Tipping at hotels

[Disuser]

A poster on another thread gave this link for making Mousekeeper envelopes for tips. I made up enough for each day we'll be staying and put $5.00 in each envelope. The envelopes are really cute.
www.themouseforless.com

 

[goofypooh]

Mousekeeping is a tipping position.

And I disagree with the person who said don't feel obligated to tip. (I know tipping is very different in the UK, but we're dealing with America here.) If you get good service, you should tip. These people work very hard for less than minimum wage, and depend on their tips. The only time I withhold tips is when I don't get good service.

As far as I am concerned, tips should be worked into your budget. If you can't afford to tip, don't go. You're harming the people who can least afford it otherwise.

So, since you have to leave a tip for mousekeeping before they actually come and clean your room, how do you know if you are going to get good service? I mean, when you tip a waiter/waitress at the end of a meal, you already know what type of service you have received. FWIW, I always do leave a tip for mousekeeping. I just ask this question because I have had times where I've come back to our room & the mousekeeper really didn't do much. Others seem to go above & beyond to add a special touch.

 

[webster76]

Thanks , Disuser, for the link to the mousekeeping envelopes, etc. I really appreciate you posting that info...

 

[CleveRocks]

These people work very hard for less than minimum wage, and depend on their tips.

I know everyone is entitled to their opinions, but when someone states a "fact" that is incorrect I'll try to correct it.

It is INCORRECT that WDW housekeeping staff are paid less than minimum wage. You must be thinking of food servers. But the housekeeping CMs are absolutely NOT paid an hourly wage that is lower than minimum wage. Period. Think what you will about tipping or not tipping, but let's keep the facts straight.

False and exaggerated information weakens arguments rather than strengthens them.

 

[ICF]

I know everyone is entitled to their opinions, but when someone states a "fact" that is incorrect I'll try to correct it....

False and exaggerated information weakens arguments rather than strengthens them.

What would an internet message board be if people didn't post false or exaggerated information in an attempt to make a point?

 

[CleveRocks]

What would an internet message board be if people didn't post false or exaggerated information in an attempt to make a point?

Helpful!

 

[dbriggsq]

Mousekeeping is a tipping position.

And I disagree with the person who said don't feel obligated to tip. (I know tipping is very different in the UK, but we're dealing with America here.) If you get good service, you should tip. These people work very hard for less than minimum wage, and depend on their tips. The only time I withhold tips is when I don't get good service.

As far as I am concerned, tips should be worked into your budget. If you can't afford to tip, don't go. You're harming the people who can least afford it otherwise.

From everything I have read housekeeping is a non-tipped position - there is nothing in the rooms - envelopes, literature - to suggest that it is.

I have budgeted for around $600 for tips in restaurants so unfortunately I can't afford another $200-250 for tips for housekeeping and I'm afraid I won't feel guilty about that and no-one else should be, because I feel I've already paid for servicing of the room in the room rate.

If we didn't go that would mean that Disney does not get the considerable amount we are paying for rooms, tickets and dining and if everyone did that the housekeepers would be harmed even more because they would lose their jobs.

 

[TagsMissy]

Mousekeeping is a tipping position.

And I disagree with the person who said don't feel obligated to tip. (I know tipping is very different in the UK, but we're dealing with America here.) If you get good service, you should tip. These people work very hard for less than minimum wage, and depend on their tips. The only time I withhold tips is when I don't get good service.

As far as I am concerned, tips should be worked into your budget. If you can't afford to tip, don't go. You're harming the people who can least afford it otherwise.

I could not agree with you more and infact I was just saying that very thing to my husband.. if you can't afford to tip, which is part of vacation budget you need to reconsider the vacation... Or as he suggested reconsider the hotel class you chose.

I cannot fathom not tipping and I don't know where this idea mousekeeping isn't a tipping position? I certainly consider it to be. If it's not it's certainly way off canter from the rest of the industry.

As for the family of 10... I'd also suspect one person isn't paying the whole tab, and if they are then perhaps someone else in that party of 10 would be kind enough to cover the tips.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I had never heard of tipping housekeeping until I came to the DIS. It does make sense to me though, and really, $5/day for 7 days is only $35. Whether or not I tip is not going to make or break my vacation. It's the cost of one CS meal for my family of 4, or one night out at a local restaurant at home. But for a housekeeper making $8/hr, an extra $35/week from us may help pay for the gas to get to work, or buy groceries that week.

 

[dbriggsq]

:As for the family of 10... I'd also suspect one person isn't paying the whole tab, and if they are then perhaps someone else in that party of 10 would be kind enough to cover the tips.

Yes we are picking up most of the tab - our 5 children and 3 of their guests - most of these are students, not earning and therefore unable to contribute very much, but it is a celebration for a big wedding anniversary.

Are you saying that if we can't afford to tip housekeeping (where tips are not expected) we should not go to Disney - I have 3 jobs to make ends meet and think I've earned a bit of a holiday.

 

[Gymbomom]

No I can't wait either - we leave in 7 days.

But there are 10 of us - most of whom we are paying for so by these calculations I would be expected to leave $10-20 a day - $120-240 over our stay. This added to our rooms, park tickets, air fares from the UK, compulsary tips in restaurants etc. I'm sorry but we can't afford it - and I will not be made to feel guilty for not leaving anything - we make our own beds and don't leave a mess.

OP - please leave whatever you want or can afford but don't feel you have to leave anything - you have already paid for room servicing in the room rate.

