Tipping Question

[toesmom]

We typically do leave tip at end of our stay, we don't get regular room cleaning with DVC membership, but after 7 days in the studio, it is a lot of work to clean the studio for next family.

 

[reddog21]

I only leave tips for things that are historically customary, for as long as I can remember tipping housekeeping was just that. Otherwise, I only tip restaurants if I sit and eat not takeout. That's pretty much it.

 

[spacepluto]

We leave $5-$10/day during our stay (usually it comes down to what cash we happen to have on hand), not only to acknowledge the hard work of the Mousekeeper, but to hopefully get our room serviced every day at a reasonable time! It's always so massively disappointing to be out from before rope drop to, say, 4pm, only to return to a room that hasn't been serviced yet. I'm not sure this strategy actually affects when our room is serviced, but it sure SEEMS to. We write a note with the cash and haven't yet not had it scooped up. We also do $20-$25 on our check-out day.

I'm still new-ish here so not to get off topic, but while I agree that tipping culture generally is out of control, and it's not the customer's responsibility to supplement underpaid workers, and that plenty of people do hard work and aren't tipped (etc., etc.), I can tell you that I worked for 2 eye-opening summers as a housekeeper in a busy national park lodge, and it is backbreaking and often absolutely disgusting work. Back then, I'd say only 10-15% of guests left a tip (we weren't allowed to take any cash from guests mid-stay, even if there was a note or an envelope, but we could keep obvious tips left in the room after they checked out). Before that job, it never occurred to me to tip housekeepers, but I have ever since.

So: From a former maid, please know that tips were always SO appreciated, even if it was just a dollar or two. And while you may be neat, the next 5 rooms over might each look like a frat house and a crime scene had a baby!

 

[Minnie1222]

I tip because I want to! This is a job that I could never do, so I really appreciate their work.

 

[_19disnA]

Have never seen the need to tip housekeeping at any hotel. At Disney we were generally at the park during the day and our room was already cleaned by the time we returned. Never interacted with anyone doing the cleaning. If you ask someone for extra towels/soap/etc., then seems it would be appropriate to tip.

Tipping some jobs is more a matter of preference habit vs what is 'expected'. Many fast food restaurants now have a 'tip' jar and the fact someone is asking for a tip doesn't mean it is required.

 

[bakerworld]

Tipping in general is becoming more and more of an issue. It seems like every single position or event has a tip option. When we were young we rarely tipped anyone except TS wait staff. From these forums we learned that we were really under performers in the Tipper category so we upped our game to include housekeeping and bell service. My mother was a housekeeper back in the 40's and she said her place of employment paid a wage based on housekeeping being a non-tipped position so she would never leave a tip unless there was a specific event causing extra work for the housekeeper. DH is a firm believer in tipping and he tips everyone - not just when we're on vacation. We have finally negotiated between us to leave $20 for a 4 or 5 night vacation stay when we're staying on DVC points or have the ability to refuse daily housekeeping.

On our last cruise the cabin steward actually complemented (?) us on how neatly we kept our cabin so he could vacuum, empty trash and complete turn down service within a short timeframe. We thought maybe he was trying to ascertain if we were going not leave him an additional tip, which we always do, so for us it was not an issue but had us wondering.