Tipping in Thailand??

[Guest TerryS123]

I have been here for a couple of months and I think I have been tipping more than what is expected. Can you give me some insight on what you tip?

 

Grab/Bolt?

Grab food delivery?

Restaurant?

Foot massage?
Anything else I am missing..

 

Thanks

[Denim]

I'm a Brit and I give them all the same. Seems pretty fair.

[Guest TerryS123]

2 minutes ago, Denim said:

I'm a Brit and I give them all the same. Seems pretty fair.

How much? Thanks

[Pravda]

5 minutes ago, TerryS123 said:

How much? Thanks

Probably zero

[Jingthing]

I tip 30 baht for food delivery but my impression is that most people don't tip them or if they do its more like rounded up change or 20 baht. I appreciate that they go to my condo door. I tip less  to the minority of drivers that refuse to do that especially if they lie and say it isn't allowed by the condo.

Edited September 25, 2021 by Jingthing

[HampiK]

It's always depends.
 

For Grab Food delivery, I sometimes give 10-15 baht

For Massage I give mostly about 50 baht (2 hour massage)

in better Restaurant when go out 50-100 baht (bill more than 1'000)

 

You will for sure become many information about not to give any tips.

But I think if the service was good why not give the service person. So at the end it's up to you!

[richard_smith237]

Grab/Bolt?

Grab food delivery?

 

- Goes on credit card - usually no tip. 
- if cash, then 20 baht 

 

Restaurant?

- If 10% service charge, generally no. 

- if no service charge then depends on restaurant & service & size of bill. 
 

 

Foot massage?

- massage - 300-400 baht 1-1.5 hrs - tip 200 baht

Anything else I am missing..

 

Tipping is not a big deal in Thailand., but is appreciated.

 

Americans will come on here and suggest differently. 
 

Ultimately it’s down to you, I’m probably cheap but follow suit with my Thai friends.

[KannikaP]

21 minutes ago, TerryS123 said:

Anything else I am missing..

Didn't you miss the obvious one out?    LOL

[Guest TerryS123]

3 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Didn't you miss the obvious one out?    LOL

I don't know what you are referring to? ????

[4MyEgo]

29 minutes ago, TerryS123 said:

I have been here for a couple of months and I think I have been tipping more than what is expected.

Tipping is only up to you and not really expected.

 

You should only tip if your happy with a particular service, i.e. it's not for everything and I can appreciate that you want to tip mostly everyone because you feel for them, that said, keep it within your budget, many have provided a guide above.

 

At the end of the day one also has to look after ones self, so how much will you get back tomorrow if you are left with zero.

 

Also make sure you tip both, not just the girls.

[ChaiyaTH]

Depends how good the waitress looks, otherwise I do not really tip for other things in Thailand. Let's say up to 10% of the bill usually (so only bars, restaurants if nice waitresses).

Edited September 25, 2021 by ChaiyaTH

[Kwasaki]

28 minutes ago, Pravda said:

Probably zero

That's right my Mrs learnt from me. ????

[digbeth]

20 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I tip 30 baht for food delivery but my impression is that most people don't tip them or if they do its more like rounded up change or 20 baht. I appreciate that they go to my condo door. I tip less  to the minority of drivers that refuse to do that especially if they lie and say it isn't allowed by the condo.

Most condos don't allow riders or any delivery driver to walk up to the rooms now, and with good reason, taking the time to walk up to your room and back could cost them precious time getting the next job, plenty of video of self entitled pricks getting into fight with rider/condo management over issues like this, your condo is an exception rather than the norm, 

[HappyExpat57]

I'm more than comfortable in my current finances and (touch wood) for the foreseeable future. I over-tip in every situation. These folks are hurting, barely scraping by, and if I can ease their pain a little then so be it.

[toofarnorth]

My regular tip is to my new massage lady but I think it confuses her. The last lady went into hiding when Covid appeared.  The new one is the same price 300 B for an oil massage , 1 hour.  I have 1 and half hours and give her 20B tip  So that is 470 B.  She doesn't get/understand the extra 20 B tip and gives me 10 min. head massage.  470 B already put aside for Monday. Bless her and she sings to herself while I get the massage.

Good up here .

[Jingthing]

43 minutes ago, digbeth said:

Most condos don't allow riders or any delivery driver to walk up to the rooms now, and with good reason, taking the time to walk up to your room and back could cost them precious time getting the next job, plenty of video of self entitled pricks getting into fight with rider/condo management over issues like this, your condo is an exception rather than the norm, 

Of course I don’t fight with them but I know they can come up so telling me they can't is lying. I don't live in most condos. Just one.

 

Also I agree it's an extra service to the door so I think not tipping for that is mean.

