Tipping maids in any Hotel...
Jul 17th, 2001, 06:40 PM
#141
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OK EVERYONE, CALM DOWN!!Perhaps we should agree to disagree and get on w/life. I never really gave a great deal of thought about tipping hotel maids til this long-winded thread. However, I've decided that I will leave tips from now on. You do what you feel's best!
Jul 19th, 2001, 08:47 PM
#142
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It's hard to miss the occasional reference that tipping of maids is suggested in North America. From movies like "Mr. Ripley", I see that men's room attendants should also be tipped... Never encountered one, never felt the urge to tip.
I'm a cheapskate. I admit it. I fail to see why I should pay someone $1 or $5 to do some elementary work like lifting my bags - I need the exercise anyway. I have never heard of tipping the teacher, or the bus driver, or whatever.. I know some people here probably tip the mailman and/or garbagemen, but the union rates in Canada are far better than in the states. Our garbagemen make more than teachers in Idaho (even allowing for the exchange rate of the Northern Peso). I have friends whose childeren are at the birthday party age, and I learned a few years ago about the "goodie bag" syndrome - our tipping culture taken to the extreme.
I haven't asked around, but I don't expect anyone I know tips maids in hotels. This appears to have been something dreamed up in the last few years. When I'm travelling company-paid, I will tip where EVERYONE expects to tip... but I believe that when the price of the Hotel room is extreme, the obligation is on Hotel Management to pay a reasonable wage. (some hotels in Canada are unionized - I see something about strikes in some of them on the news every so often...) If the Hilton in downtown Toronto can charge $219/day for my room, they could afford to add $1 to the maid's wage. At 1/2hr per room, that works out to $2/hr more, or $14/day. That $219 is for the same room that goes for $159 if you don't get the "executive" option. For that, you get free breakfast and free drinks in the upstairs lounge (big whoopee for those of us that don't drink). How much is $60 in wholesale liquor?
Half the hotels in Toronto are over 25 years old - there shouldn't be any mortgage left; if there is, someone's playing corporate shuffleboard, and deserves the lower profits...
Tipping taxi drivers? they generally work on commission, so they don't get a guaranteed wage- they work for it. A half hour drive to the Toronto airport (no guaranteed return fare) earns a $5 tip; adequate. Waiters/waitresses? Far more opportunity for visible performance - I can see promptness and zeal. How can I tell the maid did a good job, unless I look for the tell-tale pubic hairs in the fresh bed, or do the white glove test? (How would you tell the teacher did a good job? Maybe little Johnny's just a moron...)
I don't know about most posters, but I'm actually uncomfortable about "servant" service - I prefere self-serve in gas, restaurants, stores, etc. I find the concept of a person standing by like Jeeves, just to serve me, as a demeaning concept for me and them.
Just a side note for the flame-bait troll(s); according to an informal survey of waiters/waitresses I recall reading from many years ago, the best tips are generally given by unaccompanied men, usually to women - young and old, as long as they seem friendly. The worst tippers were solo women.
I'm a cheapskate. I admit it. I fail to see why I should pay someone $1 or $5 to do some elementary work like lifting my bags - I need the exercise anyway. I have never heard of tipping the teacher, or the bus driver, or whatever.. I know some people here probably tip the mailman and/or garbagemen, but the union rates in Canada are far better than in the states. Our garbagemen make more than teachers in Idaho (even allowing for the exchange rate of the Northern Peso). I have friends whose childeren are at the birthday party age, and I learned a few years ago about the "goodie bag" syndrome - our tipping culture taken to the extreme.
I haven't asked around, but I don't expect anyone I know tips maids in hotels. This appears to have been something dreamed up in the last few years. When I'm travelling company-paid, I will tip where EVERYONE expects to tip... but I believe that when the price of the Hotel room is extreme, the obligation is on Hotel Management to pay a reasonable wage. (some hotels in Canada are unionized - I see something about strikes in some of them on the news every so often...) If the Hilton in downtown Toronto can charge $219/day for my room, they could afford to add $1 to the maid's wage. At 1/2hr per room, that works out to $2/hr more, or $14/day. That $219 is for the same room that goes for $159 if you don't get the "executive" option. For that, you get free breakfast and free drinks in the upstairs lounge (big whoopee for those of us that don't drink). How much is $60 in wholesale liquor?
Half the hotels in Toronto are over 25 years old - there shouldn't be any mortgage left; if there is, someone's playing corporate shuffleboard, and deserves the lower profits...
