New poll question: When staying at a hotel, do you tip housekeeping?

New poll question: When staying at a hotel, do you tip housekeeping?

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It’s time for a new poll question: when staying at a hotel, do you tip housekeeping? Yes, no, or only for special requests?

I’m guessing this will be a pretty controversial one (I’ve seen some people get as worked up over this as seat recline in coach and infants in first class), so I’ll save my thoughts till after the poll.

Cast your vote on the top right of the blog, and feel free to share your thoughts/reasoning below if you’d like.

Conversations (79)
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  1. Travis Smith Guest

    Hotel housekeeping should be tipped daily with an extra upon checkout. If your room is clean appreciate it. Piss dribbles on the toilet and your pubes being removed deserve a little thought.

  2. Me Guest

    Tipping Maids? No thank you. Cleaning services should be compensated by the employer, not the guests.

  3. guin Guest

    i know this response is a little late but here it goes. i am a housekeeper in an upscale hotel. even if you dont use my service while you are inhouse...you used my service upon arrival and checkout. i only make minimum wage and am a single mom of a 16 year old disabled son. so i have to work while he is in school. this limits my ability to have a great high paid...

    i know this response is a little late but here it goes. i am a housekeeper in an upscale hotel. even if you dont use my service while you are inhouse...you used my service upon arrival and checkout. i only make minimum wage and am a single mom of a 16 year old disabled son. so i have to work while he is in school. this limits my ability to have a great high paid career. housekeeping isnt what i choose to do...it is what what i have to do based on my limited available hours. i have cleaned up crap and pee from every part of the toilet imaginable... dried spit out the sink...bloody sheets. and my reward is a paycheck of $400.00 every other week. it disgusts to read some of the comments people have left. these people need to walk a mile in my shoes and they will start showing appreciation for what i do to support my child.

  4. James New Member

    I always tip $5 per day, every day. My theory is that I would like to keep someone who has unsupervised access to my toothbrush and a toilet happy!

  5. Margaret Guest

    I usually leave a tip each day, but not as often lately for some reason. But foremost I try to keep the room tidy - it's less work for housekeeping!

  6. Ken P Guest

    This is obviously a polarising subject. While it's true that housekeepers are paid, keep in mind, they have to clean about 2 rooms an hour (sometimes 3), strip and make up the beds, clean the toilets to name some of the tasks for a little above minimum wage ($6.50-$7.50) depending on the city. SO for the price of a latte, make someone's day - and think about how you would feel if you were in...

    This is obviously a polarising subject. While it's true that housekeepers are paid, keep in mind, they have to clean about 2 rooms an hour (sometimes 3), strip and make up the beds, clean the toilets to name some of the tasks for a little above minimum wage ($6.50-$7.50) depending on the city. SO for the price of a latte, make someone's day - and think about how you would feel if you were in that position. (And do it daily, as many note - different room sections, housekeepers daily) It's okay to tip the doorman for opening the door or hailing a cab with minimal effort, but not okay to tip a room attendant. Just be kind for a day (AND i know most business travelers can expense tips anyway)

  7. Glenn Diamond

    I try to do it, but don't always remember. So it can be pretty haphazard.

  8. Andrew Guest

    I personally don't tip the housekeepers. As some of the posters stated above, I don't like having people enter my room if I'm making a long stay. At home, I don't make my bed every day and I don't change towels more than once or twice a week...why would I at a hotel?

    I think tipping in the US has gotten really out of hand. I remember when I was younger my parents would...

    I personally don't tip the housekeepers. As some of the posters stated above, I don't like having people enter my room if I'm making a long stay. At home, I don't make my bed every day and I don't change towels more than once or twice a week...why would I at a hotel?

    I think tipping in the US has gotten really out of hand. I remember when I was younger my parents would tell me 10% was a good tip, then eventually it was 15%...and now I'm tipping out 20% on good service at restaurants. Don't even get me started on tipping taxi cab drivers. That I don't get at all.

  9. Adam Guest

    Wouldn't it be better to tip those who are artificially unemployed due to high minimum wage? They're the real victims.

  10. Alex Guest

    I tip housekeeping because I want to not because I have to. A few buck when you're paying $100 or more for a room doesn't matter. Leave a ten dollar tip on day 1 of a multi night stay in vegas, a thank you note and a request for housekeeping at a specific time for the rest of the stay and you'll be treated like a king.

    I've actually been stopped by housekeeping to be...

    I tip housekeeping because I want to not because I have to. A few buck when you're paying $100 or more for a room doesn't matter. Leave a ten dollar tip on day 1 of a multi night stay in vegas, a thank you note and a request for housekeeping at a specific time for the rest of the stay and you'll be treated like a king.

