6 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

In the Thai cities that have been spoilt with foreigners over tipping, they will expect rather 100 THB for the smallest service and much more on leaving the restaurant. One must not tip by western standards but tip by local standards. If not it creates a wider social gap between the lucky who work with foreigners and the others who do not get such tips. Also in thai mentality, the more you tip, the more they will consider you rich and the next time, the basic price of the service will increase. Be responable. Yes, do tip. But don't overdo it and don't throw money around each time you see a box on a counter with the workd TIPS written in big like in a pharmacy or shops. It can go to far.

Treat em mean keep em keen.

16 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

I realize this thread is in the Pattaya forum and tipping is probably more prevalent there than it is in many parts of Thailand. In rural Thailand I don't interact with doormen, or security guards because there aren't any. There's a security guard at my bank who holds the door open when I enter the premises. It has never even crossed my mind to give him a tip, and I'm sure it has never crossed the mind of 99.99% of the Thai customers either. Same is true for Thai customers of hole-in-the-wall noodle shop restaurants. I give New Year's tips to bottled water delivery, septic pump, and package delivery guys. If someone hops on their motorcycle to guide me to an out of the way place I'm looking for, I'll certainly offer them a tip.

It's not a question of being a "mean lousy tight a$$," as you put it, it's that the culture in smaller towns and villages is different. Of course, on some level, everyone appreciates being handed money unexpectedly, but as I pointed out in my earlier post on page 5, indiscriminate tipping to "grease the wheels" so to speak, does raise expectation management issues over time. It's not Just all rainbows and unicorns as the OP's post would have one believe.

Not that it's likely to change your point of view, but Google is telling me that the minimum wage in Pattaya (high tourist area/elevated cost of living) is currently 400 baht a day, based on a 8 hour work day, and just as a reminder, there are probably some broke-ass foreigners in Pattaya living on not much more per month. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you might want to tone down the self-righteous knight-in-shining-armor rhetoric.

11 hours ago, khaosokman said:

Tipping in restaurants, drivers, tour guides is common. Have you lived the last 40 years in a cave?

Nah! just tight arse, and probably treating treating people like they are lower class.

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

Nah! just tight arse, and probably treating treating people like they are lower class.

Actually, in some circumstances tipping can be a demeaning reminder that the person tipping is of a higher socio/economic status than the person receiving the tip. This thread is about tipping in Pattaya, which as many posters have pointed out, does not necessarily reflect patterns elsewhere in Thailand. Sure, it's endemic in Pattaya's bar scene (lady drinks, tip anyone who comes to your table, tip the bartender, etc.), but let's take a look at tipping outside of the bar scene.

The examples of the people the OP says he tips are mostly men (parking attendants, gasoline vendors, doormen) which, if true, is commendable. But, given the contempt voiced so often on this forum towards Thai men, I suspect that most commonly it is Thai women who are receiving these tips, often handed to them with a hopeful gleam in one's eye that perhaps this largesse might lead to some romantic encounter with the chamber maid, front desk clerk, waitress, soft drink or grilled squid vendor, or that at a minimum you will be rewarded with a broad smile, genuflection, and perhaps a hint of tears welling up in her eyes for your 50 baht tip. I strongly suspect that much of the tipping of women that goes on in Pattaya outside of the bar scene is often little more than a predatory sexual overture done more out of an attempt to suss out potential economic vulnerability than any genuine humanitarian impulse.

And just as a reminder, there are many other ways besides tipping to contribute to the welfare of the community (donations, volunteer activities, etc.), so stop acting like tipping is the sole barometer of a person's generosity. Also, even in Pattaya, there are certainly many, many Thais who have the same wealth and income as many expats, and I highly doubt that their pattern of tipping their fellow Thais follows the Western pattern of tipping.

Stop tipping

I was just having breakfast in a cheap cafe ,99 baht small breakfast .

.a old farang sitting on opposite table decided to buy his nose into my business when I gave the waitress who he was earlier flirting with 100 baht , no I didn't wait for my 1b

But he decided to but his opinion in and say to her in front of me , well no tip from him

57 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I was just having breakfast in a cheap cafe ,99 baht small breakfast .

.a old farang sitting on opposite table decided to buy his nose into my business when I gave the waitress who he was earlier flirting with 100 baht , no I didn't wait for my 1b

But he decided to but his opinion in and say to her in front of me , well no tip from him

Why don't you get a woman to eat with?

4 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

I don’t which part of Australia you are from but in all the years I lived there tipping was always practiced, in my experience Australians are generous in that regard.

Well, I'm a Boomer, so there might be an age/ culture difference , but it certainly was not a common practice in my time.

As I mentioned, in Oz, staff (service/hospitality industries) are paid fairly well by workplace agreements etc, working hours are stipulated and adhered to, overtime is paid when required and sick leave etc all provided.

And, of course, if you offer or give anybody money, they take it with a smile.

