Tipping

[Yellowtail]

Here's a tip kid, don't play with matches. 

[Chris Daley]

Leave it to the yanks.

[SpaceKadet]

I never tip in restaurants. It's a bad habit instituted by the Americans. Unfortunately they brought it with them when they started traveling to Europe and Asia. I understand that in the America there are TIP APPS that will let you calculate how much you should tip. And anything below 25% is a NO-NO. So what? The restaurants in the States do not pay their staff?

 

I can understand where is comes from, where long time ago, the low level employees in the hotels and restaurants and other service establishments  were supposed to live of their tips, but nowadays?

 

In Thailand, nobody in the service industry expects tips. However, my wife still leaves the coins change in the restaurants. Sometimes, it gets really stupid, and where there is only 1 baht coin in the change, I just say "Take it!"
 

[SpaceKadet]

On 4/5/2025 at 3:07 PM, bkk6060 said:

I tip all the time. A lot of these people make about one dollar an hour.  Leaving something especially for good service I think is a nice thing to do.  

I think your mind is still in your home country. A dollar an hour is a standard minimum wage here, that can make you survive for a month and feed your family. 

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto...

[still kicking]

On 4/22/2025 at 11:00 PM, Chris Daley said:

Leave it to the yanks.

Why? I tip in every country. And I am not a Yank 

[DonniePeverley]

Bangkok has a 'service charge' and VAT charge added ... some sneaky places even adding it that you doubt are even paying any VAT. 

 

DOes this service charge even go to the staff? Unlikely. 

 

What you all paying for massage tips ?

[Denim]

A friend of mine who had not been here for a decade made a reprise visit. The porter took him to his room, opened the curtains and turned on the air.

 

My friend pressed a ten baht coin into his hand. The guy looked at it then gave it back saying 

' you need this more me ' then left the room.

 

Tipping is very much an ingrained requirement in the USA so Americans assume it is everywhere else which it isn't.  Tipping outside of tourist towns is much less common and only given for better than expected service.

 

Do Americans  tip in KFC or McDonald's?

Do they tip the cashiers at Big C etc. If not why not ? They have served you with a smile, why not tip them too ?

 

I left a tip at the steakhouse we use on our first visit . The owner ran out after us and returned  the tip saying ' please don't  tip ,we prefer you to be a regular customer '  But this is not in a tourist town so they don't expect it.

 

The usual practice  is just to leave the small change regardless of how much it is.

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, Denim said:

' please don't  tip ,we prefer you to be a regular customer ' 

 

I mentioned this earlier. My way of tipping is repeat business. 

 

But I did go to a place that had a 10% service charge automatically added to the bill. 

 

[cdemundo]

On 4/5/2025 at 3:10 PM, rough diamond said:

If you want the "server", who you believe deserves a tip to keep to themself, I suggest that you put it discreetly directly into their hand and NOT onto the tray or into the Tip box.

Right.

I believe this is called the "hand tip".

If you give it directly to the person it's all theirs.

If you put in tip box etc. it has to be shared.

Also, since this custom exists in Thailand it seems that the statement that Thailand is a "non -tipping country" cannot be 100% true.

[rwill]

there are no official laws for tipping.  some places, specially in malls, add a 10% service charge.

[bobonzo]

On 4/5/2025 at 9:14 PM, Cameroni said:

Local Thais don't tip. It's not a local custom.

 

But if you're in a tourist place, like St. Pattayasburg or Phuketski the locals do expect tourists to tip. Or like it or something.

 

But since Chinese never tip, you're on the safe side if you don't tip.

Phuketski made me lol

[kingstonkid]

On 4/5/2025 at 3:08 PM, save the frogs said:

Ok, so how much? 10 per cent? 20? 

 

Usually 100 baht is just easier than figuring out percentages and such.

 

I have tipped 10 baht once for a massage, but let the manager know why i was doing it as i was a regular there.

 

 

[JulesMad]

On 4/5/2025 at 2:58 PM, save the frogs said:

in (some?) western countries, tipping has gotten out of control.

