How do you view midweek cleaning for MVC resorts

[Dean]

My vote is on a case by case basis such as no W/D in units and I think a towel exchange is reasonable.

 

[mjm1]

We usually decline a mid-week cleaning if it’s offered as we keep our unit pretty clean throughout our stay. However, we do like the option of exchanging towels if we want to, which we can do directly with the housekeepers.

 

[vacationtime1]

Our mid-week tidy at WKORV earlier this month consisted of only fresh towels, trash removal, and making the bed. It took the housekeeper less than ten minutes. The refresh was nice. I wouldn't have wanted my old, wet towels to sit in the jacuzzi tub for a whole week.

I don't think this level refresh is a very high bar, and a "good" resort should be able to meet or exceed it.

 

[daviator]

The poll isn't clear and suggests that people might expect a full cleaning at mid-week. I don't think that's anyone's expectation. The midweek service, where provided, is typically what they call a "tidy" and is usually close to what @vacationtime1 described above.

I, for one, very much appreciate the mid-week tidy and think it should be provided everywhere. Those who don't want it can always leave their Do Not Disturb sign up.

At the Westin properties, they have a very complicated bed linen arrangement with many different layers. We make the bed every day, but after three or four nights, it's often pretty messed up and I usually give up on trying to figure out what's supposed to be folded over what, etc. So in addition to the obvious trash removal and towel changes, I appreciate the bed making which resets the bed to its correct state, which we can usually maintain for the remainder of the week.

 

[dioxide45]

I, for one, very much appreciate the mid-week tidy and think it should be provided everywhere. Those who don't want it can always leave their Do Not Disturb sign up.

Why can't those that want it pay for the additional service? It can go both ways, can't it?

At the Westin properties, they have a very complicated bed linen arrangement with many different layers. We make the bed every day, but after three or four nights, it's often pretty messed up and I usually give up on trying to figure out what's supposed to be folded over what, etc. So in addition to the obvious trash removal and towel changes, I appreciate the bed making which resets the bed to its correct state, which we can usually maintain for the remainder of the week.

As for the bed situation at Westin resorts, they need to do better. Flat sheets suck. Flat sheets layered with blankets and other flat sheets is bad. We need a single fitted sheet over the mattress with a flat sheet on top and then a duvet with duvet cover. In fact, if you buy the Heavenly Bed linens online to use at home, that is basically what you get. Not that snarly mess of stuff they put on the beds in the timeshare units.

 

[jmhpsu93]

My vote is on a case by case basis such as no W/D in units and I think a towel exchange is reasonable.

I concur...towel exchange is very reasonable, especially where you don't have the W/Ds.

Now if they would just give us some spray cleaner we could keep our own kitchen clean.

 

[Dean]

I'm going to bump this up. So far the overwhelming response is that a routine midweek cleaning is not necessary but that there are exceptions based on specific resort situations and many would like to see a towel exchange. The reality is that participating in timeshares requires a certain amount of compromise and giving up certain amenities/options. I do find it interesting when I stay at a Bluegreen or Wyndham resorts and I can pretty much get anything I want delivered to the room or picked up at the front desk compared to the recent HHI fiasco with draconian limitations.

 

[bazzap]

I'm going to bump this up. So far the overwhelming response is that a routine midweek cleaning is not necessary but that there are exceptions based on specific resort situations and many would like to see a towel exchange. The reality is that participating in timeshares requires a certain amount of compromise and giving up certain amenities/options. I do find it interesting when I stay at a Bluegreen or Wyndham resorts and I can pretty much get anything I want delivered to the room or picked up at the front desk compared to the recent HHI fiasco with draconian limitations.

Personally I would rather forego the daily tidy in our European MVC resorts, as it is so minimal anyway but could still save money, and I have raised this with the management team there.
Seemingly though a significant number of other owners were near apoplectic at the idea of losing this, let alone the mid week clean.
So I suspect that a survey of European MVC resort owners would yield a very different result?

 

[Dean]

Personally I would rather forego the daily tidy in our European MVC resorts, as it is so minimal anyway but could still save money, and I have raised this with the management team there.
Seemingly though a significant number of other owners were near apoplectic at the idea of losing this, let alone the mid week clean.
So I suspect that a survey of European MVC resort owners would yield a very different result?

Possibly, it seems it's more cultural there as it is in MX. I wonder though if done with numbers to define the savings if that would late the results.

 

[dougp26364]

I do not like nor want anyone entering my room from the resort. At resorts where there is a mid week tidy, I leave the do not disturb sign on the door and notify housekeeping we do not wish to be disturbed

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Our mid-week tidy at WKORV earlier this month consisted of only fresh towels, trash removal, and making the bed. It took the housekeeper less than ten minutes. The refresh was nice. I wouldn't have wanted my old, wet towels to sit in the jacuzzi tub for a whole week.

I don't think this level refresh is a very high bar, and a "good" resort should be able to meet or exceed it.

This. If there is more than 2 in a room, or the room is by the beach where sand tracks in, this is a must. Also when cooking in the room.

MVC race to the bottom. I do not know what the high MFs are for if they cannot offer tidies to "save money." Kill the activities (which we never use) and keep tidies.

 

[Dean]

I do not like nor want anyone entering my room from the resort. At resorts where there is a mid week tidy, I leave the do not disturb sign on the door and notify housekeeping we do not wish to be disturbed

This is generally us as well but that's not the reason for my opinion, I just don't see it necessary except for the situations I referenced earlier or maybe a one off such as illness. If one has a W/D just wash the towels. I also avoid valet parking and bell services whenever possible.

 

[wuv pooh]

Once per week for me. Never had any issue getting what I wanted delivered by the front desk or taken from the housekeeping cart so never had any issues and would rather the housekeepers focus on getting people into their rooms earlier.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I like the mid-week tidy or cleaning if they offer it. Of course, I also like the daily housekeeping at hotels that are available. But it's not a big concern if it's not provided.

