Hotels to Start Charging for Housekeeping?

[WaltD4Me]

Article in the Orlando Sentinal talks about hotels charing for housekeeping. The Atlantis in the Bahamas already charges $22.95 PER PERSON per night!!! I would never pay that. How can they possibly justify $22.95 per person? I sometimes will tell housekeeping we don't need our room done and I'm fine with it and of course with DVC you don't get Mousekeeping, so I can't imagine charging/paying an extra fee for it. According to the article some hotels (outside of the US) are even charging for towels.

Orlando Sentinal Article
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/news/orl-travel-troubleshooter-2-031511,0,5751254.column

 

[UrbanDad]

I couldn't believe the charge at Atlantis when I first read it but sure enough, priced a generic 3 night stay in Royal and the room total was $1,600 and the extras were $400.

The quality and service at Atlantis has gone down hill from where it was several years ago. It's all about making the extra buck. I still love the place though b/c I don't like sitting on a beach all day reading a book like my wife. Every year I spend some time pricing out possible trips. We have stayed there twice. We have always gone to Atlantis when a cruise is docked in Nassau - until last week.

I won't even think about wasting time pricing out Atlantis for a while. $22.95 per person per day is ridiculous. I don't care that much about housekeeping - since most of our trips are 3-4 nights. I would save the money and go grab some towels in the lobby if need be but the Atlantis charge is mandatory. That is what ticks me off.

 

[sau418]

I don't mind a daily fee but that room better be immaculate! I also think you should have the ability to determine how often your room is cleaned. We are neat people, I could easily see not needing it cleaned everyday, but maybe twice throughout the week. The fee should also be reasonable, $22 per person per day, absolutely not!

 

[mainegal]

I don't mind a daily fee but that room better be immaculate!

If paying a daily fee, would you also tip the housekeeper?

I wish the housekeeper would get paid an appropriate wage and not have to depend on tips.

 

[disneygirl 17]

If paying a daily fee, would you also tip the housekeeper?

I wish the housekeeper would get paid an appropriate wage and not have to depend on tips.

I wish that was well - also would the price of the room go down...something tells me that answer is no

 

[lugnut33]

Sounds like airline mentality has gripped the hotel industry. Offer low prices but nickel and dime them to death by charging for everything you can.

That being said, it's what we Americans want, bottom line price regardless of quality.

 

[WaltD4Me]

If paying a daily fee, would you also tip the housekeeper?

I wish the housekeeper would get paid an appropriate wage and not have to depend on tips.

Interesting question. I wonder if their housekeeping is paid more?

I know if I went to a restaurant and they charged me an extra fee to have someone take my order and deliver the food I probably wouldn't leave a tip or definitely would not tip as much.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I don't even like housekeeping. Other than the occasional fresh towel if it's a long trip, I don't need anything. We don't mess up our room and if our trip is only a week we usually just put the do not disturb sign up and ask for a new towel when needed.

 

[Cherinva]

That's dumb !!!

 

[MomofKatie]

I don't even like housekeeping. Other than the occasional fresh towel if it's a long trip, I don't need anything. We don't mess up our room and if our trip is only a week we usually just put the do not disturb sign up and ask for a new towel when needed.

Same here. On a weeklong stay, we have housekeeping come in maybe once, and mostly we just ask for extra towels when we see housekeepers in the hallway.

 

[kevrab]

We stayed at the Atlantis four years ago. They hit you up for every fee imaginable. There's a doorman's fee, a housekeeping fee, they even have a fee they get you for when you get a towel at the pool.

The place is beautiful but it's one amazing rip-off.

 

[Kimberle]

Atlantis has been doing that for years. Their pricing is ridiculous. The only way I'd even consider visiting is if I was on a cruise ship that stopped here.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

So do you have the option to decline the housekeeping and thus the charge?

 

[sayhello]

And if you can decline it, what happens to the rooms? If someone is staying for a week, and decides they don't want to pay extra for housekeeping, how incredibly dirty might that room be after a week? I'm sure there are lots of people who would just leave the room a wreck at the end of the week, figuring it's not their problem, that's why they stay in a hotel.

If it's mandatory, then it's another stupid fee like the "Resort fee", which you have to pay whether you use the "Resort" facilities or not. Just add it to the price of the room.

Sayhello

 

[bawstngrl]

So do you have the option to decline the housekeeping and thus the charge?

I sure hope so!!

I am a "neatnik" and would not need housekeeping even for a one week stay. If declining ( and not paying) is NOT an option they wouldn't get my money.

 

[WaltD4Me]

So do you have the option to decline the housekeeping and thus the charge?

No, someone earlier said you cannot decline housekeeping and/or the fee.

I don't plan to not have housekeeping, but there have been plenty of times when they have come when we are still in the room and I just tell them not to worry about it for that day. We don't make a big mess, the only thing is I do like the beds made, but other than that we keep everything pretty neat.

 

[Joshua_me]

Hmm...

Suppose you were only staying for one night ? Would you still have to pay the extra fee ?

What would you be paying for ? The clean-up of the former guest's mess or the next guest's clean room ? Why would you be charged either way ? Neither would be your responsibility.

We keep a fairly clean room as well, basically because we're neat freaks even on vacation. But, we ALL love that little rush of walking back into your room in the afternoon and having the beds made and having fresh towels and glasses and all that good stuff. That's part of vacation, and ought to be factored into the price of the room as it always has been in the past.

Oh...and PS.... ALWAYS tip your mousekeepers ! (And generously) They work long, back-breaking hours for litttle pay. Please don't forget them ~

 

[drakethib]

IF they add a fee as such, that is all the more reason to go elsewhere.

 

[irishdadx4]

I know if I went to a restaurant and they charged me an extra fee to have someone take my order and deliver the food I probably wouldn't leave a tip or definitely would not tip as much.

I wouldn't mind this, if they gave you the option of filling out your own order and getting the food from the kitchen and taking it to my own table instead of paying to have someone else do it.

 

[ericlj63]

Sounds like airline mentality has gripped the hotel industry. Offer low prices but nickel and dime them to death by charging for everything you can.

That being said, it's what we Americans want, bottom line price regardless of quality.

I've seen pictures of Indian railway trains. I've heard the stories of Ryan Air. I've seen pictures of South American and African buses. I really don't believe that it's just Americans who will take cost into account when choosing a travel method.

Also, I haven't seen a lot of difference, in my experience, between airlines for Coach travel (other than Midwest Express, which is now a memory) and I don't have anyone to pay for me to fly first class or business class when available. Given that, I just try to figure out which ticket price will really be lowest and least inconvenient after guessing what extra charges I might need to pay.