Tipping and "neatness"

[Marseeya]

We're not the neatest people on a good day, let alone when we're totally beat and exhausted from park touring. Our trash usually makes it to the cans and the dirty clothes eventually find their way into one pile

Anyway, we left $5 every day, even though there were a few days when we asked our mousekeeper not to do the room other than to exchange towels, so I think it might have evened out in the end.

Oh, and we didn't use special envelopes -- we just put the money on the sink underneath the mousekeeper's calling card. Some days I just handed it to her because we were in the room nearly every time she showed up.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

That happened to us too at the BWI that they never took the tip even when I left it day after day ? We never understood that. I left it on the table, clearly visible.

Did you write a note that it was for the housekeeper? If not they won't take it off the table. On our trip in May we left the tip on the bathroom counter with a note saying "To Housekeeping" next to the little card that the maids leave in the rooms.

 

[kirbsam]

I don't exactly understand why you tip more for a messy room. I expect them to vacuum the whole floor, regardless if there are crumbs all over the place or not. I don't think it takes more work, unless they are only cleaning the areas that have visible crumbs. I also expect the beds to stripped and made, so having sheets strewn all over the floor, does not cause more work either. If there is some real mess, like vomit or wet stains, then I will tip more. but a messy room really doesn't make more work, unless they weren't cleaning thoroughly anyway.

 

[Sandi]

Well, it takes me more time and work to clean up a really messy room than it does to clean a neat one. When my 10 yo DD and I clean her bedroom, it is a bigger job than when I clean DH's and my bedroom.

We just prepared our housekeeping tip envelopes last night. DD and I are going down in 23 days. We put $3 in each clearly marked envelope (with crayon drawings), but I don't seal them so that we can adjust upwards if the situation warrants (but DD and I are pretty tidy when we're living in the same room).

 

[lovesdumbo]

We put $3 in each clearly marked envelope (with crayon drawings), but I don't seal them so that we can adjust upwards if the situation warrants.

That's what I do only $5 because there are 5 of us. I leave the envelope on the pillow of the bed. I also tip $3/night for turndown service. It really helps to have the exact change all set aside rather than scrambling for it in the morning rushing out the door.

pyrxtc-in all my stays at Disney hotels (35+ nights and I always tip) I've only gotten 1 towel thing with the toothbrushes and 1 time a fun arrangement of the stuffed animals. I wouldn't count on it. You'll still have a great trip without towel animals!

 

[PortieOwner]

I think $1 is too little. There has been some inflation over the past 20 years, so I figure $5 is a good starting point, and more for better service.

Portie

 

[beattyfamily]

We tip $5 a day for the 4 of us. We leave it pretty neat each day.

I don't tip more very often but when I did it was because one of my girls got sick or we had a room service mess or some other big, out of the ordinary mess or if they brought us extra supplies.

 

[Disfreek]

We ususally tip about $5.00 per day~~ sometimes more if I ask for more towels or toiletries...

 

[cbusby]

I don't exactly understand why you tip more for a messy room. I expect them to vacuum the whole floor, regardless if there are crumbs all over the place or not. I don't think it takes more work, unless they are only cleaning the areas that have visible crumbs. I also expect the beds to stripped and made, so having sheets strewn all over the floor, does not cause more work either. If there is some real mess, like vomit or wet stains, then I will tip more. but a messy room really doesn't make more work, unless they weren't cleaning thoroughly anyway.

I did not tip at all.....after finding out that all they were doing was making up the beds not changing the sheets. When I leave on purpose a empty tissue box and it doesn't get replaced. No toilet tissue (extra roll). If they vaccumed it wasn't that good. My DH commented that he saw the same gum wrapper on the floor for 4 days. He refused to pick it up......at least the bathroom was cleaned daily......I found out on another board that they only change sheets every 3 days.

 

[GoN2WDW]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't change my sheets at home every day. Why would I think that mousekeeping would change them every day? Yes, if I'm staying more than a couple of days I would want to have fresh sheets every 2-3 days, but I think every day is a lot to expect. As for tipping, usually $5 per day for the 3 of us and we're pretty neat in the room.

 

[freakylick]

Okay...My wife and I were having this discussion a couple of weeks ago. Personally, I have only rarely tipped housekeeping at any hotel. It is their job to do "basic" cleaning in my room and they get paid a wage (albeit minimum wage at many hotels/motels). If I thought they went above and beyond the call of duty, I would tip them (and usually fairly generously as I like to handsomely reward those who go above and beyond the call of duty). If I just got the basics, then their reward is their basic wage. Now my wife (who did a housekeeping for a summer well before we ever met) did not agree and feels that they deserve more than that piddly wage. She was especially confused by the fact that I almost always tip waiters/waitresses more than the customary tip. My thought being that they need these tips to make a living as many (if not all) of them are earning below minimum wage and are required to report a percent of sales at tip earnings on tax returns (whereas housekeepers do not to the best of my knowledge).