    I've actually been stopped by housekeeping to be thanked. With their hours cut as a result of the downturn in business travel a couple dollar tip from a few customers literally makes the difference between whether the get a meal or not that day.

    That alone makes it worth it. They also go above and beyond. They always leave extra towel, toiletries anything they can.

  11. reeder Guest

    I do tip the maid in the US $2/3 per night. On one hand, it is a thank you as I enjoy the luxury of having someone clean my space. On the other, a bribe. It seems like a good way to make sure my stuff doesn't grow legs and what should be cleaned with a clean rag is indeed cleaned with a clean rag. In other countries I tip to the custom.

    Also tip...

    I do tip the maid in the US $2/3 per night. On one hand, it is a thank you as I enjoy the luxury of having someone clean my space. On the other, a bribe. It seems like a good way to make sure my stuff doesn't grow legs and what should be cleaned with a clean rag is indeed cleaned with a clean rag. In other countries I tip to the custom.

    Also tip the cruise port luggage porters if I leave things with them, the bell boy when picking up stored luggage or a few dollars if they give a room tour, and the valet when picking up my rental car. If I could tip the plane cleaning crew, especially to give my seat a better spray down, I would.

    I do not tip the barista or juice people very often as my orders are usually simple. Nor do I normally tip on take out.

  12. traveller340 Guest

    @puck. I agree with all of what you said. I feel that rewarding mediocre service with tips simple because it is ingrained culturally is ridiculous. Isn't the point of tips to reward good service? I'll tip 15% for good service. I'm American and I've never heard of tipping housekeeping. They're doing they're jobs. Unless I've asked for something extraordinary then why should I reward them for doing their jobs? I have worked as a waiter...

    @puck. I agree with all of what you said. I feel that rewarding mediocre service with tips simple because it is ingrained culturally is ridiculous. Isn't the point of tips to reward good service? I'll tip 15% for good service. I'm American and I've never heard of tipping housekeeping. They're doing they're jobs. Unless I've asked for something extraordinary then why should I reward them for doing their jobs? I have worked as a waiter and I understand the sentiment for tipping. I learned though that if I wanted a tip, I should provide good service. However, because this is so ingrained in us that tipping doesn't give cause for any better service. I like the way it's done in Europe and especially Asia. Good service is expected and excellent service is rewarded with a tip.

  13. SFO Canuck Guest

    I hate the tipping culture in North America, but after a recent vacation to Europe, I've realized it's a necessary evil to ensure good service in restaurants (since you can take it away when you get bad service).

    As far as housekeeping goes, I don't usually tip. A friend told me recently that you get better service if you tip (especially if you tip every night). On a recent stay I tried that and I...

    I hate the tipping culture in North America, but after a recent vacation to Europe, I've realized it's a necessary evil to ensure good service in restaurants (since you can take it away when you get bad service).

    As far as housekeeping goes, I don't usually tip. A friend told me recently that you get better service if you tip (especially if you tip every night). On a recent stay I tried that and I was really disappointed with the results; I thought the maid hardly did the bare minimum. I'm not sure whether I'll repeat my experiment.

  14. Mike Guest

    @Steve. I understand your logic. However, I just wish the price for something was the price. I don't care if the food or the room rate will go up. Tell me how much it costs and what is included and if the service is good I'll gladly come back and if it's not I probably won't. Maybe this just isn't practical with the current US culture but I wish it was.

  15. Ozaer N. Guest

    My mother in law is a housekeeper at one of the Vega$ casino's, and I see her hardwork firsthand...so yeah, I defly tip now when I stay at a hotel.....its not easy work.

    I usually leave a couple liras/ringgits/etc on the bed..

  16. puck Guest

    I've never ever tipped housekeeping in the US and don't plan to start - to echo similar sentiments on here, I'm either a) paying someone extra to doing their basic job which they are already paid well for, or b) helping to perpetuate a system that lets these folks get paid less than is fair by employers who expect consumers to pick up their slack.

    I will tip the now-standard 15-20% in restaurants in the...

    I've never ever tipped housekeeping in the US and don't plan to start - to echo similar sentiments on here, I'm either a) paying someone extra to doing their basic job which they are already paid well for, or b) helping to perpetuate a system that lets these folks get paid less than is fair by employers who expect consumers to pick up their slack.

    I will tip the now-standard 15-20% in restaurants in the US, but largely because it's such a deeply engrained system. That said, I am certainly willing to leave NO tip, or an "extremely small" if the service is truly horrendous (this horrifies some people - apparently their "revenge" for craptastic service is to tip "only" 10%. Seriously?)

