# How often do you get maid service when you stay at a hotel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012 "2012-09-17T22:00:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/21 "2012-09-18T04:09:24Z")
Not that I often stay in hotels, but when I do it’s probably half the time. Maid service often starts too early in the day - on holiday and being woken up at 7am to have your sheets changed? Yeah, I think we can manage another day in the same bed linen. Also, it’s kinda nice to know that no-one’s coming into your room that day. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/22 "2012-09-18T04:12:50Z")
I’m on a 2.5 week stay in San Fran on business right now. I’m religious about putting up the DND sign at night, in case they come by while I’m still asleep. I’m out the door at 9:30a, and only once have I skipped in the last 9 days, which was a day, by myself, spent mostly in the room. Didn’t need it. But I do go through the coffee, sugar and cups they have in-room, so I need them at least ever other day. Plus it’s nice coming back to a cleaner room with the bed made. I voted #2. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/23 "2012-09-18T04:25:51Z")
I hate people in my hotel room and having access to my stuff. I nearly always use the DND sign (I’d probably let them in once a week for long stays). ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/24 "2012-09-18T04:27:05Z")
Everyday. I will opt for fresh sheets every couple of days, but I want the bed made and I want a fresh towel every day. I don’t use my towels twice at home, and I am certainly not going to when I am paying for the room. We put the DND sign on the door and take it off when we leave for the day. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/25 "2012-09-18T04:57:27Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > I hate people in my hotel room and having access to my stuff. I nearly always use the DND sign (I’d probably let them in once a week for long stays). This. And if I put up the DND sign when I leave my room, only to return to a room that \*was \*obviously disturbed, I get peeved. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/26 "2012-09-18T05:09:56Z")
Never since they stole my Game Boy. Carrying around a lockbox along with everything else is just too much a pain. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/27 "2012-09-18T17:26:37Z")
Is it just me or do maids seem pushy lately? I put the DND out and they still knock. And thus wake me up. Just to make sure I don’t want towels or something. Last time I was on a longer trip I was working in the hotel room from my laptop every day and I put the sign up because I didn’t want to have to sit there while they cleaned around me. They knocked anyway, I answered anyway (cuz if I didn’t, they’d just come in) then there was some language-barrier awkwardness yadda yadda I sat there while they cleaned my room. Ugh. The most reliable not-disturbing I’ve had was in a cheapy motel in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania. Everywhere else was more expensive - and pushy. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/28 "2012-09-18T17:47:28Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is it just me or do maids seem pushy lately? I put the DND out and they still knock. And thus wake me up. Just to make sure I don’t want towels or something. > > Last time I was on a longer trip I was working in the hotel room from my laptop every day and I put the sign up because I didn’t want to have to sit there while they cleaned around me. They knocked anyway, I answered anyway (cuz if I didn’t, they’d just come in) then there was some language-barrier awkwardness yadda yadda I sat there while they cleaned my room. Ugh. > > The most reliable not-disturbing I’ve had was in a cheapy motel in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania. Everywhere else was more expensive - and pushy. [Like this?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCSrQEGvZA) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/29 "2012-09-18T17:57:33Z")
I might skip a day. I’m often sleeping or working in the daytime in a hotel room, so why bother. Otherwise, I let them clean. I don’t want to do it. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/30 "2012-09-18T18:21:21Z")
It really depends on the hotel and the situation. 1. At a hotel with the dogs? Never. A DND sign is up for the whole time. They’re stressed out enough being in a kennel in a strange place that they don’t need someone else running around with cleaning chemicals too. 2. At a hotel without the dogs for a short stay (\<4 days) then maybe on the second day or if toiletries are running low. 3. At a hotel without the dogs for a longer stay (\>4 days) then every other day unless the hotel _feels_ untrustworthy. It’s rare that I bring a lot with me, I tend to travel with just a large backpack even for two week long trips. That said, it’s frustrating to put something up to get charged only to have it moved to be cleaned and still not charge when I return later (happened too often). There’s also that I feel guilty having someone clean up after me. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/31 "2012-09-18T19:26:47Z")
