FruitPudding

I honestly believe, most just push it as far as they can because it's totally unregulated. I mean if they tried to serve a pint for 36 pounds in London, I think something would be done about that. But the tourist market in Thailand is just a free-for-all.

Funny thing is: the prices rarely vary in Thailand, haha.????

So, the poll allows multiple choices and its anonymous. I have just included typical beer prices that I have experienced recently in downtown Bangkok and other tourist areas in Thailand. I know it can be cheaper up in Isaan and maybe elsewhere and I also didn't include shop prices obviously. I also get that it's highly subjective. In most UK cities beer is cheap, in my opinion. Even good beers that are imported and let's not forget that income is much higher in general....and the owner has to pay decent salaries to their staff and higher taxes as well (and then there's rent, not to mention utility bills are expensive in many Western countries). In Thailand, I think it's just the rent that's high; the staff salaries are very low and I think taxes are low here too (also utility bills are cheap here right?) I tend to think beer is expensive here, especially for local grog. I could be sitting drinking fine Belgian beer in a British town in a pub with the heating on in the dead of winter being served by a barman getting paid fair income (and I assume the owner still turns a profit).......for the same price as sitting drinking Thai beer in an open air bar in Thailand being served by unprofessional barkeep. I mean, in some bars here the draft is like flat rotten eggs; you have no choice but to drink bottles. I was in a little bar down Sukhumvit the other night and I must have seen at least 100k pass through the till in just a few hours. I get that rent is probably high, but staff is cheap, utilities are a little, and taxes aren't that much here. I mean the mark up on a small bottle has to be like x4 the price they buy it at in many places (especially after 8pm...don't get me started on that policy). Anyway, what's a fair price for a beer? lol

Super generous, man. Now I know why Thailand doesn't allows us farang to do anything other than teach, lol. I'd be making 50k a month tax free on tips at that rate.

It's a cultural thing, actually. So, it depends where you are. From my experience, at least, Thais don't tip. The problem I have with tipping (in Thailand) is that my family have worked as waitresses in restaurants where the customers are almost only Thai (proper restaurants, like Thai steak houses where you get waited on....I don't mean streetfood) and they have never received an actual tip from a Thai customer, like virtually nothing (maybe 1 or 2 baht change sometimes.....no joke). So, when I tip a Thai waitress I wonder would she also tip when she goes to the Thai steak restaurant my daughter works at, for example? If she ordered a Thai pork steak and a drink and it came to 200, would she even leave 10 baht tip? I don't think so. 5 baht? probably not. It'll be the usual: nothing at all, or maybe 1 or 2 baht coins. At least this is my experience. So, I do kinda have a problem tipping a Thai waitress because I am sure she won't tip anyone else. Why tip someone in a country where they don't tip? It doesn't make sense. It could be your own kid waiting on them and they wouldn't give anything.

I had a funny experience the other night actually at my local Sukhumvit Soi 4 bar (I won't say which one, but it has been there a long time and the bar staff get smashed drunk regularly). So the barmaids were absolutely drunk and I paid with a 500, the bill was 460 or something. And she was like, "I keep the change, hahaha!" And she did! I think she thought she was being cute, lol. This is a bar I usually tip in anyway because the staff are a lot of fun and service is good, so I didn't mind. But her attitude on the topic was certainly interesting.

I have never ever heard of anyone tipping on a plane. Just restaurants, barbers, delivery guys, massage, maids. I have only heard of tipping in bars in Asia cos we get our bill at the end. As you say, in the UK bartenders don't get a tip. Although in my old local back West, we would sometimes buy them a drink. I don't get how some guys tip construction workers here or mechanics. I was a construction worker back in the West and I certainly didn't get any tips. I wonder does anyone tip teachers? Serious question. Or would that be insulting to their profession? It is funny, cos many Thai teachers earn 10,000-15,000 a month nowadays, yet a waitress is getting 15,000-20,000+ a month cos of the 10% service charge plus tips on top (at least that's what my EX was making 10 years ago in a well-known sports pub on Sukhumvit and she's borderline illiterate.....the irony!)

