Mousekeeping tips for solo hotel stay?

[jessicar82]

What do you other solo travelers tip mousekeeping? I read 1.00 a day per person but I would feel weird leaving 1.00...

 

[Delphinus317]

I typically go with $2.50/day per person when traveling with others. But travelling solo, I'll round up to $3.00/day. I'll leave a $5 if I don't have any ones.

 

[georgina]

I don't have mousekeeping in my room during my stay and leave $5 on my last day.

 

[StLDisFan]

This is always awkwardly difficult for me. I don't mind the idea of tipping them for their service. However, because I am a solo traveler, I can go 3 or 4 days without Mousekeeping coming in for new towels or soap refills. Seriously, how much mess could I make on my own in a few days time? Plus it is just the added security that people aren't coming in and out of my room. After a couple of days, they generally put a bag of towels/toiletries outside my door and depending on the length of stay, I may take it depending on my needs. But I rarely let them in to clean up my room (it is definitely the "bachelor" in me) while I am staying at the resort (note: my last few trips have only been 4-7 days).

But regardless of whether or not I let them in to clean, I still don't like withholding a potential tip they could have earned. I know they didn't necessarily "earn" it, but I figure them leaving me alone + assurance people aren't coming in/out of my room + the day they do come in to clean should earn them some sort of a tip. So I usually do a $1ish a day and $2ish for the days they actually clean my room, plus I like to bring "Thank You" cards with me (I hand them out to deserving CMs around the parks if they provide a little extra pixie dust and to my Mousekeeper at the end of my stay). It seems a quite random and unorthodox, but then again, that pretty accurately sums me up as a person

For my trip in December, I am doing 1 night at Pop and 3 at POFQ. So for me, it will be $2 at Pop and then $5 a POFQ. A "Thank You" card alone would be a nice gesture, but a dollar or two per day is fine.

 

[PirateSAM]

... I know they didn't necessarily "earn" it, but I figure them leaving me alone + assurance people aren't coming in/out of my room + the day they do come in to clean should earn them some sort of a tip. ...

StlDisFan, how do you keep them from coming in and out of your room? I hate to tell you this, but you do know resort employees come and go from rooms and I'm not talking Mousekeeping.

A couple years ago, I wanted a break from the crowds in the early afternoon and decided to go back to my villa to relax. There was a knock on my door, the people identified themselves as with Concierge, (I didn't answer right away because I was in the bedroom) and then the door opened. Paranoid as I am, I had the security lock latched so they couldn't get in. They said they were taking photos from every room's balcony to show off room views on the website. They had identification and an actual master key, so I went ahead and let them in. They went to the balcony took three pictures to encompass the full view, thanked me and left...on to the next room, where they knocked, identified themselves and went inside.

Should I have believed them, who knows. And yes, I did double check that the sliding door was locked afterward. But seriously, Disney World is the only place I vacation solo because of the fact I feel completely safe there. I just make sure to lock up my valuables in the safe and take the key with me.

BTW, I love the "Thank You" card tip!

As for the topic of this discussion, my preferred resort is a Deluxe Resort, and therefore, I usually tip Mousekeeping $5 per day for their service. Except for the year that I got stranded due to car trouble and ran out of cash! (Had to leave less per day to stretch out those $1s towards the end.) It's not so much for the cleaning service they provide, but more so because I'm in LOVE with the H2O+ bar soap they use in the Deluxe resorts. Besides, if I tip well, they usually leave me extras!

 

[disney world dreamer]

i went on my first solo trip in april.

i left $2 per day.
although really $1 per day would have been enough considering that not much needed to be done as i like to be neat and tidy in hotels.

i left it on the little shelf above the sink to ensure mousekeeping would see it and each night i made a cute little note that said it was for mousekeeping and i drew mickey heads on it with different colored markers as i bought several colors for autographs.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Every time I stay in a room solo I leave $3 per day. I will be staying at POR solo in a week and I plan on leaving the same thing each morning before heading to the parks.

 

[aprilnmay]

I keep a pretty tidy room and leave $2 a day.

 

[ludari]

As a solo traveler I usually keep a neat room but I still leave $3 per day.

 

[dcassetta]

When I travel solo, I leave between $3 and $5 depending on the number of $1s I have. I leave tips on the pillow.

 

[karly05]

$3 a day, on the shelf over the sink under the card with the housekeeper's name.

 

[StLDisFan]

StlDisFan, how do you keep them from coming in and out of your room? I hate to tell you this, but you do know resort employees come and go from rooms and I'm not talking Mousekeeping.

A couple years ago, I wanted a break from the crowds in the early afternoon and decided to go back to my villa to relax. There was a knock on my door, the people identified themselves as with Concierge, (I didn't answer right away because I was in the bedroom) and then the door opened. Paranoid as I am, I had the security lock latched so they couldn't get in. They said they were taking photos from every room's balcony to show off room views on the website. They had identification and an actual master key, so I went ahead and let them in. They went to the balcony took three pictures to encompass the full view, thanked me and left...on to the next room, where they knocked, identified themselves and went inside.

