Do you tip the cleaning staff?

[Saphan]

7 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I used to work in the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok and think it's unfair to tip the maids if you don't tip the laundry, security, front desk, consierge, etc. 

There are to many on this thread, and foreigner in Thailand generally that care too much what the Thais think of them. 

I never tip barbers, dentists, or gardeners. 

Farang who tip make it hard for the ones who've lived here a long time and understand the culture. 

I tipped my caddie 340 baht tip today and didn't even get a thank you. 

 

 

 

That's my issue. Where does it stop? Tipping 10 people a day I cannot afford. So I rarely tip. I would rather help people I know.

[JimmyJ]

7 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I tipped my caddie 340 baht tip today and didn't even get a thank you. 

 

 

 

One of the posters in this thread about to tell you how much more than you he tips his caddie and that he gets special services such as the caddie cleans his balls when they are muddy, etc., etc.

Post coming in 5...4...3...2...

[ThailandRyan]

14 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I used to work in the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok and think it's unfair to tip the maids if you don't tip the laundry, security, front desk, consierge, etc. 

There are to many on this thread, and foreigner in Thailand generally that care too much what the Thais think of them. 

I never tip barbers, dentists, or gardeners. 

Farang who tip make it hard for the ones who've lived here a long time and understand the culture. 

I tipped my caddie 340 baht tip today and didn't even get a thank you. 

 

 

 

You have the crypto to do so....just like a few of us others.

[observer90210]

As a farang one need to keep in mind that what applys to a local, does not apply to a farang.

 

We need to leave our well groomed egos back home in Europe or the USA (not finger pointing to anybody so please no hard feelings).

 

To get back to the topic, the farang is considered as the golden goose in Thailand and thus is highly expected to leave a tip. 100 thb should be a appreciated gesture, but do not make it a daily habbit as they will expect it otherwise daily.

[pomchop]

20 baht per day in hotels.  Not a big deal to me and sure not going to impact my life.  Not required and often not expected and not a big amount of $$ but in my experience the maids have always done a very good job and appreciate it even if a small amount.   Couple of days tip and it buys them a meal ...would i miss 20 baht a day if it fell out of my pocket?  No.

 

Big difference to being in USA where often lousy or no service expects and practically demands 15-30% of your total bill which is already absurdly overpriced lots of time. Giving somebody $5-10-20-50 for bringing you some overpriced food/drinks has gotten completely out of hand in USA. I have very little sympathy for those type places where the owner is a very profitable fat cat who refuses to pay a decent wage. I do feel a bit sorry for the workers but if you are working at a very expensive and profitable restaurant/bar that forces you to beg the customers to get paid perhaps you need to find another job,

[Drumbuie]

In my ideal world, everyone would have to work in hospitality for at least a year at the age of, say, 16, to teach them a) how much hard work it entails,  and b) empathy and respect for the people who do the monotonous tasks of cleaning, waiting tables, changing sheets, or whatever. 

And to tip them.

As my great grandmother said to my grandmother when asked why the box of chocolates she and her brothers had been given was being taken instead to the people in the local village, " You have so much, and they have so little". 

 

[Tish 2]

On 2/5/2023 at 7:38 PM, scoutman360 said:

No. This is not America. This is Thailand. Stop the cultural infestation nonsense. I watch the Thais and tip when they tip and how they tip.

 

I was in a hotel in Malaysia a few weeks ago when the cleaning staff saw me go to my room. He knocked on my door just to say hello and ask me where I was from. He said he loves it when Americans stay because they leave him big tips. Then he stood there waiting for something. He got nothing. 

Hahaha,God loves a trier.

[hotandsticky]

On 2/5/2023 at 5:36 PM, Salerno said:

Personally, yes. Leave it on the pillow before heading out (and before they make up the room obviously).

 

 

I leave mine under the pillow. On check out day you don't know who might check the room before they give you the nod.

 

I leave 20-30 Baht a day. I used to tip at the end of, say, a week's stay but my missus said that the staff prefer a little every day - that gets their meal covered - and a maid might work 6 days and my departure day could be her day off.

[Stevemercer]

We normally leave 20 - 40 Baht per day for housekeeping staff. In my opinion, 100 Baht is excessive and a bit ostentatious (equivalent to tipping one third salary, or about $50 per day if you were in Australia).