Now will I tip on our WDW trip in October?! Probably, but I refuse to tip before services are performed. I know that the housekeepers may change from day to day...but I will not tip before services are rendered. If I leave a tip and the service is not good, what recourse do I have??? None. Tipping beforehand almost makes me feel like I am begging for "extra's" and I don't think I should have to (and many seem to treat it as such...How many times have we heard on here "I tipped but I didn't get a towel animal"). If the extra's come, then so does the tip. Is that unfair for the occasional housekeeper that does extra's and subsequently see's none of the tip?? Absolutely! I can't deny that....so maybe it's better that I just don't tip at all (j/k).

Okay, I am sure that this will earn many flames...so flame away.

 

[Tinkerchele]

We tip $1 per person, per day. I actually print out my tip envelopes, fill them, and seal them before we leave. Then I just set out a new envelope each morning before we go to the parks.

This is a great tip! I'm going to do this for our next trip. There was one day during our trip last June that I didn't have any tip available at all... I felt pretty bad about it but I left extra the next day.

Anyway, we usually leave a couple bucks each day. Sometimes, I will leave $5 if we have alot of trash (or if we get alot of sand in the room like my kids did last year at CBR! ) But, really, we're not messy people and I'm one of those people who like to 'tidy up' before mousekeeping comes. We don't leave trash around, we put our dirty clothes in a bag, we place our used towels in the tub, etc...the only thing i don't do is make the beds.

 

[cbusby]

But when they make the bed up....they could at least fix the sheets so that it covers evenly on each side. I think all they did was pull the spread up and tuck it. I had to remake the bed.
All of the sheet was tucked on my side of the bed (for 3 days) they never bother to fix it evenly. I shouldn't have to remake the entire bed to get into it. When I make my bed at home...I just don't throw the spread up and tuck it in. I always adjust the sheets.

Maybe I'm being to picky, but I am on vacation....I shouldn't have to remake beds or dust. They also didn't wipe down the furniture, the shelves where the TV is where never cleaned. When we left I could write my name in the dust.......

 

[allisonwonderland]

DH and I normally tip 1-2 bucks a person each day and maybe a 5 $ bill at the end if things were above and beyond....we are not slobs....never really in the room very often,,,,but we hang up wet towels,,etc,,,I do leave books lying around.(hehhe)....I also leave a short thank you written out.we always get "extras" soaps,towels,pillows,,ect(keep in mind this is the most they could do..we alwasy stay at budget type places)....and room is ALWAYS clean when we return,,,,,,,cant wait to stay at a MOD resort at WDW,,,weeee!!!!

 

[GoN2WDW]

You're right cbusby - my sense of "visual balance" can't stand it when things aren't even. We'll be there this week and now I'll be checking the bed-making skills!

 

[daisax]

I figure if I tip somebody a dollar for bringing me a drink, I can tip $5.00 for handling my dirty sheets and towels

 

[PatsGirl]

My plan is to tip $4/day for 2A/2C unless we have extraordinary service like towel animals, extra toiletries, just anything that says "we're going above and beyond". We are not too messy, but I don't plan to clean the room before I leave for the day

On the other hand, if I come back to a room that hasn't been vacuumed or beds not made, or worse yet, a bathroom not cleaned properly, I will call the front desk and ask that mousekeeping return and finish the job properly if this occurs regularly.

I cleaned rooms for a living when I was younger and some people are just "slobs", probably much worse than when they are at home. This is not us but I do expect to get the basics when we go away! Coming back to a dirty room (that was supposedly cleaned) can sour a great day especially when you are exhausted and ready to hit the bed.

Brenda

 

[dpic]

We normally tip $4-5/day. We also keep a tidy room because we live there, and I don't like seeing a messy bed or room. Last year at WL (a nine night trip), our Mousekeeper came to our room on our last day. She wanted to tell us goodbye and tell us how much she appreciated our stay. She had tears in her eyes. I was a little stunned. She said some families are so thoughtful and kind, and she wanted to personally thank us before we left.

She was so sweet and genuine. It was our last day and we already had left our normal tip, so it wasn't like she was milking us. I simply think there is a line between being respectful to those who serve you and treating those who serve like servants. There are many ways to show your mousekeeper you appreciate and respect their efforts--and it goes beyond a few bucks laying on the counter.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We are relatively neat, and usually tip $1 - $2 per person per day. However, on the occasion there has been an issue (someone sick, or such) we do increase it, apologize, and make sure HK does not have to touch anything gnarly!

 

[chamonix]

Unfortunately, I cannot describe our worst mess in our room without grossing eveyone here out, lol, so I will just say I tip $5 a day (there are three of us) and we are very tidy most of the time. Trash and recyclables in the right place, towels in tub, clothes etc put away, etc. On the day of the BIG MESS I left a note of apology, and $10. I also hope I left it so noone had to touch anything "gnarly" as the last poster mentioned. LOL

How do you tip the turndown folks though? When we leave for the day we leave the tip on the pillow (don't do envelopes, not into crafty here, lol) and we usually never return until after turndown. TBH, I think turndown is the same person anyway. (am nearly positive that it has been in our case)