|
Post by Merge on Aug 21, 2014 2:12:30 GMT
We never stay in a hotel fancier than the Hampton Inn. No bell service, no room service ... yes, there is housekeeping, which presumably makes minimum wage. Do people really leave tips at moderately priced hotels? And if so, do you also tip the desk clerk and the person who re-stocks your free breakfast buffet?
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Aug 21, 2014 2:18:43 GMT
We never stay in a hotel fancier than the Hampton Inn. No bell service, no room service ... yes, there is housekeeping, which presumably makes minimum wage. Do people really leave tips at moderately priced hotels? And if so, do you also tip the desk clerk and the person who re-stocks your free breakfast buffet? I've never left a tip either. I truly didn't know it was common and I've never seen anyone do it IRL.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Aug 21, 2014 2:31:32 GMT
We never stay in a hotel fancier than the Hampton Inn. No bell service, no room service ... yes, there is housekeeping, which presumably makes minimum wage. Do people really leave tips at moderately priced hotels? And if so, do you also tip the desk clerk and the person who re-stocks your free breakfast buffet? Yes, we leave tips at all hotels, motels, inns, etc. From the nicest to the under 100 bucks, just a place to crash while on the road, kind of places. If there was a way to tip those refilling the buffet we'd most likely do so. Both DH & I remember how it felt to work with the public in positions that brought you a lot of grief, a lot of nastiness, and very little pay. We both remember how nice it was when we received the very, very rare tip. It was nice. Shocking. But nice. It felt good. So we tip to say "We get it. We've worked similar jobs. We hope this makes you smile today."
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Aug 21, 2014 2:31:37 GMT
We never stay in a hotel fancier than the Hampton Inn. No bell service, no room service ... yes, there is housekeeping, which presumably makes minimum wage. Do people really leave tips at moderately priced hotels? And if so, do you also tip the desk clerk and the person who re-stocks your free breakfast buffet? I know you're being sarcastic, but I have actually tipped a desk clerk at a motel (it really didn't even hit moderately priced and was definitely not a hotel). We were traveling a few years ago with my son's hockey team, and were in the middle of freaking nowhere Minnesota (apologies to any Minnesotans). The motel the team picked was very, very budget oriented. So budget oriented that they didn't supply shampoo. Now, I am a light packer and not at all fussy about shampoos, so I always use the complimentary shampoo. Here we are after driving 7 hours, and it's late and I want to take a shower so that I don't need to get up any earlier for the 5 am ice time - and there's no shampoo. I went down to ask the clerk, as I assumed housekeeping forgot to leave it. They don't supply shampoo. As I'm asking the distance to the nearest Target, she offers to have here boyfriend bring some from the Holiday Inn he works at down the road. Five minutes later, I had not only shampoo but conditioner in hand. Sometimes you get 5 star service at a 1 star hotel. BTW - I did leave a few dollars for housekeeping, but didn't tip anyone for the free breakfast (I really don't think anyone was restocking the stale bagels.)
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Aug 21, 2014 2:42:24 GMT
Out of curiosity, I wondered how common it was - according to this article, about 50% claim to tip housekeeping. link
|
|
Olan
Pearl Clutcher
Enter your message here...
Posts: 4,050
Jul 13, 2014 21:23:27 GMT
|
Post by Olan on Aug 21, 2014 2:45:48 GMT
I've never stayed at a hotel that offered free breakfast but YES!!! I tip the person who restocks the mini bar, the beach waiter (who I think deserves the biggest tip sun damage and balancing drinks while walking in sand), guy who brings my luggage, guy who brings room service, concierge, everybody who I interact with gets a tip. Last month I stayed at a Hard Rock location and received an upgraded room (they pitied me because I was vacationing alone I think) that actually came with a butler! She booked all my massages, dinner reservations, and the best and most unexpected service was each morning she would go down to the beach and reserve the cabana with the best view and proximity to the bar! I tipped her 50.00 USD on my final evening and the morning I was supposed to depart she arranged a private transfer from the Hard Rock to the other property I was staying at. That would have easily costs me 20-30USD! It really pays to tip! I totally agree with Darcy when you treat people well they will return the favor.