[geisha]

Cleaning staff and generally in hospitality, they work long hours, and  cleaning bathrooms and changing bed sheets on a double bed is ok when you do just your own.Try doing 20 or more and see how your back feels. Restaurant staff also work hard long hours with no weekends off with the family. 
Hôtel and condo cleaners earn the minimum wage mostly, hard to get by on. Over the years I’ve seen how some of waitresses live, sharing a room with others and a trip to a shopping mall is a huge treat., I always give tips and on Thai holidays, Christmas, and presents, and the condo girls I have had appreciate a bit of help. Hotel cleaners too, I give daily, it’s a back breaking job. I also give to the genuine homeless as it breaks my heart to see kids go without. I regularly visited a Burmese workers camp near the club med in Kata Beach Phuket. Take basic foods , I bought a bag full of sarongs for the ladies, shorts and t shirts for the kids, flip flops, Yes, I feel I’m doing something even if it’s just a little bit, but to get a smile and a wai is the nicest way to realize how lucky we all are. Life isn’t fair, I know. 

[paulbrow]

On 2/5/2023 at 6:50 PM, Black Ops said:

Never have,never will, they already get paid to do the job. 

FWIW, in my opinion, it has nothing to do with their salaries or already getting paid, it has to do with the level of service I receive. A few baht can equal significant differences in the level of service and timing of receiving requests. Fortunately, I can afford to leave decent tips that have essentially no effect on my lifestyle but have a significant effect on a housekeeper's lifestyle. My Thai wife originally argued with me about tipping, however, now after over 20 years she has learned that a reasonable tip translates into a tremendous improvement in treatment received from the staff. Now she has become a reasonable tipper herself and has moved beyond the 20 baht tip! BTW, tipping at the end of a stay has no positive effect on the quality of service received during the stay. The other benefit generally received is a decent relationship (friendship) established.

 

[SiSePuede419]

In Krabi they seemed to think any change left on the table was a tip.

 

That was at a Chinese owned "resort" around B1200 a night.

 

In Chiang Mai at the B4000 a night hotel, they also took some 20s in addition to the change.

 

I assume that was owned by a "higher class" of Chinese who probably paid the employees even less.

 

They were honest.  I had over $200USD hidden in my bag I forgot about that was untouched.????

[KhunLA]

12 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

In Krabi they seemed to think any change left on the table was a tip.

 

That was at a Chinese owned "resort" around B1200 a night.

 

In Chiang Mai at the B4000 a night hotel, they also took some 20s in addition to the change.

 

I assume that was owned by a "higher class" of Chinese who probably paid the employees even less.

 

They were honest.  I had over $200USD hidden in my bag I forgot about that was untouched.????

Money left out could easily be assumed to be a tip.  Though I would think, left on the pillow would indicated it is actually a tip, and just not forgotten in the room.

 

Never tip, so don't know the 'protocol'.  If so, I'd give it directly to the person providing the service, as I do at restaurant, when I do tip, and then leave something with the bill for the rest of the staff.

 

The gal that doesn't let my beer go empty, and refills with another frosted glass ... yea, she's getting a tip ????

[connda]

 

On 2/5/2023 at 5:31 PM, Don Chance said:

The staff are starting to give me the Evil eye, i think they are pushing for a tip.

Wow!  I've never thought of a Thai cleaning staff 'giving me the Evil eye!"
Usually when crossing paths (cleaning staff are usually, well, cleaning) as I leave the premise, I don't have a lot of contract with them during my stay.
I smile, exchange pleasantries "Hello.  How are you today <in thai> Have you eaten yet? (purely thai phrase).  But leave the cleaning crews do the cleaning.  And if they are not done?  I leave. Go do something else and come back later when they are finished. 

Do I tip on a daily basis?  No.
Do I give a trip on my last day as I leave?  Yes.  I'm sure they appreciate that.  And if I was in New York?  Seattle?  LA?  I'd tip too.  Why should Thailand be different.  I tip because I appreciate what service people do, here and aboard (home country).

So, 'No.'  I've never had Thai cleaning staff give me The Evil-Eye.
Now cleaning staff in NY, SEA, LA? 

