Tipping at hotels

[PrincessKitty1]

I have learned so much from this thread! I am a teacher & I just decided to put a tip cup out in my classroom during open house and at teacher-parent conferences this year. After all, it is public school, and parents don't pay for their children to attend. Some of these parents never even say thank you for all that I do. I work hard & I think I should get some tips.

OK, before I get flamed....I AM ONLY KIDDING! But if you think about it, we all work hard & wouldn't it be nice if we could all have someone thank us and show some appreciation. But this thread was about tipping housekeeping, which I do. I also tip waiters/waitresses, my hairdresser, someone who gives me a massage, etc. Because these people are doing something for me! But, I will not tip at Moe's or someplace like that where I walk through the line to order my food, carry my own tray, get my own drink, find my own table, and throw my trash away!!!

I work in healthcare, and absolutely the nicest thing anybody could do for me is write a note to my supervisor telling him/her what a great job I do (the place I work has a formal system for this, with notepads and drop boxes for people to compliment staff).

However, if I was making as little money as some of the workers mentioned in this thread, I would probably much prefer a tip than a thank-you note. I agree with other posters who say they feel it's their obligation (and joy!) to help spread a little happiness around with their tips. I worked plenty of crappy jobs before I got my degree (and while I was in school) and I know what it's like.

When DH and I go out to eat, we realize that a buck or two will often make a difference between giving somebody a 20% tip or a 25% tip (especially at the diner where we eat breakfast every weekend and the bill is rarely over 15 bucks for the two of us). So why not make somebody's day and throw in an extra dollar or two and spread the joy?

 

[Takodacaleb]

The poster just pointed out a fact. No need to get rude.
OP, in hotels in general (I´ve never stayed in a Disney hotel before) we usually tip $1 per person each day and then we leave a bit more on our last day since we usually leave quite a mess (in terms of endless shopping bags, shoe boxes, etc.)

Well hopefully we all know that that is cheap and how would other people know if the took the tip

 

[disneyworldmomma]

I have learned so much from this thread! I am a teacher & I just decided to put a tip cup out in my classroom during open house and at teacher-parent conferences this year. After all, it is public school, and parents don't pay for their children to attend. Some of these parents never even say thank you for all that I do. I work hard & I think I should get some tips.

OK, before I get flamed....I AM ONLY KIDDING! But if you think about it, we all work hard & wouldn't it be nice if we could all have someone thank us and show some appreciation. But this thread was about tipping housekeeping, which I do. I also tip waiters/waitresses, my hairdresser, someone who gives me a massage, etc. Because these people are doing something for me! But, I will not tip at Moe's or someplace like that where I walk through the line to order my food, carry my own tray, get my own drink, find my own table, and throw my trash away!!!

HERE HERE!!

 

[smidgy]

In a district right near mine.. you will be glad to know that they are threateningto strike. huntley.....IL... they want salary raises....when the rest of us are struggling to KEEP our houses. . D-158. in Illinois. the board is being MORE than fair.
most of us are struggling to KEEP the jobs we have. No, it in NOT MY district. but near by. the teachers and adminstrators want more money .
if youread the NWHERALD article recently, they PRAISED the IL senators for turning down THEIR OWN RAISES!!!
not saying that teachers don't DESERVE raises! we all do!! but , in this economy, any teacher that STRIKES, is NOT in tune with todays economy.
teachers DO deserve more pay!! SO do ANY of us! all of us who believed in "trickle down" economics are still waiting for our ""Pay off"
but I'll be darned if I will vote for , YET ANOTHER REFERUNDUM, which I ALWAYS STUPIDALLY vote for!!!! and see raises GO UP for teachers and adminisrators. and see my taxes go up.... and see the price of my house go DOWN!!!!
and, in this economy, the teachers want a RAISE!!! when everyone else is willing to take a PAY CUT... just to have a JOB!!!!

 

[smidgy]

decided to make my post go "poof"

 

[smidgy]

decided to make my post go "poof"

 

[smidgy]

I have learned so much from this thread! I am a teacher & I just decided to put a tip cup out in my classroom during open house and at teacher-parent conferences this year. After all, it is public school, and parents don't pay for their children to attend. Some of these parents never even say thank you for all that I do. I work hard & I think I should get some tips.

