Tipping In Thailand

[Axel]

Tipping in any country is imo a science in itself. You don't want to look stingy, you neither want to overdue it. You dont want to 'spoil the market'.

You go to your favorite pub, sit on the bar for a while, pay your bill which includes service charge. Do you tip, do you leave the change?

You give a tip in a hotel. When? To whom? How much?

Do you tip the room-made, leave a tip at the front desk when checking out?

You use the car-hop (sorry valet-service) for parking your car. How much?

Tipping in any country is imo a science in itself. You don't want to look stingy, you neither want to overdue it. You dont want to 'spoil the market' but you want to come back at still get a service.

Finally: Should a farang tip more than a Thai?

[medicinebox]

With me its 10bht in blue chair restaurants and 20bht in Pub/Restaurants.

If the waitress/waiter is rude, ignorant or the food is crap, then forget any tip.

Also when they stand there waiting to collect the tip wallet. Forget the tip.

On the other side of the coin, if they are exceptional I will raise the tip by 100%. Wow isn't that amazing, sometimes I tip as much as 40bht.

[Totster]

With me its 10bht in blue chair restaurants and 20bht in Pub/Restaurants.

If the waitress/waiter is rude, ignorant or the food is crap, then forget any tip.

Also when they stand there waiting to collect the tip wallet. Forget the tip.

On the other side of the coin, if they are exceptional I will raise the tip by 100%. Wow isn't that amazing, sometimes I tip as much as 40bht.

I Agree with this... but to be honest I let my TGF deal with tips...she knows best.

You give a tip in a hotel. When? To whom? How much?

Do you tip the room-made, leave a tip at the front desk when checking out?

If I do leave a tip, I will leave it on the bed with a note..

Finally: Should a farang tip more than a Thai?

Residents no.... Tourists will overtip because they don't know better, long term visiters will know what is correct.

[Tornado]

As an Aussie we are not schooled in tipping as all our hotel staff are paid well compared to most places on this planet. On going to the US I was schooled in tipping in a quick fashion at pubs/clubs in Hollywood. If you do not tip the bar tender by at least 1 dollar (1992), you dont get served again. Since that time I have become a good tipper in countries where wages are low.

If I go out to dinner and the bill is 5000 or near that, I will tip about 500 if the service is good. I try to tip twice if "my waiter/waitress" is good at his/her job, I will place money in his/her hand as then she is allowed to keep it all to herself/himself. I then place a tip in the "tip wallet" if the food is good.

If I go to a local street vendor I always tip 10 baht for a twenty baht dish and so on. A couple of bucks to put a smile on a face of a person earning a few thousand baht per month is a feel good situation for both of us.

If the service is crap I give nothing.

[mbkudu]

Tornado, you bring up something interesting about low wages and tips. In the US

a waitress or waiter makes minimum wage, so most of their income is derived from tips. 15% of the bill is the norm. This practice also tends to motivate them to give better service. Many Europeans visiting the US are unaware of this practice and leave a miniscule few coins or nothing at all. It pisses the staff off to no end.

In Thailand I follow Medicinebox's practice of 10 baht blue chair, 20 baht hotel ect., and if it's a streetside table and chairs deal, it's 5 baht or nothing at all. A higher number of people eating in the group should increase the tip a bit as well.

[meom]

If I go out to dinner and the bill is 5000 or near that, I will tip about 500 if the service is good. I try to tip twice if "my waiter/waitress" is good at his/her job, I will place money in his/her hand as then she is allowed to keep it all to herself/himself. I then place a tip in the "tip wallet" if the food is good.

Slightly off topic but a 5000 baht dinner? That's for 2 persons or what?

[cathyy]

Tornado, you bring up something interesting about low wages and tips. In the US

a waitress or waiter makes minimum wage, so most of their income is derived from tips. 15% of the bill is the norm.

Waiters and waitresses in the US WISH they were paid minimum wage. It's worse than that, actually. They are paid half of minimum wage, and are taxed on minimum wage, with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. The tips are supposed to all be reported, as well.

When in the US, please do tip a minimum of 15% if service is good, 20% if service is exceptional. And pay it in cash, don't add it to the credit card bill. That way they can choose whether or not to report it as tip income.

[Stocky]

My policy is much the same as Tornado's 10-15%, particularly if I really like a place; I want to make sure they remember me the next time.

