It's been 19 years since I've been in BKK... if we're taking a cab from the Pen to the Oriental to eat.

Should we tip the taxi driver & how much on these hotel to restaurant taxi rides?

I assume that all highend/hotel based restaurants are adding a service charge, should we tip the following & if so how much?

Bell hop at the Pen?

Waiter at Harvey's (non hotel restaurant)?

Masseuse at Rarinjinda in BKK?

If I were going from the Peninsula to the Oriental, I think I'd take the hotel ferry - it's almost directly across the river.

In my experience, honest taxi drivers are pleased to get any kind of tip at all; 10% is more than generous.

I know you post on here way more than I do, so you know it gets debated if you tip the same in bkk as you do back home. We usually tip the taxi guy 20 to 30 B and the massages we usually get are around 400 B and we tip 50 B or so. When we go out to eat, we usually tip 15%.

That being said, we have had some massages that were just awesome and we tipped way more than that!

i round up the taxi drivers fare with a tip.....so if it is 60, i give him 80...if its 80 i give him 100...

btw, they almost never have any change, so be prepared...keep lots of 20's and 50's....

bellman: upon arrival maybe 100-200B for 3/4 suitcases...depends on how nice he is and on what i will use him for in the future---like storred luggage...

some tip nothing more than the change (coins) at restaurants....i usually add B to bring the total to 15-20% for good service and more for fabulous personal service...

some private restaurants will add a tip on also....look at your bill carefully...

if service is not all that good 10% is too much, imo

you rarely will have other than exceptional service however...

From memory, you need to take the Pen ferry shuttle to the (skytrain) wharf across the river and then transfer to an Oriental ferry. Don't think there is a direct shuttle between the O and Pen.

Usually if you ask the Pen ferry that is going to the Pen Pier directly across the river beside the Shangri-la he will divert slightly to drop you at the Oriental Pier - if not it is only a short walk around from the Pen pier (not the Skytrain one) Coming back you may have to walk to the Pen Pier or ring across to get them to pick you up at the Oriental.

I can confirm that you definitely can ask that the Penn lobby pier boat divert to the Oriental pier. We have done it many times.

from their earlier post they are worried about getting on and off the boat and thus want to take a taxi

You're right Bob - unfortunately I didn't realize that until after I had posted.

Correct Bob... taxi to avoid steps & arrive fresh for our pricey Lord Jim's dinner.

We are going to have massage at RarinJinda Wellness Spa Bangkok Branch that will cost us 3500 BHT pp... I assume that the spa will be charging us a 'service charge' so we don't have to tip correct?

Should we tip there or is it included?

I would assume they would add a service charge, but do check your bill.

And do report back on your spa treatments there. I've looked at their website and it looks very nice. I'm always looking for new spas to try out.

i think it would be customary to give an extra tip if you are pleased with the treatments...

Okay, we're having two of their bigger packages & I've asked them to delete the guava foot polish & add the Sidrodhatra (sp?) warm oil falling onto the forehead... the opposite of waterboarding... bad joke, sorry, couldn't resist...

I have been unable to get a reply from their website or to my email, so I emailed the Pen & asked them to call them...

bookmarking

For long-time AO fans, I note that this thread includes a very rare waterboarding joke. Perhaps, it was foreshadowing.