LoveItaly

Mimi is right, mailing clothes, books etc. home is not inexpensive.

I did this once, but it was not worth it IMHO.

islandmom

I'm not that tacky- I didn't mean dirty clothes or used products. Just sometimes we pack too much and can leave extra items. I have friends who are maids and would often like things that are left behind but think they should go to the lost and found. And my friends here are single moms or in families working several jobs and every little bit helps. They could sell it on ebay if they wanted. I think what is worse is watching them work for $6 - $7 an hour and try to support their kids and a home in Hawaii. And in Mexico maids love it when we share just a can of Coke or anything. I see nothing wrong with making the offer and if they prefer not to have something they can discard it.

Patrick

Unbelievable. Other people were talking about leaving clothes for the "maids". I defended the "maids", saying they shouldn't be insulted by treating them as second rate people or "handmaidens for the poor". I was using the word "maid" because that was the word being used by the other posters, along with "cleaning woman" which I consider even more demeaning.

You can't be serious in trying to make me the bad guy here, bellastar!!! Did you even read the other posts as well as mine, before you went on that silly rampage trying to insult me???

Tulips

How do you call the roomservice employee that cleans your room if not maid?
And I think there's a big difference in leaving clothes for the maid in a country with a lot of poverty, from doing this in Paris or London. I have taken children's and baby summer clothes to the Caribbean in winter, and then left them there afterwards; the people I gave them to were very pleased with these clothes. I don't think I will be doing this at the St Regis on my next trip to NYC though.

bellastar

Patrick, I didn't particularly think of you as "the bad guy", but your well written post kind of got my attention with your statements:

"I still can't believe that people don't see what's offensive about leaving old clothes for the maid.."
and
"don't assume the maid is a handmaiden for the poor"

So as I said, I thought, at least in my case, these are incorrect assumptions, and I explained why, by sharing a small anecdote from one of my trips.

My comment about the word "maid" was not specifically for you, but I know several people who have worked cleaning homes and apartments for a living when they first moved to New York (including one woman from Columbia who has a law degree, and another who is now a successful designer).
They don't like the word, simple as that. Yes, "everyone" still uses it, and they don't like it.

No, I didn't think you were the bad guy, I just disagreed with your view, as well as that of some other posters. Although now that you've called my little story of a pleasant travel memory a "silly rampage", using a slightly nastier tone, maybe I need to rethink my cyber-opinion of you- do I?

12perfectdays

Reading this thread has been really fun and I love reading everyone's opinion!

I think it really depends on the type of vacation you are taking as well. On cruises I always tend to buy new and love my fancy duds.
One year we did Hawaii resort style and I loved my resort wear, the next, we rented a cabin and hiked all the time, no way did I wear my best duds...everything was stained with red dirt!

This year is a drive/hike in Ireland in winter with a backpack.(oh the challenge!)
Some of the clothes are perfectly fine winter clothes from last year that I am frankly tired of. There are a few winter closeout bargains from the Nordstrom rack that I am planning on tossing as well. (If I can part w/ them)! Santa gave me new wool hiking socks and a set of thermals...the old ones are still good and will go with me to toss after an Irish hike.

I always stuff a couple of plastic grocery bags in the bottom of my pack for any occation and I think this should do well to tie and toss. I don't think the "cleaning service personell" (LOL) should have a problem.

I also plan on wasting a few $$ on tossing undies...all the more room in my closet for the great clothes I will be buying for Italy 2006!

bellastar

Tulips-whenever possible, if you interact with cleaning staff, I have found that they usually have actual names, like everyone else!

But it's extremely clear from reading this entertaining thread that I'm probably a voice of one on this subject. A girl can always try. ha ha

Probably a leftover from my very early days waitressing, when I would always give customers my name before taking an order. Those thoughtful enough to remember it instead of just calling out "waitress!" usually got the best service.

Sue_xx_yy

I dunno, but I was sorta hoping someone was going to give as their answer, "only with a saxophone playing, up on a stage, and discarding each piece of clothing very, very slowly...."

Seriously, I've never gotten the math of this packing light strategy. Unless one is going to buy clothes en route to replace the ones one throws away, this means one starts out by packing more clothes at the outset than one has at the finish. On average, then, one lugs around (number of undies or whatever times the number of days) divided by 2. For a 14 day trip, using the throwaway strategy, that means one carries an average of 7 undies, which means one is carrying a bag heavier than mine for over half the trip. True, the throwaway school's bag gets progressively lighter as they go along, but that's 'lighter' relative only to their own bag at the outset, not to mine at any time except the last 4 or 5 days of the trip.

As for souvenirs, this strategy seems to incorporate the assumption that one won't acquire any at the beginning of the trip; one has to wait until one has tossed enough stuff to have room for them. I don't buy much stuff when away, but if I saw something I really wanted on the very first day, I'd have room for it right then.

twoflower

Overlooked to say in my previous post that by 'discard' I mean I bin them. I would never leave them for the staff - that's demeaning and insulting. For those who find it 'icky', I repeat, we're not necessarily talking about sweaty, yucky ketchup-stained crap here; we're simply talking about older wares that have done their time, are fine for a long day's driving where you're not parading yourself, and are now surplus - perhaps because you've bought newer stuff on this very trip.