But if the food and/or service is bad then no tip, or a derisory one to emphasis the point!

That applies everywhere, in the US I once had a waitress chase me into the car park because I'd left no tip, my reply was 'sorry, but I received no service'.

One caveat, if a 'Service Charge' is already included I'll only give a tip directly to the waiter/waitress, and then only if they did a good job of looking after me.

[Padkapow Guy]

I usually try to spread the wealth around when in Thailand. If the wife and I go out to eat in the states we leave @ a $5.00 tip for 2 people unless it is a exspensive place then it's @ 20% of the bill. So when in thailand I leave the same amount. Just because the food is cheapier I still tip for the service the same as I would in the states. If I had to live on a thai income then things would be different.

I also tip the cleaning lady at the hotel on arrival, @ 300 baht. this usually get us our extra pillows and towels and anything else we need with no hassles. My wife also gives them @ 500 baht to keep flowers in the room while we are there and lets them keep the change. That's usally a profit of 300 to 400 baht for them.

basically the money for the tip is a small amount for me but alot for them and it is worth it when you see the smile.

[RDN]

Phew! I feel relieved that I give about the same as most people here! I was always worried that I was "Kinneow maak maak"!

Generally 10 baht for street vendor meal, 20 baht for a bar bill of less than 200 baht (yes, this does happen) and then about 10% after that. Fortunately, my local (in bkk) gives me 10% discount on bar bills (for long service?) so it's easy to give that to the staff!

When I used to stay in hotels, it was 100 baht note on the pillow every 2 or 3 days. Never gave to the front desk - don't think it would get to the right person.

[Lloyd]

I am surprised no one has said anything about tipping the bg's yet

cheers mate's

[rainman]

I usually tip around 10%, not sure if that's too much or not.

[Pink Mist]

off topic again, but when I was in Las Vegas a barman told me the wages were excellent in the casinos and they could survive easily without the tips, it was just a matter of principle.

I tipped the guy after I finished my drink and he clued me into the free piss method the next time I returned.

In LOS I tip for good service and the service usually stays good when I return.

The bar I drink at in KhonKaen, I sit down within seconds there's a Heiniken and bangkok post in front of me and they put 1/2 dozen in the freezer. That kind of service is worth a few baht.

[mbkudu]

I am surprised no one has said anything about tipping the bg's yet

cheers mate's

I put the tip wherever they like. As far as payment goes; it's most definately an inexact science.

[Begs]

I usually tip around 10%, not sure if that's too much or not.

On a 25 Baht bowl of soup...it's ok.

[Insight]

Nobody's mentioned about taxi's either. I usually round up to the nearest /10, but I know Thais pay dead on the mark.

[Axel]

I am surprised no one has said anything about tipping the bg's yet

cheers mate's

Sure mate, but there it's called 'teeeeep'.

[jayenram]

Can someone explain to a Yorkie what the word "tipping" means?

[penelope]

I have one tipping rate.It is 5% of the gross bill.

I use relative tipping.

You get the tip if you reach the level of standard I expect of the quality of service I am indulging in ie: my service standard levels to meet when dining at the Oriental are different to those when dining at roadside pork hut.

The are some exceptions of course, mainly golf caddies, where some better courses prohibit tipping.

[Selina]

With tasi, you should normally tip 10-20 baht added to the fare and extras if he helps you with the luggage. As the price of petrol now eats up a significant portion of their wages, the drivers will really appreciate your kind gesture.

[yok yawng]

As stated by Tornado and Stocky, I am also in this mode of tipping... if the service is good / food etc.. then anywhere between 10-20%.. BUT the expectation is that service and quality has actually been delivered. This is where IMO the US has got it wrong on the tips side of life, it is now an expectation that one should tip....even on the curise ships!!!

Having recently returned from the land of Oz, I was amazed at their expectation of a Tip and for What service... it was a plesure to return home to the LOS where genuine service is delivered.

Taxis, I always give them a tip (even if their vehicle may not pass an MOT).. as they fight the traffic I can have my snooze to the office ...

[hkthai]

As someone mentioned before, give tip directly to the person providing you with the service so it goes directly to his/her pocket. If you leave it in the tip tray, it will be shared among all. Worse yet, the owner may just keep it for themselves.

[duke69]

5% if the service is good.