I selected option 2 but I have also started renting apartments or condo’s for any stays longer than a couple of days and have no maid service in those. Basically if it’s easy for me to do myself (toss towels into insuite laundry for example) I’m happy to do it and I often choose the “don’t change the sheets” option if it’s available but emptying the garbage and replentishing supplies requires someone else to assist. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/32 "2012-09-18T19:31:48Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Why on earth would you tip for NOT getting service?!? I’m generally for tipping, but this is pushing it over the top IMO. It’s my Catholic guilt. Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/33 "2012-09-18T19:36:20Z")
Almost every day. I generally want the bed made and all the sundries replenished. Fresh towels are something I can wait a bit for. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/34 "2012-09-18T19:57:41Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Never since they stole my Game Boy. Carrying around a lockbox along with everything else is just too much a pain. The places I’ve stayed in lately have all had safes in them, that the customer sets the combo for. I’m sure a manager could get the safe opened, somehow, if needed, but I feel fine with leaving my Vicodin and any other valuables in the safe. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/35 "2012-09-18T23:10:21Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > The places I’ve stayed in lately have all had safes in them, that the customer sets the combo for. I’m sure a manager could get the safe opened, somehow, if needed, but I feel fine with leaving my Vicodin and any other valuables in the safe. Supposedly yeah, they have a code. Like [0000](http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/09/hotel-safe-youtubecom-video-questions-safety/547821/1). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/36 "2012-09-18T23:21:02Z")
almost every day for me. Exceptions for when I’m there (and don’t want to be disturbed) or if I’m leaving lots of work around and don’t want them to have to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/37 "2012-09-19T01:46:36Z")
Last month, in Manitoba, I tried to leave a tip. I left $3 on the nightstand; the maid never took it. I don’t think we tip in Canada, but I’m not sure, and now I feel guilty for all those US trips when I never left anything. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/38 "2012-09-19T01:48:36Z")
I said “never” but I will get them in once if I am in the hotel for more than a week. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/39 "2012-09-19T03:18:01Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > The places I’ve stayed in lately have all had safes in them, that the customer sets the combo for. I’m sure a manager could get the safe opened, somehow, if needed, but I feel fine with leaving my Vicodin and any other valuables in the safe. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Supposedly yeah, they have a code. Like [0000](http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/09/hotel-safe-youtubecom-video-questions-safety/547821/1). Once while staying at a hotel in Changchun, China, I accidentally threw the safe-door lock while it was still open and did not know how to unlock it since I had not meant to enter a code. (I was just testing it out.) But I did not have to worry, as within minutes I received a call from the front desk informing me I had locked the door while it was standing open, and they sent someone up to fix it. Their computer had alerted them that a door was locked while still standing open. There was an incident too here in Bangkok maybe 20 years ago in which a hotel bellhop was arrested for breaking into the room safes. He said he had rubbed “nose oil” – one shudders to think – on the keypads of the room safes. When the guests went out, he would enter the room and could see which buttons had been touched and just kept trying different variations until it opened. Said he learned this trick by watching _MacGyver_. For this reason, I always wipe the keypads clean every day in the rooms I stay in. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012/40 "2012-09-19T04:00:09Z")
I voted “never.” I will ask for fresh towels and such every few days as needed, but beyond that I fend for myself. I’ve never stayed in a hotel longer than a week, if I did I guess I’d let them clean after 6 days or so to get fresh sheets. Part of what I’m paying for in a hotel room (as opposed to staying with friends or family) is privacy and having to put all my stuff away so the maid can tidy up just seems like extra work. I do tip at the end of my stay, taking into account how many nights I was there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-maid-service-when-you-stay-at-a-hotel/635012.md?page=3)