How much do you tip housekeeping?

[DisneyObsessed]

One thing I can't stand, is how Dunkin Donuts have tip cups out. I know for a fact these people make more than minimum wage. What are we tipping for? Them to pour a cup of coffee. Gee, that's hard.

 

[caitycaity]

Personally I think the "tipped position" is an excuse not to tip. Who really tips because a job is a tipped position?

excuse me, but we do.

dh and i are comfortable financially and we tip lots of other people on our wdw vacations: bellhops, wait staff, hair stylists, etc. it's not that we don't have the extra $2/day.

i should also note that our housekeeping service does not seem to be realted to our lack of tipping. we have never had a problem and have even gotten towel animals multiple times.

 

[Phrebert]

I work in a budget motel, and our staff doesn't expect tips. When they recieve them it does brighten their day. I don't mean you have to tip, but if you personally feel they did an outstanding job, tip em. When we travel we usually tip them with candy bars, or soda, and then at the end a couple dollars if they have done a good job. IMO

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by caitycaity
excuse me, but we do.

dh and i are comfortable financially and we tip lots of other people on our wdw vacations: bellhops, wait staff, hair stylists, etc. it's not that we don't have the extra $2/day.

i should also note that our housekeeping service does not seem to be realted to our lack of tipping. we have never had a problem and have even gotten towel animals multiple times.

Well I don't know what your financial worth has to do with the situation, insert my own rolling of the eyes, and who tips who but we tip freely also. What does it matter if you have a lot of money or a little. Obviously WDW isn't cheap so everyone must have a few extra bucks if they are vacationing there. Surely you aren't the only one with $2 to spare. LOL! Having money has nothing to do with it. I do not tip to get towel animals or a clean room. I expect a clean room and towel animals are a bonus. I tip for service above and beyond their job. Especially for a job like cleaning up after others. I appreciate that they are there and taking care of us. Tipping isn't mandatory as far as I'm concerned and that is what bothers me about "tipped postitions". Why should the public be expected to make up a less then livable salary just because the businesses don't want to pay them a decent wage? When the term "tipped position" is put out there too many people use it as an excuse not to show their appreciation to someone that may indeed deserve that extra tip but doesn't make a low enough wage to get it. I don't base my tipping by what that person may or may not be paid. I tip them solely on wanting to thank them for a job well done. Whether that job pays them a little or a lot has absolutely nothing to do with it nor should it.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by 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!

No flames here. Obviously I would not tip if my room wasn't cleaned either! As far as never hearing about tipping maids I have no idea why some have and others not. I grew up with parents that always tipped housekeeping no matter what hotel we stayed at. Whether it was overnight or a week, my parents always tipped. I am 42 y/o and they were doing as far as I can remember back. I didn't know it wasn't a normal thing for everyone to do until I read these boards! LOL!

 

[caitycaity]

Well I don't know what your financial worth has to do with the situation

you implied it did.

I think the "tipped position" is an excuse not to tip.

i read this as "an excuse not to tip" so people can save their money. if that is not what you meant than please enlighten me. why exactly else would someone look for "an excuse not to tip?"

 

[MHopkins2]

Caity, I'm not taking sides and am DEFINITELY not saying you're cheap, but it's possible she meant cheap vs. poor.

 

[caitycaity]

well, i don't consider myself to be a cheap person either.

i tip more than 20% at restaurants when we have good service. does that help redeem me?

just because i'm in that kind of mood today, i'll say that maybe i have blinders on b/c some of skiwee's posts in the past seem to focus very heavily on social status and material goods.

 

[mudnuri]

We make the beds because thats what we do every day at home. My DD's get up and make their beds. Same with DH and I. We then get on with our day, which usually includes putting our clothes etc.. that we are going to wear on the freshly made bed. A lot easier than a bed with blankets and sheets half in a ball etc.

Brandy

 

[robinb]

We also tip $1 per person per day. I tip because I appreciate what the housekeepers do for me. I have only had a towel animal once, but I always get extra towels and soap. I tip the same amount in every hotel I stay in, even if I only stay one night. I tipped twice as much when we were in a 2 room suite at the Dolphin in December since the housekeeper had twice as much to clean.

The "tipped position" v/s "non-tipped position" is BS, IMO. It is a way to rationalize not tipping. If you don't want to tip, that's fine. Don't. But don't rationalize it.

