Do you tip maids in hotels?

In My Humble Opinion
61

[QUOTE=psycat90]
Yes always.

$3 to $5 per night. I tip per night and I leave the cash with a piece of paper that says ‘Thank you!’ so they know it is for them and not just cash lying around.

Oh, and that is regardless of any mess I’ve made, which is usually minimal anyway. I never leave trash about and all of my towels get thrown in the tub, etc.
[/QUOTE]
Exactly this. Except I leave towels I don’t want any more in a pile on the floor. I’ve never had them not take a tip. I do tend to leave it away from my other belongings and wrap the cash in the note, though, so it’s clear. Maybe I should write “Housekeeping–thank you!” instead. I’m in the US.

62

Whenever my serice is adequate (y’know, reasonably clean) I tip at east $5. More than that if there’s something extra going on, such as puke/blood messes and the like. I used to work as a maid for a motel at the el cheapo end of the spectrum. e made less than minimum wage, because it was (usually wrongfully) assumed that the guests would tip us.

FTR, the best tip I ever got was $20, from a businessman who stayed over for three days. He had requested extra towels brought in each day in addition to the regular room cleaning. Very neat man, didn’t leave much for me to do when he left. (He even stripped the sheets!) Thanks, mystery guy. I appreciate it.

63

I usually tip $5 per night I stayed, but on my most recent trip, I was unhappy with how the maid would rearrange to room every day and ignored requests to not change the sheets and only change the towels left on the floor. (I like to try to save water and energy). It was a dozen little things that added up to no tip but a small note about why I did not tip and how she did not follow the Hotel’s own suggestions.

Disney tends to do extra little things like set up the kid’s stuff animals in cute poses on the pillows and leaving extra towels after the first night (without being asked to), realizing we had 4 people swimming. Their tip goes up closer to $10 per night. Also they are looking after a room for 4 and not my usual one neat person on a business trip.

In my early 20s when I was driving cross country a few times, I never left a tip and I had no idea you were expected to. I never stay longer than 8-10 hours as I was just using the hotel as a place to sleep and then get back to driving. Ignorant youth I was.

Jim

64

[QUOTE=AudreyK]
Always. $1-2 a night, left on or under the pillow. . . .
[/QUOTE]

I am typing this from a Days Inn on my last night of a trip. My SO went to turn down the bed early because of a migraine. What did he find tucked into the pillows? A dollar bill.

I’m a bit creeped out by this—but just a bit. Did housekeeping not change the sheets? Did the previous guest not use that bed but put the tip in the pillow anyway? Did Housekeeping miss the dollar somehow but clean the room?

The room seems clean so I’m not going to let it worry me too much. Here’s to hoping I don’t need a lice treatment when I get home.

65

[QUOTE=fervour]
I am typing this from a Days Inn on my last night of a trip. My SO went to turn down the bed early because of a migraine. What did he find tucked into the pillows? A dollar bill.

I’m a bit creeped out by this—but just a bit. Did housekeeping not change the sheets? Did the previous guest not use that bed but put the tip in the pillow anyway? Did Housekeeping miss the dollar somehow but clean the room?

The room seems clean so I’m not going to let it worry me too much. Here’s to hoping I don’t need a lice treatment when I get home.
[/QUOTE]

This past trip home I happened to be in the room when the maid came in. We were on our way out, but my SO got distracted by something shiny, hence my loitering.

The maid came in and made the bed. She pocketed the money I left under the pillow, and then fluffed up the pillows. She straighted the sheets, and then carefully arranged the bedspread. She did not change the sheets.

I am guessing that between guests they do change the sheets, but not on each day of the same guests’ stay. Which would be a waste of water anyway, IMO, since the same peoples’ germs are gonna get right back on the bed.

66

[QUOTE=fervour]
I am typing this from a Days Inn on my last night of a trip. My SO went to turn down the bed early because of a migraine. What did he find tucked into the pillows? A dollar bill.

I’m a bit creeped out by this—but just a bit. Did housekeeping not change the sheets? Did the previous guest not use that bed but put the tip in the pillow anyway? Did Housekeeping miss the dollar somehow but clean the room?

The room seems clean so I’m not going to let it worry me too much. Here’s to hoping I don’t need a lice treatment when I get home.
[/QUOTE]

Are you sure this wasn’t just his way of inviting you to play “the stripper game”?

I guess if you don’t answer for the next few hours, we’ll know. :wink:

67

[QUOTE=ZipperJJ]
Are you sure this wasn’t just his way of inviting you to play “the stripper game”?

I guess if you don’t answer for the next few hours, we’ll know. :wink:
[/QUOTE]

HaHa! --no seriously, you made me laugh. He really has a migraine. And if I wasn’t clear earlier, we just checked in tonight for one night only. I hate waste too and don’t like my sheets changed during a stay. ( I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a single motel more than 5 nights.)

