I Wonder About Tipping Maids [MERGED] (cheaper, trips, container, married)
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I left a nice note about how clean the room was and a $20 bill at our last stay which was about 13% of my bill, but I wasn't paying full rate and not tipping based on full rate. If the maid cursed me as a cheapskate I suspect she was still quick to tuck that $20 into her pocket.
How long was the stay? In my experience, room service tipping is based per day not percentage of room rate. I'll typically leave $5/day, each day. I typically leave the room pretty clean. I don't make the bed but all the trash will be in the trashcans and all the used towels in one pile.
It may not have been the custom 35 years ago (I have no idea), but I believe it's customary these days, particularly in the US. Again, if someone has a source that advises otherwise, I'd be interested in reading it.
You mentioned what was customary 35 years ago. Good point. As I've aged I've kept up with some things, like computers. In other areas, not so much. It's quite possible tipping became more common over the years but I didn't realize it.
I always tip during hotel stays, and am usually at the $5/night level. I do write a note, and thank the staff so that the tip is accepted for them. And, on one occasion, I gave the hotel maid $100 because she found a thumb drive that I had lost somewhere in the bed while working on something, one that had some pictures and other things on it that I thought were lost.
When I have traveled with groups, such as sports teams, or with other large groups, I was always told to tip properly by my parents. On one trip, when I was a chaperon, having been talked into going by a sibling, for my nephew's baseball team, I found my way through the concierge to the director of housekeeping to first compliment her staff, and then to make sure that each of them received a tip, since I know that the boys were not leaving tips, and a couple of the mothers and fathers I asked said that they didn't think that applied for group sales. I have taken care of it when I have traveled with the group, so I know that we're not among the dreaded teams that visit that hotel.
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If you are staying more than one night, it's best to tip everyday. The maid who cleans your room on the last day may not be the same maid that was cleaning your room during your stay.
Yes, makes sense. Next hotel stay I'll leave a daily note and tip.
I do not tip. If I leave a tip on the first morning, how would I know that it went to the maid that prepared it for me? If I was to leave one bigger tip at the end of a stay, how would I know that it was shared with those that actually serviced my room? I typically spend no time at the hotel when I travel, so I never see the maid service.
Unless you are in dire financial shape, I think people should definitely tip. Stop being so cheap and leave $5 or $10.
$5 might not be much to you, but it might buy milk for her family. It isn't going to break you and your maid might be trying to feed her family on the meager hotel wages or trying to put herself/himself through college. Same with restaurants!
Cleaning a room isn't easy, especially if someone leaves a mess. (I've heard horror stories of blood, vomit, poop, etc)
I used to travel for business 4-5 days a week, and always left a tip at the end of each day. These days, I don't, but once a year we go away for a week and still do it. However, we are staying in the same room that entire week and don't want our stuff disturbed, so we leave a "Do not disturb" sign on the door for a couple of days, and then remove it so they can come in and freshen up the room and towels. We leave the tip then and at the end of our stay.
It usually pays off because we can request additional towels, or whatever, and the maid takes care of us.
Leaving $5/night and a note of thanks is not time-consuming or a financial hardship for me and I'd like to think the housekeeper feels appreciated and can use that money for groceries or a little treat for her/himself.
Also, I pick up after myself (trash in cans, dirty towels in tub, etc) so that the room can be cleaned quickly.
I've talked to several people who do not leave a tip for the maid. I wonder what the percentage is of people who do.
Recently I just stayed one night at a hotel. Bill was $160 plus $20 to park my car. Please tell me what that amount includes?
If I stay just one night I normally do not tip. What am I tipping for? For cleaning my room after I leave? I am pretty tidy. If I stay two nights, I don't use the cleaning service either. I am tidy, I can make my own bed in the morning. I rarely stay at hotels for vacations. I use B&B's and airbnb--no tip is needed for those places.
If I am staying long term---like for work and I am staying a month, then I have the cleaning person come in once a week. I leave a note asking for extra towels, water, coffee, etc. I leave a nice tip because I am asking for extra services. They must be pleased with the tip because they leave me extra extra stuff and usually leave me a note back to me with a smiley face
Please don't make your own bed. I can make mine too but I don't for a reason. The sheets need to be changed. If you make the bed, especially when there are two beds, how do they know which one you slept in? Sure, I can say it's not my problem who sleeps in my used sheets next but I believe in the golden rule and I'd rather not sleep in your used sheets.
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