    I'll also echo bmvaughn's sentiment about friggin' taxi/shuttle drivers who have literally ripped my bags out of my hands and then charged me an $8 "baggage handling fee". This is especially frustrating as I am a rather small female and find it downright impossible to refuse help (yes, you are taller than me. Yet I am capable of lifting my little twelve-pound rollaboard into your trunk myself. Grrr.) At the same time, I do tend to always tip taxi drivers, even if they're been completely horrendous, as I am typically in a taxi by myself and have been in several situations where I have feared for my personal safety, or the safety of my locked-in-the-trunk belongings, if I were to do something like NOT tipping sufficiently.

    Really, the sentiment of tipping just annoys me. Whether you excuse it as "well, they're underpaid" or "well, I'm tipping for a job well done", the fact remains that it's extremely selectively and arbitrarily applied. Shouldn't we then tip our children's teachers? Or bus and subway drivers? Or firefighters? Or doctors? Or security personnel? Or flight attendants? Or, or, or...

  17. tebfunk Guest

    This is interesting...I generally *DO NOT* tip housekeeping in the US or Europe unless I am making special requests, but I also keep our room very neat (why would I want to spend time in a trashed room?), and corral towels and such.

    I *DO* generally tip in the Middle East, or other areas where minimum wage standards are not guaranteed/enforced. In these cases I tip daily, and try to do so in person so I can thank the individual for taking care of our room.

  18. Alan Guest

    I do tip $1-2 per twin/queen bed or $2-3 per king bed per day. I know some people do not tip. Try to think this way, have you tried to change the sheet at home? It's a lot of work!

  19. Michael Guest

    Lol at people who don't tip in the US. If you don't want to follow cultural tipping standards, don't stay at American hotels.

  20. CU Guest

    Definitely tip -- $2-5 per day.

  21. steve Guest

    @Mike the fact is, in america businesses get away with paying lower wages, so if you want a higher quality of service, then give a few dollars. in either case, your overall room mate with go up.

    I work as a waiter, and the way I look at it is as follows: basically, if minimum wage were higher for servers, your food price would be more expensive. A second factor comes into play with the...

    @Mike the fact is, in america businesses get away with paying lower wages, so if you want a higher quality of service, then give a few dollars. in either case, your overall room mate with go up.

    I work as a waiter, and the way I look at it is as follows: basically, if minimum wage were higher for servers, your food price would be more expensive. A second factor comes into play with the quality of the service. At lower-tier restaurants, where the service may or may not be "excellent" insofar as culinary knowledge, etc. (because those skills aren't exactly requisite), it still encourages a more pleasant atmosphere. In fine dining settings, the additional premium paid is to ensure adequate service (hopefully).

    Tipping housekeeping to me is as "appropriate" as tipping the member of any other industry where someone is really doing subservient labour for you specifically. It ameliorates--at least on a psychological and interindividual level--the guilt associated with the inequity of having someone clean up your dirty ass sheets.

    For me, it's not so much an issue of being cheap (but scoffs at an extra dollar or two a day are definitely miserly when you're paying $250+ a night), it's an issue of being a decent person who wants other people in menial labour jobs (and housekeepers are almost always incredibly hardworking people) to understand that their service was appreciated.

  22. Curious George Guest

    I usually tip between $3 to $5 a day in the States. None overseas because of the lack of tipping culture.

  23. Mantini Guest

    For all of you who tip waiters because they get paid less than minimum wage, what do you do in the (many) states where that is not the case? For example, Washington has the highest minimum wage in the country and every single server here is getting paid that full amount. Do you choose not to tip here because the server is already getting paid a "fair" wage?

  24. Kate Guest

    As someone who used to work as a room attendant, I always tip. But I also always make special requests if I'm staying more than 1 night (nothing crazy, I just like a lot of towels and extra shampoo etc) and tend to leave things scattered about the room. Housekeepers have to work to certain standards so if you don't need or want your sheets changed every day etc, leave a note, otherwise they have to change them or the room inspectors take points off.

  25. Mike Guest

    I rarely tip the housekeeping. My room is barely used, especially when I'm on business. I don't need new sheets or towels everyday and my stuff is well organized. I may leave a tip if I'm with my family and we make a bit of a mess.

    Tipping is really getting out of control in the US. 10% at restaurants used to be the standard now it's closer to 20%. Just pay the people a fair wage already and put it in the price.

  26. rich (arizona) Gold

    @BrewerSEA said,

    "I always leave a tip at the end of my stay equivalent to $2 per day. That’s what my parents taught me."