 

[dioxide45]

Once per week for me. Never had any issue getting what I wanted delivered by the front desk or taken from the housekeeping cart so never had any issues and would rather the housekeepers focus on getting people into their rooms earlier.

I suspect the days they schedule these mid-week tidies are slow days for housekeeping anyway. Even with points based reservations I would expect the bulk of checkins to still be Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So they needed something for staff to do on those slower mid weeks, thus the mid-week tidy. I doubt this has much impact on full turnover cleanings.

 

[vail]

If Marriott keeps eliminating services and therefore costs, they do not reduce maintenance fees. They just find other ways to increase their fees.
Instead of trying to race to the bottom, we should expect higher quality furnishings, service etc. and perhaps they will have to figure a way to make it work?

Marriott cannot have too many disgruntled owners.
The system will collapse.
But the race to the bottom continues and it will not be long before I discontinue using the weeks, as the units are far from what they used to be.

 

[daviator]

Why can't those that want it pay for the additional service? It can go both ways, can't it?.

Because it was one of the services which were promised when we bought. It's for the same reason they can’t suddenly decide to start charging owners for parking. That service, too, is part of the deal.

At properties which never provided a tidy service, sure, make it available for a fee. But the elimination of services, i.e. “race to the bottom”? No thanks.

 

[Dean]

Because it was one of the services which were promised when we bought. It's for the same reason they can’t suddenly decide to start charging owners for parking. That service, too, is part of the deal.

At properties which never provided a tidy service, sure, make it available for a fee. But the elimination of services, i.e. “race to the bottom”? No thanks.

There is nothing contractual about any of those items for any properties I am aware of. We all know or should know that things scan and will change and that items in place at the time or promises of a salesperson have no meaning.

 

[vacationtime1]

There is nothing contractual about any of those items for any properties I am aware of. We all know or should know that things can and will change and that items in place at the time or promises of a salesperson have no meaning.

It's not contractual; it's about brand standards. Marriott's are slipping (without even considering their last-century IT).

 

[dioxide45]

It's not contractual; it's about brand standards. Marriott's are slipping.

I am not sure where this is part of the brand standard though? Are these brand standards documented somewhere? If Marriott was top drop mid-week tidy, would Marriott International revoke their license to use the names on the properties?

 

[dioxide45]

Because it was one of the services which were promised when we bought.

In all my timeshare presentations, I don't recall every being told that any kind of mid-week or daily tidy was part of the deal. In fact, if you attend a promo package, you get daily service. They certainly don't fulfill that at most of the resorts after you buy.

 

[daviator]

In all my timeshare presentations, I don't recall every being told that any kind of mid-week or daily tidy was part of the deal. In fact, if you attend a promo package, you get daily service. They certainly don't fulfill that at most of the resorts after you buy.

I have done at least ten Encore packages (isn’t that the same as a promo package?) and probable more, and have never received daily housekeeping.

 

[Dean]

It's not contractual; it's about brand standards. Marriott's are slipping.

I personally don’t see this as applicable to brand standard and I really don’t see it as a big deal. Obviously others disagree, but they appear to be a minority at least in the US.

 

[daviator]

I personally don’t see this as applicable to brand standard and I really don’t see it as a big deal. Obviously others disagree, but they appear to be a minority at least in the US.

You put out a poll where three of the four choices support your position, and the only one which doesn’t is sort of misleading as it implies that a full cleaning midweek is required. I don’t think anyone thinks a full cleaning midweek is necessary.

From the comments it seems pretty evenly split between those who like the midweek tidy and those who don’t care.

 

[Dean]

You put out a poll where three of the four choices support your position, and the only one which doesn’t is sort of misleading as it implies that a full cleaning midweek is required. I don’t think anyone thinks a full cleaning midweek is necessary.

From the comments it seems pretty evenly split between those who like the midweek tidy and those who don’t care.

My goal was to get more insight into the issue where what appears to be a small minority that feel a midweek cleaning is a must across the board to the point of definition the quality of a timeshare system. That was the position I interpreted from a handful of people. I allowed 2 choices because, as I stated, I think there are situations where there is a greater need. It wasn't my intention to skew the numbers beyond looking at that type of information. Given that goal I don't see that the poll is far off and I don't see that trying to micromanage the variations on midweek options further as necessary or even reasonable to get more insight. Maybe you should put out a poll that you see is more appropriate. So far 5 out of 28 see it as a must and few see iit as never being needed. Most have an a between view as I do and as I stated. I would venture to guess that having a W/D in the unit OR having access to additional towels or a towel exchange would be the determining factor for most everyone's opinion and it would be for mine. I simply feel that beyond that it should be pay to play if one just chooses not to use the W/D in the unit for towels or grab the broom a couple of times during a week. This is not a situation where it is reasonable for a majority to pay for a minority Obviously there will be special situations that are a one off such as illness related events. On a related note, I've seen DVC charge for extra bedding for illness related events sticking to their policy.

Let me state how I look at amenities for clarity and that thought process would apply here as well. I would judge what are the requirements for a resort given the location/circumstances which would be different for Orlando than Waikiki or NYC for example. That might include a pool or parking for many resorts and would include some W/D options of tome type and some kitchen type facilities, that is a list we could expand on and if one wanted to expand out should likely be it's on thread. Beyond that one would have to look at the likely usage, costs involved, ability to segregate the service on a pay to play basis and any given economy of scale. I do think the % of owners that would take advantage of a given option, even if a minority, is a consideration. One also needs to look long term which, in this case, might include to additional wear/tear on the W/D units compared to the industrial units and personnel costs for the 2 approaches.