How and how much do you tip the maid?

[SpaceAce]

I wasn't sure if this was the right place to post, so I understand if it gets moved somewhere else.

How much is appropriate to tip the maid who cleans your room?

Do you do it on a daily basis? At the end of the stay?

How does the maid know that it was supposed to be a tip, not that you just happened to leave change/bills laying around?

Thanks!

 

[DizneyNutz]

It is most frequently advised to tip daily, because your mousekeeping staff may change daily. We usually put the money in a previously prepared mousekeeping envelope with a character picture printed on it and Thanks Mousekeeping or some such message. We usually put 5.00 in for DW and I. Hope this helps
Here is a link. http://www.arwolff.com/heidi/

 

[raven69david]

Average is between $2 and $5 per day. We leave $5 per day and put "mousekeeping" on the notepad. You leave it in the morning when you leave your room to go out to the parks or wherever. You can make envelopes with designs on them which can be found by searching for them on here using the words "mousekeeping envelopes".


Here's one site, but there are many others: http://www.arwolff.com/heidi/

 

[Tissa]

I leave a dollar per person in the room per day. You might not have the same mousekeeper every day. I normally just leave the money on the table with a note that says Mousekeeping. Some people use envelopes and print cute Disney characters on them that say Mousekeeping.

 

[Lynne M]

In other hotels, I've usually left the tip laying out on the dresser or nightstand. But, at Disney resorts, the maids almost never take the money if it's just sitting there.

I take a piece of paper from the notepad by the phone, fold it over the money, and write "For Housekeeping" on it.

 

[Teacher510]

I leave $2 from DD and me each day. I sometimes put it in a Mickey notecard and usually leave it on the bed (which is practically made when we leave.)

 

[ziggylu]

When we were at AKL last week, the maid left a tent card in the bathroom with her name on it. We left the daily dip under this(in our case $3 for two adults who keep their room very tidy making the housekeeper's job as easy as we can...we'd tip up to $5 if for any reason the room required extra service on any given day)

In most hotels we leave it on a bathroom counter with a note "for housekeeping"

 

[SantaRay]

We usually tip $2-3 each day and leave a note. We'll be there next month and I plan to set out a dish of individually wrapped candies as a little extra Christmas gift.

 

[palmickey2005]

We usually tip $2-3 each day and leave a note. We'll be there next month and I plan to set out a dish of individually wrapped candies as a little extra Christmas gift.

Great idea SantaRay!

We are going in February but I think I'll do this also and leave both $ and some candy.

 

[lookingforward]

I leave a note of thanks with the money (otherwise they don't take it). If it is my family of five I leave at $5 to 8, depending on clutter, etc.

 

[JPN4265]

Because maid service is a salaried position, tipping is not expected. We don't tip for this position, but you can if you feel like you should. If you and your family leave a mess in your room or expect more than just the standard room cleaning. But to tip this position as well as other salaried positions, has gotten way out of hand. JMO.

 

[Kay1]

We leave a few dollars on a pillow and they always take it.

 

[Cory's Gal]

We also tip $1 per person in a marked envelope on the nightstand or table. I have the envelopes ready and in the safe until I need them, that way I am not searching around for dollar bills.

 

[minnie61650]

From the following link for a guideline about tipping:

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/summer_tipping/

The link covers all types of tipping during travel.
This is guideline for hotel tipping:

HOTEL TIPPING
Doorman: $1-$3 for hailing cabs, helping with luggage
Bellhop: $1-$2/bag
Concierge: $3-$5 for dinner reservations ($10 for hottest restaurants); $20 for booking tours; $25 for getting tickets to a sold-out show
Room service staff: 15%
Hotel housekeeper: $2-$5 a night (Leave every day as opposed to once at the end of the stay, since different housekeepers may clean your room.)

 

[Mickiethepooh]

minimum of $1 per person per day. though I often leave more.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

$5 per night (2 adults, 3 kids). We make up "mousekeeping envelopes" before we leave home and juist leave it on the pillow each morning.

 

[jenv]

I normally tip between 2-3 dollars per day. We are a family of four and my DH is really cheap. We clean up the room and we keep it pretty tidy. The beds are normally not made and we normally have extra towels. I also like to put the towels in a big pile next to the tub.

Jen

 

[rkrivas]

I'm travelling with my parents and kids next month. My parents will have a separate room (hopefully adjoining). Given that I'm paying for the trip and that my parents probably won't tip, would it be appropriate if I tip for both rooms?

 

[evenpar4me]

guess i might get flames on this.but just asking.when you stay at any other resort or hotel,do you tip the maid? Just curious.

 

[aubriee]

We also tip $1 per person in a marked envelope on the nightstand or table. I have the envelopes ready and in the safe until I need them, that way I am not searching around for dollar bills.

We do the same thing: $1.00/person/day in premade envelopes that we stuff before we leave home and then keep in the safe until needed. If I'm traveling solo I tip $2.00/day, but I am very neat. I usually automatically make my bed as soon as I get up and just before leaving roll up used towels and washcloths in a dry towel and place them on the vanity with the tip envelope on top. All housekeeping has to do is empty the trash can under the vanity and replace the towels. I would never leave a mess at home for someone else to clean up, so I can't see doing it on vacation.

Something else I like to do is add a little gift from my home state to the tip envelope (Texas magnet, Bluebonnet seeds, deck of Texas cards, Texas bottle opener, ect)