Should I have believed them, who knows. And yes, I did double check that the sliding door was locked afterward. But seriously, Disney World is the only place I vacation solo because of the fact I feel completely safe there. I just make sure to lock up my valuables in the safe and take the key with me.

BTW, I love the "Thank You" card tip!

As for the topic of this discussion, my preferred resort is a Deluxe Resort, and therefore, I usually tip Mousekeeping $5 per day for their service. Except for the year that I got stranded due to car trouble and ran out of cash! (Had to leave less per day to stretch out those $1s towards the end.) It's not so much for the cleaning service they provide, but more so because I'm in LOVE with the H2O+ bar soap they use in the Deluxe resorts. Besides, if I tip well, they usually leave me extras!

Disney.... bubble... popped.... Only kidding! No, I know they can (and probably do) come into my room when I am not in there. And seeing as how I am usually in my room for less than 6 hours per day (very late at night), the chances are pretty likely they have been in without me knowing. But there is just some psychological effect the "Do Not Disturb" sign has for me, personally And unfortunately my camera gear and laptop do not fit in the wall safe, so I just have to grin and bear it and hope for the best. But you're right, of all the places in the world, being at Disney is definitely the safest I have ever felt.

And the cards were something I started doing a few trips back. I have always verbally thanked CMs for their hard work and the pixie dust they spread, but a card with an affirmation is just one of those nice "random acts of kindness" I like to give to share the magic. Usually it is during a meal when they go out of their way for me as a solo traveler. But I have given them to merchandise CMs, CMs at the front desk, even to the bus drivers who made the long drive from the parks late at night just to get me back to the resort (many times I am literally the last guest in the park and I feel guilty they have to call a bus just for me); if they can put a big smile on my face, surely I can return the favor

 

[amberlina29307]

I need help please!! I am pakcing to leave in a few hours and just realized I never looked up the appropriate amount for mousekeeping. I have 3 in my Pop Century room, any thoughts?!?!?1

 

[StLDisFan]

I feel like $1-3 is the usual per person, per night (a little more though when you go up in hotel quality). With 3 guests in a Value Hotel, I'd be inclined to leave $4 or $5 per night. Honestly though, I think it's whatever you are comfortable with. If you are short on cash, even writing a simple "Thank You" note would be nice gesture

Enjoy your trip!

 

[kwdw]

I leave 2 or 3 dollars each day as a solo. And honestly, it's about how many $1 bills I have! Don't wait until the end as it may be someone else each day. I use the note pad of paper in the room to leave a little note to indicate its a tip. I don't make a messy room at all.

When traveling with 3 or more in the party, we tend to leave $4 a day because that multiple beds to make, more towels to replace, more trash cans to empty, etc.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I left $2 per day.

 

[spiceycat]

depends at a value resort generally $1 a day, $2 a day a moderate (sometimes less), $2.50 at deluxe - but generally stay at DVC = no daily housekeeping there at all - so when I leave (when I remember) leave a $5 or $10 depending upon how long a stay

 

[Round the World Traveler]

Interesting thread. I don't tip housekeeping, but I don't stay in Disney hotels. Is this the norm? THey are paid to do housekeeping, and they are paid pretty well. TIP - To Insure Prompitude - so why do people tip housekeeping? It is their job, and many of them make more money than I do! In foreign countries, I sometimes tip but they aren't paid minimum wage with benefits. Sorry, I don't believe in this "tipping" policy of many Americans. If you are a solo and staying in a Disney property and feel it is necessary, I would say $1.00 per day is plenty!

 

[Brenda Kim]

Interesting thread. I don't tip housekeeping, but I don't stay in Disney hotels. Is this the norm? THey are paid to do housekeeping, and they are paid pretty well. TIP - To Insure Prompitude - so why do people tip housekeeping? It is their job, and many of them make more money than I do! In foreign countries, I sometimes tip but they aren't paid minimum wage with benefits. Sorry, I don't believe in this "tipping" policy of many Americans. If you are a solo and staying in a Disney property and feel it is necessary, I would say $1.00 per day is plenty!

I have only ever lived in America and came from a no to little tipping family... so much so that when I was old enough to have my own money I would wait until my parents were leaving the restaurant and put more money out for the tip. This was because I worked in a restaurant and knew what the waiter/ress went through. Housekeeping is no different, it is a hard labor job that I know I would not want to do and tipping is showing my appreciation of the person who is cleaning my room. I tip based on how long it would take to clean my room, so when I travel solo I only have housekeeping every 3 days and tip $5 on that day. When traveling with a friend and we have housekeeping each day then $3 a day. When I traveled with my brother and his family where the room was left in EPIC tragedy, crumbs and crackers everywhere from the kiddos, I left a $10 tip each day we left the room in a major mess and $5 on the days we did not.

I do that for hotels everywhere and as far as I know only Las Vegas has the housekeepers that are in the union paid very well for their job. All others get paid minimum wage or a little above. Disney's housekeepers and janitors union just got them a wage increase to $9.50 an hour. Maybe I am out of touch but that is not being paid pretty well. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ld-resort-service-trades-council-new-contract

 

[sunshine1]

Stayed for 10 nights. Gave in total 25 bucks.

The housekeeper sorted me out with toiletries