Do you leave a tip for hotel housekeeping?

[Brissy1]

(You'd be surprised that most don't expect Aussies to tip)

I find it uncomfortable and hate the way it's creeping into au.
I think you're right John, discussed tipping with the barman at the Beverly Hilton LA. He said "Australians don't tip"; I didn't prove him wrong .
To me, CA (and apparently a few other states) are different to elsewhere in the US as they have abolished the low "tipped " wage rate. But are the so called maids different? Don't know.

 

[RooFlyer]

I also did it in Canada and it was never taken

I lived in Canada for three or four years all up and visited there for work very many times and I never did figure out what the system was.

Locals would berate me for tipping in restaurants when it was clearly expected. Like the US, had to be careful that gratuities weren’t included on the bill already.

How much do you leave or does it vary on the location and how much the hotel cost?

For me, it’s two bucks a night no matter where I’m staying and it’s been that way for 30 years.

 

[p--and--t]

I love places / people where it is not an expectation or even an affront not to tip.

On a trip to Taiwan we had an amazing long day trip with a driver who was patient careful and obliging. Went out of his way to ensure we had a good day. At the end of the trip I tried to tip him and he was taken aback, refused to accept and said we don't do that here.

 

[aikman]

Why does someone earning a minimum of A$30.41 per hour need to be tipped?

 

[tdimdad]

On a trip to Taiwan we had an amazing long day trip with a driver who was patient careful and obliging. Went out of his way to ensure we had a good day. At the end of the trip I tried to tip him and he was taken aback, refused to accept and said we don't do that here.

Had the same with a driver in Taiwan last year. Our day lasted two hours longer than planned and I tried to pay for those hours. He would not take it at all.

The only time I have left a tip was in Singapore a few months ago. Over the course of few days I noticed that one of the young housekeepers worked harder than the others but was also the friendliest of them all. She certainly was deserving a recognition. I had little koala & kangaroo key rings as little gifts for kids and a few left over at the end. After ensuring she's working on the floor again on my last morning, I wrote a little note, put the key rings inside and $10. On my way out, I mentioned that I've left something little in the room for her.
I also singled her out in the post-visit customer feedback survey with thanks.

 

[SCM]

Tipping is some kind of mental illness, I do not engage in this barbaric behavior.

In the US, this is particularly a clown show, so I avoid going.

 

[dajop]

Never really tipped much anywhere other than the US. Even then hit and miss.

The other thing it is becoming increasingly difficult - I tend not to use cash very much these days , if at l all , so tend to not have many smaller notes lying around -and I forget to change. Can’t help but think they need to come up with a new system - like charging an extra $5 a night and paying the housekeeping staff a living wage.

 

[Princess Fiona]

How much do you leave or does it vary on the location and how much the hotel cost?

Usually $5 a day. $10 in a big suite, multiple rooms.

 

[RooFlyer]

Can’t help but think they need to come up with a new system - like charging an extra $5 a night and paying the housekeeping staff a living wage.

good idea, but I think many of us would suspect, probably correctly, that such a fee would not get to the workers - at least without management taking a cut.

 

[tdimdad]

good idea, but I think many of us would suspect, probably correctly, that such a fee would not get to the workers - at least without management taking a cut.

Yes, it needs to be something that goes directly to the worker(s) and the giver can control how much ends up in their hands.

 

[Mattg]

Yes, it needs to be something that goes directly to the worker(s) and the giver can control how much ends up in their hands.

Some hotels add a 10% "service charge" to the price, e.g. Holiday Inn in Singapore (among many others). I've often wondered where that fee goes - I hope it's directly to the staff.

 

[drron]

In the USA just check the minimum wage rates in the States you go to as some have increased the minimum wage to much higher levels than the Federal minimum wage. They include CA and NY.
Fortunately we have traveled extensively in the States and have made the decision that we are not going to return.

 

[DC3]

Some interesting responses here, including from a few tight-wads who had been flying under the radar.

 

[p--and--t]

Last year's 10 day stay in BKK hotel, for first few days I was leaving a tip under pillow and when I returned each day the money was repositioned on the bedside table.

The room was always spotless well presented and I observed they changed all the linen every day.

On checkout day I found the two person team that did the room each day and gave them an envelope each. They were over the moon.

I don't mind tipping poorly paid staff for great service who are greatful.

I object being expected or obligated to tip average service by lazy or do minimum staff when I'm paying reasonably high rates for a nice hotel.

 

[Daver6]

Some interesting responses here, including from a few tight-wads who had been flying under the radar.

Oih...I resemble that comment

More seriously though, I don't mind paying. What I do mind is my life being made more difficult due to coughpy government in a first world country (USA). Build the cost into the room and pay your staff a proper wage. Stop making this my problem. I don't use/travel with cash in the US. It's a real hassle to get cash, make sure I have small denominations and then every day remember to leave something behind. I'm at a 4 or 5 star hotel. Make my life easy, not more difficult.

 

[DC3]

I tend to follow ‘When in Rome …..’ whether I’m in Rome or not.

 

[clifford]

Oih...I resemble that comment

More seriously though, I don't mind paying. What I do mind is my life being made more difficult due to coughpy government in a first world country (USA). Build the cost into the room and pay your staff a proper wage. Stop making this my problem. I don't use/travel with cash in the US. It's a real hassle to get cash, make sure I have small denominations and then every day remember to leave something behind. I'm at a 4 or 5 star hotel. Make my life easy, not more difficult.

I always travel with a wad of $1 notes.

Post automatically merged: Apr 15, 2024

I tend to follow ‘When in Rome …..’ whether I’m in Rome or not.

So what do you do when in Rome?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I tend to follow ‘When in Rome …..’ whether I’m in Rome or not.

Quando a Roma… Why? It’s a Shakespearean phrase. Most of my Italian friends hate the romans.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Some interesting responses here, including from a few tight-wads who had been flying under the radar.

IMHO don’t pander to the US disease. In the US, maybe, but elsewhere, don’t spread the disease.

 

[DC3]

Interesting how much of an insight we get into our fellow AFFers when they circle the bait of the tipping threads.