If the service is outstanding my GF hires the waiter as sales man in the company where she works as HR manager (already 2 very good waiters became 2 very good sales men).

Taxi = round to 10 baht

Hotel = 40 Baht if the bags arrive in 10 minutes, otherwise just a complain to the reception

B/G if they act very very well 500 Baht, if I can read the cash $ in their eyes nothing

[Tornado]

Having recently returned from the land of Oz, I was amazed at their expectation of a Tip and for What service... it was a plesure to return home to the LOS where genuine service is delivered.

Thats a joke right?

[yok yawng]

Having recently returned from the land of Oz, I was amazed at their expectation of a Tip and for What service... it was a plesure to return home to the LOS where genuine service is delivered.

Thats a joke right?

I wish it was.. but frankly Oz service has gone down the proverbal black hole... and an increase in costs too... so it was great to be welcomed back here in LOS

[Tornado]

Having recently returned from the land of Oz, I was amazed at their expectation of a Tip and for What service... it was a plesure to return home to the LOS where genuine service is delivered.

Thats a joke right?

I wish it was.. but frankly Oz service has gone down the proverbal black hole... and an increase in costs too... so it was great to be welcomed back here in LOS

That does surprsie me , I have not been back in quite a few years, but I did notice Sydney was rated the best destination in the world - whatever that means?

Im sorry you did not think it was up to par. I would like to go back and order something without the usual response here "eh alai na" - could be my language skills

[yok yawng]

(bit off the subject BUT..)

Tornado .... Being a 'Mexican' Sydney didn't really rate that well ... see poll list..

'Sydney lost ground because its crime rate was rated on a par with New York and London.'

1= Melbourne

1= Vancouver

1= Vienna

4 Perth

5 Geneva

6= Adelaide

6= Brisbane

6= Copenhagen

6= Montreal

6= Oslo

6= Sydney

6= Zurich

13= Helsinki

13= Stockholm

13= Toronto

Others:

19= Auckland

19= Honolulu

28= Paris

45= London

51= Dublin

51= New York

57= Washington

64= Athens

75= Beijing

130 Port Moresby

[yok yawng]

Ok... so best City vs. Most Liveable City depends upon who's poll you read...

TOP 5 IN ASIA

Rank Name Score

1 Bangkok 87.11

2 Hanoi 82.13

3 Hong Kong 80.22

4 Kyoto 80.13

5 Shanghai 79.26

THE WORLD'S BEST CITIES

TOP 5 IN ASIA

Rank Name Score

1 Sydney 87.62

2 Florence 87.14

3 Bangkok 87.11

4 Rome 86.64

5 Cape Town 84.88

6 New York 84.67

7 San Francisco 83.86

8 Venice 83.23

9 Istanbul 83.18

10 Santa Fe 83.08

+++++++

and if the service is good, so they deserve the tips.... and I also pay direct to the staff involved as well as to the 'House' tray....

[meadish_sweetball]

Tipping is really at your own discretion. Thais vary a lot in their tipping practices - my experience with is that there is no "Thai" way of tipping, it depends on their heart and mood, as well as their general level of stinginess/generosity.

One caveat: Check bills in hotels and such-like, as it is possible that "service charge" is already added to the bill. This means that you are under absolutely NO obligation to tip - this means that the tip is included in the price, and will be added to a common fund which is divided according to a set percentage scheme.

This is the same percentage scheme as applied by the Hua Ping Pong (police) for traffic eh-m.. tea money...

I would rather overtip a little, because waiters and waitresses do not make a whole lot and work long hours, and what is fairly little money to me... and so on.

Tend to always leave the coins and sometimes an extra twenty baht note for a bill under 500 in a plastic chair restaurant in case the service is nothing exceptional, but not substandard either. For any extra thoughtfulness or attentive waiting, I will add another twenty or more. Over 500 baht, 15% of the bill.

In case of substandard or rude service, no tip, and maybe a little low-key remark to the waiter/waitress in question. No getting hot under the collar if they take the hint.

[Tornado]

THE WORLD'S BEST CITIES

Rank Name Score

1 Sydney 87.62

2 Florence 87.14

3 Bangkok 87.11

4 Rome 86.64

5 Cape Town 84.88

6 New York 84.67

7 San Francisco 83.86

8 Venice 83.23

9 Istanbul 83.18

10 Santa Fe 83.08

Thats the poll I was looking for