Where would that be? A good place izright in the palm of their hand when they bring you the new towels or new cups. I've also left the tip in the bathroom behind a pile of towels. The maid will see it when she removes the towels, the supervisor won't see it when she's perusing the room.

Debit: Maybe I'm paranoid about it being rampant, but I saw it twice, The Hilton in Las Vegas and at a Best Western near Oklahoma City.
At the Hilton, we'd left the room, but only to go down for coffee. When we returned to the room the tip was gone but the room wasn't serviced yet. I then noticed "the boss" going from room to room with her clipboard and I put two and two together. At both hotels I sent notes to management about what I observed...The LV Hilton later thanked me for alerting them that there was a problem, said it was dealt with swiftly, and offered me two complimentary nights in the future. The other hotel manager phoned me and thanked me and actually gave me quite a sordid, detailed accounting of what their investigation found, everything from stolen sheets to a stash of booze in the laundry room! (Interesting tale but I would have rather had a gift card for future use).

Tipping varies from individual to individual and by age group. A friend of mine carries around a roll of $20's just for tipping - and younger people toss their spare change in the Starbucks tip jar, which even as regular - I never do.

I/we do leave a couple/three dollars for the maids on the pillow (how much for how many days - varies - up to you - but we try to do it daily if they girls are changing shifts a lot) - as it means a lot to them, but we also don't go out of our way to tip everyone else.

And I usually like to do my own research when I am traveling - and thus rarely ask too much from the Concierge (the front desk is also a good source for "quickie" info)- except perhaps a confirming opinion - but if you are in a hurry - they can often get you into a restaurant, theater tix - etc.

Of course, if you ask something from the Concierge - that favor should be returned - varying by how much help you requested/received.

Taxi drivers also deserve a tip - but again, how much is up to you, and I think sometimes our "current culture" overdoes it.

"Taxi drivers also deserve a tip" Some cabs are privately owned by the driver, and some go out of their way to take the long route; still tip them?

As always, tipping threads are all over the place; as one who absolutely hates the culture of tipping, I give gratuities only to those who are underpaid the federal minimum on the basis of expectation of tips, and to those who have offered services above and beyond their job.
There are many lousy jobs in the US, and many people work at the minimum wage; that doesn't mean I throw money to the presser in the back room at the dry cleaners, or the shelf stocker at the grocery. A clean hotel room is expected, and included in the price you pay.
I hate to see the American tipping style expanded to include other venues (and other countries). (Please no 18th century quotes about throwing the chambermaids or stableboys a couple of pence!)

On average a housekeeper is paid about $4 to service your room. It can go as low as $2 per room in some motels or as high as $7 per room for some union-represented workers.

<i>Try not to blame waitstaff for poor food or slow kitchen.</i>

How does a diner know when food that arrives after too long a wait is because of a slow kitchen or because of a server who doesn't pick up orders promptly?

HTTY

easy... if the food is cold... its the server....

if its hot... its the kitchen...

Yes I *always* tip my room maid. I think some people do not judging by how appreciative they are of what I give them.

I leave $3usd each day on the unmade bed, but I'm one person solo, very neat, and at a budget hotel. I'd leave more if there were 2+ people in the room, if I was messy, or if it was a "better" hotel (at least $5)

<i>easy... if the food is cold... its the server....</i>

Really. What about heat lamps and food that is intended to be served cold, such as a salads and many sandwiches?

HTTY

if the salad is cold... its the server

if the salad is warm... its the server

if its a room temp sandwich, have another beer and wait...

Ah, another tipping thread. I'm with sylvia.

I grew up in the UK, but I've lived in the US for over 30 years, and have traveled with both my American husbands. I had never heard of anyone tipping housekeeping staff until I started reading Fodors.

In the US I tip wait staff, taxi drivers and my hairdresser, and I usually leave a little change at my local (independent) coffee shop. If I need something brought to my room (that wasn't forgotten in the first place), I tip. If someone carries my bags (very rare) I tip. That's it. I can't imagine leaving $5 a night for someone who's just going to make a bed and wipe down the bathroom. (I bring my own soap and don't eat candy, so I don't need to be bribed to tip.)

The more I read about tipping posts on here I feel more guilty and then less guilty(both at the same time). LOL. I am always confused about tipping, especially places that are really expensive to start with. Like rafting the Grand Canyon, a helicopter ride in Hawaii, dogsled in Alaska, a Whale Watching tour, Disney Cruise, etc. All of those things are $100-$500 (why do they still sometimes actually go as far as to suggest tipping). I love places that specifically ask you not to tip www.soaringcolorado.com for example.

For the record, I never tip housekeeping.

I am still laughing about hiding $2 bucks somewhere. So, does the housekeeper actually search each room(hide and seek), looking for money?

The richest are ALWAYS the cheapest! ALWAYS

@gary - rubbish.

Like thursdaysd, I'd never heard of tipping the housekeeping staff until I read it here. I simply do not believe that it is the norm in the U.S.

A few dollars on the pillow, no note. They know it is a tip.

I assume that in places where the supervisor picks up the tips that they are making a pool that the housekeepers share equally.

<I had never heard of anyone tipping housekeeping staff until I started reading Fodors.>

I was tipping room maids long before I ever came to Fodor's. Maybe because many of my earliests trips were to *Mexico* where it most definetly is the custom to do so.

What is the reason for tipping your hairdresser as opposed to the hotel housekeeper?

As far as it being an only-fodors thing, all you have to do is google "proper tipping" to read several articles on etiquette and custom. (which I assume are the reasons you tip your hairdresser? Or is it just harder to avoid tipping her since she's standing right in front of you as opposed to coming into the hotel room when you are long gone?)

I always assumed that one tips a hairdresser partly in anticipation of her next visit to the salon.

HTTY

Tips are for personal service. The hairdresser tip is for the service that was just done. It is like tipping a waiter after the food/drink was served, or a bellman for having carried your bag. A maid tip is done in advance of the service of cleaning up your mess.