Holiday Gifts For Thai Staff?

[Tiger7Moth]

I am posting this in the Pattaya section because I live here (actually Naklua) and it is a tourist area - so, I short period of time for Thai's to get some baht to last for the year. I lived in Issan for a couple of years - not the same at all.

Anyway, the Chirtmas/New Year time is almost upon us. The small hotel I live in (and expect to live in for a long time, many months) has a sign over the entrance in Thai language that says Happy New Year in Thai (I can read a bit of Thai, but, not very much). So, there are 5 people who work here, a manager who lost half his leg in a car accident (and plays it up quite well - as in, he doesn't seem to do anything but, his daughter comes in a couple of nights a week and does his work), a "house" cleaner, a room cleaner (I clean my own room) and a security guard (who seems to never sleep and is always smiling and helpful).

To give some persepective, I pay 12,000 baht a month for my 'suite'.

So, not wanting to offend anyone, I appreciate the manager's daughter the most - she has been the most helpful to me, the security guard second, as I said, seems to never sleep, always smiling, very nice guy - the house cleaner ??? the room cleaner - I clean my own room... the manager, I would give 0 but, I expect this would be culturally inappropriate in Thailand.

So, any input, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[gk10002000]

Buy a big cake from Big C and put it out for them. Maybe a big order of Mango and sticky rice along with it.

[Thaddeus]

How about ...... a day off, on full pay.

[Tiger7Moth]

Buy a big cake from Big C and put it out for them. Maybe a big order of Mango and sticky rice along with it.

Thanks for your reply.

[lemoncake]

I think all will be happy with cash, for managers daughter you can get some perfume .

All depends how much you want to spend.

Just out of curiosity how much people give to their staff?

I usually give mine 1000 for happy new year( people who worked longer) and 500 for the ones who just started

[PattayaPhom]

Is it really appropriate to gift them?....You are a paying customer. Would you buy gifts for your landlord and his family back in foreign land, very much doubt it so the same applies here.

[LennyW]

Why bother, the Thai people do not celebrate Christmas as we do in the west (25th Dec is a normal school day this year), are you planning to give gifts for Chinese new year and Songkran too - as these holidays are far more important to them.

[Semper]

How about ...... a day off, on full pay.

I don't think the op is the owner of the hotel.

[fakename]

Just get the daughter some nice sexy underwear, give the security guard some whiskey, nothing for the others.

Really, I would just be polite to them, and "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year". I will give our guards some cookies or something like that. As you said about your guard, ours never seem to sleep, but then are they doing their job, I really dont know. Once you fall into the "give everyone a present" thing, its hard to get out of. If you do decide to give something, just give them something they can share, like a cake.

[kevkev1888]

I am interested in this: "I pay 12,000 baht a month for my 'suite'."

What exactly does a suite consist of?

What is the name of the Hotel?

Thanks

[JaiLai]

Just get the daughter some nice sexy underwear, give the security guard some whiskey, nothing for the others.

Really, I would just be polite to them, and "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year". I will give our guards some cookies or something like that. As you said about your guard, ours never seem to sleep, but then are they doing their job, I really dont know. Once you fall into the "give everyone a present" thing, its hard to get out of. If you do decide to give something, just give them something they can share, like a cake.

Maybe Ya Ice would be more appropriate for the security gaurd if he's always awake.

Me, i'd wish them all the best and give them NOTHING.