I am a single 20 something who is far from well off but I think tips are required and BIG tips are earned.
|
|
alyson
Shy Member
Posts: 35
Aug 2, 2014 2:13:45 GMT
|
Post by alyson on Aug 21, 2014 2:50:27 GMT
We always tip $5/ day. We used to just leave one large tip on the last day but someone pointed out that the cleaning staff could change each day and they may not be splitting tips. Tipping each day hopefully makes sure everyone gets their tip.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on Aug 21, 2014 3:42:22 GMT
I don't want it to seem like I am picking on anyone here, not my intent. Many will tip valet and bellman who are just doing their jobs but refuse to tip the maid that cleans the room. I don't see the difference. Generally, bellman and valets tend to be men and housekeeping are women. I don't understand why you would compensate men who are doing their job but not women. It baffles me. Many years ago, I knew someone who was the doorman (only men) at a very ritzy hotel in Chicago. Wearing a resplendent uniform, he opened the front door, lifted his arm to hail a taxi, and opened the taxi door. He averaged $1000 per week in tips, and kept the job for years after graduating from college. Meanwhile, the maids reported they were tipped much less frequent for cleaning up some pretty disgusting stuff. I tip $5 per night, no matter the type of hotel or price of the room. I leave it on the bed every morning before we leave for the day. I also leave transit cards that still have unused rides or days on them.
|
|
Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,709
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Dani-Mani on Aug 21, 2014 10:35:41 GMT
I've been to many hotels where valet is required (most times a hotel in a downtown area of a large city where parking is a nightmare anyway).
And when I book a hotel room, I book for room amenities. Nowhere on any booking page does it say housekeeping is included. And in very cheap hotels, it isn't. It's an extra service some hotels are willing to provide to make their customers happy.
As far as tipping the other people listed in this thread--housekeeping cleans toilets, sinks, bathrooms, vacuums, changes sheets, makes beds, empties trash, restock things I have used...the list is long and it takes them some time to do these things. And unless you are told you cannot per rules of the hotel, yes I tip the bellhop too.
To each his own. But it doesn't make sense to me to tip a man who walks a few blocks to bring you your car but not the woman who makes sure your room is spotless after you've spent a long day sight seeing.
I wonder why some of you tip who you do? I know I asked it before. Most of us tip at the hair dresser and nail salon. Why do you guys feel the need to tip there when they already earn a salary?
|
|
|
Post by *KAS* on Aug 21, 2014 19:24:33 GMT
Fair enough. I stay 100+ nights in a hotel, and have for 13 years, and never once have I stayed in one that DIDN'T have housekeeping as part of my room rates. They don't have to put it on their booking page because it's assumed. I know if I stay at a TownePlace Suites they only do minimal bed straightening. I know if I stay at a Hampton Inn they only change the sheets every 3 days, unless i put the green card on the bed. So I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just not familiar with such a place. I did answer this previously, but not sure if you saw it. Other than the few places (yes, I've stayed in those as well) where valet parking is my only option, I feel that things like using Bellhops and Valet Parking vs. self parking is a convenience to me, above and beyond 'standard service included in my rate' so I tip for it. If I wasn't too lazy to walk to my own car, I wouldn't valet park (again, unless it's the only option). But I'm ok with others not agreeing with how I choose to tip or not tip, too.
|
|
|
Post by not2peased on Aug 21, 2014 20:02:23 GMT
yes, I always leave a tip at the end of the stay. I also tip $5 for bringing my bags to my room, and valet services
|
|
|
Post by not2peased on Aug 21, 2014 20:04:48 GMT
why would someone put a do not disturb sign up while you are away from the room?