OK, before I get flamed....I AM ONLY KIDDING! But if you think about it, we all work hard & wouldn't it be nice if we could all have someone thank us and show some appreciation. But this thread was about tipping housekeeping, which I do. I also tip waiters/waitresses, my hairdresser, someone who gives me a massage, etc. Because these people are doing something for me! But, I will not tip at Moe's or someplace like that where I walk through the line to order my food, carry my own tray, get my own drink, find my own table, and throw my trash away!!!

sorry, mods, I know this is off topic.as a waitress who has a hubby who lost his job... Iknow, off topic.. sorry

 

[smidgy]

decided to make my post go "poof".

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

I have read this entire thread and I believe that everyone should do what they THINK is right, and be respectful of others.
The only thing that truly did hurt me where the statements that a family could not survive on $18K. Can't really put it into words but it just hurt. I guess I know to many people who are living on that type of income and see themselves as blessed.

 

[goofypooh]

and, goofypooh, do you have your apt. for your yearly mamogram? wish I did. my sis is a 7 year survivor of breast cancer. MYlast mammogram said." good, A LITTLE CLOUDY, come back in 2 years.
oh, that's right! that was 3 years ago!. can't AFFORD to to get the test! even if I DID, it would be A PRE-EXISTING " condition! welcome to the "world" of those of us WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE
I'm glad you and all mighty are in the position of deciding who gets to live and who gets to die

Smidgy....I am truly sorry that your husband has lost his job and for any hard times you are going through.

I am not asking for a raise. Please know that I do thank my "lucky stars" for my job and I do know what a great job it is. I love my job & what I do! I count my blessings daily. I'm very sorry if something I posted struck a nerve with you. I was simply attempting to make a point that we all could say we deserve more, and that this thread was really about tipping mousekeeping & was getting off topic. I clearly stated "I AM ONLY KIDDING".

Here's hoping you have a great day.

 

[Freyja]

Well hopefully we all know that that is cheap and how would other people know if the took the tip

I´m sorry, but this post got me confused. Are you saying it´s cheap to leave $1 per person per day and a bit more on the last day?
And what do you mean by "and how would other people know if the took the tip"???

 

[Orlando313]

I have been traveling for ages, mainly for work, and have never once left a tip. I believe that if hotels want you to tip, then it should be suggested. Until someone tells me that it is not included in my stay and that I have to pay extra for it, I will not leave anything extra for it. And if I did have to pay extra for it, I would choose not to have it done. I feel it's unreasonable for a hotel to charge $100+ a night and not include housekeeping free of charge.

 

[patsal]

1. WDW has not outsourced all housekeeping, the job is listed on their website and it has a starting wage of $7.75 per hour.
2. It is not a tippped position. It pays the same as most other park jobs, CS restaurants, retail stores, etc.
3. Since it is not a tipped position there is no way to "account for the $$". Meaning that housekeepers do not pay taxes on what they are earning from tips.
4. If everyone were giving $5.00 per day, and each housekeeper cleaned 10 rooms per day that would be $50.00 per day tax free, now that is $250 per week and then $12,500 per year untaxed. (I accounted for a 2 week paid vacation). BTW I'm sure not everyone tips or even tips as high as many here saythey do, but telling someone they shouldn't go on vacation if they can't tip housekeeping is not fair. Housekeeping is part of the fee you pay when you reserve and pay for the room.
5. If a person makes many requests, requires extra stuff, etc. then calling for it and tipping when it is delivered is a nice gesture, but when folks just use what they've paid for, expecting them to tip is over the top.
6. People should do what they feel comfortable with, if you tip great you're extra nice and I am sure appreciated by CM's. If you do not choose to tip you are not a bad person and you really have already paid for the service with your accomadations.
7. Towel animals and arranging my kids toys is a nice gesture, but I prefer a clean floor and it would be nice to remove others socks and crumbs from the sides of and behind the furniture first before I "move into" the room. If a room isn't really messy then maybe there is extra time for those nice gestures, if the time needs to be spent cleaning then that should be done first.

