How much do you tip housekeeping?

[llebrekniT]

We travel <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1018.gif' border=0></a>as often as possible, which usually has us staying in hotels 4 or 5 times a year. I'm never really sure how much to tip housekeeping<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_2_8.gif' border=0></a>.

Does anyone know what the "standard" tip amount <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_102.gif' border=0></a>is? Is it based on the amount of your room, number of days, etc.?

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_3_10.gif' border=0></a>

 

[DisneyObsessed]

The general rule of thumb seems to be $1/per person. Unless you leave a huge mess everyday that they would have to deal with, then leave a little more. The important thing to do, is to leave it each day, as there can be different people each day.
_______________
Dawn

 

[Dan Murphy]

And don't forget, if at Disney..........

http://users.adelphia.net/~heidiw/maid_envelopes/index.html

 

[monkeyboy]

I use the rule of $1 a person per night

 

[CEDmom]

There really isn't any hard and fast rule about this. Many people don't tip at all. That being said, we leave $2 a day for DH, DD and I. Many people would leave more than that but we think it's a decent tip. I always make sure the room is left very neat.

 

[lynxstch]

we make up mousekeeping envelope ahead of time..there are just the 2 of us..and we are fairly neat people..but we put $3 a day in and $5 for the last day..we have always had awesome housekeepers who always left something visible in the window, or on the bed..or made up those little towel animals..the last day we found a thank you note from the housekeeper thanking us for thinking ahead and making up the envelopes..that was a nice surprise for us!

 

[mickeyfan1]

I tip $3 per day if it's just me. Last summer with my 2 nephews and my sister, I tipped $5 per day, extra $10 for the change of maid day and extra $25 on the last day for our regular maid. We were there 11 nights, she deserved it. We were not messy, but she had a lot of towels to change and bunks to make up every day.

 

[mudnuri]

We've ALWAYS tipped $5.00 per day. even when there were 2 of us. When the housekeeping gets to our rooms, they dont have to make the beds, we do that, and I have everything picked up. All towels are in a pile by the bathroom, and all of the DD's stuff is neatly picked up. We've found that by tipping every day, we ALWAYS get extra towels, and mostly even extra pillows....we've never had to call down and ask for something, except the first night.

When we were in St. Augustine, we would go to the beach first thing in the morning, and stay until lunch, I would go find the housekeeper first, and let them know that we were leaving, and would be back around 1130...ALWAYS had my room done while we were gone, never had to be interupted.

Brandy

 

[MHopkins2]

Why do you make your own beds? I mean, I can see cleaning up after yourself if there's some unusual mess (e.g., a kid grinding Cheez-Its into the carpet or something), but making the bed definitely falls into housekeeping's area of responsibility IMO.

 

[llebrekniT]

Hmmm, this has been very helpful. The only time I have been given a guideline was during our Disney cruise.<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_2_117.gif' border=0></a> I can't remember exactly how it was put out to me, but I know they let me know what was expected and I can remember leaving around $60 for housekeeping for our 3 night cruise.

Has anyone taken a cruise and if so, why is the tipping so much higher?

I left $40 on our last trip for 4 people for 6 nights, so I guess I did OK. I've been worried that it wasn't enough. I always clean up as we go along, keep things off the floor (a personal pet peeve anyway), keep the vanity area neat, put the towels in the tub or hang them up for re-use, that kind of thing. But, we were sick on our trip and although I cleaned up all the really messy stuff and even ran the vacuum myself, I felt awful for the mousekeepers that had to come in to our room everyday.

Make the bed!?! No way!

That's one of my favorite things to have done for me for a change!

Thanks for the link Dan!

 

[cascadecupcake]

I don't tip housekeeping. But I also don't use it either. We generally just ask for a towel exchange when we see her in the hall or in the vacinity.