68

Around these parts the term “Maid” in a hotel is an insult, they prefer to be called “Housekeepers”. They are paid upward of $15.00 per hour and yes you should tip.

On a somewhat unrelated note as I am not a housekeeper; I was once tipped $20.00 after finding a dead guy in a hotel room.

69

[QUOTE=bat312]
Around these parts the term “Maid” in a hotel is an insult, they prefer to be called “Housekeepers”. They are paid upward of $15.00 per hour and yes you should tip.

[/QUOTE]

I’m sorry, but if they are making $15 per hour then it’s not like they are dependent upon tips. That’s completely different from restaurant servers who may be paid in the range of $3 per hour.

I’ve never tipped for maid service, then again I have only twice stayed in hotels by myself, and never more than 3 days. I don’t feel I have to pay someone to pick up a towel for me. I can do that myself and I’ve never left any kind of mess.

70

Ahh, there in lies a question; should the well organized and often unionized housekeepers be tipped for providing a service, where as the common server is governed to report and pay taxes on the tip that they are depended upon?

Someone better than me will have to help with the math, but here is a guess;

A housekeeper working 8 hours a day cleaning 12 to 16 rooms a day at $15.00+ per hour makes $20 to $60 a day in tips.

An average restaurant server working 4 to 10 hours a day at $3+ something an hour makes $50 to $200 a day in tips.

A professional server working 5 hours a day at $7 to $12+ per hour a day makes $200 to $600 per day in tips.

The fact is they all should be tipped for providing a service. That is the way it works here anyway.

71

[QUOTE=bat312]
Ahh, there in lies a question; should the well organized and often unionized housekeepers be tipped for providing a service, where as the common server is governed to report and pay taxes on the tip that they are depended upon?

Someone better than me will have to help with the math, but here is a guess;

A housekeeper working 8 hours a day cleaning 12 to 16 rooms a day at $15.00+ per hour makes $20 to $60 a day in tips.

An average restaurant server working 4 to 10 hours a day at $3+ something an hour makes $50 to $200 a day in tips.

A professional server working 5 hours a day at $7 to $12+ per hour a day makes $200 to $600 per day in tips.

The fact is they all should be tipped for providing a service. That is the way it works here anyway.
[/QUOTE]

Your guess is way off.

72

[QUOTE=bat312]
Around these parts the term “Maid” in a hotel is an insult, they prefer to be called “Housekeepers”. They are paid upward of $15.00 per hour and yes you should tip.

On a somewhat unrelated note as I am not a housekeeper; I was once tipped $20.00 after finding a dead guy in a hotel room.
[/QUOTE]

Where do you live, bat312?

73

I almost opened another thread entitled “Which workers should be tipped and why?” My apologies if the following tangent seems off topic.

If I am understanding the arguments given for tipping housekeeping, one should tip housekeeping basically out of charity. Tipping out of charity is not the purpose of a tip in my mind. Tipping is to ensure that a job is done efficiently and quickly. I would argue that those of us who do not want housekeeping’s services during our stay at a hotel, should not tip. The hotel is obliged to provide a clean, furnished room at a minimum as part of the contracted price. If they fail to do so, their reputation will tarnish resulting in lost business.

I agree that those who are using housekeeping’s services during their stay should tip, but not out of obligation. They should tip out of desire to ensure good service for themselves.

I would argue that those who tip because the housekeepers may be illegal immigrant workers are actually doing a disservice to all workers in the field. Note that my problem is not the immigrant status of the worker, but the illegal status. An illegal immigrant is less likely to buck the system when unfair practices occur.

Also if you are tipping because the wage is so low, where does that stop and why? Do you tip the janitor at your place of employment? your garbage man? the clerk at the supermarket who was incredibly efficient? I do believe that everyone should be able to afford a decent standard of living. I don’t believe that dorking with the free market is the best way to provide it. Personally I favor a free market with social safety nets provided by the government.

74

[QUOTE=fervour]
If I am understanding the arguments given for tipping housekeeping, one should tip housekeeping basically out of charity. Tipping out of charity is not the purpose of a tip in my mind. Tipping is to ensure that a job is done efficiently and quickly.
[/QUOTE]

Nope. Generally you tip for jobs where:
[ul]
[li]People touch you, or things intimate to you (dirty clothes, toilets, shoes, etc.)[/li][li]People come in to your home[/li][li]People provide unskilled or semi-skilled personal services that most people could easily perform for themselves[/li][li]People have a view of your personal life and are expected to act with discretion[/li][li]People perform for you[/li][/ul]
Why? It gives some dignity to a person performing a job that may not be skilled, but allows you to do your job and get on with your life- it makes the transaction more one among equals who respect each other than among a master and servant. It gives you the right not to feel bad when you make someone else clearn your toilet or shine your shoes. It ensures that your personal life and things are respected by someone who otherwise has little reason to respect them. It is one of those rare opportunities to help a hard-working person less well off than yourself. And it is part of the social contract.