 

Only in america...

[CM Dad]

On 4/5/2025 at 4:05 PM, Cameroni said:

I never tip anymore.

 

Ever since I found out Vietnamese make fun of people who tip.

Do you live in Vietnam?

[Brock]

My Wife does the paying, sometime she will tip if the service was good, and the servers were fun otherwise no..

I paid for a meal in one place, and noticed that there was 40baht too much change. I brought it to the attention of the owner, and he said its OK, I have lots of money..  He is a funny guy, no tipping needed there.

[WDSmart]

Tipping in Thailand used not to be expected. Now, especially in fancy restaurants in large cities, it probably is. 

I usually tip. When I do, I leave between 10% and 20%. 

[Harrisfan]

% tipping is illogical.

 

Bill 220 baht great food, 10% rounded to 20 baht

 

Bill 440 baht average food, 10% rounded is 40 baht

 

Why tip more in the rip off place with average food?

 

Makes no sense.

[Ralf001]

17 hours ago, SpaceKadet said:

The restaurants in the States do not pay their staff?

 

restaurant worker is payed $7.25 an hour.

[VBF]

2 rules:

Always remember that tips are for you to give when you feel it appropriate, never for them to expect.

Ignore advice from Americans on the subject - their tipping culture is outrageous and it's poisoned their outlook on the subject

[VBF]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

restaurant worker is payed $7.25 an hour.

So? That's their problem, not one that should cause the customers to address.

Now, if you get especially good service and feel generous, then it becomes "up to you"...see my post immediately above.

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, VBF said:

So? That's their problem, not one that should cause the customers to address.

Now, if you get especially good service and feel generous, then it becomes "up to you"...see my post immediately above.

They earn min 7.25 an hour.

 

they can go fiuck themselves begging for tipps.

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, VBF said:

Always remember that tips are for you to give when you feel it appropriate, never for them to expect.

 

Yeah, but if there are 2 regular people going to the same restaurant and one guy is always tipping and the other guy isn't, they might start to not like you. 

 

[ronnie50]

I've noticed more places add a service charge automatically to the bottom of the bill - usually 10% - and THEN another 7% VAT on top of it all. They are in the minority, but I mean should a waitress at FUJI or Greyhound (as examples) automatically get 150 or 200 baht tip, when in other places I leave maybe 40 baht?

[Harrisfan]

I prefer reverse tips where they gave me too much change.

[ronnie50]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

They earn min 7.25 an hour.

 

they can go fiuck themselves begging for tipps.

Lowest minimum wage in the western world..in the world's biggest economy.

[VBF]

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

Yeah, but if there are 2 regular people going to the same restaurant and one guy is always tipping and the other guy isn't, they might start to not like you. 

 

And that bothers you because?

I'll take my business elsewhere.. BUT I said "Always remember that tips are for you to give when you feel it appropriate, " If I'm going to a restaurant regularly, chances are I like the service enough to WANT to tip. If it's not that good, I won't be returning anyway.

[digger70]

Tipping.   

 

To tip or not to tip. I would say  it's up to you as the Thais say.

 

Tipping in Thailand is not a strict requirement, and many establishments already include a service charge on the bill, which serves as a tip. However, if no service charge is included and you were pleased with the service, leaving 5% - 10% is appreciated. Tipping is especially common in high-end restaurants, hotels, and spas. For local eateries and street food stalls, tipping is not customary, but rounding up the bill is acceptable. 

 

[Dirk Z]

In cases where there is the ++ (i.e. 10% service charge) I don't tip. In other cases proportionally, usually not more than 20-50 baht. My taxi ride is usually around 60-65 baht, if it is a driver that starts the meter directly I always give 100. Taxi's are absurdly cheap, these guys make little money, work hard and the rates have hardly changed in the past 20 years or so.

[ChrisKC]

The decision is MINE wherever I am and that includes the USA

 

As far as I am concerned a tip is offered when I receive a little more than the call of duty!

[merck]

Never understood tipping. Staff should just be paid a decent wage so they don't require them.