Tipping taxi drivers? they generally work on commission, so they don't get a guaranteed wage- they work for it. A half hour drive to the Toronto airport (no guaranteed return fare) earns a $5 tip; adequate. Waiters/waitresses? Far more opportunity for visible performance - I can see promptness and zeal. How can I tell the maid did a good job, unless I look for the tell-tale pubic hairs in the fresh bed, or do the white glove test? (How would you tell the teacher did a good job? Maybe little Johnny's just a moron...)
I don't know about most posters, but I'm actually uncomfortable about "servant" service - I prefere self-serve in gas, restaurants, stores, etc. I find the concept of a person standing by like Jeeves, just to serve me, as a demeaning concept for me and them.
Just a side note for the flame-bait troll(s); according to an informal survey of waiters/waitresses I recall reading from many years ago, the best tips are generally given by unaccompanied men, usually to women - young and old, as long as they seem friendly. The worst tippers were solo women.
Jul 20th, 2001, 10:18 AM
#143
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The only problem with tipping at the end of your stay, is the cleaning staff is not always the same from day to day. If there is not an envelope, there is usally a little tent card that says "hi - my name is____ and I will be cleaning your room" We usually tuck the tip in the card or under - no mistake who it for. The bottom line is this: no one is going to force you to leave a tip. If you choose not to, that is your business. If you choose to reward a service employee with a tip, that is your business as well. I have done both!
Jul 21st, 2001, 03:52 PM
#144
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It always amazes me to hear people talk about not tipping a maid. We feel fine about handing out money to people who walk our food across a room or bring our bags up an elevator to our rooms. When it comes to giving a little extra to those who empty our trash, strip our beds and clean out toilets.... well, we have to think about that. Hello... think about it folks. Always tip your maid. Even if it's only a dollar (but I agree with the consesus that it generally should be two).
Jul 23rd, 2001, 04:16 AM
#146
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I'm one of the ones who posted above, twice in fact, in favor of tipping generously. But -- true, I assure you -- just got back from a visit to Williamsburg and stayed in the comparatively upscale Hospitality House (they include themselves in a directory of "fine" lodging a la La Meridien, etc.).
The level of housekeeping at least on my floor was pitiful -- each day my bed was made, used towels replaced (I HOPE, at least I had folded ones to replace the ones I left on the doorknob), wastebaskets emptied, but that was IT. The floor was never vacuumed, things on surfaces were never straightened, and the hair dryer I used and left on the counter next to the sink wasn't returned to the rack, which suggests that the sink was never cleaned.
For the first time in my life, I purposely "stiffed" the maid, leaving a dollar for 4 days' stay (would have left $0.00, but that can always be interpreted as an oversight).
The level of housekeeping at least on my floor was pitiful -- each day my bed was made, used towels replaced (I HOPE, at least I had folded ones to replace the ones I left on the doorknob), wastebaskets emptied, but that was IT. The floor was never vacuumed, things on surfaces were never straightened, and the hair dryer I used and left on the counter next to the sink wasn't returned to the rack, which suggests that the sink was never cleaned.
For the first time in my life, I purposely "stiffed" the maid, leaving a dollar for 4 days' stay (would have left $0.00, but that can always be interpreted as an oversight).
Jul 26th, 2001, 09:03 AM
#147
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Leslee ([email protected]), re how much hair stylists make- My mom's a stylist back in Michigan...My stylist in CA was independent. She paid rent to the salon owner for her station and use of the receptionist and paid for her own materials. What she made was based on her profits above those overhead costs.
My mom works at a regular salon where she gets a percentage of the cost of the servcies. 40% I think. It's not an upscale salon in an upscale neighborhood so the services cost less and so her pay is less. She does a lot of old ladies' hair, and while she gets some interesting stories they can be the worst tippers! But some are the most generous and give her Christmas bonuses, etc. It's so varible. She works full time, no lunchbreaks, no benefits (like health ins, vacation pay, 401K) and I would guess she grosses about $30K at the most. If she gets stiffed on tips she still has to declare a percentage like waitresses. Most of the women who work part time and take lunch breaks make a good deal less, though my stylist in Palo Alto, CA probably make a good deal more since the cost of cut,color etc was about double what it is in the midwest (but so are housing costs)...
I'm a software engineer and definitely wouldn't to be everyone's free psychologist all day for those rates and no benefits. I'm grateful I had the opportunities and encouragement to go to college as young woman in the 90's when I was told I could do anything I put my mind to (my mom was not encouraged to do much more than find a nice man to marry)... I know wasn't that way with everyone in the 60's but a lot of women even now, depending on their culture and upbringing aren't raised with much confidence or encouragement.... my two cents.
