Tipping at timeshares - what do you do?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

It's been a while since I've seen this discussed and I thought I'd get an update. A few scenarios, please share your practices for each that you've encountered:

1. Timeshare stay with daily housekeeping
2. Timeshare stay with no housekeeping
3. Timeshare stay with midweek tidy
4. Calling for maintenance/housekeeping to come to the unit to deliver or fix things

I'll go first, though I fear I may be cheap (part of the reason for this thread):

1. $10/day for full service including bed linen changes, kitchen cleaning, etc, $40-50/week for less intense daily tidy
2. $20
3. $20 -$30 depending on what's in my wallet
4. This depends on the task. I recently tried to tip a maintenance guy $10 after he spent a half hour fixing a broken ceiling fan, and he tried hard not to accept it but eventually did. I don't think they get tipped very often. I know some people feel that it's the resorts responsibility to keep the units in working order - I don't disagree but he did a great job and went above and beyond what most would have done. I don't tip for things that should be in the unit but are missing, or things that need to be replaced because they are broken or gross. I usually slip a few bucks to people who deliver extra pillows/blankets/etc.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Okay, we're really cheap. We don't tip at all for the cleaning.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I tip when we are in Mexico. In the US, no.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

Wow Avery. You are not cheap at all. Maybe I am?

I do about $5 a day in Mexico. Maybe $10 at checkout.

At a resort with no housekeeping at all, I leave $5 on my way out.

With a mid-week housekeeping, I will leave $5 to $10. I will give it to the housekeeper personally if I'm there when they come by.

At FSA, they came by daily (nice toiletries!), and I think we left $40-50ish at the end of the week.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Wow Avery. You are not cheap at all. Maybe I am?

I do about $5 a day in Mexico. Maybe $10 at checkout.

At a resort with no housekeeping at all, I leave $5 on my way out.

With a mid-week housekeeping, I will leave $5 to $10. I will give it to the housekeeper personally if I'm there when they come by.

At FSA, they came by daily (nice toiletries!), and I think we left $40-50ish at the end of the week.

I am going to correct my initial post - the $10/day is for full daily housekeeping. I used to do that at the Manhattan Club before they instituted the outrageous 'hospitality fee' that ostensibly includes housekeeping. So I started leaving a lot less there after that, even though I felt bad because the policy hurt the staff.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

1. Timeshare stay with daily housekeeping
2. Timeshare stay with no housekeeping
3. Timeshare stay with midweek tidy
4. Calling for maintenance/housekeeping to come to the unit to deliver or fix things

1. Rarely if ever have daily housekeeping. Like Troggy, in Mexico, yes, $5 unless I make an actual mess. next mx trip with be twice daily hk. Likely coupla bucks each time unless I leave an actual mess.
2. 0
3. have never had, likely $5
4. Maint, unlikely, unless Over and Above (2 am, friendly, fast, whatever). Bringing stuff that should have been there, probably no tip, bringing something extra, a couple bucks.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

I never did. Take it out of the overpriced maint. fees.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

The most recent article I can find on hotel tipping is from 2009. Allowing for inflation and the fact that the rates are based on hotel rooms, I don't think I'm overtipping, but I surely won't feel guilty. I think that having to clean units with kitchens and often two bathrooms/bedrooms warrants a decent step-up. If anyone finds more recent advice, please share. I also live in NYC, so am accustomed to inflated prices for everything.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/trave...ing17_ST_N.htm

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I tip $5 a day for daily housekeeping in a timeshare which I have yet to encounter except in Europe, Mexico & Manhattan Club.
In my mid week cleanings I tip $20.
I tip $1 per bag when they bring up my stuff to the room or at least $5 if less than 5 bags.
Usually we have about 10 bags of stuff when coming in the car.
No tip for stuff missing or broken in the unit.
$3 for stuff I want extra like extra toilet paper or soap.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

I also generally leave the place pretty darn clean. I load the dishwasher and start it. Obviously, they have to vacuum, change linens, etc. But I never leave a big mess for them.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I also generally leave the place pretty darn clean. I load the dishwasher and start it. Obviously, they have to vacuum, change linens, etc. But I never leave a big mess for them.

That goes a long way and I agree that tipping is not in lieu of being a considerate guest. I load the dishwasher but don't start it. If we're rushing I may leave a few things in the sink. I don't clean out the fridge too well because I hate throwing away food and like to think that maybe someone will be able to use it, though in reality I'm sure most of it gets ditched. I do take out the garbage (if we are in a place that has dumpsters outside).

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

For daily service, I normally tip between $5 & $10 a day, depending on the circumstances, and size of unit. For mid week, I usually tip $20 - $25. If ever I call for extra towels, soap, etc., I give $5 & $2 - $3 each time for valet parking.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Lol. Me too! I leave the place in excellent condition. I'm always cleaning something, even on vacation.

I also generally leave the place pretty darn clean. I load the dishwasher and start it. Obviously, they have to vacuum, change linens, etc. But I never leave a big mess for them.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

When we are staying two (2) consective weeks; our housekeeper who clean our villas during that second week always keep no less than a $20.00 bill and maybe more. A big smile and a good attittude will keep you more in tip.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

That goes a long way and I agree that tipping is not in lieu of being a considerate guest. I load the dishwasher but don't start it. If we're rushing I may leave a few things in the sink. I don't clean out the fridge too well because I hate throwing away food and like to think that maybe someone will be able to use it, though in reality I'm sure most of it gets ditched. I do take out the garbage (if we are in a place that has dumpsters outside).

I always start the dishwasher, never anything in the sink, garbage taken out, sheets and towels piled.

I also have never left a big mess. I have used the vacuum or broom when I break something or we track in dirt or sand.

Fridge - depends on what is left. One time we had a lot of milk, eggs and bread left and saw a family checking in - asked if they wanted them and they did. I felt better about that than either pitching them or hoping someone would use them.