But exceptional service, "over and beyond" was, and should be rewarded.... even in Oz.

I disagree about Aussies being or having a reputation of being "generous!". Ask around!

I've been to the US, and witnessed the restaurant dinner bill "tip" split being calculated with the precision of a space vehicle's re-entry angle.

Australia has, over the years adopted, through TV, movies and social media, many American "ways", language, dress, food etc.

But hopefully not splitting each person's share of the tip after a dinner out!

8 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Actually, in some circumstances tipping can be a demeaning reminder that the person tipping is of a higher socio/economic status than the person receiving the tip. This thread is about tipping in Pattaya, which as many posters have pointed out, does not necessarily reflect patterns elsewhere in Thailand. Sure, it's endemic in Pattaya's bar scene (lady drinks, tip anyone who comes to your table, tip the bartender, etc.), but let's take a look at tipping outside of the bar scene.

The examples of the people the OP says he tips are mostly men (parking attendants, gasoline vendors, doormen) which, if true, is commendable. But, given the contempt voiced so often on this forum towards Thai men, I suspect that most commonly it is Thai women who are receiving these tips, often handed to them with a hopeful gleam in one's eye that perhaps this largesse might lead to some romantic encounter with the chamber maid, front desk clerk, waitress, soft drink or grilled squid vendor, or that at a minimum you will be rewarded with a broad smile, genuflection, and perhaps a hint of tears welling up in her eyes for your 50 baht tip. I strongly suspect that much of the tipping of women that goes on in Pattaya outside of the bar scene is often little more than a predatory sexual overture done more out of an attempt to suss out potential economic vulnerability than any genuine humanitarian impulse.

And just as a reminder, there are many other ways besides tipping to contribute to the welfare of the community (donations, volunteer activities, etc.), so stop acting like tipping is the sole barometer of a person's generosity. Also, even in Pattaya, there are certainly many, many Thais who have the same wealth and income as many expats, and I highly doubt that their pattern of tipping their fellow Thais follows the Western pattern of tipping.

Btw, I recall that I started this thread, and I DON'T live in Pattaya...or nearby.

In Pathum Thani actually.

No Pattaya style 'bars' near me.

A couple of fairly loud "restaurants" where a few ladies are on the menu!

I think the largest tip I give is to the lady street sweepers in 38deg heat.

I have no idea what they look like under their head to foot protective clothing which a Saudi woman would be proud of (albeit being forced to wear it under an oppressive version of their religion).

The Thai ladies just to avoid the sun and brown skin!!!

35 minutes ago, orchidfan said:

Well, I'm a Boomer, so there might be an age/ culture difference , but it certainly was not a common practice in my time.

As I mentioned, in Oz, staff (service/hospitality industries) are paid fairly well by workplace agreements etc, working hours are stipulated and adhered to, overtime is paid when required and sick leave etc all provided.

And, of course, if you offer or give anybody money, they take it with a smile.

But exceptional service, "over and beyond" was, and should be rewarded.... even in Oz.

I disagree about Aussies being or having a reputation of being "generous!". Ask around!

I've been to the US, and witnessed the restaurant dinner bill "tip" split being calculated with the precision of a space vehicle's re-entry angle.

Australia has, over the years adopted, through TV, movies and social media, many American "ways", language, dress, food etc.

But hopefully not splitting each person's share of the tip after a dinner out!

Btw, I recall that I started this thread, and I DON'T live in Pattaya...or nearby.

In Pathum Thani actually.

No Pattaya style 'bars' near me.

A couple of fairly loud "restaurants" where a few ladies are on the menu!

I think the largest tip I give is to the lady street sweepers in 38deg heat.

I have no idea what they look like under their head to foot protective clothing which a Saudi woman would be proud of (albeit being forced to wear it under an oppressive version of their religion).

The Thai ladies just to avoid the sun and brown skin!!!

You sound like a decent guy. I assumed you were in Pattaya because you posted in Pattaya forum.

11 hours ago, orchidfan said:

As I mentioned, in Oz, staff (service/hospitality industries) are paid fairly well by workplace agreements etc, working hours are stipulated and adhered to, overtime is paid when required and sick leave etc all provided.

And that seems fair. Requiring the customers to make up the wages may promote good service but undertip and they soon make up for it. The tipping habit (obligation) turns all service workers into scoungers. Things seem about right in Thailand.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

The tipping habit (obligation) turns all service workers into scroungers.

This is the point I was trying to make earlier. There is a power dynamic and sexual undercurrent at play in the tipping ritual, particularly in a sex tourism setting where it is mostly foreign men who are the tippers and mostly local women who are the tip recipients.

On 3/4/2026 at 2:36 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Your a "people pleaser " , expecting of course something in return and the moment they don't give you anything back you will be bitching

Be quiet old man. Drink your alcohol and snuggle with your rent boy.