Patrick

Bellestar, I'm so confused.

I stated (as you correctly quoted me) that I "can't believe" people don't find it offensive. . . "

and "Don't assume the maid is a handmaiden for the poor."


You then say you DISAGREE with me. This is so surprising. So what you are saying is you CAN believe that it is NOT insulting to leave clothes. And you believe that people SHOULD assume maids ARE the handmaidens of the poor.

I fail to see why you disagree with me about these statements, when you seem to support people who work as "maids" no matter what you want to call them.

monicapileggi

I have taken underwear and a night shirt on a trip or two that are still in good condition but getting to the point I don’t want them anymore. They aren’t in the condition that they have to be thrown out. I’m one of those that don’t wear things until they wear out. These two items aren’t in view of the public. And when I throw them out, I put them into a bag, and then into the trashcan. I don’t leave them out for the maid to clean up.

One thing I do on my trips is taking fewer bras and underwear and hand wash them. I’ve heard of people taking enough items of clothing to match the number of days. I think that’s unnecessary, but that’s me. Bring less and wash in the evenings. Have more space for those wonderful souvenirs!

Monica

nancyz

There has been quite a bit of discussion about the hard working housekeeping staff.
In many, not all, countries they are often a minority, speaking only their native language. IMHO they are working in this kind of a job because they NEED the money.
My intention is not to leave a handout, but if the housekeeper wants to salvage something that they couldn't afford themselves, I don't see the disrespect. Call it recycling. That is what Thrift stores are all about.
And just to clarify for the nitpickers out there, I'm not talking about worn out, or dirty clothes.

djkbooks

<<There has been quite a bit of discussion about the hard working housekeeping staff. In many, not all, countries they are often a minority, speaking only their native language. IMHO they are working in this kind of a job because they NEED the money.
My intention is not to leave a handout, but if the housekeeper wants to salvage something that they couldn't afford themselves, I don't see the disrespect. Call it recycling. That is what Thrift stores are all about. And just to clarify for the nitpickers out there, I'm not talking about worn out, or dirty clothes.>>

You are just not paying attention here...

Most folks, everywhere on the planet, are "working because they need the money".

It is utterly ridiculous to suggest that "they" would appreciate your cast offs.

If you wish you show your appreciation, leave the appropriate CASH GRATUITY.

To even suggest that anyone on the housekeeping staff might find your discarded, worn, dirty, stained, clothing (probably drenched in some fancy fragrance) any sort of "find" is utter nonsense. You think your garments would fit? Be pleasing? Of any use to them whatseover?

To me, anyway, it is hugely "disrepectful" to leave excess REFUSE for the housekeeping staff. It would be far more considerate for you to deliver, yourself, your clothing to a "thrift shop" in acceptable condition, or just toss it in a nearby dumpster, rather than expect the hotel staff to dispose of same.

While you may "feel compelled" to share your "packing stategy", it could not be more apparent that no one here finds it the least bit useful. No one here is "hostile", except, perhaps yourself.

Note to self: Don't bother to disclose to nancyz any incredibly invaluable insider tips or information.

For Patrick: Well, of course, the very best nightgown never stays on very long...

obxgirl

>In many, not all, countries they are often a minority, speaking only their native language. IMHO they are working in this kind of a job because they NEED the money.<

Nancyz, All the more reason to leave a cash gratuity and not castoff clothing.

ow

After reading through these threads I felt obliged to write in to let you know about my new website which sells lightweight cotton disposable underwear at www.one-wear.co.uk.
Happy travelling.

starrsville

That's quite alright.

I (for one) would have preferred you let this thread (that turned gross) in the past rather than reviving it...

TO RUN AN AD!!!

No! Ads are not a fit for this forum!

CatFancier

I, for one, am a newer Fodorite who's never seen this thread. I must say, I rather enjoyed it!

cigalechanta

I try to wear my best under clothes and outer. If I discard, like Monica, we put them in a bag and trashcan.

lilminkey

Yes all my underwear must be sitting in some landfill,its cheaper to throw them out Imade up a small box and shipped to the U.S>A. nearly 100 dollars .

smalti

nancyz--

A highly organized cousin of mine used to follow your same strategy, except she would simply throw her clothes away after wearing them, and would return from a trip with nearly empty luggage.

In the 70s, she visited the Soviet Union (as it was called then, and when one had to go with a tour group), and on the morning the group was leaving Moscow, there was a disturbance. As her husband told the story, Cousin V. had left a dress in the trash, and a housekeeping staff member had been seen taking it and was accused of theft. A staff member brought the dress to the bus, where V. told her, with her characteristic sharp tongue, that it was not a matter of theft.

We all thought Cousin V. should have been sent to give Brezhnev a good talking-to;
it would have settled the USSR's hash much sooner.

As for me, I'm much too cheap to discard clothing without getting a tax deduction from a charity.