Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Gratuities for housekeeping in a resort????

Search

Gratuities for housekeeping in a resort????

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 29th, 2005, 07:58 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gratuities for housekeeping in a resort????

What do you recommend for a tip for housekeeping. We will be staying at three resorts in Hawaii in August. I always thought housekeeping gratuities were $l.00 per person per day. What is the proper amount. I do not want to undertip.
Stephanie82 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2005, 08:37 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So begins a new discussion of tipping. I only have my opinions on this so please do a search on this forum for many others. I lean to $5 a day , and maybe another $2 for turndown service. Yes this is crazy, but crazier is paying a valet guy for 30 seconds, a waiter for a couple of minutes of service. The time and service the housekeeper spends deserves much more then they are paid. If I can walk in the room without flipflops......they deserve the best tip I can offer. They deserve the most, yet are the least recognized. Have fun on your trip, and pack a bunch of singles for tipping!!!!!!!
gyppielou is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2005, 08:47 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Stephanie82, what ever you decide is the proper amount I would suggest that you leave the tip in an envelope with "Housekeeping" written on the enveope each day. Often you will not have the same person taking care of your room each day so that way the person that does will get the tip. They will also know the money is for them as if you just leave the money say on the nightstand or the dresser it is not clear if it a tip or not.
Have a wonderful time in Hawaii.
LoveItaly is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2005, 09:09 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We generally tip $2-3/day. If we have turn down service we will tip another $2 but we usually leave the "do not disturb" signs on our door
travelinwifey is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 04:46 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
usually 5/day.
justme22 is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 05:11 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some resorts charge a per-day or per-stay "resort fee", which may include housekeeping gratuities. If not, even a couple dollars a day will be more than the housekeeping staff gets from many or most other guests.
fdecarlo is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 07:14 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I always tip daily, typically $3 if it's just me, $5 if it's also spouse. we are strongly in the "they do the most work, are the least appreciated/paid". I do have to say that I often feel a bit self-serving - suddenly, you have extra towels, for example, or very sunny smiles in the hallway. Seems to me that the money is so very appreciated - I always feel that a couple of extra dollars per day is in no way going to affect my life, but makes a difference in the staff's.
jo_ann is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 07:30 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. We usually tip about $3 a day. I live in Vegas and have been both a bellman and a valet. When I was a bellman, I would go into rooms to retrieve luggage and sometimes there were tips left for housekeeping, a few times there were good tips like $30. upon checkout. I would not reccomend tipping only when you checkout, as it could be your housekeepers day off and they have been taking care of you all week, then someone comes in to reap the rewards. If you tip a few bucks each day it goes directly to the one cleaning your room. I have spoke to many housekeepers and believe it or not, most people do not tip them. I think tipping a housekeeper is a nice gesture to let them know you appreciate their hardwork and they greatly appreciate the couple of bucks each day. Someone mentioned it is crazier to tip valet. I don't think it is crazy to tip valet if the valet is free, but if the property charges for valet, then I do think that is too much. Here in Vegas valet is free, so a couple bucks in and a couple out is great considering you get door to door service and they take care of your car. Those guys & girls that run valet earn their money, it is a physically demanding job, and they are in the elements all day. Therefore, they greatly appreciate the couple of bucks as well.
vegasnative is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 07:33 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I also wanted to mention that after I became a bellman, I realized that a great place to leave the housekeeping tip (and also where most people did) was right on the bed. Make sure the covers are pulled back enough so they see the tip on the sheets. An envelope is great or even scribble a note on the complimentary notepad.
vegasnative is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 07:38 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,182
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
I leave $2 every day right on the unmade bed (that is for one person only and at a very low key not expensive hotel).
suze is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2005, 10:08 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for your responses, I appreciate it. I did not want to undertip.
Stephanie82 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gailw
United States
16
May 7th, 2007 08:30 AM
pauldianasabbina
Canada
4
Jun 14th, 2006 03:47 PM
valtor
Asia
9
Jan 15th, 2006 06:04 PM
mamby
United States
34
Sep 20th, 2004 03:02 PM
mart
United States
7
Aug 26th, 2002 09:42 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -