Do you tip (in Thailand)?

[FruitPudding]

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.

[CharlieH]

Here we go again, age old often repeated topic.

 

Lets see if this one brings anything new. ????

[Pravda]

Can't wait for your next topic. Do you use a bumgun in Thailand.

 

[Kwasaki]

5 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

Just curious how you guys go about tipping here in Thailand.

1000 baht tip every meal.

[FruitPudding]

4 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Here we go again, age old often repeated topic.

 

Lets see if this one brings anything new. ????

Haha, let's see.

[CharlieH]

To answer the question.

Restaurants etc I usually round up as I dont like change.

Services, same principle.

I recently had some work done, the bill was 3700, I gave him 4000 for a good job.

 

If I dont get good service they dont get any more than whats due.

[Moonlover]

15 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

Certainly, in Thailand: Thais don't tip - there simply isn't a tipping culture here.

 

That most certainly is not true. (Although we might not always call it a tip!)

[Ohyesuare]

Thais definitely tip, especially in tourist cities. Yes I tip, especially during the difficult times now that COVID has caused. I'm lucky to be at a point in my life where I don't have to worry about money ever so I'm usually probably what's considered over-generous and I don't care how it's perceived, good or bad, I do it for myself mostly because it makes me feel good to do it.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

18 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Lets see if this one brings anything new. ????

I offer tips on electrical engineering and safety, entirely for free.

[timendres]

Check the receipt. Many "establishments", expensive restaurants, bars, etc., will add a "service charge" of 10%. Otherwise, as an American, I cannot not tip. Too ingrained in my head. 5% to 20% depending, but often, as @CharlieH said, I just round up.

[Ohyesuare]

1 minute ago, timendres said:

Check the receipt. Many "establishments", expensive restaurants, bars, etc., will add a "service charge" of 10%. Otherwise, as an American, I cannot not tip. Too ingrained in my head. 5% to 20% depending, but often, as @CharlieH said, I just round up.

Some do 10%+7% VAT as well.

[VocalNeal]

3 minutes ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

and safety,

????

 

If service charge added then I don't. If no service charge I leave it to SWMBO.

Edited December 7, 2021 by VocalNeal

[DaLa]

I round up in most places and a little bit more if they are under charging (70 bhat beer for example). Large hotels or restaurants that show service charge I rarely tip, but unfortunately I don't know where the service charge goes.

 

Slightly off topic; as much as I like the diversity of visiting the US, tipping in restaurants because they have adopted a crazy way of paying people and especially even more crazy 'resort fees' means my travels there are all but over.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

IME the majority of expatriates that tip have a wife that likes to show they have a wealthy farang, tell their husbands it's good to show "Greang jai" to the staff and encourage their stupid clueless husbands to throw down some tip money, but actually they just want to look big and have big face. Reality is that tipping is not really a thing in Thailand.

 

That being said, my wife likes to give some money to the maids in a hotel if the rooms were well serviced.

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2021 by Led Lolly Yellow Lolly

[scubascuba3]

Tipping is annoying here, the worst is golf caddy tipping 300+ baht compulsory tip, for a caddy you didn't even want.

 

Thai food street food no tip, 

farang restaurants girls expect a tip, i usually give a tip "ask the boss for a pay rise"

 

Edited December 7, 2021 by scubascuba3

[seedy]

52 minutes ago, Pravda said:

Can't wait for your next topic. Do you use a bumgun in Thailand.

Nah - it will be 'How do I get a drivers license' 555

[MrJ2U]

"Do you tip in Thailand"

 

Yes.

[1FinickyOne]

I don't tip by % of the bill but the % of compassion that I have for people w/loss of income due to covid... 

[1FinickyOne]

38 minutes ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

"Greang jai" to the staff

That would be 'Nam Jai'

[BritManToo]

I always give a generous tip to the lady kind enough to guide me to my home after a hard night out.

[FruitPudding]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I always give a generous tip to the lady kind enough to guide me to my home after a hard night out.

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?

[TheScience]

The coins and maybe an extra 20b note in restaurant. I don't eat anywhere that adds a service charge tbh. Never goes to staff anyway.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, FruitPudding said:

Certainly, in Thailand: Thais don't tip - there simply isn't a tipping culture here.

You do not have much experience of Thailand and Thai people, do you? The Thais I know tip in restaurants and bars, and they come from a broad variety of cultural classes.

Regarding my own standards. If I feel that I am pleased with the service and standard, I usually round up a two 120 baht beers to 300, or an 80 baht beer to 100 so on. What the big deal? Are you competing with Prayut´s poll makers?

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, FruitPudding said:

I know Americans are supposed to be 20% tippers (if the legend is correct)

It seems lots of Americans don't tip at all outside of the USA. Especially if they see on the bill a service charge which is automatically deducted.

 

1 hour ago, FruitPudding said:

Certainly, in Thailand: Thais don't tip - there simply isn't a tipping culture here.

Wrong! Thais tip, at least in restaurants and bars.

 

1 hour ago, FruitPudding said:

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 do, and I do it depending on the service. I.e. normally I don't tip at the gasoline station. Last time there was a cute girl who filled up the tank and smiled at me. I gave her a tip.

If I eat noodle soup on the street I don't tip.

If I have drinks in a bar then mostly I tip, it depends a lot on the quality of the service.

During Covid times if my usual restaurants are open then I give them mostly a lot of tip. The reason is because they often have reduced salaries and fewer customers and they struggle. I like them so I support them.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

53 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

That would be 'Nam Jai'

Exactly. Read between the lines.

[OneMoreFarang]

22 minutes ago, TheScience said:

The coins and maybe an extra 20b note in restaurant. I don't eat anywhere that adds a service charge tbh. Never goes to staff anyway.

It's obvious that you never go to places who charge service charge. I do, and in many of them the service charge goes 100% to the staff.

[Mutt Daeng]

1 hour ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

IME the majority of expatriates that tip have a wife that likes to show they have a wealthy farang, tell their husbands it's good to show "Greang jai" to the staff and encourage their stupid clueless husbands to throw down some tip money, but actually they just want to look big and have big face. Reality is that tipping is not really a thing in Thailand.

 

That being said, my wife likes to give some money to the maids in a hotel if the rooms were well serviced.

 

 

 

When we stay in hotels, I always leave a tip for the maid(s). It's money "well invested" IMHO as the maids ensure that we are well looked after. 

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I always give a generous tip to the lady kind enough to guide me to my home after a hard night out.

 

One assumes there follows a hard night in too

 

Fetching my coat...

[Pravda]

30 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's obvious that you never go to places who charge service charge. I do, and in many of them the service charge goes 100% to the staff.

 

Are you sure about that? Because I heard it's completely, 100%, the opposite as in the staff gets zero.

 

Do you really think S&P or a 5 star hotel gives 10% to their staff?

 

 

 

 

[TheScience]

33 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's obvious that you never go to places who charge service charge. I do, and in many of them the service charge goes 100% to the staff.

Ok, I'll bite.

 

So they pay them b50 an hour plus tips.

 

So winning dude. Savior of the poor and downtrodden.