|
|
|
Post by stampbooker on Aug 21, 2014 20:41:47 GMT
I wonder why some of you tip who you do? I know I asked it before. Most of us tip at the hair dresser and nail salon. Why do you guys feel the need to tip there when they already earn a salary? The answer is social pressure. You are face to face with a bell hop or a hair dresser who are expecting a tip. You feel social pressure to comply. With maid service you are not dealing with them face to face usually. You feel put on the spot when the bellman comes up with your bags, you feel like you have to tip or look like a heel. People generally resent the expectation of tipping, but do it anyway because they don't want to appear cheap or boorish. Julie
|
|
Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,709
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Dani-Mani on Aug 21, 2014 20:53:22 GMT
Fair enough. I stay 100+ nights in a hotel, and have for 13 years, and never once have I stayed in one that DIDN'T have housekeeping as part of my room rates. They don't have to put it on their booking page because it's assumed. I know if I stay at a TownePlace Suites they only do minimal bed straightening. I know if I stay at a Hampton Inn they only change the sheets every 3 days, unless i put the green card on the bed. So I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just not familiar with such a place. I did answer this previously, but not sure if you saw it. Other than the few places (yes, I've stayed in those as well) where valet parking is my only option, I feel that things like using Bellhops and Valet Parking vs. self parking is a convenience to me, above and beyond 'standard service included in my rate' so I tip for it. If I wasn't too lazy to walk to my own car, I wouldn't valet park (again, unless it's the only option). But I'm ok with others not agreeing with how I choose to tip or not tip, too. Our two choice hotels are a Hilton and a Hyatt. But nowhere does it say that they offer housekeeping. It is assumed, but it's obvious to me it's a service they provide above and beyond what is standard. And that's one reason we tip housekeepers. That's what I meant by that. We, personally, would never stay at a hotel that didn't offer basic housekeeping, but we also understand it's not part of the "amenities" package they list on the website.
|
|
|
Post by *KAS* on Aug 21, 2014 22:28:52 GMT
I understand what you're saying, but you said yourself that in 'very cheap hotels' they don't offer housekeeping. And that's sort of my point. I pay a higher cost per night for a hotel that includes housekeeping. My room rate is higher in part because of that service. If I want to pay $29/night, I may not get housekeeping. Since I'm rarely paying less than $100/night - and usually more - I have an expectation / assumption that they will clean my room. I re-use towels, I don't expect clean sheets daily. I'm not high maintenance, I just don't feel it necessary to tip for what I consider 'standard' things. If I asked for more pillows, shampoo, etc., I absolutely would.
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Aug 21, 2014 22:31:37 GMT
why would someone put a do not disturb sign up while you are away from the room? People do that when they don't want the maid to come into the room.
|
|
|
Post by gar on Aug 21, 2014 22:47:27 GMT
why would someone put a do not disturb sign up while you are away from the room? Apparently to stop the h/k staff going in, therefore not cleaning the room and therefore no tip required.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 10, 2024 6:27:00 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2014 22:50:56 GMT
I've never heard of housekeeping being an optional service. Almost every hotel has it and it is automatically done. It isn't something you opt in to have done. I don't feel guilty not tipping at all. It just isn't something I was raised to do. If that makes me a bad person, oh well.
|
|
|
Post by darkchami on Aug 22, 2014 0:20:16 GMT
I tip no matter the cost of the room. The housekeeping staff are providing a service that I appreciate. A small monetary show of gratitude isn't going to hurt me. It may be very much needed by the receiver. In return, I've come back to some wonderful thank you notes left in my room. It is hard to go wrong by showing a little kindness.
|
|
|
Post by hollymolly on Aug 22, 2014 0:36:24 GMT
Funny this thread should be here today. When I got back to my room tonight, the tip was still where I left it, on the corner of the desk. It's in the same place that I left it Tuesday and Wednesday and those were taken. When I check out tomorrow, I'm just going to add to it and leave it in the same spot, but with my room keys.
This is a great idea! I buy a 7 day pass in Boston, but only use 4 days. I will leave that too. I actually didn't even have to buy a pass the first week I was here. While I was waiting on my luggage, I was talking to my colleague about where to buy a pass at the airport. Someone on the escalator behind my head heard me and gave me her pass as she went by. It had enough days left on it to last me through the rest of the week! It happened so fast, I felt like I didn't have time to thank her properly. I just yelled thanks! as she drifted away.
