kymm

I am a bit unclear as to when to tip (or not) in Thailand. Does one not tip at restaurants if there is a 10% service charge already included? What about porters, maids, concierge service, massage practioners, etc? Ratt is taking us to the Floating Market & Tiger Temple. Would a 15-20% tip be customary?

glorialf

Everyone has a different feeling about this. I always tip even when 10% is included because generally the service is wonderful and my feeling is the little extra I give means much more to them than it does to me. I tipped Ratt 20%.

JamesA

It's an individual choice, I actually tip more in a 'lower' establishment as the wages are lower, waiters, porters etc I tip probably over the odds, but many of these are on $150 a month if they are very lucky so giving B 20/40 is 50 cents or $1 and it means a difference, if someone goes out of their way or is particularly helpful I tip higher, I feel it is a way of spreading little happiness around the world! It's only in the top places they add tax and service.

Scotters

I usually do the following in regards to tipping. Some would say that I probably over tip.
Taxis - I tip taxi-drivers because I think on the most part they do a wonderful job under very trying circumstances. From the Bangkok airport, if the driver has been helpful, courteous and driven at a reasonable speed a 50 baht tip is about right. In the city, if the fare for example is 90 baht, pay 100 (or about 10% of the fare).
Restaurants - Many eating establishments will add a service charge onto the bill and in these cases a small tip (10-20 baht) should be left only if the service has been exceptional. Where no service charge about 10%.
Hotel Porters - 20 baht per suitcase.
Hotel Maids - If the service is good then 20 baht per day.
Drivers/Tour guides - 10%

MichaelBKK

Outside of hotels, very few restaurants add on a service charge. Thais are notoriously bad tippers, so anything you leave will usually be appreciated.

Also note that in restaurants, tips you leave on the table are shared by all staff (in Thailand, they don't make one waiter responsible for a specific table, everyone helps serve every table). If you've gotten exceptional service from one individual, give your tip to that person directly (a 'golden handshake' is good for being discrete).

eurotraveller

Uh oh! Here we go again!

This subject was brought up a couple of weeks ago so, if Fodors search function is working, you should be able to type in "tipping" and see the thought provocation that ensued!

BigJim

No clear answer on this!

glorialf

Bottom line== do what you want. I'm with James on this. It's my small way of giving back. I tip because I want to give people who help make my trip a wonderful one something that I know they need and appreciate -- money. It's a tangible way of saying thank you.

glorialf

And I don't decide ahead how much I tip. I tip with my heart -- not my head. And I have never regretted giving too much; only regrets is sometimes wishing I had given more.

rhkkmk

i do all of the above...one difference...on arrival at a hotel where i will stay for a while i always start the bell men out with a good tip and it pays off....i use them for other things usually during the trip...so if we have 4 average bags---none huge....i would give them 200-300 B probably...about $5-8...if they remember us from previous trips i may give them slightly more....

i tip each person who assists us under normal circumstances...i round up taxi tips much like above but usually at least 20B....

i leave all the change on the table from a restaurant bill plus some paper money for a restaurant that adds on service charge....more for one that doesn't---probably 15% for good service and more for fantastic service...

i gave ratt over 20% becasue she was fantastic...

on average do what feels good and right for you....15% is a very very good tip in thailand....

JamesA

I agree with Michael, I'd forgotten about the handshake, if you want to tip an individual put the note in the palm of your hand and put your hand out and slip them the note, smaller places tips as Michael says are shared to include cooks and behind the scenes people.

I would never say this is a 'big issue' it is totally personal, I also agree with Bob that a decent tip on arrival can do 'wonders', tips spread around can really help things run even more smooth than normal.

SJLBK

At the risk of sounding really dumb...isn't there a stigma in Thailand about touching strangers of the opposite sex (I know this is true with monks and women, but I swear I heard that it extended to other facets of thai culture).

If this is the case, is it appropriate to do the money/handshake thing with say, a female server if you are a guy or vice versa?

JamesA

No, not at all, when you are giving a tip to anyone anywhere I doubt people think about such things, sure people are more reserved about the touching thing but nothing to worry about, I certainly would not go up and put my arm around the wife of a friend, it's just 'not done' but you wouldn't be in situations like that, for waiters etc it's not a problem and I wouldn't worry a moment if it was a waitress. Cultures can be more different than you imagine, I still learn more each day, today it was about not having a haircut on a Wednesday....I thought I was being kidded, but no, apparently not. But this I learned during an office joke when one of the female staff was playing around with the hair of a male employee ( so there goes your head touching thing ) because it was messed up and the other staff were making a joke about his new hairstyle and I suggested he got it cut so she would stop doing it.
Honestly, if you try to adapt and change to every notion in another culture it would be a full time job !

kymm

Thanks so much for your replies. Gloria, I think that we have a similar philosophy. I have never regretted "overtipping" for exemplary service.