I started tipping on the advice of a college adviser who told me that it was the right thing to do before attending a conference. IMO, I would rather leave $5 than have a 10 % service fee levied each day (like a lot of hotels in Asia do).

I tip $1-3 day depending on the service. I factor in things like how clean the room was when we get there as well as how it is each day. Lately I've been leaving the do not disturb sign out and just straightening up myself in any of the hotels that insist on changing the sheets daily and putting out all fresh towels - it's so wasteful. I really prefer the ones who just change the bed every 3 days and that leave the towels that you hang up. It's what I'd do at home anyway....

I wasn't paying enough attention when I scanned this quickly. I just assumed it was written by a man, and I read "Mrs Sophie" where it says "Mr Sophie". The post had an entirely different meaning when I read it correctly.

It depends on the country and the service provided.

If I'm in France, Germany, Belgium then I don't tip since the housekeepers are paid a living wage just as the waiter/waitress in a restaurant is paid a living wage.

If I'm in Eastern Europe and receive good service and the room is clean then I tip a few $'s/day. If I'm in Asia then I generally don't tip as I honestly don't know which countries tipping is accepted and which countries it is frowned upon.

In the US I will tip if I've received good service and the room is clean, but truthfully speaking that is few and far between. US and Western European hotels are the worst when it comes to pounding on doors at 10 minutes to 8am saying "housekeeping" - why can't they just get a printout of guest that have checked out???? Pound on my door and guarantee no tip.

At any hotel that charges a service fee I don't tip. I personally have only stayed at one hotel ever that I felt the service fee was in proportion to the services provided.

me too, when I didn't see a squinty eyed character afterwards I had to reread.

And I am have never tipped before either, hmmm.

Every day, so the person doing the work gets the tip. I generally leave $3/day if I'm alone, more if I'm w/someone.

As far as where to leave it, I have a friend who has been an executive housekeeper for several different properties & her advice re: this was to leave it in a clean, dry water glass on the bathroom counter, preferably w/a note that says 'For Housekeeper' or something along those lines so there is no question in the housekeeper's mind as to whether the $$ is a tip & not just cash left out.

I never expense my tips, either, FWIW.

Well, ACTUALLY...........




(just kidding)

Normally $1-2 per day and I leave it on the bed/pillow.

I don't tip in the UK.

One another note, the gf is adamant every where we go the maid goes through her makeup and she swears some things go missing, anyone else get that?

David

I'm confused.. you leave less of a tip in poorer countries?

I wonder if the glass gets replaced after having that money in it.

Some dollar bills have been in interesting places.

Is your GF on meds? Once or twice, might be understandable. Everywhere, I doubt.

I'm sorry but to imply that housekeepers are so underpaid that it necessitates tipping (as seems to be a huge undertone here) is quite frankly a lie. Housekeepers may be underpaid, yes, but many professions are (educators, police officers, etc), but they're not paid so little that they could not make a living if tips were not involved (unless you're talking about supporting large families, of which I know middle class families who still struggle with this). A friend of mine's mom is a housekeeper here in Las Vegas and her dad is a simple mechanic, yet they still manage to get by, her having just graduated from Notre Dame (not a cheap school by any means) and the entire family having just moved to a rather nice (albeit modest) home on the SE side of town.

In terms of benefits, it's plain and simple. If they're full time, they receive the same benefits that every other full time Marriott employee receives. If they're part time, they receive PT benefits. One additional benefit that is pretty exclusive to the HK department (although an employee in any department can partake in it) is English as a Second Language classes.

I don't see the big deal. Some of us tip, and some of us don't. The cat has been let out of the bag, and it is too late to put it back. There was an article that mentioned that this started in the 1970s in the United States.

I don't tip when I pick up food at a restaurant or leave money in a tip jar. I am sure others do.

Correct. If the maid is earning a salary of $300-$500 (or less) per month, receiving a tip of $2 per day per room they service is totally out-of-scale with the local economy. University profs and policemen would be lining up for jobs as hotel maids.
--
13F

I tip $2-$3 per day to housekeeping.

I leave the money on the pillow. Howekeeping always treats me well when I travel, and I appreciate their effort.