So, I think of those single mothers or non English speaking women who work so hard to clean other peoples mess and leave a tip for the maid every night. I figure even $1-2 per room would really help them out if the majority of the people left a tip. Maybe they can send their children to college or themselves...
My mom works at a regular salon where she gets a percentage of the cost of the servcies. 40% I think. It's not an upscale salon in an upscale neighborhood so the services cost less and so her pay is less. She does a lot of old ladies' hair, and while she gets some interesting stories they can be the worst tippers! But some are the most generous and give her Christmas bonuses, etc. It's so varible. She works full time, no lunchbreaks, no benefits (like health ins, vacation pay, 401K) and I would guess she grosses about $30K at the most. If she gets stiffed on tips she still has to declare a percentage like waitresses. Most of the women who work part time and take lunch breaks make a good deal less, though my stylist in Palo Alto, CA probably make a good deal more since the cost of cut,color etc was about double what it is in the midwest (but so are housing costs)...
I'm a software engineer and definitely wouldn't to be everyone's free psychologist all day for those rates and no benefits. I'm grateful I had the opportunities and encouragement to go to college as young woman in the 90's when I was told I could do anything I put my mind to (my mom was not encouraged to do much more than find a nice man to marry)... I know wasn't that way with everyone in the 60's but a lot of women even now, depending on their culture and upbringing aren't raised with much confidence or encouragement.... my two cents.
So, I think of those single mothers or non English speaking women who work so hard to clean other peoples mess and leave a tip for the maid every night. I figure even $1-2 per room would really help them out if the majority of the people left a tip. Maybe they can send their children to college or themselves...
Jul 27th, 2001, 08:06 PM
#148
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I think we're all missing the point here. The point is that the hotel should be paying the maid what the service is worth!!! The hotel is certainly charging enough and then is expoiting the underpaid (usually female) employee who is providing a service that is critical to the operation of the facility. Pay the maid! Stop depending on your customer to pay twice for a basic service!
Jul 27th, 2001, 09:40 PM
#149
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I think the big reason some people don't tip is because no one knows about it, except the maid & she's not there to see you leave. In a resturant you are in a public place, possibly eating with friends or on business & you don't want to look cheap. I wonder how many of our non-tippers would leave nothing on the counter for the maid if a possible business client were looking over their shoulder. I think most of our "pigs" would turn into chickens. Remember Scrooge. Give the lady a couple of bucks it ain't gonna hurt you - it might even feel good.
Jul 28th, 2001, 12:06 PM
#150
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Hey sugardimples, would you be willing to part with, let's say, $10 per night extra at every hotel in order to increase the wage of that maid .50 per hour? Because that's what it would cost, with insurance and taxes. Or how about $30 per night for $1.50 raise? To do a job that requires NO education and very little training that almost any healthy person can do.
Now your $50 Days Inn becomes $60-$80 per night, onward and upward. And of course you would earn no more at your (I'm assuming) professional job, since those NOT receiving tips already earn the full value of the job, according to your logic.
No, let's keep tipping. That way the bucks go directly where they belong, with no middleman (IRS and Workers Comp companies) getting a slice.
Now your $50 Days Inn becomes $60-$80 per night, onward and upward. And of course you would earn no more at your (I'm assuming) professional job, since those NOT receiving tips already earn the full value of the job, according to your logic.
No, let's keep tipping. That way the bucks go directly where they belong, with no middleman (IRS and Workers Comp companies) getting a slice.
Jul 28th, 2001, 08:04 PM
#151
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Ummm, Carrie, where does it say that this is a U.S. forum?
I'd also like to know how often the blankets/comforters are cleaned.
I always make it a practice to lift the blankets away from the bed and have often found hair which suggests that beds are not always changed. To me that is just plain nasty. I rarely tip maids
and that is one of the reasons why. If someone did go out of their way to make my stay a little better I might consider it. It's never happened though.
In third world countries I tip the housekeeping staff simply because they are so over-worked and under-paid. It makes my day to see the smiles on their faces.
I'd also like to know how often the blankets/comforters are cleaned.
I always make it a practice to lift the blankets away from the bed and have often found hair which suggests that beds are not always changed. To me that is just plain nasty. I rarely tip maids
and that is one of the reasons why. If someone did go out of their way to make my stay a little better I might consider it. It's never happened though.