    I think almost anyone would tell you it is MUCH better to tip daily than the end of the trip. The same person may not be doing the cleaning every day. Also you may get better service when you tip (I'm not saying it is right but it does often happen)...

    @BrewerSEA said,

    "I always leave a tip at the end of my stay equivalent to $2 per day. That’s what my parents taught me."

    I think almost anyone would tell you it is MUCH better to tip daily than the end of the trip. The same person may not be doing the cleaning every day. Also you may get better service when you tip (I'm not saying it is right but it does often happen) daily.

    At the end of the stay you aren't going to see any benefit from the tip plus it may go to the wrong person.

  27. Lark Guest

    I've been requesting late check out a lot lately... This can make it somewhat inconvenient for housekeeping, as they have to skip over your room and come back later.

    So, when I request late check out, I'll leave $2.00 for housekeeping. This is in the USA.

  28. You tip, the wage gets lower Guest

    (Over)tipping is the direct cause of lower wages.

    If you don't believe it, check out the articles about restaurateurs lobbying to remove minimum wage for servers on the grounds that they are tipped much more than they once used to be (18% vs 10-15%).

    If people stopped tipping for basic services, like a clean room, more people would be guaranteed a better wage.

  29. vespa_girl Guest

    Housekeeping works very hard and think about it, most people wouldn't even want to do that job. A couple dollars a day is appreciated and most likely won't set anyone reading this blog here back.
    I also leave extra during holidays as they have come to work instead of spending the day with their family. I am sure there was little choice in the matter. Like others have pointed out in above posts, consider...

    Housekeeping works very hard and think about it, most people wouldn't even want to do that job. A couple dollars a day is appreciated and most likely won't set anyone reading this blog here back.
    I also leave extra during holidays as they have come to work instead of spending the day with their family. I am sure there was little choice in the matter. Like others have pointed out in above posts, consider the type of work these people are doing. If you had to do it for a day, you may be a little more appreciative.

  30. canuck_in_ca Guest

    Never housekeeping.

  31. Carl Guest

    @WCB - tipping FAs is not encouraged and frowned upon by the industry. You may want to take a look at the piece Fish wrote on the subject a few years back and I believe there was a pretty thorough FT thread on the subject as well.

    I always tip my maid daily because of the nature of the service they provide at the bottom of the wage scale. If people are going to tip...

    @WCB - tipping FAs is not encouraged and frowned upon by the industry. You may want to take a look at the piece Fish wrote on the subject a few years back and I believe there was a pretty thorough FT thread on the subject as well.

    I always tip my maid daily because of the nature of the service they provide at the bottom of the wage scale. If people are going to tip the bartender a buck for serving a drink, that same amount for someone that cleans up for you does not seem to be a financial hardship, especially for this crowd as Ed so kindly points out above.

  32. deltaGOLDflyer Guest

    I also agree with it depends on the place you are. In Sweden they pay a living wage so there is no need or do they ask or look for it. Other places I get it!

  33. Jack J Guest

    Of course I tip if in Canada or the USA - $2/day

    I look at the poor people cleaning the rooms and think to myself how good I have it. Housekeeping is a hard job and they deserve a few extra bucks. It's worth the $2 to give them a brief moment of happiness.

    For those that don't tip, what comes around, goes around.

  34. Ed Guest

    This is a great question for this particular audience, BTW. This audience is likely the same that will order 1000's of coins from the U.S. mint or have dozens of credit cards.

    It's easy to take advantage of (or slight) a *faceless* government or credit card issuer (or maid), but when face-to-face with a mom-and-pop shop (or a waiter), would they try the same stunt? I doubt it.

  35. Ed Guest

    Yes: a dollar on low end places, 2 or 3 in high-end. In the US, it's customary to tip the maid. Just like with the waiter, not obligatory, just customary.

    So, what's the difference about why some people feel they don't need to tip the maid? I suspect it's because they rarely see them. With the waiter, it's personal, but the maid does a behind-the-scenes act and, so, is easier to "ignore".

    But I think...

    Yes: a dollar on low end places, 2 or 3 in high-end. In the US, it's customary to tip the maid. Just like with the waiter, not obligatory, just customary.

    So, what's the difference about why some people feel they don't need to tip the maid? I suspect it's because they rarely see them. With the waiter, it's personal, but the maid does a behind-the-scenes act and, so, is easier to "ignore".

    But I think it would be silly to write a note thanking the maid for cleaning the room. That's her (his?) job.

  36. WCB Guest

    TO ALL OF YOU WHO ALWAYS TIP AND ARE DEEPLY OFFENDED BY THOSE WHO DO NOT....

    DO YOU TIP YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS?