 

On one app where I  can request that early in the order sometimes drivers bump me to another driver. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Jingthing

[sucit]

48 minutes ago, digbeth said:

Most condos don't allow riders or any delivery driver to walk up to the rooms now, and with good reason, taking the time to walk up to your room and back could cost them precious time getting the next job, plenty of video of self entitled pricks getting into fight with rider/condo management over issues like this, your condo is an exception rather than the norm, 

It’s not with good reason. In fact it is total and complete, inconsistent <deleted>. A furniture delivery guy comes up, a plumber comes up, an electrician comes up, the electric meter man comes up, but if I am getting some food delivered now the guy can’t come up? Please. 
 

When are people gonna learn this stuff is all <deleted>. You know it’s true just based on inconsistencies. Why can we use elevators if covid is so dangerous, ever think of that one? If people are dying, shouldn’t we use stairs? 
 

it’s all <deleted>, people just don’t know it yet for whatever reason. 

[Jingthing]

If a driver really doesn't want to deliver to the door I respect that but it is objectively a lesser service. 

 

Paying for delivery who really wants to schlep anywhere? 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Jingthing

[The Hammer2021]

Stick with 10% minimum depending on if you will use the service again and how happy you were. Remember people are poor and desperate so be generous and kind..Cheap charlies are rightly hated here, foreigners and thais alike. My rile of thumb is NEVER tip less than the cost of a portion of Som Tam....about 50 baht..

Edited September 25, 2021 by The Hammer2021

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Stick with 10% minimum depending on if you will use the service again and how happy you were. Remember people are poor and desperate so be generous and kind..Cheap charlies are rightly hated here, foreigners and thais alike.

Tipping percentage is an American thing.

[The Hammer2021]

Just now, Jingthing said:

Tipping percentage is an American thing.

They do get some things right but I qualified it with a suggestion of generosity however I will edit my reply.

[Pravda]

10 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Stick with 10% minimum depending on if you will use the service again and how happy you were. Remember people are poor and desperate so be generous and kind..Cheap charlies are rightly hated here, foreigners and thais alike.

 

Are you calling entire Thai nation cheap Charlies as they don't tip at all.

[digbeth]

Service charge in fine dining place.... 

Normally if a waiter is decent in wine recommendation or service, I'd at least tip 1-200 baht 

but with some place already has 10% surcharge, I don't tip extra, 

I suppose you could ask the manager to take out the 10% and then tip at least the same amount or more to make a point, but it's not worth the hassle 

[CharlieH]

I generally do not tip , unless its just rounding up the bill to make it more convenient for me as I hate messing with change.

 

The eception to this is if the service I received was also an exception then its whatever I feel at the time.

[BKKBike09]

20-100 baht depending. When you look at it in terms of 50p-£2.50 [replace with your preferred currency] it's not exactly going to break the bank is it?

 

If you get good service in a restaurant, give the tip directly to the waiter/waitress who served you. Then they can pocket it. Leave it on the table or in the bill folder and the restaurant gets it. 

 

 

 

[volsfan]

Given the large number of other Asians here, especially Japanese and Koreans, Thai's should not be expecting a tip at all.

 

I was at dinner tonight, had a 2000 baht Bill and asked my daughter about tipping. She said no need to tip.

 

 

[aussienam]

I don't always tip.  I do if service and price was good and I can afford it.

 

Back in Oz, tipping is uncommon.  If I am paying for a meal here in Thailand that costs the same or near what I'd pay back in Oz then I won't tip much at all, maybe just a few coins to round up the bill.  And higher prices has become more common.  And in Oz the rents and salaries are much higher. Plus our exchange rate is nothing like Euro, Sterling Pound and USD.  We get a terrible rate compared to others from the West.

 

At my regular Cafe, I eat and drink coffees there often so I don't tip much at all. Because they get a lot of repeat business from me and if I tipped more then the idea of eating out cheap no longer is the case.  

 

I won't feel pressured into tipping just to feel virtuous and avoid embarrassment as a 'Cheap Charlie'. 

Others might.  Oh well.  

 

Many of us are low income recipients and 20 Baht is not insignificant. So chucking these Baht notes down every meal, delivery, etc just causes more financial woes.  Over time it can really add up.  

 

Should I feel ashamed?  Nope.  I don't care what others say.  They're not in my shoes.  I spend and tip at times within my financial means.

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by aussienam

[JimmyJ]

Zero.

 

Not expected.

 

A bizarre American custom.

[hioctane]

Grab/Bolt? 20

Grab food delivery? 20 

Restaurant?

Includes 10% service charge - 0 (likely never to return again)

0-500 bill - 20

>500 - 50+

Foot massage? 50+/hour (reason I tip this is because I have seen some places have a sign on the wall that says 50 minimum)

 

Yes, I am American. Initially, I overtipped. The more I came, I asked local company I am with how much to tip. I adjusted accordingly. It is an eye opener.

 

 

Keep in mind, this is only for more touristy areas. Outside these areas, no tip is expected and they actually try to return my money.

[LomSak27]

Why tip? Just tell them you are an Aussie.