I've been here for 4 nights. They have those little cards that say "Your room was prepared for you by Monique". Is it still customary to leave a tip?

I think it's entirely up to you, I've never left a tip for maids before.

If you're not going to use the same hotel again, I don't see a point tbh.

Actually, even if you are going to I don't see a point, I doubt the maids will know the name of the occupant so you won't get less of a service next time!

(But then again, I am from Yorkshire and we're apparently all... how does the saying go... 'Tight as a duck's @rse!' Lol!)

The tipping expectance is totally different between England and America, I don't think we are positioned to give good advice, HuntersBar :)

Ha ha, will they poo under your pillow if you don't tip in America?

I've been to the US twice and didn't tip the maids there either!

OMG, do American maids hate tight UK people? Lol!

(sorry, I thought he meant in Canada though! Is that the same etiquette as the US on tipping?)

Personally I would ask at reception and see if there is a general tip box that all the staff get a share of I worked in the hotel trade on and off for 4 years and I have to say unless the person is serving you food I see no point in tipping.

You mean it isn't normal for them to poo under your pillow?? I should tip more often!

LOL - You guys crack me up.

Yes, if it is in the good Ole US - tips are expected. Sadly, the salary that those who rely heavily on tips make, is just awful.

You are all too funny :) I mean that in a very loving way. :)

p.s. Yes NK that's why they have the little envelope for Monique. Hope this info helps :)

Nice Guy Eddie: C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't tip?
Mr. Pink: Nah, I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make s***.
Mr. Pink: Don't give me that. She don't make enough money that she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie: I don't even know a f****** Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you don't ever tip?
Mr. Pink: I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue: Hey, our girl was nice.
Mr. Pink: She was okay. She wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue: What's special? Take you in the back and s*** your d***?
Nice Guy Eddie: I'd go over twelve percent for that.

Ok, next question... how much do you tip them then?

Thanks for the info all.

Not saying I agree with all of this... but here is a helpful site about tipping. Specifically for NK's question - here is what the site suggest:

Maid service - $1-5 per day typically, up to $10 per day depending upon how much mess you make. Tip daily because there might be a different maid each day. Leave the tip on your pillow. Err on the side of being generous, and tip on the last day also.

They suggest tip each day, but hubby and I tip at the end of our stay. Geez, didn't think about the different maid each day.:o

Here is the link:

Tipping Etiquette Guide at FindaLink.net (http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php)

I tip them most of the time, but that is just because I feel that they do not make enough money. Most of the maids are probably making only a dollar or two above minimum wage (which isn't enough to live on but that is another topic) and they have to clean up all sorts of crazy stuff. I figure if I can give them a few dollars and make their day, I might as well.

It is actually hard to poo on someone's pillow, can u imagine it?LOL
I stay in hotels a lot in the US for business trip. I tip at breakfast, and I sometimes leave my money/changes on the draw in my room , they never got stolen. So I assume, u don't need to tip, if u do, then why they didn't take the money I left on the draw?

One of my neighbors works for Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites and she tells me never to tip. The reason being is that seldom does the tip wind up in the rightful hands. The first person in the room takes the tip and one has to rely on that person's honesty to turn it in to the front desk for the rightful person. She says it happens so frequently. There is even a maid where she works that looks for the vacanies and runs to the rooms to pilfer the tips. This woman was caught twice already and still not fired.

My neighbor was once left an envelope, with her name on it, with $20.00 in the envelope. The envelope and the money gone. How she found out was the customer (a regular customer) asked her the next time he and his wife were staying if she got the tip.

So I do not tip either, unless I find the person who was making up my room and hand it directly to him or her.

Usually when they take the time to identify themselves like that they are expecting you to tip. I usually leave something at the end of a stay, the idea above for a total daily tip paid at the end is the way I usually go.

I never "tip" for something that I am not getting a service for.

If I call for room service, or if I require special needs, then I will give a tip to the person who actually helps with it. Or if I leave the room in more than a mess than normal, I will leave a tip for those that clean up.