re: maids in nicer hotels...
Do yuo tip the waiter at the Ritz Carlton the same $3 that you leave for the waitress at Mel's Diner? Why not? Probably because most people don't tip the same amount on a $100 lunch as they do on a $9 sandwich.

>>

I personally think you should, but I acknowledge that that's just not the way it's done. Tipping of restaurant serving staff is always in the 15-20% range. Tipping of maids in hotels seems to always be in the $3-5 per night range, not a function of the cost of the room at all.

Everyone can please quit singling me out about tipping in expensive hotels. Since I never stay in them it is a moot point. I never stay in places that are more than $50-95/night and I always leave the maid $2-3 a day.

That said, YES I do think leaving $1 at the Ritz Carlton is probably not appropriate. Where leaving 10 peso at a $25/night hotel in Mexico is OK.

I bet manlygirl is sorry for asking (if they even ever came back).

Do you think better looking people get better tips?

absolutely

If a room has a problem such as a leaking water faucet, a burned out light bulb, or a pair of panties under the bed, should I blame the housekeeper, management, maintenance, or the people who occupied the room before me?

A maid tip is done in advance of the service of cleaning up your mess.

I try to show respect for the housekeeper by not making a mess. Should I make a big mess to justify a tip?

Do you think better looking people get better tips?

If you tip in advance, as suggested here, you'll never know anything about the recipient's attributes. Also, if you and others tip generously, a housekeeper who is deficient in the looks department will have money to improve her appearance.

Everyone can please quit singling me out about tipping in expensive hotels.

O.K. Alright, already.

HTTY

A pair of panties under the bed is housekeepers fault.

A leaking faucet is maintenance, but should have been reported by housekeeping as they are in rooms daily and are most likely to notice, they are however not responsible for it leaking, or for maintenance or mangements duty to fix said tap.

As for mess and tip amount, yes, more mess should equal more tip,, when we travelled with our kids when they were very young we tended to tip more,, although we did try to leave room in decent condition, there were often toys on floor or extra wet towels to deal with.

Whose responsibility is it to make sure the last guest didn't set the alarm for 5 am?

htty, do you not tip on a one-night stay?

i usually leave cabfare on the end table and sneak out before she wakes up...

Whose responsibility is it to make sure the last guest didn't set the alarm for 5 am?

That's what I want to know. Also, if the alarm rings at 5 a.m., is that a wake-up call to leave a tip for the housekeeper?

HTTY

COWS

That is generous, after your paying her and giving her the tip the night before.

On fodorite mentioned that when she arrived at a hotel she would seek out and tip the maid who cleaned the room before her arrival.

In a survey, one of our leading schools of hotel administration found that about 30% of travelers tip hotel housekeepers (compared to the 95% of big tippers that post on this forum).

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-24/t...e?_s=PM:TRAVEL

HTTY

"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."

At the same time?

Shouldn't you then tip twice as much?

I rarely use maid service, so I rarely tip the housekeepers.

You bring your own towels,sheets, clean the tub and toilet and vaccuum the room?

sounds like a fun vacation LSky...

I pay for a clean room. I assume that's what I'll get.

Well, you don't have to say "good morning" to your neighbors when you walk down the street, but it's a nice custom. Totally up to you.