Does everyone tip Mousekeeping?

[BeauMec]

This may not apply for the train or cruise ship, but for hotels I believe cash on the pillow daily is the easiest method!

 

[Connieh]

Always have tipped housekeeping, it's a hard job and someone has to do it, so why not brighten up their day with a gratuity. I like to tip each day, that way the person cleaning will benefit for a job well done.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by caitycaity
no we don't.

and we've still gotten towel animals.

I don't think most tip in expectation of towel animals anyway. We tip because we know that the housekeepers have a hard job and we APPRECIATE them. We generally get towel animals too but tip regardless of getting anything in return except a clean room. I was brought up to tip as my parents have always done it and thought it was and still is the nice thing to do. We tip $5 daily for 2 adults and a 4 y/o. We tip on the last day also as we figure when we first came to the room is was clean but we couldn't tip as she was already gone. So we make up for it at the end and of course we use those cute envelopes too!

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I too come from a family who always tipped housekeeping and I have carried that into my adult life and hope my children will do the same. Housekeeping, in my opinion, is an extremely hard job and they do not get paid very well, so I have no problem leaving a tip. We usually tip about $4- $5 a day, depending on how messy the room is. I should mention there are four of us.

 

[Redmic]

I would not dream of staying in a hotel and not tipping the maid. My attitude is if I can afford the vacation I can afford to tip properly, whether it be the maid, bell services or wait staff.

 

[Nancybell]

Yes, we most certainly do tip. It's just two of us but we feel that as long as we can afford to travel we should take care of those who are taking care of us. Of course, we keep our room clean too, however, they always do the little "extras", i.e., extra towels, mickey soap. One day I came into our room and there sat a mini MM bean bag on the bed. Thought that was super nice! Most of all they are hardworking and deserve any extras we can provide.

Nancybell

 

[PrincessAurora]

I'm going to use the decorated envelopes this time. I usually just draw a "mickey face" (3 circles) with the words "For Mousekeeping" on the envelope.

A few years back when we were leaving Port Orleans one day, we ran into our maid who thanked us for the tips and asked if there was anything else she could do for us.

Thought that was really nice.

 

[pmurphy713]

Yes, we always tip, too. Usually $4 to $5 per day, unless we were really messy. We usually tidy up the room before we leave everyday and it's not too bad. We always ask for extra towels and pillows and they never hesitate to bring them without question.

We have always had great maid service at DW and even started leaving and receiving notes from our made at the Polynesian. She was great!

We leave our envelope in a very noticable place such as the table or on the pillow of the bed and we do leave it every day. I did ask about this at the resort and they said maids don't always work the same rooms everyday or even every day of the week, so we always try to do it day by day. Also always put "Housekeeping" or "Mousekeeping" on the envelope so they are sure they are supposed to take it.

However, whether you decide to tip or not, I believe you should do it from your heart and not grudgingly. These people make our lives a lot easier and cleaner while we are onl vacation and this is the only way I can thank them.

 

[lmhall2000]

I have never tipped- I've stayed at the Ritz Carlton to Comfort Inn- never heard of tipping housekeeping. I worked for one of the largest companies in the US where they give guidelines for allowable and customary expenses for our travelling and this was never mentioned- they did allow expenses to tip bellmen, cabs, limo drivers, restaurant servers and they were very liberal with expenses.
And if I pay $400 or $40 a night for a hotel room- I am paying for that service, the check in desk, phone service, etc. I don't tip the reservationist- whose job is equally demanding in some respects, and I disagree that they "live" off their tips- waiters and waitresses (atleast when I was one) made well below minimum wage- their paid amount 10 years ago was little over $2 an hour while the minimum wage was well over $5 an hour. Waiters make less than half what salaried minimum wage workers receive- because tipping is customary.
And I received towel animals every night of my stay at AKL and never tipped- so I don't think your service is slighted or improved by tipping- atleast it definitely should not be. I went out of my way for my customers (in all my jobs- salary or otherwise)- not because I expected something in return but because I treated others as I would want to be treated.
That said- if we leave our room like a tornado- which does happen on character breakfast meals I may just add a tip (already printed out envelopes!) but otherwise- we're very neat and do not feel obligated or inclined to tip- the housekeeping service is included in your room rate.
Tara

 

[kozmo]

Yup,I tip, just cause i think i should,and they love it when you leave it in the envelopes,i appreciate anybody who has to clean after me and my gang-and yup i stay at deluxes and pay a good price to stay there,i just love to recognize the mousekeepers cause i even enjoy my conversations and tips i get from them!!!