75

[QUOTE=even sven]
Nope. Generally you tip for jobs where:
[ul]
[li]People touch you, or things intimate to you (dirty clothes, toilets, shoes, etc.)[/li][li]People come in to your home[/li][li]People provide unskilled or semi-skilled personal services that most people could easily perform for themselves[/li][li]People have a view of your personal life and are expected to act with discretion[/li][li]People perform for you[/li][/ul]
. . . . It ensures that your personal life and things are respected by someone who otherwise has little reason to respect them. . . . And it is part of the social contract.
[/QUOTE]

You put a positive spin on it. My cynical interpretation of your post is “So they won’t blackmail you or destroy your stuff”. Correct me if I’m wrong. (I mean that sincerely. It’s hard to tell in words sometimes when you have no body language cues.)

I avoid those types of services that you list, being an extremely private person. I can see where it would be useful in such circumstance. I have tipped my pest exterminator when he rid my former house of yellow jackets in the attic. He did an amazing job for the pittance of ~$40. I tipped him an additional $25 for a service well done and then he went and sprayed some more out of appreciation. I think one should tip for a good job especially when one wants to maintain a businesss relationship with the person or business providing the service.

76

[QUOTE=fervour]
You put a positive spin on it. My cynical interpretation of your post is “So they won’t blackmail you or destroy your stuff”. Correct me if I’m wrong. (I mean that sincerely. It’s hard to tell in words sometimes when you have no body language cues.)

[/QUOTE]

You’re wrong. I have never, with or with out a tip, had a hotel/motel maid destroy my stuff (I’m fairly blackmail proof), whether during a one-time visit, or when I return every 6 weeks.

I’ve also not heard of very many $15/hour maids. GVR in Vegas, maybe, but the Red Roof Inn or Super 8 or Marriot in Boise ID or Dalhart TX or Minot ND sure as hell don’t make pay that much, and most of them are part-time anyway.

I do not tip for charity. I tip because these women clean my toilet, fold my towels, and bring me an extra pillow if I request it. They’re taking care of those little details about which I don’t want to think when on vacation or when trying to pacify an unreasonable, but financially vital, idiot client.

Their job is to clean the room. I tip as an expression of appreciation for attempting to make me comfortable.

At this exact moment, my cats, husband, houseplants and I are in the Days Inn, in Minot ND, waiting to move into our new home. We’ve been here since May 17th. The maids name is Beth.

The want-ad in the paper says starting wages are $6.50/hour, part time. From day one, she has done all the regular maid duties perfectly, while making sure the cats are contained, checks their location before vacuuming, politely “answers” all meows, saw I have long hair and put me on the extra towel list (4 is more than enough, but I do appreciate the gesture), and brought me a croissant and cup of (shitty weak) coffee from the “Free Continantel Breakfast!!” the 3rd day when I had a puking migraine and got in her way when she was trying to do her job.

This is an unusual situation for me, but I have no doubt that Beth is not the only maid in the world who goes above and beyond even for her “normal rooms” A few freaking bucks a day is very the least I can do!

I do tip $2 a day for nothing more than a clean bathroom with two paper-thin but clean towels, because it feels like the proper thing to do. I can’t justify it, other than it’s the right thing to do.

(BTW – I know how Beth acts when in my room, because I spent the first week in the room next door being charmed by a long lost friend’s 2 yr old granddaughter and catching up with the friend – pure serendipity – and these are NOT sound-proofed rooms.)

77

I don’t. I know I should, but I just can’t do it. As someone else said, I can’t afford to tip everyone for everything. I have to draw the line somewhere, and it’s right above hotel housekeepers.

I tip waiters an amount that fits the quality of the service, because it’s important to distinguish between perceived good service and poor. I tip the girl who cuts my hair because I want her to know I like the way she does it, and I want her to keep up the good work. But the housekeeper isn’t really doing anything for me personally and individually. I’ve never returned to a hotel room that was cleaned in a way that made me feel extra special. And the minimal variation in performance from one housekeeper to the next doesn’t really go along with the idea of rewarding good service…if everyone is outstanding, no one is.

Besides, I don’t leave them much work to do…less than the average guest at any rate. (I used to work a hotel desk, so I know how filthy some guests can be.) I tidy up before going out for the day, which usually includes halfway repacking my stuff. They really only end up having to make the bed and wipe down the sink. I guess I’ve rationalized it sufficiently to myself…that giving them an easy room to take care of is worth more than a couple bucks. It’s probably not true, but it’s how I sleep at night.

78

Of course I tip them unless the room has not been cleaned well when I arrive. Everyone leaves a few dead skins cells behind. (That’s what most dust is.) And a few hairs and fingerprints. The day that I can afford to stay in a hotel but can’t afford to tip the maid is a day that I’m lying to myself.