In third world countries I tip the housekeeping staff simply because they are so over-worked and under-paid. It makes my day to see the smiles on their faces.
Jul 28th, 2001, 09:14 PM
#153
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WOW, never considered myself a big tipper until I muddled through this thread. I am certainly not wealthy nor well to do, but I do save to take two one-week vacations per year. I always take small envelopes with me and leave $5 in one each day on the bed for the maid. That way the maid who does the work gets the tip and I will tell you that if you do it each day you will get wonderful service. If I need more hangers or more towels or an iron and ironing board (provided they are not in the room), I never have to wait long to receive it. I agree that is their job, but a waitress' job is to wait on my table too. And in our government's infinite wisdom, their minimum wage is quite a bit less than any other job.
Part of this issue about tipping boils down to each of us has to live with ourselves and if you can stiff the maid and not have any problem with looking at yourself in the mirror then why are you so defensive?
Part of this issue about tipping boils down to each of us has to live with ourselves and if you can stiff the maid and not have any problem with looking at yourself in the mirror then why are you so defensive?
Jul 30th, 2001, 07:46 AM
#154
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We are by no means a wealthy couple, however, I must agree with freewoman. When we save for a vacation we always plan on saving extra for tips. In the case of maids, we always tip $5.00 a day. We do this on a daily basis to insure that whomever is doing the work gets the gratuity. I also regard this as a bit of insurance: I believe people are going to treat you (and your belongings) better if they feel you appreciate them (in some instances, they may also be less likely to steal things as well). Remember, T.I.P.S. stands for "To Insure Prompt Service".
Aug 1st, 2001, 02:34 PM
#157
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I just got back from a business trip to the states (I live in Europe) and stayed at the Marriott East Side (very nice hotel, FYI, especially for the $179 per night rate). Instead of tipping at the end of the stay, as I usually do, I followed the advice of the noncheap people here and tipped daily. I left $2 on top of a note that said Housekeeping: Thank you. It didn't break my budget and boy did I get big smiles and hellos from any housekeeping staff who saw me entering or leaving my room (which was cleaned perfectly each day). And what goes around comes around. I saw the woman from housekeeping pull aside and speak to the bellman who took my bags down and handled my request for a cab. After checking out, I found the bellman had arranged for me to be taken to the airport in a bona fide beautiful new limo for the same price as a cab.
BTilke
BTilke
Aug 3rd, 2001, 04:40 PM
#158
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I am a budget traveler and usually stay where the maids need the tips the most. I used to tip at the end of my stay, and then I read on Fodors (thank you very much) about tipping daily and let me tell you . . . it makes a BIG difference.
I now tip daily and leave a little note that just says Gracias or Merci or Danke or whatever and what a difference it makes! The maid now leaves me an extra towel or extra water or extra soap. If I want anything, believe me, I get it and in a hurry. I also make sure I speak to the maid anytime I see her. A little respect goes a long, long way.
Thanks you Fodorites for this invaluable tip . . . and try it, it will make a big difference in your hotel stay, no matter if it's budget or 5 stars.
Sandy
I now tip daily and leave a little note that just says Gracias or Merci or Danke or whatever and what a difference it makes! The maid now leaves me an extra towel or extra water or extra soap. If I want anything, believe me, I get it and in a hurry. I also make sure I speak to the maid anytime I see her. A little respect goes a long, long way.
Thanks you Fodorites for this invaluable tip . . . and try it, it will make a big difference in your hotel stay, no matter if it's budget or 5 stars.
Sandy
Sep 10th, 2001, 05:23 PM
#159
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All this talk about being cheap, if the maids deserve/need the money, tipping/gifting bus drivers???
What happened to plain ol' niceness? My family and I always tip a few bucks. I don't know if the maids need the money, I usually don't even meet the people who clean my room, but I do know that I like to be nice to service-oriented employees. They make my trip happy.
Leaving a few dollars makes me feel good. I know I did something nice for someone else. Yes yes, all sorts of people do nice things for me every day. I try to be nice to them, too!
Just remember a smile and a good attitude will get you where you want to go.
What happened to plain ol' niceness? My family and I always tip a few bucks. I don't know if the maids need the money, I usually don't even meet the people who clean my room, but I do know that I like to be nice to service-oriented employees. They make my trip happy.
Leaving a few dollars makes me feel good. I know I did something nice for someone else. Yes yes, all sorts of people do nice things for me every day. I try to be nice to them, too!
Just remember a smile and a good attitude will get you where you want to go.
