Cleaning fee in Hawaii
 

This is a new concept to us. On the top of a regular room price we will be charged the cleaning fee? I never heard of such thing<BR>Please someone explain to me. Do I have to pay it? For what? What about if we clean our own room? If we stay somewhere one night do we stillhave to pay it? Who came up with this brilliant idea?

Is this for a hotel room? If so, that's a new one on me, too. It's not unusual to be charged a cleaning fee for a condo, though. You're only charged the one fee regardless of how long you stay, which I guess is the theory behind not folding it into the per-night or per-week charge.

cmon specifics. Is this a regular hotel, or a B&B or a condo? If it is a condo, its not that unusual...but a hotel? No way would I pay.

Forgot to say that, with condos, it's for the major cleaning that they do (or should do) between guests. Most people don't want to spend their vacation time scrubbing the bathroom and mopping the floors.

Sounds like you rented a privately owned condo. Most condos in a rental pool carry a cleaning fee, and no, you can't get around it. You may not even get daily service with this fee, but they will ready it for the next guest.

Our experience with cleaning fees in Hawaii is that you are expected to leave the apartment as you entered it yet they still charge you this fee. You are doing much of the cleaning before you leave anyway. Just stupid business as I see it. Can't for the life of me understand why they just can't incorporate it into the rate and charge you for damages should they occur? Why do they feel the need to tell you that you are being ripped off. <BR><BR>I think walking into a condo with old food in a dirty fridge or sand on the floor and unfinished laundry in washing machine then charging a cleaning fee is a rip off. This was my experience this summer and I liked the places I stayed just thought this was poor management.

XXX,<BR><BR>I am definetly in favor of the condo being cleaned before we check in.<BR><BR>Although we straighten everyhing up before leaving a and try to leave it the way we found it.<BR><BR>When we leave a condo, we DON"T vacuum, wash the bathroom & kitchen floor, remake the bed. <BR><BR>My wife and I prefer to stay in condos that have been professionally cleaned. We have never encountered the problems that you did (dirty fridge, sand on floor,etc).<BR><BR>Many condos will waive the fee for a week's stay

Properties we rented had different management agencies and were not even on the same island, both condos had the dirty fridges, both told us that bed linens or towels owned by the property that were not washed would result in an added charge. Both places were surprised that I called them on a dirty fridge. I was surprised did not want to clean it yet did not want to get charged for someone else’s mess. Kind of gross when you are use to hotels walking in and seeing jelly stains on fridge shelf top, in pantry rancid cooking oil that left an odor along with some items that had bugs in them. These were nice rentals and not at all of the budget variety. Doubt they are washing the floors each time someone leaves if they leave fridge in that condition. Friend on Oahu told me they always leave junk in Fridge starts out as a measure to save a few bucks for the next people (like you would ever share a strangers food) but then turns into no one ever throwing out the food. Fine just don't charge me a fee if I don't walk into a place as clean as my own home or as clean as you would expect a hotel room to be. That is my complaint. It was never professionally cleaned unless we rented a condo from a hotel. Year before last rented a condo from Hanalei Bay Resort they provided what you would expect. I saw the maid throwing out my old foodstuff after my departure did not save it for the next lucky guest.<BR><BR>Thanks David I will test the no vacuum idea. How do other people leave their place? I hate taking a day or even half a day to clean. We don't wash floors but do a lot of other stuff to give it back to them in the condition we found it in as they requested. I suppose it is the sweeping and washing of linens that takes up time.<BR>

I rented a condo directly from the owner. It was immaculate when we arrived, the fridge was empty and clean. If tenants leave food, the maid either tosses it, or, in the case of unopened sodas, etc, keeps it herself. The only things that carried over from one tenant to the next were coolers, beach chairs, balls, etc. The cost of the exit cleaning was included in the rent. If we had wanted additional cleaning then we would have paid extra.<BR><BR>I suggest that you try to let the people who own the condo you rented know how badly it is being kept. I have no idea how you would find out, though. I'm sure they will not be happy.

How did you leave your place Barbara did you clean or did you leave it like a you would a hotel room or anyone charging you for cleaning services?

xxx, I left it pretty much as I would leave a hotel room. I did not clean the bathrooms or strip the beds. I did throw out opened, unfinished food, but as we ate out every night and really only ate breakfast in the condo, there wasn't much of that. I think I vacuumed a couple of times while we were there, just to get any sand off the floor. As for "anyone charging me for cleaning services", I consider that I did pay for it as part of the rent. I don't go on vacation in order to have the opportunity to clean house. I can do that at home - and it's not my favorite thing to do here!

I guess I should say something before our return just did not want to get off on the wrong foot with mgnmt of property. This time we are going for two weeks and the property was nice just had this one problem. Did save about 50% being in a condo.

xxx,<BR><BR>You should have told the management!!<BR><BR>Did it ever occur to you that management paid for thorough cleaning and were being cheated by the cleaning service.<BR><BR>Any reputable management company would want to know about these problem so they can be corrected.<BR><BR>Of course, you should tell them in a calm non confrontational manner.<BR><BR>

Dick if you read my post above I told both mgmt companies. I was talking about telling mgmt that since I was coming back for two weeks could I come to a fridge clear of old staples. Last year they both told me that this is what was done in Hawaii to save new renters money on condiments and the <BR>like. I am not going to slam anyone but the Agency that handled the property in Lanikai had about 50-60 properties so they were not small frys. They also gave us the dirtiest place and the least amount of service. Other problems here and we just won't go back there again. Some place really make a mistake treating renter like they are making one and only trips to Hawaii. I go every year.<BR><BR>We are returning to the smaller property owner on another island they offered us other personal touches that made our stay a welcome one. Dirty half stocked fridge and old food in pantry with bugs and smell was only problem with rental.