 

[Rlbren]

I have a little point to make on this subject. Who do you think sits around and makes all of those cute towel animals that everyone loves? It's your mousekeeper and this is done on what VERY little spare time they have usually in the mornings before they leave casting to go out to the rooms for the day. This is done above and beyond their jobs. Towels animals are not a requirement, just like tipping...it's something that is done for the guests to make their stay a little more magical. Just as arranging your plush in your room windows or on your beds. Not tipping isn't going to effect the cleaniness in your rooms..but it will make a mousekeeper feel that he/she is noticed and recognized for the job that they do.

 

[Rlbren]

So you tell us-are they allowed to accept tips. I read on another thread they have to turn it all in and then it is split to buy things for the whole group. I have always tipped but would like to think the person I left the tip for actually was able to keep it.

Never in my training as a mousekeeper did anyone say that I could not accept a tip. However, the other mousekeepers did tell me to look in my check outs 1st thing in the morning as mini bar staff takes the tips from the rooms.

BTW, I made min. wage back then. I think it was $5 something an hour. Also, mousekeepers are one of the few positions at WDW that are full time along with bus transportation where my husband worked as a driver. Most cast members are part time employees. Unless things have changed, which Im sure that they have.

 

[skjj2009]

I agree 100% that saying you should tip or stay home is very rude. If you don't have the extra $$ for it you don't. I do tip...I can afford to so I do. But I don't fault others or think someone shouldn't go on vacation if they can't afford to tip the housekeeping staff. I'm sure there are more people that DON'T tip the housekeepers than do. As many have said, tipping is optional. If you can tip, fantastic. I'm sure your housekeepers appreciate it. If you can't then so be it. As for how much...tip them what you can afford because I'm sure they appreciate any little bit that is given.

 

[Orlando313]

I have a little point to make on this subject. Who do you think sits around and makes all of those cute towel animals that everyone loves? It's your mousekeeper and this is done on what VERY little spare time they have usually in the mornings before they leave casting to go out to the rooms for the day. This is done above and beyond their jobs. Towels animals are not a requirement, just like tipping...it's something that is done for the guests to make their stay a little more magical. Just as arranging your plush in your room windows or on your beds. Not tipping isn't going to effect the cleaniness in your rooms..but it will make a mousekeeper feel that he/she is noticed and recognized for the job that they do.

I don't think paying for towel animals is a must???? We are always a room with adults so we could care less about towel animals. We just set them on top of the tv for the next room to have. And I know that we've had recycled ones before because our cute little duck had boogers all over it. If you don't let your kids take it apart, then it's there for others to enjoy. I feel in no way that I need to pay for towel animals, especially when they are clocked in whilst making them in the mornings like you stated. There's no way a housekeeper would make these in their spare time.

 

[Rlbren]

I don't think paying for towel animals is a must???? We are always a room with adults so we could care less about towel animals. We just set them on top of the tv for the next room to have. And I know that we've had recycled ones before because our cute little duck had boogers all over it. If you don't let your kids take it apart, then it's there for others to enjoy. I feel in no way that I need to pay for towel animals, especially when they are clocked in whilst making them in the mornings like you stated. There's no way a housekeeper would make these in their spare time.

I think you misunderstand me. I was in no way impling that the housekeepers make these to squeeze tips from guests. That's simply not true. I was only making the point that they do make these themselves to enhance the enjoyment of the guests. I'm sorry that it apparently did not enhance your visit. To each there own. I know my family enjoys them.

 

[gardengirlco]

I don't think paying for towel animals is a must???? We are always a room with adults so we could care less about towel animals. We just set them on top of the tv for the next room to have. And I know that we've had recycled ones before because our cute little duck had boogers all over it.

If you don't let your kids take it apart, then it's there for others to enjoy.

Others can enjoy it as long as it hasn't been covered in boogers.

 

[Melanie the tink fa]

When we visited WDW in 2004 we tipped around $8 a day. We loved mousekeeping and the fun little things they did. Is $8 still a good tip?