Leaving Ocean Pointe tomorrow, tip for housekeeping?

[Beach57]

We’re concluding our week. We knew we wouldn’t have housekeeping while we were here. Have kept the villa neat, but what do you all leave for a tip?

 

[echino]

We’re concluding our week. We knew we wouldn’t have housekeeping while we were here. Have kept the villa neat, but what do you all leave for a tip?

No housekeeping, no tip. Even in the US. My opinion, yours may differ.

 

[Beach57]

That’s easy. Thank you exhibit!

 

[jwalk03]

I agree. I would not leave a tip either. I tip for good service- no service no tip.

 

[PsuFrh]

They did prep the unit for you, so I would say a small gratuity is warranted. Was it the full 2 bedroom unit, just the lock off or just the 1 bedroom? Depending on what size unit you occupied that they readied for you, then maybe $5 to $10 or so. Just my opinion.

 

[dioxide45]

I don't understand how one can leave a villa messy. I guess it happens, but we like to take our clothes and stuff with us. It isn't like I am going to tear the mattress off the bed or remove the sofa cushions. I do load and *usually remember* to start the dishwasher.

Realize any tip you give will only go to the person who cleans your unit after you depart. I don't think they pool tips. So the person that cleaned it before you won't get anything. Even if you got a mid week tidy, it would likely be a different person doing the end of week cleaning.

BTW, there is never mid week housekeeping on a timeshare stay at Ocean Pointe or any other mainland domestic USA resorts unless you pay for it. So your situation is no different than any pre-COVID stay.

 

[pedro47]

They did prep the unit for you, so I would say a small gratuity is warranted. Was it the full 2 bedroom unit, just the lock off or just the 1 bedroom? Depending on what size unit you occupied that they readied for you, then maybe $5 to $10 or so. Just my opinion.

A normal tip for us would be for good housekeeping cleaning for two (2) weeks $10.00 to $20.00 for a full 2 bedrooms villas/ 2baths rooms & full kitchen.

 

[dioxide45]

No housekeeping, no tip. Even in the US. My opinion, yours may differ.

Would you have tipped pre-COVID? There is nothing different now than pre-COVID. Timeshares don't usually offer midweek housekeeping. The room was clean before they got there and after they leave.

 

[echino]

Would you have tipped pre-COVID? There is nothing different now than pre-COVID. Timeshares don't usually offer midweek housekeeping. The room was clean before they got there and after they leave.

No, if there is no mid-week housekeeping, especially when I leave the room tidy, with no mess. I left a tip in Hawaii pre-Covid when there was a mid-week cleaning.

 

[dioxide45]

No, if there is no mid-week housekeeping, especially when I leave the room tidy, with no mess. I left a tip in Hawaii pre-Covid when there was a mid-week cleaning.

So you left the tip on the day mid-week came in to clean? Not at the end of the stay?

 

[Beach57]

That’s easy. Thank you exhibit!

 

[Beach57]

We had a one bedroom villa. We’re from New York, where no one seems to want to work, so I guess I was thinking a small thank you was in order, but will probably follow the consensus and not tip. Appreciate the weigh ins.

 

[echino]

So you left the tip on the day mid-week came in to clean? Not at the end of the stay?

Yes.

In the end of stay, in my opinion, a tip is only warranted if I / kids leave an unusually big mess. No tip for regular cleaning between stays. I already paid for that cleaning in my maintenance fees. For example, for WKORVN, 2br, just one cleaning between stays cost me $413.34.

 

[Lv2Trvl]

I always tip. Mid week and final exit. And when a runner brings some special request. It's hard work at low pay and we appreciate the work.

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[marmite]

Maybe because my first timeshare was Disney, and they always greeted us with "Welcome Home", I never thought about tipping. No one tips me at home! I didn't think of it as being a hotel stay, and barely get service in a timeshare -- a mid week tidy at most. And now with Covid, the mid week tidy does not exist!

If I was somewhere (worldwide) where there is a huge income disparity (SE Asia, Mexico perhaps?), then I treat that differently, but often it is because the service I do get outside of the US is exceptionally gracious (and noticed) because I have more interactions with the staff. I'm sure it all depends where you stay.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes.