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Aug 22, 2014 7:23:20 GMT
I always tip housekeeping and it never occurred to me there were people who didn't, until I met the peas. There are few more deserving recipients than hotel maids. I can't imagine thinking the housekeeping is included with the room, so no need to tip. Table service is also included at restaurants, but we tip there, too. I leave the tip with a note that says To Housekeeping: Thank You! because some hotels have policies about unidentified cash left in the room going to the lost & found, i.e., into the manager's pocket. Once I got my note returned with a Thank You from the housekeeper. And btw, I have never heard of a hotel that doesn't provide housekeeping. Some of the extended-stay type places don't provide it daily, but they do come in every three days or so, and it's included in the room cost.
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Aug 22, 2014 11:25:35 GMT
why would someone put a do not disturb sign up while you are away from the room? Apparently to stop the h/k staff going in, therefore not cleaning the room and therefore no tip required. We always stick the do not disturb sign up while we are gone, but we do tip at the end. The sign goes up, for us, mostly because there are usually several of us in the room and it is just easier for us not to have to worry about the housekeeping staff to have to step over bedrolls and shoes and whatnot. We straighten as we go, but with four people in a room, I prefer to not have someone trying to sort out what needs cleaning and doesn't. It is just a preference on my part.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Aug 22, 2014 11:35:28 GMT
why would someone put a do not disturb sign up while you are away from the room? In our case, it's because we've left laptops or other electronics in the room. We've known people who had things stolen by housekeeping, and in fact I had a pair of earrings stolen several years ago. I really just prefer not to have strangers in my room while I'm not there. It creeps me out. So we leave the DND sign up at all times, make our own beds, and call down for towels if we need them.
|
|
|
Post by Miss Ang on Aug 22, 2014 11:44:07 GMT
The only time I have ever tipped in a hotel was on one of our Disney vacations. The same person cleaned our room every day and when we would see her in the hallway she would chat with us for a moment and ask about our plans for the day. She was from another country and we talked about where she was from one day. She also left towel animals in our room each day. **THAT** personalization and THAT kind of service was service that I felt went above and beyond.
I know cleaning hotel rooms is overall a dirty and thankless job. But that's their job.
And to be honest, when a maid comes in to clean our room it's minimal work beyond the cleaning/sanitizing. I put all our garbage in the waste bin. I put all our towels in a pile. I wipe any crumbs or water rings from drinks up from the tables and I wipe any hair/make up from the bathroom sink.
My husband is a blue collar worker with a very dirty and messy job that most people couldn't stomach doing. No one gives him tips.
|
|
|
Post by pastlifepea on Aug 22, 2014 13:43:46 GMT
I always tip housekeeping whether it is a La Quinta, Hyatt, or Hilton. Generally, it is $5 a day whether it is just me or the family. I've learned that they often will not take money that is just left out in plain sight, so I write on the note pad by the phone...For housekeeping...thank you. That way they understand completely that it is for them and they won't be accused of stealing.
If you are tipping, I do recommend doing it daily as staff changes and you may not have the same person every day. I would hate of leave $30 at the end for the person that cleaned my room one night and the person or people who did it the other night are out of luck.
This will probably come as a big shock, but I do tip the front desk person upon check in every time, but it is really more of a bribe. I am a very light sleeper and sensitive to noise. Even though I travel with a white noise machine, I still want as quiet a room as possible. When handing the clerk my credit card, I also fold up a $20 bill and hand it over with the credit card and tell them I would like a very quiet room and that is my thank you to them for trying their best to accommodate me. I've only been doing this a couple of years but have always received fantastic quiet rooms and they are usually upgrades to better rooms and better views. I've also had them send unsolicited things to the room...milk and cookies, snacks, etc. It has always been worth the $20 and even if I didn't get a super awesome room, I figure I would be out $20 but some desk clerk is really happy.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 10, 2024 6:27:00 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 14:31:36 GMT
(((wonder why some of you tip who you do? I know I asked it before. Most of us tip at the hair dresser and nail salon. Why do you guys feel the need to tip there when they already earn a salary?)))
As I said early in this thread. The wages for a housekeeper in a hotel are very low, it's a thankless job and very physically demanding. It's often gross. My mom was a hotel housekeeper. So I feel like I get the struggle.