    FAs (at least in business and first) provide personalized service, bring you food and drink, clean up after you, and don't even bring you a check at the end of the meal. It sure seems to me that if housekeeping deserves a tip, so do FAs (perhaps even more so). So do you tip them too?

  37. Super Guest

    The thought never occurred to me. Don't they get paid to clean the room? In the US, yes I'ld tip a waitress simply because they don't even make minimum wage, (without tip $2.13.

  38. BBD Guest

    I leave $3-$5 day. More if I have the kids and they are messy.

    You mean there are people who don't tip in the US? Must be the same ones that I see who are upgraded on the plane and try to drink and eat as much as possible.

  39. Eric Guest

    My family's load of luggage simply explodes when we arrive at a hotel. We tend to overtip (5-$7/day) in order to encourage above and beyond cleaning and organization of our stuff. Usually works.

  40. david Guest

    @aenas: and this is why service doesn't exist in the US anymore...

  41. david Guest

    Now I know why I sometime get less then stellar housekeeping. Thanks to all of you tipping housekeeping WTF! What is next tipping the mailman maybe?

  42. Flyerist Guest

    I have never left a single tip, ever, for housekeeping. I do tip van drivers and restaurants very well, 20-25%. But I don't get the point of tipping hotel staff. Additionally, wages of "tipped" jobs are less than non-tipped jobs, and I am almost certain that housekeeping is NOT considered a "tipped" job.
    I am 36 years old and I only became aware of some people tipping hotel staff in the last few years....

    I have never left a single tip, ever, for housekeeping. I do tip van drivers and restaurants very well, 20-25%. But I don't get the point of tipping hotel staff. Additionally, wages of "tipped" jobs are less than non-tipped jobs, and I am almost certain that housekeeping is NOT considered a "tipped" job.
    I am 36 years old and I only became aware of some people tipping hotel staff in the last few years. Frankly, I tip if you go above and beyond your job. Coming in and doing your job doesn't warrant a tip.

  43. Uniter Guest

    "I had the same question of people who DID tip housekeeping. Never heard of such a thing."

    Really? Dude... you gotta tip your maid. Heck, start overtipping to make up for your past mistakes.

  44. mvbruner Guest

    I typically will not tip unless they have gone above and beyond what I expect from a typical room cleaning.

  45. HP Guest

    Absolutely tip, each day, minimum a dollar or 2, more for a multi-night stay with prior excellent service. Housekeeping staff in the USA certainly do get paid minimum wage and depend on (and almost always deserve) tips. Used to tip at the end of a multi-night stay till a friend pointed out the person who cleans the last day (and gets the $15-20) might NOT be the same person who cleaned each of the prior...

    Absolutely tip, each day, minimum a dollar or 2, more for a multi-night stay with prior excellent service. Housekeeping staff in the USA certainly do get paid minimum wage and depend on (and almost always deserve) tips. Used to tip at the end of a multi-night stay till a friend pointed out the person who cleans the last day (and gets the $15-20) might NOT be the same person who cleaned each of the prior days. Never leave other money lying around, takes about 10 seconds to put loose change and bills in a drawer. Put the tip on the unmade bed, under the remote or the note pad or the “we change linen …” card (something that must be moved to make the bed), makes it very clear it’s a tip. Occasionally, when I really like the soap or shampoo or lotion, I’ll leave the tip in the bathroom with a note “please leave extra shampoo, thank you”, which usually results in about 3 or 4 additional bottles of shampoo. Makes everyone happy; housekeeping gets a tip, I get some shampoo to take home, hotel gets me as a satisfied customer.

  46. bmvaughn Guest

    Allow me to provide another example where tipping has run amok... shuttle vans where drivers force themselves on you to lift your bags.

    If I want help, I'll ask... otherwise move out of my way. And no, forcing yourself into lifting my bags when I didn't ask is not worthy of a tip.

    Same goes for cab drivers.

  47. HP Guest

    Absolutely tip, each day, minimum a dollar or 2, more for a multi-night stay with prior excellent service. Used to tip at the end of a multi-night stay till a friend pointed out the person who cleans the last day (and gets the $15-20) might NOT be the same person who cleaned each of the prior days. Never leave other money lying around, takes about 10 seconds to put loose change and bills in a...