In the end of stay, in my opinion, a tip is only warranted if I / kids leave an unusually big mess. No tip for regular cleaning between stays. I already paid for that cleaning in my maintenance fees. For example, for WKORVN, 2br, just one cleaning between stays cost me $413.34.

Technically you paid for the midweek cleaning in the maintenance fees too.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I don't understand how one can leave a villa messy. I guess it happens, but we like to take our clothes and stuff with us. It isn't like I am going to tear the mattress off the bed or remove the sofa cushions. I do load and *usually remember* to start the dishwasher.

I think one could do it by leaving messy dirty pots, pans, dishes all over the place. Say you used them all but never washed. To me, that's messy.

 

[Limace]

Always tip. If I can afford to do these trips I can afford to leave ten or twenty for the minimum wage workers who make it possible for me to have such a nice stay.


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[echino]

Always tip. If I can afford to do these trips I can afford to leave ten or twenty for the minimum wage workers who make it possible for me to have such a nice stay.


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We as owners already pay for cleaning, a lot. $400+ for one full cleaning (Hawaii example), and one mid-week cleaning (which is not happening during Covid, but we still pay in full). There's a disconnect somewhere between owners paying $400+ for one cleaning, and housekeepers getting paid a minimum wage. In any case, there is no place for tips in this situation, unless there's an extra mess requiring housekeepers go above and beyond - then a tip is appropriate, in my opinion.

 

[Big Matt]

$20 for a 2BR is my normal go to. They way I look at it is that I probably messed up how they need to leave it for the next owner. I also tip housekeepers when they bring me extra stuff, stuff that was supposed to be in the unit, etc. To me that's just common sense. Not tipping is being cheap and selfish to me.

 

[tahoe]

I have tried to tip more generously during Covid. The MF goes to corporate and not to staff. Housekeeping may have been furloughed during 2020, so I figure they could use additional help.

 

[bizaro86]

Would you have tipped pre-COVID? There is nothing different now than pre-COVID. Timeshares don't usually offer midweek housekeeping. The room was clean before they got there and after they leave.

Among the hotel brands isn't it just Marriott that doesn't offer a midweek tidy in normal times?

Sheraton, Westin, Disney definitely do. And every HGVC I've been to has. Not sure about Hyatt.

Many of the independents I've been to do as well. I'd say Marriott is more the anomaly than the rule.

 

[dioxide45]

We as owners already pay for cleaning, a lot. $400+ for one full cleaning (Hawaii example), and one mid-week cleaning (which is not happening during Covid, but we still pay in full). There's a disconnect somewhere between owners paying $400+ for one cleaning, and housekeepers getting paid a minimum wage. In any case, there is no place for tips in this situation, unless there's an extra mess requiring housekeepers go above and beyond - then a tip is appropriate, in my opinion.

I am not sure that housekeepers at luxury timeshares are earning minimum wage. In Orlando, Disney's starting pay for housekeeping is $15 an hour (or will be shortly), that also means that many other properties have to pay that or close to it in order to complete.

 

[Dean]

I am not sure that housekeepers at luxury timeshares are earning minimum wage. In Orlando, Disney's starting pay for housekeeping is $15 an hour (or will be shortly), that also means that many other properties have to pay that or close to it in order to complete.

And Disney formally considers housekeeping to be a non tipped position. Personally pre Covid I don't tip unless they do something extra. That said, they actually often do so I usually end up tipping. I too have tended to go above the usual and/or be more flexible for tipping during covid as I want those who are actually working to do well, feel appreciated and be glad they are in that position.

 

[echino]

The MF goes to corporate and not to staff.

There's a separate line in the maintenance fee bill that says "management fee" - that goes to corporate. No part of the housekeeping expenses paid by owners goes to corporate. The resort belongs to owners, and owners hire and pay for housekeeping via maintenance fees, just like any condo. Housekeepers are not comparable to wait staff at restaurants who rely on tips. We, the owners, are the employers for housekeepers and we pay them a living wage. And, if you ask me, $400+ for one cleaning is not "being cheap" at all.