manlygirl

I am going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and wonder if it is customary to tip the person who will be cleaning our room each day? How much should we tip for this service? It is not the usual thing to do this in Australia.

DebitNM

Some people don't tip at all. Some tip at he end of their stay - I don't care for that method, as there could be different housekeepers each day. So, I do leave a tip each day. I leave the money on the pillow with a note that says "thank you" so they know it's for them.

As to how much, well that is a tricky question. I always tidy the room each morning before I leave ( crazy?) since I do the same thing when I am home. I don't think (or want) someone
should have to sort through my stuff. Depending on the hotel, I leave $5 a day for my husband and myself. If I was in a super deluxe place, perhaps a bit more.

Good luck, you will get lots of varying replies I am guessing!

sylvia3

"you will get lots of varying replies I am guessing"
Debit's right. You will end up frustrated and confused if the tipping posters come out (Americans don't like it, either).
Many don't tip hotel maids because you are paying for a clean room. Paying through the nose, actually.
Reams of people here might state what they think is "fact" here on tipping. However, usually people who expect tips as a matter of course are paid less than the federal minimum wage (in most states, not all) on the basis of the expectation of tips (this means the food service industry: wait people in restaurants usually expect a 15% or more tip (before tax) for adequate service; don't ever tip for bad). Hotel room cleaners are paid at least minimum wage; why would you tip them, and not the grocery store bagger, or anyone else you come into contact with who makes minimum wage?
So, don't be intimidated/bullied/insulted into tipping in this case. It is not the "custom" here but rather something some people choose to do; but don't not tip in a restaurant, unless you got lousy service (then make sure the manager knows).

DebitNM

I realize that they earn at least minimum wage but have you ever walked down a hotel corridor when they are in rooms cleaning and seen what some people do to their rooms? I can only imagine [shudder] what the bathrooms look like!

garyt22

$3 to $5 per day with a Thank You Note on the Bed Table

nytraveler

Depends on the hotel - we tip from $5 up - but this is more upscale hotels. Those people work hard and the good ones go the extra mile.

And if you have special services (I'm allergic to feathers and often have to aks for synthetic pillows - you should tip for them individually when performed.

Also, hotel concierges should be tipped depending on what services they perform. If it's a basic task - hand you a map or help you locate a restaurant etc - that;s part of the package. But if they do something special (get you reservations at a place that's always booked, get you difficult tickets for a show or performance or arrange individualized tours etc - definitely tip. This should be form $10 and up (often way up if the do something extraordinary). A friend tipped the concierge $100 for getting her tickets to sold out 3 tenors concert some years ago - but that was a pittance compared to the price of the tickets. (You can;t expect him.her to get you tickets that cost $1200 and tip $20.)

sf7307

And we're off!

happytrailstoyou

This comes up all the time. You would never know it here, but most travelers never (or seldom) tip hotel housekeepers. Tip whatever makes you feel comfortable or what you feel is justified. Don't be cowed into tipping $5 a night if you feel it's worth only $2 a night--or nothing.

HTTY

PS I've read here that I should tip $2 when a bartender gives me a beer, $2-$5 when I drop off my car with a valet, or $100 when I ask a concierge help me get concert tickets. We wouldn't be traveling three months a year if we spent our travel budget in these ways.

sf7307

As long as we're all offering our opinions, here's mine. I don't generally tip hotel housekeepers unless they do something specific that I've requested, or if'm staying more than a night or two, or if they do something "special" that I have not requested. I know they don't make a lot of money, and I know it's a dirty job, but there are plenty of those, and I don't tip them either. If I were going to tip someone, I'd tip the woman who cleans the bathroom in my office every day. You can probably tell by the tone of my post that I hate our tipping culture (wait till you see the tip jars on the counter everywhere you go!) and figure it will never change if everyone just keeps going along.

tracys2cents

Sometimes when they come by in the morning, I tell them we just need more coffee or towels or whatever, then let them know that's all we'll be needing. They seem to LOVE that, they get to mark down the room as "serviced" but have an extra 20 minutes that day and can slow down and breathe. If you call housekeeping and "cancel" your service for the day, they'll just give the housekeeper some other duties to fill her time.

Tips I usually hide. maybe under the coffee pot. I've seen those housekeeping "supervisors" go from room to room in the morning scooping up some of the tips....under the guise of "checking" the rooms.

nytraveler

Obviously everyone can do what they choose. If someone doesn;t feel the need to tip maids in hotels - don;t.

And if you dont; use special services from the concierge there's no need to tip them. But if you ask them to specnd significant time and energy to track down tickets to a concert long sold out that you are spending a lot of money on - it seems to me extremely rude and inconsiderate not to compensate them for it.

And if someone doesn;t want to tip a valet they don't have to use valet parking - but can park their car on the street.

But DO NOT eat in a sit down restaurant or ride in a taxi without an appropriate tip - those people need that money to live on and it's figured into their income. Someone who is determined not to tip should stick to public transit and fast food places.

I can understand not tipping in an economy in which service staff receive living wages - but in the US they don;t and IMHO tipping is mandatory. (If the staff were to receive a living wage prices would be higher so I don;t see the big deal about giving it as a tip directly to the server - versus having it pass through the hands of the owner - who will undoubtedly take part of it.)

DebitNM

I've seen those housekeeping "supervisors" go from room to room in the morning scooping up some of the tips....under the guise of "checking" the rooms.

You have? More than once? Where? Wow...

mztery

we tip $2-3 a day with a note and you'd be AMAZED at the little extras we get. Extra soaps, candy bowl filled instead of just two pieces etc.
But we also talk w/ the housekeeper of the day when we can to thank them and give the $$ .

happytrailstoyou

we tip $2-3 a day with a note and you'd be AMAZED at the little extras we get. Extra soaps, candy bowl filled instead of just two pieces etc.

Sounds like housekeepers are stealing from their employers in an attempt to get more of your three dollar bills.

HTTY

manlygirl

I think I will try to find a place to put the tip where the supervisor might not find it but the maid will.

Lookin_Glass

We tip $5 a day and another $2 if there is turn down service. It is what we choose to do. I have friends that never even considered leaving a tip and travel the world on frequent flyer miles.

We put the cash on the bed/pillow. Daily. I have left a tip on a table or by the coffee maker and it was left behind, as it wasn't clear that it wasn't loose change left behind or a tip. The bed makes it clear.

I wouldn't worry about the supervisor. I have also tipped housekeeping for handing me fresh towels and not making up my room as I prefer my privacy and did not need new sheets or housekeeping. That's just how we roll.

sylvia3

Manlygirl, the majority of people here answered your question stating that they do not tip maids; so, I wonder that you decided to. I certainly have no problem with it, just wondering why you asked in the first place, if you intended to leave a tip?

garyt22

sylvia3... where does it say that this is a vote?

So Far the vote is that FIVE TIP and TWO DON'T(including you)

happytrailstoyou

I think I will try to find a place to put the tip where the supervisor might not find it but the maid will.

Where would that be? Under the bed?

irishswampyankee

Having worked as a chambermaid, I know they count on tips. If you can afford the room, IMO, it's very bad taste to stiff the cleaning staff if they do a decent job. manlygirl - you should leave a tip appropriate to type of hotel and room/suite. As others have said - always tip waitstaff in sitdown restaurants 15-20% before tax, again depending on type of place, if you are satisfied with the service. Try not to blame waitstaff for poor food or slow kitchen. That should be discussed with management.