I also tip because the job of a housekeeper is a hard, low paid, thankless job. I think the majority of hotel guests are non-tippers and I like to make the housekeeper feel a little happier when s/he cleans my room. $3 is a pretty small price for that.

 

[caitycaity]

The "tipped position" v/s "non-tipped position" is BS, IMO. It is a way to rationalize not tipping. If you don't want to tip, that's fine. Don't. But don't rationalize it.

so are you saying disney is trying to rationalize it? because i was told by disney employees as well as seeing it in print on a document that was handed to me when i checked in. it's a fact. i'm not trying to "rationalize" anything.

the fact is there are some positions (like my job, for example) that are not tipped positions. as a matter of fact, it is against the law (yes, the law) for me to take a tip that someone might give me. obviously, when it comes to housekeeping at wdw they are allowed to take tips, but i don't understand when you say that you think the tipped/non-tipped thing is bs. it's not.

i guess you are also saying it's not rational to not tip. sorry, i disagree. and for once, miss manners would even agree with me. if it's a non-tipped position, you are not socially, morally, ethically, or otherwise required to tip. it may be nice, and by all means, i think people should do it if they want to, but i think it's ridiculous for others to look down on those who choose not to or think they are "cheap."

from a tipping ettiquette website:

At the hotel
Before you arrive at a nicer hotel or resort, inquire as to whether gratuities are included in the price of the room. Some hotels are now charging a daily fee that covers all tipping for hotel services.

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

this is what i did at disney. i politely inquired upon check in and was told that they were a non-tipped position. i do tip room service people or when housekeeping brings a special request to my room (extra pillow, extra blanket, etc.)

like i said, i have no problem with people who choose to tip, but in this situation it is not a social faux pas not to tip.

 

[gina2000]

I tip housekeeping regardless of whether it is a tipped position or not because they are doing a personal service for me, one that I would prefer not to be doing myself on vacation. If the day comes when I sincerely can't, then I suspect I would think about cutting it out. I have to admit, if I can afford a vacation, I will find the money to tip. The extra gratuity in the scheme of a vacation dollar is small.

I tip between $3 and $5 per day for the three of us.

 

[MHopkins2]

The "tipped position" v/s "non-tipped position" is BS, IMO. It is a way to rationalize not tipping. If you don't want to tip, that's fine. Don't. But don't rationalize it.

I disagree with this as well. You tip your hairdresser but not your accountant,* right? Why? Do you not appreciate the service provided by the CPA, or do you appreciate the hairdresser's contribution more? I'm guessing that's not the reason, it's just that hairdressers are "tipped" and accountants are not.


* Random examples. Please don't respond by telling me you don't have an accountant or you hate your hairdresser. (Just in case, since I'm used to DB hair-splitting.)

 

[polyfan]

Well, I guess I will join those waiting to be flamed! I hate this topic and I hate tipping, alhtough I think what I hate more is hearing all the pity reasons for tipping. Everyone makes their own choice for a job. If someone isn't making enough then find another job. Everywhere you go now there is a cup sitting in front of you with a tip sign on it. The cookie shop in the mall has one, for what- to get me a cookie and operate the register. Gee- isn't that what the hourly wage is for? Maybe doctors and nurses should put out some cups for tips, or teachers on parent teacher conference day, or the cashier in Walmart. Just my opinion.

 

[wilderness01]

Ok I generally do not tip either. I tip the bellhop, taxi driver, waitress, etc. I give Christmas gifts to the teachers, hairdresser, mailperson, cleaning person and garbage man. The only time I thought to tip the housekeeper was when my child was sick, they were bringing me extra linens and they had to be exposed to a room that had a sick child in it while they cleaned. I also have a cleaning person at home and it has never occurred to me to tip her. I give nice Christmas presents and actually I like her so much I am going to ask the owner when her birthday is. I have always considered myself a generous person as I love to give gifts but I just do not feel I have to tip the housekeeper for doing her normal job. I'm in healthcare and sometimes have to do jobs I don't like and NO ONE ever tips me! Just my opinion.

To each their own though and its nice to see that everyone does what makes them happy.

 

[cascadecupcake]

Originally posted by polyfan
Maybe doctors and nurses should put out some cups for tips, or teachers on parent teacher conference day

 

[Bojangles]

Last time we stayed at AKL, there was a brochure in the room with tipping guidelines. Housekeeping wasn't among them so I would assume that they were making over minimum wage (as opposed to bell services, wait staff and the like). If WDW put housekeeping on the list, I would have tipped them.