Ouch! Farang Kee Nok, is it? I have never thought of Westerners as being stingy, especially here in Thailand. In fact, I often see a white knight syndrome where they perceive the locals to be poorer than they are and then are over-generous. This, does however, sometimes wear off with time and experience.

I am imaging a Trump hairstyle.

Reading comprehension! I know it's hard! Let me show you what I wrote: "There have been only a few reasons this year that have caused me to feel compelled to tip, yet I tip regularly. Strange isn't it?" I even highlighted the part for you which says I tip regularly (cos I think you missed it). The point is: while I tip regularly, I don't feel I have received anything more than mediocre service, and just do it out of etiquette (yet, from my experience it is not part of Thai etiquette). And, yeah, this year I can think of only a few times where I felt the person did anything worth a tip. I always tip in my local down on Soi 4 Sukhumvit. The birds always remember your name and what you drink and their level of hospitality and good company is unrivalled. But most other places range from rude, to pushy, to incompetent, to mediocre (at best). I was actually so grateful of my kid's tutor's immense effort that I happily paid her during our summer holiday while we were up country for a month this year; I certainly ain't stingy.

Almost, 15 years. Well, I have waitresses in my family at restaurants and they have never received a single tip from a Thai customer and we are talking over years. And I am not talking about noodle stalls or even Isaan restaurants. I am talking about Thai steak houses and other such sit-in aircon restaurant.

Exactly, for the low class women the only choice is: village bloke or farang. The upper classes don't marry down. Of course, they could remain single and support themselves, but for many low class women (with the education and rearing they have had), the only choice they have is: minimum wage or sex work.

You raise a good point: there should be a reason to tip; it shouldn't be out of habit or something like that. There have been only a few reasons this year that have caused me to feel compelled to tip, yet I tip regularly. Strange isn't it?

Of course you understand her: she wants a lot of money, but she has no qualifications to get a lot of money. I haven't seen any shame in these parts, darling.

Or maybe she'll have to get used to working for a living and pay her own way when she goes out.

Yeah, from her picture, I'd guess late 20s or more.

To be fair though, the old guy obviously wants companionship, otherwise why get married? Why not just try a different 20 year-old each night - I am sure he knows where to go for that. It is likely her intentions that are more predatory here. Poor guy could end up on the streets or worse (if she gets impatient).

Haha, let's see.

Well, why not? It is obviously mutually beneficial. I see no harm. Although, you could say they are both predators of a different kind, just preying on each other for sex and money. Like I said: mutually beneficial. Good luck to them.

Hello guys, So just wondering, do you tip here? Whether it's in a restaurant, bar, hotel, waitresses, maids, waiters, delivery drivers, etc. etc. Do you tip? Do you tip the same as you would in your home country? Has you philosophy on tipping changed? I know Americans are supposed to be 20% tippers (if the legend is correct) and I know in Australia it isn't normal to tip in a restaurant or anywhere (if the rumours are true). Certainly, in Thailand: Thais don't tip - there simply isn't a tipping culture here. Just curious how you guys go about tipping here in Thailand.

Totally agree. I miss the Washington Square days. The problem with the little places is they end up pricing themselves out of business. I had a great night earlier this year at The Old Other Office, but I felt an idiot paying 120 for a small bottle of local swill when I could be getting a pint for around that elsewhere. Like, can't they just buy a keg and start selling pints for that price? I would never think twice of drinking at a charming little watering hole with character if it was at least a little competitive with the big plastic Paddy, Pom, and Yank bars. But they are so stubborn. Why can't they get with the times?

Like, don't they actually serve large bottles for a pretty competitive price?

Still surprised Buddy's hasn't gotten any votes. I always thought it had a decent following.

To be honest, I am surprised Hillary is the front runner here. No particular reason (actually, I have never been there). I just wasn't expecting it. I must visit Hillary for one or two to find out what the fuss is about.

I have never been in to any of the Hillaries. Why are they good? Staff? Prices? Cheers!