Question Regarding tipping budget

[MrsJ Henry]

My husband and I are going for 7 nights. How much would you budget for tipping. Not including meals ( I have already added that in to that budget)
Thinking about ----Mousekeeping every day
Valet service
Baggage
and all those other little services that I can't think of at the moment.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[minster22]

I start with listing all the services on a large sheet of paper. For my last trip....Airport shuttle drivers, curbside checkin (a generous tip here avoided being charged for too heavy luggage!!), valet services, bell services, maid service,turndown service and a misc for any extra things we ask to be brought to our room. I estimate how many times we will need each service unless it is a given....ex.curbside 2 times, maid service 7 times etc. Then figure out how much you want to allow for each service and add it all up. I make envelopes for each service to keep all the small bills straight. There is much debate about how much to leave for all of these services (many hot threads about the whole tipping situation here on the boards!!). Since I am a waitress and my income is just about solely dependent on tips, I am very generous and it is a part of my trip that brings a lot of joy to share the wealth!!Hope this helps.........

 

[Amirah95]

It is almost necessary to list everything you will be spending money on to come up with a next to perfect budget. I agree with minster with starting a list and to make your decisions that way. I think that there is no one way to tip and that it is based soley on how you feel according to the level of service you have received.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Thanks all
We also are quite generous when we tip .
With luggage at airport and hotel, mousekeeping, valet and things we are not thinking about, I think I will go with budgeting $100 since I know I will come under that ( at least I hope so)

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I noticed someone mention tipping for the little extra that are brought to your room - like extra towels from mousekeeping or an iron etc? How much do you generally tip for those services? It;s one area that has always been vague for me and I feel bad when they rbing me soemthing and I do not say thank you with at least a $1 tip, but friends tell me it is not something to tip for.

For mousekeeping I like to leave $5 a day, $5 for bell services even for one or two suitcases, 20% for all food service. I rarely drink so I've no idea about a walk-up bartender tip, like by the pool??

Thanks much!
CC

 

[vhoffman]

I ALWAYS tip the skycap at curbside checkin very generously, usually at least $10 or more. And be nice to those jerks--they determine if your bags get to where they're supposed to go and are tagged right. I've always done this and never lost a bag--wonder if there's a connection??? But I never thought of another benefit for tipping them--you might not get charged for overweight bags?

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Oh I agree about the skycaps!!!
I'm not taking any chances!!!!!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

- we tip $5 per bag - guess I should have been clearer - and usually only have 2 bags. Back in the days when I took the kids we tipped more...but they always took us right to our room except at the CBR where we had to store twice and I tipped a lot that time!!

Thanks everyone!

 

[GQQFY]

Why are you tipping your Mousekeepers? They are not in a tipped position and should not be expecting it.

Just curious...I have never stayed more than one night in a Disney Resort.

GQQFY

 

[Minnie&Nana]

House/Mousekeeping are indeed in a position where a gratuity is much appreciated - as in any fine hotel! Or any hotel for that matter! These folks work hard for litlte more than minimum wage -it is the custom in the US to tip hotel housekeeping.

 

[GQQFY]

It's against company policy for non-tipped roles to accept gratuities. In fact, they have to hand it over to management so that a charitable donation on behalf of the WDW Company can be made with that money. You could be jeopardizing their job by your act of graciousness.

I have NEVER tipped housekeeping at any hotel in the US. Only a Cabin Steward on a cruise ship.

GQQFY

 

[Minnie&Nana]

With all due respect I am going to give a call to Guest Services to check this out b/c it has been pretty clear over the years that those who leave a housekeeping tip tend to receive much better service. If it goes to charity, fine, but I want to know for sure!

Even though you never trip for housekeeping services does not change the fact that it is a US custom. I too am well traveled, 4 & 5 star hotels, throughout the US and Europe. I always tip and try to tip generously. It is often those who are or have been working or middle class who tip well. Just a statistic. Look up and you'll find it's the truth.

)

 

[vhoffman]

When you're paying $400+ per night you shouldn't have to bribe them to clean it!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I don't think of it as a "bribe", but rather a thank you for appreciated good service.

 

[wilkolo]

As regards bringing stuff to your room for you ... if its something extra you've requested then tip. If its something that ought to be in the room but got left out then I wouldn't. Why should you pay to put right something that's wrong.

 

[GQQFY]

When I travel corporately, my company doesn't reimburse for Maid Service tipping. In other words, my company doesn't believe that it is expected or the standard.

GQQFY

P.S. It's a VERY big entertainment company that I work for.

 

[Sunkissed]

Of course you tip housekeeping! I was brought up that way from day one and would never think of not leaving a tip Like the other poster wrote, if it goes to charity, that is fine also. I really don't care what corporation does/does not reimburse for this expense. To me, that is irrelevant. Your actions should be self-motivated and not dependant on someone paying you!

 

[HenDuck]

I usually tip housekeeping $1 per person per day. I might tip an extra dollar if we have a suite or if they give us extra towels, pillows, etc.

We usually tip $1 per bag for the bell boy.

I tip HEAVILY at the airport, especially now that they are so strict about baggage weight and security.

On our last trip back from DL, at LAX, we tipped the porter $15 (for 3 people and 3 bags) and he personally escorted our tickets and luggage through to the check-in desk and then on to security. The reservations lady came out from behind the desk to give us information about our flight (which I think she did because the porter was there). And we by-passed a HUGE line at the xray machines...$15 well spent.

Being from Hawaii, we usually bring chocolate covered mac nuts for those people at the front desk of the hotel and rental car companies or anyone else who gives us special treatment.

 

[HenDuck]

I forgot to say that I think of tipping as a custom. It is part of your culture (maybe your family culture). We tip not only because it rewards good service and encourages the same, but because it makes us feel as good as the person who is receiving it.

I also believe in NOT tipping when it is truly not deserved.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Last night I spoke with a front desk supervisor at the Poly and she told me that front desk cm's are not allowed to accept tips, but if they are given then the CM is to give it to a charity of their choice.

This morning I called Housekeeping at the Poly, spoke with a supervisor and asked her if housekeeping is allowed to accept tips or if they must turn any tip over to a charity of their choice?

She said they absolutely ARE ALLOWED to receive gratuities and are very grateful for any recieved.

So, that's the OFFICIAL word! Yeah!

And with any tip for service the amount does depend on what one feels about the quality of service. Housekeeping tipping is normal and more or less depending on each guest's ability and satisfaction.

Oh, I feel happy this is cleared up!!!