What do you tip housekeeping?

[anniet]

I should have asked this before I left.

Housekeeping came in on our fourth day for a full cleaning and I left an $8 tip. (Two people, four nights I figured $8)- I never mentioned to DBF what I left. On the 8th day they did towels, but not trash, since they came so late we did the trash ourselves already and since they pretty much just handed us our towels, I didn't tip them at all.

When we went to check out I was going to leave a $12 tip (six more nights, two people $12 I figured) but DBF said since we didn't get maid service every day and we kept the place clean ourselves that was not appropriate. He had a point, we washed our towels, made our own beds, I even stripped the bed for them took out the trash and put all the towels in a pile for them before we left. Basically they were just coming in to reset up the room for someone else.....we were sort of puzzled so we just left $6.

How do you figure what to leave for a tip, when you don't get daily housekeeping?

 

[anniet]

Okay, does this mean nobody tips housekeeping?

 

[lisajl]

I am not sure of the DVC, since I am not a member.

I can tell you when we stayed at POR this past Dec., we left $5 per day. There were five of us, and the person cleaning up after us, was wonderful. Took care of trash everyday, and left plenty of towels.

I know it is not the same as DVC, but it's just my two cents on the subject.

Lisajl

 

[Candlelady]

AnnieT,

Didn't anyone tell you? The guidebook clearly states in bold print that the DVC mousekeepers are highly paid and do not receive tips.

Just kiddin.

I cancelled our T&T because I had already emptied trash and washed the towels. Didn't really want anyone coming in while we weren't there. I left a $12 tip for 6 days. The villa was almost as clean when we left as it was when we arrived. I even loaded all the dishes and flatware in the dishwasher, left all the towels in the laundry basket along with the sheets from the bed. My kids thought I was crazy, but I hate someone thinking I'm a slob.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

We were in a studio during Christmas week and I left $10 for Trash n Towel day and $10 when we left.

 

[anniet]

You almost got me Candlelady!!!!

I did the same things too as far as keeping clean, and since the studios only give you paper and plastic we just threw the paper plates away and emptied the trash. I left all the glasses washed and drying on a towel by the sink though, and I brought my own silverware which I cleaned and took with me, so really they didn't have much to do but dust, vacuum and clean the bathroom for the next people. I could see DBF's point, since usually you think you should leave one dollar per person per night, when they clean every day but they didn't come in every day. Still I felt bad not leaving more of a tip.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by anniet
Okay, does this mean nobody tips housekeeping?

My guess is that most DVC members do not tip housekeeping.

This topic comes up from time to time on this board. The outcome usually seems to be that although housekeeping at DVC resorts is officially a non-tipped poistion, many DVC members like to tip anyway.

Given that there's no daily housekeeping (unless you pay extra), I have difficulty understanding the logic of tipping on a "per day" basis.

For stays of less than 8 nights, housekeeping never comes (except on the 4th day for trash pickup and clean towels). Obviously, there's one full cleaning involved with every stay of less than 8 nights -- you can either count the full cleaning that occurs to get the room ready for you, or one that occurs after you check out.

At a US restaurant or on a cruise ship with a US home port, tipping is really an obligation more than a mere "thank you." Tips are the primary compensation for the people who serve you. Tips are really something you have to consider as part of the cost of your meal or cruise, in addition to what you're paying to the restaurant or cruise line.

But a DVC resort is not a US restaurant or cruise ship.

At a DVC resort, I typically leave a $5 bill for housekeeping on a master bedroom pillow on the morning that we check out. I consider it a small "thank you" for the service they provide. Some DVC members are much more generous than I am, based on the posts I've read here from those who tip $10 per day or some other large amount. And, as I mentioned earlier, I assume most DVC members don't tip housekeeping at all.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I guess I should clarify: I usually tip $5 on Trash and Towel day and $5 when we leave (we never seem to be there a full week!!). I left more because it was Christmas.

 

[Sharper]

We've stayed four to six days at any DVC resort at a time. I try to remember to leave tip on T&T day, but at least once forgot and left it when we checked out.

We barely use the kitchen and also clean up behind ourselves. I think housekeeping should get a little something, but nothing like what I would tip for full, daily housekeeping.

 

[Verandah Man]

We stayed at VB for 5 nights in November. There were six in our party(5 A, 1 C)and we had a 2 BR villa. We left a $15.00 tip. The room was spotless when we got there, and they also brought us extra towels at no additional charge. We too, had all the trash out of our villa, and all dishes were washed and put away before we left. That's the way my DW does things around "HOME" here, and that's the way she wanted to leave "HOME" there.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

When DH, DS & I stayed at PO/FQ using our DVC points I left $3 per day on the table for the maid. The first day she left it so on the second I left a note that I prefer to pay by the day.