    Absolutely tip, each day, minimum a dollar or 2, more for a multi-night stay with prior excellent service. Used to tip at the end of a multi-night stay till a friend pointed out the person who cleans the last day (and gets the $15-20) might NOT be the same person who cleaned each of the prior days. Never leave other money lying around, takes about 10 seconds to put loose change and bills in a drawer. Put the tip on the unmade bed, under the remote or the note pad or the “we change linen …” card (something that must be moved to make the bed), makes it very clear it’s a tip. Occasionally, when I really like the soap or shampoo or lotion, I’ll leave the tip in the bathroom with a note “please leave extra shampoo, thank you”, which usually results in about 3 or 4 additional bottles of shampoo. Makes everyone happy; housekeeping gets a tip, I get some shampoo to take home, hotel gets me as a satisfied customer.

  48. tivoboy Guest

    I usually tip between 3-5$ a day. If I am there one day, I'll tip. If I am there 2+ days I don't tip the first day, but rather on the 2nd day if I see it is the same maid. Then, I usually do the same thing for longer stays. I try not to tip ALL on the final day since many times that is NOT going to be the same maid and I HATE that.

  49. sendaiben Guest

    Depends on the country I guess. Most countries don't have a tipping culture.

    I tipped in the US, but nowhere else :)

  50. bluto Guest

    I tip $4-$5 per day of my stay. These are some of the lowest paid, hardest working people on earth. If the situations were reversed, I would appreciate the tip. I find that it often improves the service I get, too.

  51. Luwester Guest

    I usually tip $5-10 when I leave the room messier than usual. Otherwise, a few dollars for good housekeeping at the end of a short stay.

    @ deux centimes: One should not tip in properties where tipping is culturally frowned upon--they may be accepting as a courtesy to you. Certainly the world has globalized to the point where many Western standards are adopted/accepted, but there are still cultures where an honor code is still...

    I usually tip $5-10 when I leave the room messier than usual. Otherwise, a few dollars for good housekeeping at the end of a short stay.

    @ deux centimes: One should not tip in properties where tipping is culturally frowned upon--they may be accepting as a courtesy to you. Certainly the world has globalized to the point where many Western standards are adopted/accepted, but there are still cultures where an honor code is still very strong.

    Tipping also encourages service disparity based on tipping, so please don't tip at properties where tipping is not allowed.

  52. COtraveler Guest

    I always tip, about $2/day. I try to remember to leave the $2 each day. This is because housekeeping shifts can vary from day to day, and I've read (see the book "Nickel and Dimed") that some unscrupulous housekeeping crew chiefs will make the rest of the cleaning crew wait outside a room on check-out day while s/he collects the tip for the total stay.

  53. Aeneas Guest

    I tip a few dollars a day with a note saying Thanks for cleaning our room. The main reason is that my wife used to work as a hotel housekeeper, so we feel a certain kinship.

  54. bmvaughn Guest

    "OMG… there’s people out there who don’t tip housekeeping? Where were you people raised?"

    I had the same question of people who DID tip housekeeping. Never heard of such a thing. I only tip at restaurants, bars, and my barbershop... of course, only domestically in the US.

    I don't tip hotel maids, flight attendants, my mechanic, the TSA, etc.

    I can't believe some folks tip $5 daily... that's incredible.

  55. Chris Guest

    I never tip in a hotel, other than for the restaurant

  56. SB Guest

    I didn't even know this was expected. I'm a generous tipper at restaurants and other service industries where they are paid less b/c it's assumed tips will make up the difference.

    My wife and I are just like deltaGOLDflyer we always leave the "privacy" sign on the door and refuse service simply getting fresh towels ourselves if needed. Most of the time we throw out the small amount of trash we accumulate ourselves as well.

    ...

    I didn't even know this was expected. I'm a generous tipper at restaurants and other service industries where they are paid less b/c it's assumed tips will make up the difference.

    My wife and I are just like deltaGOLDflyer we always leave the "privacy" sign on the door and refuse service simply getting fresh towels ourselves if needed. Most of the time we throw out the small amount of trash we accumulate ourselves as well.

    It's not a matter of being cheap, I just feel they get paid a fair wage to do a fair job. Wish I could get an extra $2 - $10 for showing up to work.

  57. WorldWingedExplorer Guest

    I have worked in the maid industry and let me tell you once you work those long hours for nothing then you really get to appreciate when someone leaves you a tip. I have since then always tipped at least $2 a day.
    I was in the Mandarin Oriental in Wash. DC for a week a month ago, and asked the maid that was cleaning my room how much she was earning. She said...

    I have worked in the maid industry and let me tell you once you work those long hours for nothing then you really get to appreciate when someone leaves you a tip. I have since then always tipped at least $2 a day.
    I was in the Mandarin Oriental in Wash. DC for a week a month ago, and asked the maid that was cleaning my room how much she was earning. She said $9.50. Can you believe that? And average rent in DC region for a studio is like $800.

    And I bet that most of us here hover around $35-40 average per hour.