 

[hockey mom]

We leave our room very clean and always tip. I would feel guilty the rest of the day if I saved a few bucks by stiffing a housekeeper.

 

[BeauMec]

However, whether you decide to tip or not, I believe you should do it from your heart and not grudgingly.

Well said!

 

[robinb]

We tip when on vacation $1 per person per day or $5 for a DVC Trash and Tidy. I don't expect (or usually get) anything extra for my tipping. I do it to help out the Mousekeepers who work hard cleaning rooms all day.

 

[splashmountain31]

Hotel

• Bellhop. For every bag that a bellhop takes to your room, you should tip $1-$2. For every package or delivery to your room, you should tip $1-$2.

• Housekeeper. Each day you should tip the housekeeper $1-$2. If your housekeeper has to perform any type of special service, you should tip an additional $1-$2.


• Room service wait staff. If someone brings a meal to your room, you should tip just as you would in a restaurant, 15-20%. Even if the gratuity is included in the bill, you should tip $1.


I should note that we tried to tip the luggage carriers the last time we were in Disney and they refused to take our money. So who knows what the Disney policy is on this subject. Funny, I was just having this "tipping" conversation last week with a friend. Does anyone tip their mail carrier????

 

[WDWorBUST]

I must say that I usually do not tip housekeeping. I have before - but it's not a given in my book. For all those that your reasoning is they work hard and only make minimum wage - do you tip the counter person taking your order at McDonalds?? I am not wanting to start an argument here as I'm not against tipping housekeeping at all I just don't feel it's necessary. I have done a lot of jobs and if I may say so gone above and beyond because I would want someone to do the same for me....all the while making minimum wage. I know the norm on the boards seems to be to tip.....and for exceptional service I will tip, or if it's just because I had extra money at the end of that day and want to share it because I am able to...I will tip. But I don't feel anyone should feel obligated to tip housekeeping, especially at WDW where they consider it a non-tipped position and they certainly should not feel bad if they don't (I'm not saying anyone on here would try to do that). I'm only voicing the fact that I do not ALWAYS tip because I'm not a part of the norm. So I guess to make a long post short - No, not everyone tips housekeeping.

 

[Cris]

Originally posted by splashmountain31

I should note that we tried to tip the luggage carriers the last time we were in Disney and they refused to take our money. So who knows what the Disney policy is on this subject. Funny, I was just having this "tipping" conversation last week with a friend. Does anyone tip their mail carrier????

was this a bellmen or a doormen?? And what resort??


I don't tip because this is not a tipped position. At the front desk they must hand the money over to a manager. If they were caught taking a tip they could get reprimanded or terminated. Now the housekeeping department looks the other way when it comes to tipping. Just for the record they could never make less than minium wage unless it was a tipped position. I believe they make around 7 dollars and hour. Same as front desk. And yes I totally agree it is hard work, manual labor. Front desk has tons more guest contact so I believe it is just as hard. JMHO

 

[boomer626]

Can someone tell me how to best leave a tip that will cover both regular and turn down service? Will one tip in the morning get to the right people or do you normally leave two separate tips. I'm thinking this will be difficult since we often won't be back to the room before turn down service. Thanks.

 

[Cris]

they are seperate people.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I don't tip because this is not a tipped position. At the front desk they must hand the money over to a manager. If they were caught taking a tip they could get reprimanded or terminated. Now the housekeeping department looks the other way when it comes to tipping. Just for the record they could never make less than minium wage unless it was a tipped position. I believe they make around 7 dollars and hour. Same as front desk. And yes I totally agree it is hard work, manual labor. Front desk has tons more guest contact so I believe it is just as hard. JMHO

I agree. Our last trip we didn't tip because we were given a booklet by Disney and it stated that housekeeping wasn't a tipped position. Our mousekeeper was fantastic! Everyday she arranged the kids beanies incrazy ways, as the trip progressed, the more beanies they collected and the more she arranged them on the bed, from lamps etc... they loved it. She also rinsed out our refillable mugs everyday and placed them by the sink which I thought was a really nice touch.

At the end of the trip we went and spoke with the manager about how wonderful our mousekeeper was and he thanked us for taking the time to come and let him know. When we returned I also sent an email to guest relations to let them know as well.

 

[splashmountain31]

at the time (now POR). I guess it was the bellman that "holds" the luggage until check in, so that would probably explain it.

I wouldn't say tipping of any kind is "mandatory" and I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone who doesn't feel like tipping. It's a matter of choice.

I tip to thank a person for a job well done and I feel cleaning toilets deserves a little extra. I certainly wouldn't want that job. eekkk....

Happy Day!!!