I am not bullied by society. I am not trying to avoid the stigma of being cheap or whatever. I have been blessed and I deeply enjoy passing it on to others. At least once a year, we travel to the Caribbean, where locals live in poverty and a resort job is coveted. I'm on a vacation, enjoying the beauty of an island, and feel it's my honor to do so. To me that includes spreading around as much compensation for services as possible. The cart drivers, the housekeeping staff, the beach bar waitstaff. Dh and I came from meager beginnings. Now that we have more, we tend to share more.
In the US, we are Hilton Diamond members because Dh spends so many nights a year in hotels. He usually stays in Hamptons when he's alone. He's encountered excellent service in many places...of course.
To me, tipping should be done when someone does something for you that you very well could do yourself but you don't want to. I could make my own bed, clean up my own towels and empty my own trash but I'm on vacation and I'd rather not so I tip the housekeeper. I could drive my own car around for 16 blocks parking who knows where but I'd rather not waste time on that chore so I tip the valet. I could carry my own bags and cart them from my car to my room, but when there's a bellman to do it, I surely prefer him to do it and I tip him for the pleasure. I don't resent it at all. I'm grateful. That's why I feel strongly about this.
I can't very well step behind the bar at Starbucks and make my own frap so I don't really feel the need to tip there.
|
|
gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
Jun 26, 2014 12:35:32 GMT
|
Post by gloryjoy on Aug 22, 2014 14:42:58 GMT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but housekeeping does not change the sheets daily if you are there for several days. In my experience they change the sheets every 3 days or so or when we leave. We re-use our towels for several days, just as we do at home.
We recently stayed one night at a hotel and the room was $199/night. We checked in at 3:00, dropped off our stuff, went shopping, out for dinner and to the casino and came back and slept. The next morning we had a shower and checked out at 10:00. I know she still had to clean our room, make our bed, change the towels etc. but I feel that was included in the $199, no one went over and above with any service.
But like I posted before, if we stay more than one night in a hotel, we always leave a tip. However this post has made me think about my one night tipping views.
|
|
|
Post by chirpingcricket on Aug 22, 2014 15:06:21 GMT
I always tip a few dollars each day.
Interesting thread. It is timely for me, too -- there was a big storm in my town on Wednesday, knocked down tons of trees, damaged lots of houses, including mine. The power was out for the night, people were already out with chainsaws to clean up. I needed to be at work on time Thursday, so we packed up all the food from our freezer and went to my sister's vacation cabin in the Smokies. She lives on the other side of the country, so she has a management company take care of her cabin rentals, maintenance, and cleaning. She called them to make sure we could stay, and they said yes, of course, but they had not cleaned the cabin since the last renters left Monday. We get there, change the sheets on the bed, take out the garbage, wash the dishes, and then look around -- No Tip For The Maid?! Unreal.
When I stay at my sister's cabin (and when *she* stays at her cabin), we leave huge tips for the maid. Huge. Like one time, DH and I stayed there three nights, and we left a $50 tip for the maid. And we washed the dishes and took out the garbage and vacuumed. All she had to do was change the sheets and clean the bathroom. But that's a little different than staying at a hotel and tipping the maid. This one kind of works for my sister. And obviously people don't tip very often when they stay in cabins.
But when I rent a house at the beach, we leave a tip at the end of the vacation. Cleaning someone else's mess is a thankless task.
--Cricket
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 10, 2024 6:27:00 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 16:25:00 GMT
Any time we have rented a condo/home for vacation we have never left a tip because we have already been charged a cleaning fee which seems to be larger than what I pay the lady who cleans my own home. Or again, I expect it to be part of the rental cost. I haven't considered leaving a tip because I don't know that the cleaning crew will be the first ones into the place once we leave. And a few of them have required us to strip the beds and wash the sheets before we leave. So in a way, we are at lest doing some of the cleaning ourselves.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Aug 22, 2014 16:59:17 GMT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but housekeeping does not change the sheets daily if you are there for several days. In my experience they change the sheets every 3 days or so or when we leave. We re-use our towels for several days, just as we do at home. Many places will leave instructions on how to indicate that you want your sheets/towels changed more frequently. I'm all for water conservation, but if my kids accidentally fill my bedsheets with sand, then I will indicate that I need them changed, and they always have been. Otherwise, I'm fine with less frequent sheet changes. I don't change my own sheets every day, either.
|
|