Tipping at hotels

[TagsMissy]

According to this site, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes372012.htm the NATIONAL average for hotel housecleaners is $9.04 or $18,800 a year so on average, they are making well above minimum wage. They aren't waiters making a couple of bucks an hour.

And someone is supposed to live on $18K a year?

 

[smidgy]

I agree I really don't like it when the waiter or waitress takes your money & ask do you need change?


For anyone if you don't want housekeeping call them & they will leave you alone no knocks on doors.

1) the way I put it is "thank you. I'll be right back with your change." this way the assumption is they ARE getting change. and gives them the opportunity to say "no, we're all set" if they want to. and gives me the answer I was looking for so I don't have to waste precious time getting change I don't need.

2) this didn't work for me, a few times! if it's not a early park day for us, hubby gets up early and goes to the pool with coffee and newspaper, I sleep in a bit. I sleep light, and the knock wakes me. then I have to get up, put something on, and answer the door, just to say, "no, I really meant it when I put the "do not disturb" sign on the door

 

[Tink3Bell]

I usually tip daily $1. per person - per day.

 

[Disneylvr]

As another posted stated, I didn't know until I was a member of these boards that leaving a tip for housekeepers was even done. My tipping started in WDW and we usually left $3 per day but we are now up to leaving $5 a day and we do this in all hotels, Disney or not.

 

[mhconley]

According to this site, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes372012.htm the NATIONAL average for hotel housecleaners is $9.04 or $18,800 a year so on average, they are making well above minimum wage. They aren't waiters making a couple of bucks an hour.

The survey you linked to INCLUDES TIPS in reported wages:
"Wages for the OES survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate, cost-of-living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses, tips, and on-call pay are included." (See this page)

So that $9.04 an hour includes tips. Imagine how little they are actually being paid per hour before tips!

Martin

 

[KingOMiami]

I think it is all personal choice.

My Mother in law works housekeeping for a major hotel chain here in Miami. I know she does not make alot and appreciates any extra tips. At the same time, she does not expect a gratuity.

I used to work as a skycap at Miami Int'l Airport and like waiters, we made less than minimum wage, much less and we made our living off tips.

My personal choice is to tip provided the service warrants it. There are some times when we are WDW that I will leave the DND sign on the door as DW & myself do not usually make a big mess and to be honest making the bed is not a big deal to me most of the time as we get up, go to the parks, come home late at night and go to bed. It's not like we are entertaining guests there in the room.

But again, I think it is up to the guest whether they or not they want to tip. I understand the UK member that posted about having only so much to spend. It's your money, do what you want with it.

Ok, mindless rant over

Back to lurking on the board

 

[livie1205]

I think (IMO) NOBODY has the right to tell someone if they dont want to tip a housekeeper to stay home! That is the most rude thing ever and VERY classless.....also if you want to tip a housekeeper that is your CHOICE and not a tipped postion but do not tell others what they should do.When you pay for a hotel room in includes housekeeping (not that i use it) but I have never been told at check in please feel free to tip your housekeepers! NEVER...now I do sometimes leave a tip but I do not stress about it,I clean my room AND make our beds....sometimes I leave a tip for the housekeeper that cleans on check out day.
They make AT LEAST min wage but that is the job they applied for...I use to do the same work when I was a teenager but it was at shoneys inn and I had to drag a vacume up stairs in there townhouse rooms...it WAS hard work but I never expected a tip and I do not think I got any but I did my job and made sure to do it well....for my pay check.Like I said I do tip most of the time but that is my choice not because someone else thinks I should stay home if I dont.... sooo rude

 

[livie1205]

HOLY COW i PAST 1,000 POST AND NEVER NOTICED.....lol

 

[Crisgw]

I tend to tip a lot, I tip housekeeping, bellman, etc...and I tip decently. I just know that they are working really hard and deserve a tip IMO. If you don't tip, it's you're personal preference, not a big deal. However, nobody can really "live" on 18k/year, that is absurd!!

 

[mhconley]

I think (IMO) NOBODY has the right to tell someone if they dont want to tip a housekeeper to stay home! That is the most rude thing ever and VERY classless.....also if you want to tip a housekeeper that is your CHOICE and not a tipped postion but do not tell others what they should do.

First off I agree 100% that telling someone to tip or stay home is rude. Tipping is completely voluntary, including in restaurants. (That is unless you meet the minimum size group for tips to be added to the check.)

Still, tipping should be considered as part of your travel budget. Would you eat in a table service restaurant without considering the tip?

When you pay for a hotel room in includes housekeeping (not that i use it) but I have never been told at check in please feel free to tip your housekeepers! NEVER

To paraphrase - When you pay for a restaurant meal it includes service but I have never been told when seated please feel free to tip your wait persons! NEVER

Still, I know it is customary to tip wait staff, just as I know it is customary to tip hotel housekeeping. I travel extensively and almost always tip housekeepers.

Also, you say you never use housekeeping. Who changes the bed linens, vacuums the floors, dusts the room, cleans the bath and toilet before you arrive? Do you?

Martin

 

[TagsMissy]

I don't think anybody said stay home... a couple people including me mentioned when it was stated they don't have the budget for tipping to reconsider the vacation time/class of hotel etc... Or to divide up the costs amongst the large group traveling to not place the pressure of payment for everything on one person....

I mean if someone is kind enough to pay for your trip/food...to help out you can do the tipping Heck I should see if I can past that one by my hubby.. you pay for air, hotel, food, passes, souvenirs .... i'll do the tipping

 

[livie1205]

First off I agree 100% that telling someone to tip or stay home is rude. Tipping is completely voluntary, including in restaurants. (That is unless you meet the minimum size group for tips to be added to the check.)



