NBR: tipping hotel maids?

[veggiemo]

How many of you do this? How much do you leave? Does it make a difference how many nights you've stayed? I stayed in a lot of hotels as a kid and my parents never left a tip. When I started reading forums years ago before our first trip to Disney, it seemed to be common practice?

We are at a hotel right now and I'm awake this early because this hotel bed is HELL on my hips! So please, enlighten me on your hotel tipping practices.

[ravinraven216]

When we went to Disney World, we left a tip on the last day of our stay for about $5 per day we were there with a brief thank you note. In hindsight I think we should have tipped daily, as the person housekeeping may have varied.

[bendherova]

The only time I've left a tip is the night where my friend's daughter threw up overnight and required two sheet changes. I think we left $10.

[Deleted]

As a rule of thumb, I leave a tip when I'm there for more than 2 days. If I'm solo and its a work trip (less time & stuff in the room), I leave $5 per day. If it's a personal vacation and the room is messier, I may increase to $10 per day.

ETA: I've worked in the hospitality industry for almost 10 years, and there really isn't any rule. Tips aren't expected but are always appreciated.

[islandgirl14]

I'm not going to lie, I've never even heard of anyone tipping hotel maids before. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but it's just not something I've ever seen done before. Now I'm not sure if I have bad etiquette or not...?!

[billyhorrible]

I've never done it in the US, only when I've traveled internationally, but I was just reading in Real Simple (you know, the ultimate authority) that you should tip daily. I can't remember the amount though, I'll have to check when I get home.

[Bluedaisy]

This isn't very common in Canada and there is definitely no hard and fast rule. When travelling internationally DH and I look up what the local wages are and try to figure it out from there but we don't tip at all in Canada.

[stinybean]

I've always tipped between $2-5/a night. I usually leave it at the end of my stay.

[bruunk]

I used to be a hotel maid in college and had never heard of tipping the housekeeper until my first day. I ran the money to the front desk hoping to catch the customer and my coworkers had to explain it was a tip (obviously we didn't do that when I was growing up!). Now I leave a few dollars after a stay - you could do it daily, since the housekeeper can change daily, but if I was cleaning a room that was still occupied, I would be hesitant to take the money. I only took tips once I knew the room was empty.

[Bluedaisy]

Mar 28, 2015 11:23:15 GMT -5 bruunk said:

I used to be a hotel maid in college and had never heard of tipping the housekeeper until my first day. I ran the money to the front desk hoping to catch the customer and my coworkers had to explain it was a tip (obviously we didn't do that when I was growing up!). Now I leave a few dollars after a stay - you could do it daily, since the housekeeper can change daily, but if I was cleaning a room that was still occupied, I would be hesitant to take the money. I only took tips once I knew the room was empty.





Yup....just wanted to say that some hotel chains have VERY VERY strict policies against maids taking money while the room is still occupied. Best to leave it at the end of the stay IMO

[missjenniebean]

Seems like everyone is getting tips these days. I've never done this because they are paid a wage for it. I would leave one though if I made a huge mess or a pain in the butt or maybe a high end hotel. Every place I have worked has had strict rules about accepting tips when not a tipped employee. They would rather the customer call in about good service and the managers give a gift card or something.

[redlipz]

Last time we went to Disney we were there for 4 nights and I tipped her personally the day we left. I gave her $40. We weren't messy or needy but I know they don't get paid much and I just wanted to thank her for her hard work. Many of these ladies have families that they are working hard for and sometimes even have to have multiple jobs and I'm sure she appreciated the little extra unexpected money. I dont do it for etiquette or whatever, I do it because it puts a smile on their face and because I too work in a field where I get tips and for me, it makes most of my income. So, good karma maybe?

[veggiemo]

Thanks for all the replies! Looks like it's not expected, but just a nice gesture. Since I don't have any cash, I'm not going to leave one for just the one night. The room was left pretty clean anyway. If we had made a huge mess, maybe I would go out of my way to find an ATM and get change.

[honeybunches101]

I always tip a few dollars for each night we stay. I tried leaving it every morning but they didn't usually take it so now I leave it at the end. If we leave a huge mess (or dirty diapers!) we tip more. I don't remember doing it growing up but I probably wouldn't have notice, started in college after a saw a friend leaving a tip. I am sure it's not expected but I figure the cleaners probably don't make a ton of money and it's a nice thing to do since they are cleaning up after me.

[billyhorrible]

Okay, Real Simple says:
$2 a night at a budget hotel; $3-5 a night at a high end hotel.
Tip daily, since more than one housekeeper may clean your room.

[holliberry28]

I've always left 10 dollars for a short 3-4 day stay, $20 at the end of a week stay with a thank you note.

[mrskblack11]

Never heard of tipping the maids before. I always have tipped room service. It has been a long time since I have stayed in a hotel though. I also don't remember my parents tipping but hell if i was paying attention to that.

Glad to now be up to speed on tipping etiquette.