I am fundamentally against all tipping but have started leaving the maids $2 in these new dollar coins daily. I left a note on the 2nd day requesting extra mouthwash and got 4 bottles every day plus a full replacement of the other lotions. I also left a thank you note on my last day. I was just so happy with the Boulder Marriott's service and minor room upgrade - really a great place. A good room really makes all the difference IMO - it starts the mood of the stay off in a great manner plus knowing that my sleep won't be interrupted by noise, etc.

Contrast this to the WN skycap 'tude at DEN a few hours afterward. A young somewhat nonchalant fellow took my 2 bags. Tip jars baited with TWENTY's right on the podium - never saw that before. I HANDED him 3 dollar coins and I returned to my rental car to kill a few hours driving in the Rockies before my flight. I heard an obviously "ping" of a coin crashing to the floor after being tossed at his buddy a few stations down. I pointed out that these were Dollar coins, not Quarters, and I got a sheepish "I know" as I drove off. Somehow I don't think he did.

You must work for a hotel to come up with that kind of idea!

Well said!

Currently at the Pleasanton Marriott and found this peculiar and a bit tacky at the same time. There is the usual "I'm here to clean your room if you need anything press 0" note but it's printed on an envelope presumably for tips...

Is it really a secret that I'm a student in and have worked in the industry?

I am surprised this is the first you have seen of this....I have been seeing it pretty consistently for awhile now.

My favorite is the "don't worry, enjoy your stay, let your room become a big mess, that's what I am here for" message printed on the envelope!

Like most people here, I usually leave $1-$3 daily. I usually leave it on the pillow.

I read the book "Nickle and Dimed" a few years ago and it changed my perspective on service people a bunch. I always tip hotel service staff, everywhere I go a couple bucks per night, regardless of the local economy. I do it for business and personal travel the same way.

They make very little and I make a lot (relatively speaking) so it seems like a kind thing to do. I also tip 20% at restaurants unless the server is a complete beligerent .... I tip shuttle drivers, porters, etc. as well.

I suspest most of you here on Flyer Talk do pretty well financially - why not help people who probably struggle financially to do a little better? It beats having Uncle Sam force you to do it. That will be coming soon enough...

Also, I'd be very surprised if each of your employers wouldn't repay you for the tip as it is pretty standard to leave them. Mine does no problem.

My former employer used per diems, which included incidentals, so no reimbursement for tips outside of taxi fares and the like.

My current employer requires actuals, so I now expense all tips.

That said, my tipping habits have not changed. I never tip at a hotel - can only recall doing so a couple of times in Vegas when I was on a winning streak.

Interesting thread... I've never tipped in a hotel in (western) Europe or the US. The thought hasn't actually occured to me.

I have tipped housekeeping in Tunisia and (if I remember correctly) Turkey, but that's it. I will certainly think about start tipping in western hotels as well. Will give this some extra thought on the next business trip.

Will also read Nickel and Dimed, thanks for the tip!

I tip $3 - $5 nightly and leave it on the bathroom sink.

This has been an interesting thread to read, and I appreciate the fact that everyone has their own opinion as to whether and how much to tip. The only thing that made no sense to me were the comments by a couple of individuals that they tip when traveling for personal reasons, but don't tip when they travel for business. I can't seem to follow the logic of that position.

Why should the maid who is cleaning your toilet and making your bed every day be penalized because you are traveling on your employer's dime instead of your own? It would make more sense to me if someone said that they don't believe in tipping, don't tip when they are on vacation, so they don't tip when they are traveling on business if their employer doesn't reimburse them for it. But to say that you do tip while on vacation, but don't tip while on business, just doesn't make sense to me.

What am I missing? And why penalize the maid?

BTW, on a related subject, can I assume that those of you who do not believe in tipping for housekeeping because that is their job, also don't tip the doorman or valet when he hails a cab for you because that is his job as well?

I think some of this relates to the perception of immediate consequences with a doorman or valet - if you tip them, your service might be better. Whereas with a housekeeper, you get essentially the same service whether you tip or not, and most of the time the housekeeper isn't physically there when you're considering a tip.

Explanation only; not justification for tipping or not tipping.

Just back from Japan

(OK, I was at the Westin because Mr. Marriott's staff isn't bright enough to have ANY hotels in Osaka prefecture even though its population is almost the same as the five boroughs of NYC. Don't get me started on Tokyo.)

My point... it was so nice to have outstanding service from the bellman, the concierge, the wait staff, etc. all without needing even the tiniest of gratuities.

If I'm going to pay a top dollar price for the room, it is the responsibility of the management to make sure the staff is appropriately paid... not mine!

This is a really interesting thread. I tend to leave $3 every day and write a quick "Housekeeping, Thanks!" note to leave it on. I have gotten everything in response from nothing to a thank you note to a handwritten prayer for my well being. It's actually one of the high points of my travel now, leaving a tip that seems to be really appreciated by the staff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boston_1809

This is a really interesting thread. I tend to leave $3 every day and write a quick "Housekeeping, Thanks!" note to leave it on. I have gotten everything in response from nothing to a thank you note to a handwritten prayer for my well being. It's actually one of the high points of my travel now, leaving a tip that seems to be really appreciated by the staff.

+1. I don't leave a tip to increase their wages, I leave one because I almost always ask for extra things - so I do get better/additional service.

And the responses I get run the gamut...but when I don't get ANY response it is often that the housekeepers don't speak English. Last week in NY the housekeeper left me a note everyday, as well as extra bottles of water!

And perhaps it is "age related" - I have traveled for a lot of years, and I no longer want to schlep my bags (or wait an hour to get them), stand in a long line waiting for a cab, or return to my room early to find it has not yet been cleaned.

A few dollars here and there to reward those who make my trip easier and less stressful works both ways, as I benefit as much as they.