Hope this is not off-topic, because our experience is in Florida, not Hawaii...<BR><BR>We have a timeshare in Sanibel at Casa Ybel, a wonderful place -- been there many times. As owners, cleaning fees are included in our annual maintenance fees. We can request extra or daily cleaning service during the week for an extra charge. Rented units are cleaned before new guests arrive, and the charge is included in the rent. If we stay more than one week, we get a mid-stay cleaning for no extra charge.<BR><BR>The day after we check in, housekeeping calls to make sure everything is satisfactory -- if it isn't, they remedy right away. <BR><BR>I don't go on vacation to clean, so don't do it before I leave -- the professionals will (or should!) do a better job. I remove all opened food, clean out fridge. If there are unopened items like detergent or soda, I leave a note for the housekeeper asking her to take if she can use, discard if not.

Sonia rented on the east coast and that was my experience also. Were expected to clean before leaving but did not feel the need to clean upon entering.

XXX,<BR><BR>If the management company justifies leaving the condo half dirty...I would never use that management company again.<BR><BR><BR>Maybe you should get reccomendations of management companies AND what their standards are...before you book again.<BR><BR>Do I understand correctly that you are going back to the same management company. If so, then you already know what to expect and by going back,,you accept their standards.<BR><BR>I've never had a problem with rentals in Hawaii.

you should tell us who you used Dick because locals and mgmt have told me it is not very different elsewhere.

I have had problems with condos in hotels like the Ilikai in Honolulu. Never anything like dishes in the sink, but hair in the bed, dirty showers. Thought this odd, not something we found in hotel rooms in the same hotel. No cleaning fee that they announced but I am sure it was factored into bill. That is the way to do business. I am sure the condo association at the Ilikai is still making the same money as other agents they are just doing it quietly.<BR><BR> Dick for the money we saved it was fine to just call down and have a maid come clean the room. Going to attack me for my standards? Geez now that is a sure fire way of alienating people from Hawaii, EINSTEIN. P.S your motivation is clear from these and other posts. I for one want to hear from renters not from members of the business community disguised as a tourist.<BR>

Iv'e used 2 or 3 different companies. I make it a point to ask questions, including how the place is decorated. the more specific they can answer the question, the better they know the property.<BR><BR>Usually the better a place is decorated... the better shape it will be in.

and you used which companies? The rental I used on Lanikai was brand new with European imports filling the apartment.

We were very pleased with the cleaning service at the Kannapali Alii (and everything else about the place) in Maui. They sincerely apologized that our condo was not ready upon check-in because the newly shampooed carpets weren't dry yet (a nice touch we thought). We dropped off our luggage in the hallway, but were asked to hold off taking occupancy for another 1/2 hr. - not a problem for us. You can anticipate a condo cleaning fee to be incurred when renting a privately-owned property booked through a managament agency (on-site or otherwise), they have to have someone come in and do a thorough clean up and re-stock items to prepare for the next patrons and to check for any damage to be added to your bill. This is more than just cleaning your room, it involves changing linens, towels, washing bathrooms and floors, etc. But we learned that there are different levels you may request: daily maid service like in a hotel or a less expensive "every 3rd day" service. It did save some money since we didn't need the daily maid service for our one-week vacation. We were washing our own towels and making our beds and we left the place in good order upon checkout, too. Never heard of a cleaning fee for a hotel, though.

Sandy it is in your hotel costs they are just smart enough not to disclose this to you.<BR><BR>Rose you do have to deal with it, it is just a different way of doing business. I would certainly steer clear of the higher end cleaning fees. I found one company on the North Shore all high end properties with cleaning fees of $275 (week)that should be a red flag to anyone of what kind of company this is. Urks me to that the fee is just ending up in someones pocket they should just call it an administrative fee then or incorporate into the costs. Don't understand the logic here.

We go to Hawaii quite frequently (3 times last year)and almost always rent thru private condo owners. We have never been charged a cleaning fee. I purposely avoid owners that add the fee to their rentals as I believe that is a cost of doing business. We always have to pay a deposit but have always gotten our deposit returned in a timely manner. We do not wash linens or vacuum, but do throw out food and wash dishes. We also leave unopened soda and beer for the maid or next visitor. Twice our condo rentals have had half used quarts of rum and vodka in them along with mixers. We did not complain. <BR><BR>I had planned to use the same management company as xxx but changed my plans due to xxx's experience. I don't believe that dirty lodgings and renters as cleanup crew are the norms in Hawaii. BTW we stay in moderately priced accomodations $100-150 per night.<BR><BR>

xxx, also you should post the names of the management companies here so that the rest of us know not to use them, or at least what to expect. Then tell the companies you have done that. You could also write to the State of Hawaii Tourist office. I'm pretty sure they don't want anybody doing things to spoil the tourist industry.

Barbara something like 1-4 people in Hawaii are dependent on Tourism. Don't want to cause more damage than I already have, also know that the half stocked fridge is standard. I think this is just a country way of doing things perhaps not everywhere.<BR><BR>Like I said the one Co. we used and are going back to had many personal touches that were great and far out weighed what I have told you here. I no longer mention their name here because the property is already booked up July and August. We are returning to a sister property. I have to wonder if this happened because of how many times I have praised it here. I don't see making a complaint to a tourist board over this as appropriate. You yourself can check whatever agency you want through the better business bureau of Hawaii. They will tell you if similar complaints have been made.<BR>