 

[PamOKW]

I always tip housekeeping. I used to tip on the last day but now I do it on the T&T and/or full cleaning days. The amount depends on the size of the unit and the number of people. I also do a lot of the work keeping the unit tidy while we are there and when we are ready to leave but I look at it as if they are cleaning a house when they do the 1-bedroom or larger and a regular hotel room in the studios.

I think your original plan of $8 and $12 was reasonable, especially if it was a studio. I'm sure they are happy to get anything since some members and guests seem to not tip. Personal choice but I always tip at hotels and would like to attract good housekeepers to our DVC resorts by continuing to tip.

 

[JimC]

When we stay on cash reservations or points in a non-DVC resort we leave $2 for first person and $1 for each additional person per day. For two of us it is three dollars each day. We leave it daily as it is possible that the person cleaning your room could change, particularly on weekends.

When we are staying on point reservations in a DCV resort we leave $5 for T&T day. We have not been there enough days to get the full cleaning service but would probably leave $10 for a one bedroom, more for 2 bdrm and GV.

 

[trainfun]

Several years back, the first time we stayed at Vero (1996, I think) I went to the front desk and asked what a reasonable tip for housekeeping would be. I was told that tipping was unnecessary because we weren't getting daily maid service.

We still left $10 because we were relaxing in beautiful surroundings and the housekeepers were working hard in summer Florida heat. The way I look at it, they are probably not paid all that well. I feel very fortunate to be able to afford DVC, and I think a reasonable tip adds $1/hour to one member of the housekeeping crew's salary for the day you tip. If everybody does that, our housekeepers will take home a small bonus that helps them make ends meet. If I can afford DVC, afford the meals, etc, then I can certainly afford to share a few bucks with the folks who make my stay so pleasant. To me it is part of the cost of the vacation, but more important, I just think it is the right thing to do.

 

[Verandah Man]

trainfun,

Quote "We still left $10 because we were relaxing in beautiful surroundings and the housekeepers were working hard in summer Florida heat. The way I look at it, they are probably not paid all that well. I feel very fortunate to be able to afford DVC, and I think a reasonable tip adds $1/hour to one member of the housekeeping crew's salary for the day you tip. If everybody does that, our housekeepers will take home a small bonus that helps them make ends meet. If I can afford DVC, afford the meals, etc, then I can certainly afford to share a few bucks with the folks who make my stay so pleasant. To me it is part of the cost of the vacation, but more important, I just think it is the right thing to do." Quote

I couldn't agree with you more, well stated!!!

 

[lomillerin]

We are renting points and we are going to pay to get full housekeeping every day. When I am on vacation, I do not want to clean.
What is the recommended tip for 2 adults and 2 kids? Is is better to tip each day or at the end? We will only be there 4 nights.
Also, do you think they will leave towel animals at the BCV since we will be paying an extra 25.00 a day? Can we ask them to?
Will they put up the couch bed if we leave early in a hurry and don't have time?
I would like to see how clean the room is before I tip because just like at a restaurant if I get great service I will be very generous with the tip. I have a thing about clean hotels and if it is not clean why should I tip?

 

[Kirk]

I don't know what to stuff this with but a similar thread from long ago suggested envelopes printed like this:

You can find a multitude at:

Thank you! Mousekeeping!

Thanks and credit to Heidi!

 

[PamOKW]

Lomillerin -- I assume you are staying in a studio. I would tip the same as if you were staying in a hotel room....$2 per person or you could probably keep it to $5 per day. Your choice whether to tip daily or at the end. You might consider it as an incentive if you tip daily....like tipping the host to get a good table.

 

[nezy]

I have often wondered about this. I am so glad to see this thread. Lately wehave not been staying in one place for more than 4 days, but I always leave a tip-how much depends on how many rooms and people have been therew/us.

Since I have seen it mentioned in this thread, what are we supposed to do with dishes before we leave our "homes"? I always load the dishwahser and leave it running before I leave. I often wonder what happens after that.

 

[Verandah Man]

nezy,

Personally speaking, working for the water company and my local gov't, I never leave a house, no matter where it is, with a dishwasher, washer or dryer, or stove running. A local firefighter(a friend of my family) was killed here in our town last year because someone left their clothes dryer on when they left their house. It was around midnight New Year's Eve when the call came in for a house fire. The firefighter, thinking the family might be trapped, went in the house and the floor caved in under him. He was trapped for 30 minutes before he could be rescued. He was in the burn center for three months before he passed away.
My thinking, Better to be Safe than Sorry. This man left a wife and two teen age boys behind.