  58. Tina Guest

    I usually request that they don't service my room at all while I'm there, but I will still leave a few dollars when I check out.

  59. Dave Guest

    Of course you shouldn't tip the housekeeping staff. You also shouldn't tip flight attendants or the kid that took your order at McDonald's either. Tipping for some services such as waiters and bartenders is 100% appropriate but not to everyone that you might incidentally come into contact with.

  60. Uniter Guest

    OMG... there's people out there who don't tip housekeeping? Where were you people raised?

  61. Acker Guest

    Absolutely I tip. $5 daily, usually. I'll leave a note "Housekeeping, Thank You." and sign my first name.

  62. Mike Guest

    Why do we pay a room rate if we must tip the maid. I do not tip the the maid. Tipping in America sucks and we are dumb enough to continue this process to let business owners pay their employees less. In my travels in Europe I enjoy the moment when the menu stats tax and gratuity is included so much simpler.

  63. Steve Guest

    I rarely do it for one night and almost always do it for longer stays. I leave it on a desk with a simplet note - "thanks". If I REALLY like the shampoo and other stuff, I leave the tip every day! Otherwise, at the end.

  64. Ray Guest

    Nope, no more than I tip someone doing housekeeping tasks in airports. I do tip though anytime I ask someone to come to my room above the basic daily housekeeping - e.g., turndown request, deliver extra items, etc.

  65. Matthew Guest

    @Carl: Aren't they just doing their jobs? And are they not paid for their jobs? It has nothing to do with being cheap...

    Should we tip FAs as well?

  66. TJ Snell Guest

    I always tip a dollar or two daily. I just leave the money on the bed usually on some hotel form or something that makes it obvious it wasn't just left there.

  67. andrewjv Guest

    I always tip housekeeping every day. I leave $ 3 to $ 5 on the pillow and I usually like to have the linens changed every day depending on the star quality of the hotel. I also tip when having extra towels, room service (over and above the charge), ice and extras brought to the room. When I was in high school and college, I washed dishes in a restaurant and bused tables. At that...

    I always tip housekeeping every day. I leave $ 3 to $ 5 on the pillow and I usually like to have the linens changed every day depending on the star quality of the hotel. I also tip when having extra towels, room service (over and above the charge), ice and extras brought to the room. When I was in high school and college, I washed dishes in a restaurant and bused tables. At that time (the 1970s) the waitresses would dump everything in the bins including ash trays or whatever and they got all the tips. They never shared anything with me or the other dishwashers. We got minimum wage but we did the bulk of the work. I will always remember what it was like to work long hours for minimum wage and thus I try and remember how hard it is to work long hours and try and show my appreciation for it. I even get thank you notes from the housekeepers and sometimes little extras too -- like extra chocolates or if I mention I like the soaps, they give me little bags of soaps to take home when I depart.

  68. deux centimes Guest

    I almost always tip between $3 and $10 a night, though exactly how much depends on the quality of service I've received, how many people are in the room, the prevailing cost of living, and the standing of the hotel. (Often, however, the maid just places the money on the dresser, not knowing that it is meant a tip -- in that case, I place it on the pillow so she can be certain of...

    I almost always tip between $3 and $10 a night, though exactly how much depends on the quality of service I've received, how many people are in the room, the prevailing cost of living, and the standing of the hotel. (Often, however, the maid just places the money on the dresser, not knowing that it is meant a tip -- in that case, I place it on the pillow so she can be certain of my intentions. Also, if there are two maids, I leave notes that can be easily divided.)

    Although tipping is strictly speaking not necessary, I do keep in mind that an upscale hotel is often a locus of interaction between some of the most and least privileged members of global society (as the DSK scandal again renders salient), and I can't imagine that it's good for the mental health of the maid to work in a place of such luxuriant abundance when her own life choices are rather conditioned by great need. Moreover, the disparity between housekeeping wages and hotel rates verges on the scandalous at the most upscale hotels in major cities (wages are generally not any higher than a 3* hotels). Finally, for the more self-interested among us, I think that it can only be a good thing to accrue the blessings of a poor maid for leaving a tip.

    It's true that the practice of tipping is absent in certain cultures; indeed, in Japan it would be refused on the first or second offering. That said, I can't think of any other country where it could be construed as an insult. (And even in Japan, people understand that it is a common Western practice, and will almost always accept on the third offering.) At bottom, I think that tips are always appreciated.

  69. Steve K Guest

    How do you do a daily tip? How do you communicate that a dollar or two (or equivalent) is for housekeeping and not just some money they should leave alone?

    I would prefer that, since the housekeeping person who cleans when I leave is likely not the person who cleaned every day (probably several persons). A tip left at the end for all won't be shared as intended.

