We are leaving for our first-ever trip to Thailand if a few days. What is the general rule-of-thumb there for tipping - taxis, waiters, etc? Any help would sure be appreciated.
Mike

Most major hotels add a 10% service charge, in fact always remember in large major hotels that you will get a total of 17% added to your drink and food bills!! For Taxis you do not have to tip, unless of course the driver has been very helpful, has driven well and has gone over and above what is necessary, then B 20 is fine. In smaller restaurants and bars it really is up to you entirely, but remember that many of these people are on around $80-100 oer month so if someone is helpful and makes that added effort then a B 20 tip is welcome. If you have had a great meal, service brilliant, staff have gone out of their way to be good then B 100 ($2.50) is a good tip!

Thanks for the information, James. That will help makes things a little less awkward.

I usually do the following in regards to tipping. Some would say that I probably overtip. 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 - It is something of an unwritten law that you slip a porter 20 baht per suitcase.
Hotel Maids - If the service is good then a 20 baht tip for each day is about right

well the rule of thumb is just leave the loose change..

thais tend too never tip.. and they don't expect too be tipped.. hell i've been scolded by a thai fraind for laeving a 50 baht bill as a tip at the Hzrd Rock. "no too much"

10 -20 baht is basicaly it. your tipping not paying ther salary.. and 50 if they have gone out of ther way too help you.

What is the recent practice on tipping taxi drivers? (Previous posts have varied, and I can't find it on Fodors destinations).

I round up the taxi fare, though it always seems to surprise them a bit (it's not expected).

i too round it up...also depends on how well they do....many have no idea where anything is...they get a plus 5-20 B....a good ride might get rounded up to 100....i think in terms of 20's...one or two 20's being a good tip for a decent ride of 60 B

another way i do it is give them a 100 note and ask for a certain amount back...trip is 48B...i say give me 40...they often have very little change...never expect change for much more than 100 B...never use a 500 for instance...