[connda]

3 minutes ago, connda said:

 

Wow!  I've never thought of a Thai cleaning staff 'giving me the Evil eye!"
Usually when crossing paths (cleaning staff are usually, well, cleaning) as I leave the premise, I don't have a lot of contract with them during my stay.
I smile, exchange pleasantries "Hello.  How are you today <in thai> Have you eaten yet? (purely thai phrase).  But leave the cleaning crews do the cleaning.  And if they are not done?  I leave. Go do something else and come back later when they are finished. 

Do I tip on a daily basis?  No.
Do I give a trip on my last day as I leave?  Yes.  I'm sure they appreciate that.  And if I was in New York?  Seattle?  LA?  I'd tip too.  Why should Thailand be different.  I tip because I appreciate what service people do, here and aboard (home country).

So, 'No.'  I've never had Thai cleaning staff give me The Evil-Eye.
Now cleaning staff in NY, SEA, LA? 

Oh. And if you really want to make somebody's day.  Look around the hotel before you leave, find them, and give them the tip around their friends.  
It's throwing rose petals on your path back. 

[shackleton]

The wife and myself always tip the hotel staff cleaning the room usually when we depart

Last holiday was for 6 weeks so a tip every week ensures good room service plus the 2 maids we're good at their job very friendly ???? 

[JimmyJ]

22 minutes ago, connda said:

Do I tip on a daily basis?  No.
Do I give a trip on my last day as I leave?  Yes.  I'm sure they appreciate that.  

 

shackleton - "The wife and myself always tip the hotel staff cleaning the room usually when we depart"

 

If you are tipping cleaning staff I suggest you tip daily.

The person who's been cleaning your room the last 6 days could be off/sick/switched floor or shift, and someone else gets the tip you (I think) intended for someone else.

[scoutman360]

On 2/6/2023 at 12:26 AM, ozimoron said:

Tipping in Thailand has been going on for a long time now. Can you produce any evidence where employers reduced the wages of their employees by the amount of their tips or even because of their tips?

Can you produce evidence it has not? I know this response, and the opposition can use it accordingly. ???? I think if you look at the American system, there is clear evidence what will happen to Thailand. Again, follow the local culture and tip as they do. Usually small change from the bill, depending on the bill. Hotels, never. 

[scoutman360]

On 2/5/2023 at 9:29 PM, Saphan said:

Millions of homeless people. Go tip them. Their wages are zero.

Millions of homeless people make more money than us working sods. Simple search Youtube John Stossel reports. 

[scoutman360]

On 2/6/2023 at 3:57 PM, loong said:

I don't stay in hotels as much as I used to but I will always tip the cleaners 20 Baht a day unless they give me a reason not to want to tip them. If they give me a reason to tip more then I will.

20 Baht is nothing to me, but if the cleaners got 20 Baht from every room that they clean, it can make a big difference to them.

They deserve respect for doing an unpleasant job for minimum wage to take care of their families.

It is not about respect IMHO. But you raised a good point. This seems to boil down to a capitalist, verses a socialist system, if I may. The fat happy rich person who spreads their earnings to those who don't have the same education and (maybe) desire to build upon their life because they can make easy cool cash scrubbing toilets. Or, the system where people's desperation pushes them to better themselves and become that same fat happy rich guy.  I say this because I was the poor desperate guy that nobody helped, and I cleaned toilets, and scrubbed floors until I could pay for my school. 

 

And no one tipped me, which kept me focused to get out of that job. 

Edited February 7, 2023 by scoutman360

[ozimoron]

7 minutes ago, scoutman360 said:

It is not about respect IMHO. But you raised a good point. This seems to boil down to a capitalist, verses a socialist system, if I may. The fat happy rich person who spreads their earnings to those who don't have the same education and (maybe) desire to build upon their life because they can make easy cool cash scrubbing toilets. Or, the system where people's desperation pushes them to better themselves and become that same fat happy rich guy.  I say this because I was the poor desperate guy that nobody helped, and I cleaned toilets, and scrubbed floors until I could pay for my school. 

 

And no one tipped me, which kept me focused to get out of that job. 

Tough love huh? Treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen.

[ozimoron]

28 minutes ago, scoutman360 said:

Millions of homeless people make more money than us working sods. Simple search Youtube John Stossel reports. 

Stossel LOL. Huge idiot he is.