  70. BrewerSEA Gold

    I always leave a tip at the end of my stay equivalent to $2 per day. That's what my parents taught me.

  71. mi2tricky Guest

    If you can afford to leave a dollar/euro a day, just do it. You have a better life than the person who needs to clean your room for a living. It's a small way to share the wealth and help make others lives better.

  72. JRL Member

    I never leave a tip... I always tip directly. This creates an individual gratuity opposed to something that may not be shared in accordance (to others) with the length of your stay.

  73. Travis Guest

    I never leave a tip. I am mainly in Asian hotels. But I also feel that they are paid to do their job. Just as a flight attendant is paid to do their job.

  74. Andy Bluebear Guest

    I tip, but if the service is good, and the rooms are clean. If I find certain things in the room (like spotty glass cups, or leftover items in drawers for example), then, no, no tip.

    Also, I think local customs and cultures sometimes will come into play. I've never been there, but I heard tipping is not welcome in Japan, for example, and it's somewhat frowned upon if you do...

  75. Carl Guest

    Absolutely tip the maid! Good lord, why is everyone so cheap? Cleaning up other peoples messes, not to mention bodily fluids, is certainly worthy of a buck or two every day, even for a single night stay. Hotel guests trash the hell out of their rooms. Everyone uses housekeeping, even those who request privacy, as housekeeping cleans the room before you arrive and after you leave.

    Even where there is service charge I tip the...

    Absolutely tip the maid! Good lord, why is everyone so cheap? Cleaning up other peoples messes, not to mention bodily fluids, is certainly worthy of a buck or two every day, even for a single night stay. Hotel guests trash the hell out of their rooms. Everyone uses housekeeping, even those who request privacy, as housekeeping cleans the room before you arrive and after you leave.

    Even where there is service charge I tip the maid. I suggest people not be so cheap and consider the type of work these people do. They will appreciate it.

  76. Matthew Guest

    Tipping annoys me, though I do tip in the USA if the siutation warrants (and of course at restaurants, bars).

    Not in any German hotels, though.

    Quite honestly, I find tipping to be an insult and hate the concept of it.

  77. deltaGOLDflyer Guest

    I think you need another option in you vote. Wife and me do not like anyone in our room when we are not there. So, we always say NO and leave the do not disturb out all during our stay. So, no tip as we do not use the house keeping. We do get fresh towels from the front desk for says more than 2 days. Just us but there you are!

  78. David Guest

    This probably reflects my background growing up and living in Australia and Canada where tipping is non-existent and less pervasive respectively. However, I can see no reason to tip housekeeping when it is a fundamental part of the service at a hotel. Unlike the hospitality business, minimum wages are not lower on the basis that tips will be paid.

    I may consider it in some places where it is considered to be culturally mandatory but...

    This probably reflects my background growing up and living in Australia and Canada where tipping is non-existent and less pervasive respectively. However, I can see no reason to tip housekeeping when it is a fundamental part of the service at a hotel. Unlike the hospitality business, minimum wages are not lower on the basis that tips will be paid.

    I may consider it in some places where it is considered to be culturally mandatory but otherwise, there is no way it would happen. I would never even think of tipping housekeeping in Australia, New Zealand or Europe and would only do so in Asia if there was a special request they were meeting.

  79. chitownflyer Guest

    I tip housekeeping when staying more than one night at a hotel, but I don't tip on the day that I leave. I also tip the concierge and front desk attendants if their assistance warrants it. I usually leave a gratuity of a couple dollars for the breakfast service wait staff in the hotel restaurant(but not in an Executive lounge) which I often receive as complimentary.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

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Travis Smith Guest

Hotel housekeeping should be tipped daily with an extra upon checkout. If your room is clean appreciate it. Piss dribbles on the toilet and your pubes being removed deserve a little thought.

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Me Guest

Tipping Maids? No thank you. Cleaning services should be compensated by the employer, not the guests.

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guin Guest

i know this response is a little late but here it goes. i am a housekeeper in an upscale hotel. even if you dont use my service while you are inhouse...you used my service upon arrival and checkout. i only make minimum wage and am a single mom of a 16 year old disabled son. so i have to work while he is in school. this limits my ability to have a great high paid career. housekeeping isnt what i choose to do...it is what what i have to do based on my limited available hours. i have cleaned up crap and pee from every part of the toilet imaginable... dried spit out the sink...bloody sheets. and my reward is a paycheck of $400.00 every other week. it disgusts to read some of the comments people have left. these people need to walk a mile in my shoes and they will start showing appreciation for what i do to support my child.

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