Question of the Day - 04 November 2017

We have always left room tips but never more than $5 everywhere in the world we have traveled. I ask housekeepers everywhere and they say about 15% leave tips.

By coincidence, I just read one of the "most read" articles listed in today's Las Vegas Sun. It pretty much agrees with the QoD answer.
https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/business/2017/nov/03/tipping-may-be-the-norm-but-not-for-hotel-housekee

We always leave a room tip [anywhere] when we stay more than one night.  Single nights:  not so often.  These Hard-working underpaid people need a boost in their hourly rate (provided services are very good or exceptional).

Two comments: I often see a card in the room saying something like, "My name is Jane and I prepared your room for you."   It invites a tip for an unseen worker and I always oblige if the room is in good order.   Secondly, I always take good care of my room and leave it in the best order possible.   I can show my appreciation for housekeeping by reducing to a minimum the work they have to do in resetting the room for the next guest.   For me it's all about being a good and appreciative guest in somebody else's establishment and not making other people clean up after me.

I know that only a few tip.  One Sunday I was checking out of the Hilton at 1 pm (late) and I wanted to leave my last daily tip ($3) but I only had a ten.  So I strolled all the way down the very long hallways on my floor and asked at least six housekeepers if they could change a ten for a five and five ones.  After checking their pockets, not one of those ladies had five singles. 

As stated in a previous comment, if the room is in good order for the items Housekeeping can control, I always leave a tip.  I do make it a priority to set aside the tip money before I hit the casino.  No that I would gamble away the tip money but to make sure I have the correct denominations for tipping when I check out.  Also, if I want extra towels or other items, I tip the housekeeper that provides them for me.

I leave $5 per day for housekeeping, especially when I'm in Vegas. I've got no problem feeding $20s into VP and slots, so giving the maid a little extra each day makes me feel like I'm actually helping someone out.  They do so much for me, I think it's only right to do something for them.

What a shame that it's so low.  I always leave a tip.  These people work hard, always have a smile, and take care of special requests (like early housekeeping, which I like, since I often return to the room around midday and like to have it done).  I think a lot of people don't know any better - they don't even realize a tip is standard as long as the room is done up well.

Recently, though not in LAS, I've seen hotels with an envelope in the room with the housekeepers' names and a request that you leave your tip in the envelope.  I bet if more LAS hotels did the same the percentage would increase greatly.

I find it incredible that so few people leave tips for housekeeping. They do so much more for you than most of the people that you DO tip, and probably earn a lower wage than most. I think it's because you don't have to deal with them directly so you can anonymously stiff them. We always leave the maid a small tip. They work hard, clean up after you, and do not get paid well. 

We have found that a small tip of $10-15 a night (except for the last night) gives us better service and we do not feel "taken" like we do with that "luxury tax resort fee". Usually the room is cleaned better, and our "small" requests for an extra blanket, pillows, towels,toiletries, or coffee (if the room has a brewer) are taken seriously. We do this almost everywhere we travel, not just in Vegas but on rare occasions where the service was truly terrible--we have stiffed 'em.