[scoutman360]

On 2/6/2023 at 4:24 PM, Neeranam said:

I used to work in the Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok and think it's unfair to tip the maids if you don't tip the laundry, security, front desk, consierge, etc. 

There are to many on this thread, and foreigner in Thailand generally that care too much what the Thais think of them. 

I never tip barbers, dentists, or gardeners. 

Farang who tip make it hard for the ones who've lived here a long time and understand the culture. 

I tipped my caddie 340 baht tip today and didn't even get a thank you. 

 

 

 

Thank you!!! So many people here, I think, are more focused on feeling good about themselves rather than how their actions affect the great population. 

[scoutman360]

17 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Stossel LOL. Huge idiot he is.

And making more money than the both of us using facts, opinions, and open thought conversation. ???? 

[radiochaser]

On 2/5/2023 at 11:31 PM, ThailandRyan said:

At all of the hotels I have ever stayed at while traveling in Thailand water has never been limited to just two bottles per room, and no the staff does not get in trouble for supplying you with more and never has there been an extra charge on my room checkout bill.  

I have been in a hotels in Thailand where I was either told or there was a sign telling the guest, that they had two bottles of water a day, free.   If more than two bottles were opened, there was a charge added to the bill.    At one hotel, they charged me for a bottle and claimed that the seal was broken.   I did not open it, but paid for it.   I was charged 20 or 40 baht for the water.  At 7/11 the same size cost 10 baht or less.   

To resolve that issue in the hotels that charge for more than two bottles and I am staying more than 2 or 3 days, I do what my Thai wife does, buy 2 liter bottles of water from a near by store.   That way I have enough water for my coffee, that I make in my room.  

Those were not cheap hotels either.   Except the one that a Thai friend of the family reserved for me.     I only stayed one night there.  After that experience, I told friends, I would make my own reservations.  

What was odd at one hotel was, even though I bought my own water, every day there were two more free bottles in the room!  

Edited February 7, 2023 by radiochaser

[DrDave]

People we tip:  taxi, massage, hotel room cleaner and bellman.  Basically, anyone who performs a personal service or gives us their undivided attention for more than 60 seconds.

In Bangkok, we normally stay 3-4 days and give the room cleaner a tip the first time we see her in the hallway. The bellman gets a small tip for bringing our bags to the room and checking to make sure everything's in working order. Taxis in Bangkok usually get a tip rounding up to the next 50 or 100 baht unless their driving was crazy. No tip for taxis in Phuket though, due to their outrageous fares. Foot massage always gets a 100 baht tip for a 1 hour massage.

 

I refuse to tip at places like Starbucks however, where the person at the counter does nothing more for me than spending 20 seconds in front of a coffee machine.

 

Tipping in the US has gotten out of hand over the years. One very large, well-known restaurant chain offered only carry-out service during the pandemic, and added a mandatory 18% gratuity to all orders placed online. Not sure what the gratuity was for since there was no table service.

[ThailandRyan]

7 hours ago, scoutman360 said:

Can you produce evidence it has not? I know this response, and the opposition can use it accordingly. ???? I think if you look at the American system, there is clear evidence what will happen to Thailand. Again, follow the local culture and tip as they do. Usually small change from the bill, depending on the bill. Hotels, never. 

How many staff, cleaners, waitresses here in Thailand inform there employer of a tip left?  In the US it is mandatory and the tip itself must be claimed on the annual reporting requirement for taxes. Not here.  Stay on topic TIT not the US.  Tipping has been going on for years here, and I know many in the service sector whose salary is not reduced because they picked up 100 Thb for a tip.

[TheFishman1]

If you leave a tip in your country and you know the service people here get paid less. Of course you should leave a tip. I am leaving surprised that you would ask this type of question. I always leave tips OK TIT

[smutcakes]

Am fairly surprised by this. I am generally a fairly generous guy and dont have money concerns, but in all of my 4 decades or so on the planet staying in hotels, i have not once ever left a tip for the cleaners. In fact it had never even crossed my mind... restaurants, bars, concierge in hotels etc yes without even thinking about it... but hotel cleaning staff... never.

 

I am going to consider this when leaving my room in Hua Hin at the weekend.

[markclover]

No, because it's illegal.  I don't employ her.