Part of our vacation is always "my time" in the morning after everyone is ready. My husband takes the kids for a 15-20 minute walk and I stay in the room and put things together. I like the feeling of knowing that my clothes are sorted, etc. --I suppose it's quirky but for me it feels right, kinda like meditating is for others. I don't really make the beds to the level a housekeeper would, but it's good enough for us.

I am however, one of the minority on the board here (I think--maybe not) that believe the cost of a cleaned room is part of my nightly rate. Housekeepers aren't paid less than minimum like waitresses, therefore if they deserve a raise it is the hotel's responsibility to give it to them...not mine. I just can't support my family on a budget AND be responsible for bringing up the wages of all of those in the service industry that I come in contact with as well. I don't tip my paper carrier, my garbage collector, my mail carrier, my grocery store cashier, the guy who comes to clean the carpet, the clerk at the video store, etc. etc. etc. Those people obviously applied for their job and accepted it at the rate of pay which was offered to them. If they need to make more money, I feel it is up to them to talk to their employer or find another job. I am also in the service industry and that's how I look at my job.

 

[snoopy]

I tip $1 per person per day.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by cascadecupcake
I don't tip housekeeping.

I am however, one of the minority on the board here (I think--maybe not) that believe the cost of a cleaned room is part of my nightly rate.

I don't tip my paper carrier, my garbage collector, my mail carrier, my grocery store cashier, the guy who comes to clean the carpet, the clerk at the video store, etc. etc. etc. Those people obviously applied for their job and accepted it at the rate of pay which was offered to them. If they need to make more money, I feel it is up to them to talk to their employer or find another job. I am also in the service industry and that's how I look at my job.

I was kind of afraid to be the first one to say I don't tip housekeeping either -- never have. The same for all of the other positions you mentioned. Geez, we'd be broke if we tipped all of these people! I believe the same as you do and I'm glad you spoke up. We'll probably both get "flamed".

 

[MHopkins2]

No flames here.

Unlike restaurant servers, housekeepers at WDW (although not everywhere) are paid at least minimum wage and are not a "tipped" position. So I think each guest can choose whether or not to tip and shouldn't feel guilty about that choice.

Having said that, I do tip them, because I can afford an extra $2-3 / day, and if it might brighten someone's day a teeny bit, that's worth it for me.

 

[Gette88]

We are a family of four and leave 5.00 a day. We leave the room very straightened including having the beds already made. We mostly need housekeeping for clean towels and removal of dirty towels and trash and of course the towel animals are worth the 5.00 alone. DD's love coming back to the room to see what's waiting for them.

 

[caitycaity]

at the wdw resorts we were told that housekeeping is a non-tipped position, so we don't tip them.

 

[skiwee1]

We tip $5 a day for 2 adults and one child. Personally I think the "tipped position" is an excuse not to tip. Who really tips because a job is a tipped position? I tip because I want to show my appreciation for a job well done. I don't care if the person makes $25 an hour or less then minimum wage . If they do a great job over and above what they are supposed to do for me then I tip. If they are bad at what they do I don't tip.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I tip a dollar per person, per day

 

[ckmommy]

I may be flamed as well, but that is OK! I had NEVER heard of tipping a hotel housekeeper before reading these boards. Even after reading these boards and hearing all about tipping your "Mousekeeper," I still have not left a tip. Granted, I have gotten AWFUL cleaning services from Disney (at CR on our last trip the room was not made up 3 nights in a row--even after a complained)! I would much rather spend that extra $5 on something else. I could care less about towel animals. By the time my family comes back to the room after a day at the park, all we want to do is sleep.

Just my two cents! Flame away!

 

[mickeyfan1]

I always tipped the housekeepers when on business trips. It just seems like they have a job that isn't the most enjoyable always, so it's just something I do. I have never gotten a towel animal at WDW, but I have come back to find my beanies and plush toys looking out the window for me. Tipping is a personal thing, if you wish to do it, that's fine, if you don't, that's fine too. I tend to tip a lot of service people as they don't always get paid as well as other positions.