To paraphrase - When you pay for a restaurant meal it includes service but I have never been told when seated please feel free to tip your wait persons! NEVER

Still, I know it is customary to tip wait staff, just as I know it is customary to tip hotel housekeeping. I travel extensively and almost always tip housekeepers.

Also, you say you never use housekeeping. Who changes the bed linens, vacuums the floors, dusts the room, cleans the bath and toilet before you arrive? Do you?

Martin

well I would imagine that whoever did that BEFORE I arrived would be not the person that would come the next day.....I said before I tend to leave a tip for the maid on checkout day (for doing those things) but no I do not feel obligated to....most people know waitresses do not get paid min wage so they tip...but housekeeping is not that way....I would not insult someone for choosing not to (and i have done the work and still feel that way) ALSO when you pay your bill there is a TIP line for your tip....when I sign my credit card slip at a hotel there is NOT one for a tip....BOTTOM LINE IS it is a personal choice to tip something that is not a tipped position and not something to put someone down for.

 

[webster76]

Ok... this might be a dumb question but help me out here. I have never used the DDP before but will be using it in Sept since it was free. I have read , I think,that gratuity is added to your bill (18%) or is at least added as a recommendation on the bill when you pay. I realize for parties of a certain size that is done almost everywhere but what about smaller parties or individuals? I generally leave a 20% tip ( if all went well) but have left less if the service was not what it should have been. Any thoughts?

 

[JUJU814]

Tipping is just a nice thing to do. The only time I don't tip is if I get really bad service.

I am really blessed to make a comfortable living and not have to be on my feet all day, working more than one job to make ends meet, long hours etc.

I just think it's a kind, courteous, nice thing to do to tip people working in a service oriented job. When I see a waitress working her butt off, or the housekeepers at a hotel working hard, I try to remember that and try to leave something.

I personally think it is indeed cheap to not want to tip for services. I do what I feel is comfortable. Hey, don't blast me. My husband is cheap and I had to train him to tip! LOL To each his own I guess. I do know, having relatives in the food and hotel industry, that they sure do appreciate those that do leave tips.

Some professions, you can get in trouble for accepting a tip, such as nursing. I do not believe that Mousekeeping at Disney gets in trouble for accepting tips. I wonder if they have to do like at some restaurants, pool it all together with all of the tips and it gets evenly divided?

I don't know and I don't care. As for us, we will tip. Not because I HAVE to but because I like to be nice and I WANT to.

Julie

 

[mhconley]

Where is it written that housekeeping is "not a tipped position"? I have never heard that one before except from several posts in this thread stating it like it was fact.

As I said, I travel EXTENSIVELY and have done so for many years. Travel sites, travel experts, travel agents and travel writers have all repeatedly stated that tipping housekeeping is customary. I have always tipped since I first began travelling and almost always tip housekeepers.

I tip bellpersons, drivers, skycaps, doorpersons, wait staff and housekeepers - anyone that helps make my vacation more enjoyable.

One other side note - those of you who make your beds and straighten up your rooms - why do you do so. ITS A VACATION! I'm paying others to do that work, I sure the heck will not.

As my mom used to say - if you have to cook or clean - ITS NOT A VACATION!

Martin

 

[JUJU814]

LOL That is why I simply refuse to go camping. As the mother, having to pack, cook, clean, cook, clean, cook...FORGET IT. It's exhausting!

One other side note - those of you who make your beds and straighten up your rooms - why do you do so. ITS A VACATION! I'm paying others to do that work, I sure the heck will not.

As my mom used to say - if you have to cook or clean - ITS NOT A VACATION!

Martin

 

[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.

I think this is the post that sounded like someone was telling someone else to stay home. It does sound that way & that does seem a bit extreme!

 

[dbriggsq]

I don't think anybody said stay home... a couple people including me mentioned when it was stated they don't have the budget for tipping to reconsider the vacation time/class of hotel etc... Or to divide up the costs amongst the large group traveling to not place the pressure of payment for everything on one person....

I mean if someone is kind enough to pay for your trip/food...to help out you can do the tipping Heck I should see if I can past that one by my hubby.. you pay for air, hotel, food, passes, souvenirs .... i'll do the tipping

Hmmm - yes I was told if I couldn't afford to tip housekeeping I should stay at home - I won't quote the poster but I was quite shocked.

Most posters on here seem to think that housekeepers should be tipped - that's fine - my opinion is that I've paid for the room servicing in the room rate - I'm on a tight budget - I've read that housekeeping is a non-tipped position and the hourly rate is the same as park cast members and retail staff (who aren't tipped) - so at the moment I choose not to tip housekeeping. I wonder if other readers are reluctant to post similar sentiments for fear of personal attack.

I do feel that an objective discussion on the subject should be possible - for example why do people want to tip housekeeping and not other workers on similar hourly rates?

 

[mhconley]

LOL That is why I simply refuse to go camping. As the mother, having to pack, cook, clean, cook, clean, cook...FORGET IT. It's exhausting!

My dad used to talk about getting a motorhome to take on vacations. My mom told him in no uncertain terms that if he wanted to take a motorhome on vacation he had better be prepared to take along a maid and a cook because she wasn't going to do it! We never did get one...

Martin

 

[mhconley]

I do feel that an objective discussion on the subject should be possible - for example why do people want to tip housekeeping and not other workers on similar hourly rates?

Maybe just me but I tip almost all service personnel.

Martin