I don't chime in very much on threads like this. But, sometimes when posters keep on going on AND on about their point of view.....
I looked up your recent posts and the majority of your posts since April are about tipping.
It almost sounds like you are trying to convince yourself that it is okay to not tip.

 

[dbriggsq]

I don't chime in very much on threads like this. But, sometimes when posters keep on going on AND on about their point of view.....
I looked up your recent posts and the majority of your posts since April are about tipping.
It almost sounds like you are trying to convince yourself that it is okay to not tip.

You're quite right I do have a thing about tipping. I believe that in any civilized society no-one should be paid less than the minimum wage in the hope of their employers that the public will make up the difference. I believe that tipping is old fashioned and out dated and employees should be paid a fair wage for a fair job and not have to rely on hand outs from the public.

I'm also interested that people don't seem to want to discuss the rights and wrongs of tipping in an intellectual way but rather in a subjective way - i.e 'I always tip X amount and everyone else should do' It is almost a taboo subject.

Whilst tipping is expected at restaurants I will tip the expected amount - but as I have pointed out for a large family it does mount up to a lot of money - but when people ask what amount 'should' you tip for housekeeping I think it is only fair to point out that if they don't want to tip they don't have to.

And when other posters say I'm 'cheap' because of that or 'should not go to Disney' I do feel I might defend myself.

 

[larryz]

As far as I am concerned, tips should be worked into your budget. If you can't afford to tip, don't go. You're harming the people who can least afford it otherwise.

Sorry, beg to differ here. I don't think you're harming a Mousekeeper by not tipping him/her. If all followed your advice, the effect likely would be just the opposite. By staying home, we put the Mousekeeper in danger of losing his/her job when too many rooms go unfilled by folks who can't afford to tip.

You can always leave a thank-you note without money, maybe leave some candy or other token gift, and/or write a nice letter to Guest Communications lauding your Mousekeeper's efforts while you were there.

Yeah, I'm sure they'd prefer a tip, but they will appreciate that you took the time to say thanks in some way other than leaving the room looking like a college frat house on Sunday morning.

 

[Freyja]

Lets not forget that tips are "gratuity". A token of gratitude for good service. While it is not expected to tip housekeeping I always do. Funny thing is though, that by doing so, I´m actually tipping beforehand, not knowing what kind of service I will get. I guess I somehow believe that the housekeeper will express his/her gratitude by making an extra effort in cleaning up my room. If I recieve bad service I will let management know. If I recieve great service I will do the same thing.

 

[sjaakie]

How is it cheap?

The housekeepers know they are not supposed to accept tips- so by leaving one you are putting them in the difficult position of whether to take it or not knowing they are not supposed to.

The room rates include servicing the room - I am paying for that so how does that make me cheap?

What difficult position??

Mousekeeping ore housekeeping all over the world loves if you show them your appreciation.
They clean up your dirty bathroom, stinking toilet,change your dirty sheets and smelly wet towels.

How do you know there not supposed to take a few dollars?

 

[dbriggsq]

What difficult position??

Mousekeeping ore housekeeping all over the world loves if you show them your appreciation.
They clean up your dirty bathroom, stinking toilet,change your dirty sheets and smelly wet towels.

How do you know there not supposed to take a few dollars?

Well I'm only going by what I've read on these boards - that they are not supposed to accept tips and if they do they are supposed to turn them over to management.

 

[Danielle1971]

I'm going to tip $4.00 for a family of 4. I will have my kids decorate Mousekeeping envelopes for them. I usually put them on top of the TV or the table where it is visible. They always took them. I never knew that tipping was optional. I always tipped no matter what. They work hard too!

 

[goofypooh]

Again, let me say that I always do tip. However, tipping IS optional....it is NOT REQUIRED. I definitely think that people should tip, especially at WDW where service is so great, but it is something extra you choose to do to show your appreciation.

 

[ICF]

I never knew that tipping was optional. I always tipped no matter what.

Tipping anywhere is optional.....be it Disney or otherwise. Tips should always be earned not expected and nobody should ever feel they have to tip if they don't feel they were earned.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Well I'm only going by what I've read on these boards - that they are not supposed to accept tips and if they do they are supposed to turn them over to management.

There are conflicting reports on that. We've had a few reports of DIS-ers told that, but many more that are told it's perfectly OK to tip the Mousekeepers and that they really appreciate it.

As with anything, "let your conscience be your guide." If tipping your mousekeeper is a real stretch for you financially, then don't. I doubt you'll get any different service than those of us who do. Just please don't preach and justify your decision by blaming "the system" and how it's unfair for employers to expect patrons to add to workers' wages. Sometimes we do it to be nice. And it's a nice feeling to give it, and to get it.

Here's a quick story. I personally work for a CPA and sometimes help out a co-worker by going to a client's office to do payroll, if she's unavailable. The owner knows my boss is going to charge him for my time, yet almost every time I go, he gives me a restaurant gift-card or a $50 bill - for an hour of my time to take care of something that is important to him. I tell him every time that it's not necessary for him to do that, but he always tells me that he just likes to show appreciation for the work I do, that he is grateful that I came and took care of him. Getting that "gratuity" is a nice feeling - and the next time my co-worker goes on vacation and asks, "Can you cover payroll for (client) next week?" I'm sure to say "YES!" And I'm prompt and I do my job quickly and make sure that I take care of anything he needs, and I get rewarded.

So, if I can shell out a few dollars, and make someone feel appreciated, I'll do it.