Tipping Recommendations for MVC Properties

[LeesOfTheRockies]

Is there a good rule of thumb for tipping at timeshare properties? It seems to me the rules for tipping at hotels don't necessarily apply to timeshare because housekeeping at timeshare properties might only be performed before checkin and after checkout. So, the $5 per night rule may not be appropriate. On the other hand, cleaning a 2 bedroom, 2 bath villa with a full kitchen requires a whole lot more effort than cleaning a basic hotel room. Is it preferable to tip per housekeeping visit over tipping per night?

 

[VacationForever]

We do $20 per week. If there is a mid-week tidy, we leave another $20. With the most 2 recent stays, one at Worldmark and the other at Marriott, the strangest thing happened. We left the tip on the dining table and both times, the money was moved and left on the kitchen counter. It had never happened to us before. I wonder if housekeeping is now told not to pick up tip that is left for them.

 

[DeniseM]

We always leave a signed note with a tip.

 

[VacationForever]

We always leave a signed note with a tip.

We used to leave a note but we got lazy. We will leave a note with the money in the future.

 

[LeesOfTheRockies]

We do $20 per week. If there is a mid-week tidy, we leave another $20. With the most 2 recent stays, one at Worldmark and the other at Marriott, the strangest thing happened. We left the tip on the dining table and both times, the money was moved and left on the kitchen counter. It had never happened to us before. I wonder if housekeeping is now told not to pick up tip that is left for them.

That's exactly what we leave too. It's good to know we're not out of range with what others are tipping.

 

[igopogo]

We usually do 10 for a studio, 20 for a 1br and 30 for larger. 5 for each interaction with the valet.

 

[dioxide45]

Tipping is not required.

 

[Big Matt]

I tip a dollar or two if I need something delivered to the unit that was missing or for other reasons. I leave 20 for a week when I leave the unit. I also leave things that we didn't use including non perishable and unopened food.

 

[suzannesimon]

I leave the tip on my pillow. They always take it.

 

[Eric B]

I tend to tip depending on the circumstances and keeping in mind that I'm already paying for housekeeping when I use my own weeks. Looking back at the budgets for my ownerships, which are at Westins since I haven't received a bill for my first Marriott ownership yet, housekeeping ranges from $52.81 for a studio at Lagunamar to $402.43 for a 1 BR at St John. I do realize that the budgeted amounts aren't limited to salary but am much more motivated to tip when I visit Lagunamar than I am at St John, particularly when the management briefs us at the owners get together about how they needed to offer significant raises to retain the staff given pressures due to other hotels reopening. I adjust what I leave for great service.

 

[pedro47]

We leave $20 for a week stay.

 

[DRH90277]

We tip. However, I don't understand how the tips are handled as there is typically only 1 cleaning before check-in and then no further interaction with the cleaning crew. Any insight to how the cleaning personnel are actually rewarded?

Of course, this does not address the personal services as they occur.

 

[dioxide45]

We tip. However, I don't understand how the tips are handled as there is typically only 1 cleaning before check-in and then no further interaction with the cleaning crew. Any insight to how the cleaning personnel are actually rewarded?

Of course, this does not address the personal services as they occur.

I suspect your tip goes to the person who grabs it. So that would be the person that cleans the room after you checkout.

 

[PamMo]

…,housekeeping ranges from $52.81 for a studio at Lagunamar to $402.43 for a 1 BR at St John…

Wow! The difference is eye opening!

 

[dioxide45]

We always leave a signed note with a tip.

Note gets crumpled up and put in the trash, cash gets put in the pocket.

 

[pedro47]

We leave our tip on the dining room table with a smiley face note.
The cash is on top of the smiley face note. LOL

 

[DRH90277]

There is an exception to this in the way Boston Custom House seems to work. We see the cleaning personnel around us about every day and have become familiar with them over the years. Longevity seems to be valued there and the cleaning and service personnel are the best I've seen in the Marriott world.

It's easy to feel good about tipping at the Custom House.

 

[Superchief]

I tip a dollar or two if I need something delivered to the unit that was missing or for other reasons. I leave 20 for a week when I leave the unit. I also leave things that we didn't use including non perishable and unopened food.

I don't typically tip for someone bringing me something that I should have had when I checked in, or to replace a broken item. I will tip if I am asking for something extra.

 

[Foggy1]

Note gets crumpled up and put in the trash, cash gets put in the pocket.

My last stay at Desert Springs in January, I stopped at the front desk and asked for a note pad as we forgot to bring one. Was told, "We no longer provide the "Marriott Note pads." So much for leaving a note.

Also in the packet they give at check in was an envelope marked, "Staff Gratuity" or some such words.

 

[SunandFun83]

I suspect your tip goes to the person who grabs it. So that would be the person that cleans the room after you checkout.

I had a mid-week cleaning and was happy. I called the front desk to learn the person's name. I then went to the front desk and left $20 in an envelope with a note.

My trip to Phoenix was $1,900 for 2 plane tickets
$1,100 for 2 weeks car rental
2 timeshare weeks at $1,900 maintenance fees
I probably spent $1,000 on dining out

$6,000 vacation

If I am blessed enough to do this 2-3 times a year, I feel better about tipping the cleaning staff. I also tipped pretty well at some activities. I send in lunch 2-3 times a year.

People working at Vacation Club are not the counter service at Einstein's who turn the credit card machine around to get a tip for very little service. I see many Vacation Club staff several times over the years.

You also need to complete the survey after your stay. Say something specific about staff that were great. They get rewards from the company called "Way To Go" If you recognize how many of the staff make your trip better, you might start doing something for them.

 

[SunandFun83]

Note gets crumpled up and put in the trash, cash gets put in the pocket.

I usually find your advice on Vacation Club helpful. Many self help and motivational books emphasize that your life is better when you look for something to be grateful for every day.

Sir John Templeton of The Templeton Funds was one of the most generous people. He funded studies on generosity. You can learn about 15 benefits of generosity here:

The Science of Generosity

The science of generosity has its roots not just in our individual development but also in our biology and evolutionary history.

www.templeton.org

 

[daviator]

I usually find your advice on Vacation Club helpful. I am disappointed at your pissing on this thread. Many self help and motivational books emphasize that your life is better when you look for something to be grateful for every day.

Sir John Templeton of The Templeton Funds was one of the most generous people. He funded studies on generosity. You can learn about 15 benefits of generosity here:

The Science of Generosity

The science of generosity has its roots not just in our individual development but also in our biology and evolutionary history.

www.templeton.org

I don't think he pissed on the thread, I think he interjected a bit of reality. He wasn't arguing that people should not (or should) tip, just that the cash goes in the pocket and the note goes in the trash. Maybe sometimes it even gets read first.

If you want to tell yourself that the housekeeper takes your note home and sticks it on the fridge, you are welcome to do so.

 

[pedro47]

My last stay at Desert Springs in January, I stopped at the front desk and asked for a note pad as we forgot to bring one. Was told, "We no longer provide the "Marriott Note pads." So much for leaving a note.

Also in the packet they give at check in was an envelope marked, "Staff Gratuity" or some such words.

We have never received a “Staff Gratuity” envelope from any timeshare stays in over thirty (30) years.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We have never received a “Staff Gratuity” envelope from any timeshare stays in over thirty (30) years.

Really? We have many times. The first one was in 1987 at Lawrence Welk in Escondido, CA.

 

[artringwald]

I leave the tip on my pillow. They always take it.

We leave it on the pillow too, $20 for each week. No matter what the resort charges, I appreciate people that work hard for a living. I like to think it's helping the local economy.