wrong. I told her nothing was, only I didnt know the other day that a tip of 15% was added onto my bill already as a tip.

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:

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...