[dorayme]

It really isn't good to over tip. A reasonable amount is enough. It might mean Thai service people will rush to wait on Farang and overlook service to Thai and breed resentment from the Thai. Over tipping also leads to unreasonable expectations of Farang.

I was with a Farang who tipped the waiter 200B. Afterward other members of the party mentioned they felt a loss of face because their tip had not been so grand.

20 Baht is usually enough. It means a bowl of soup for the Thai.

[markie1]

I useually Leave 20 Baht if just having a Cofee, after dinner useually leave between 50 and 100. Bell Boy 40. to me thats reasonable, you must remember that these people only earn about 200 Baht a day , I also leave my maida tip at the end of my stay in the hotel.
If you hand the person the tip rather than put it inside the Cheque wallet they are allowed to keep it ,so if you have had good service pass it on to the person that actually gave you that service.

[allieb]

Tipping is for receiving a good service. I always tip the chambermaid 500 Baht per stay (7 to 10days) as its a lousy job and alawys done.

Buffet Breakfasts at the hotel something at the end of my stay to the ones who deserved it.
I always stay at the Chin House Bangkok and the staff know me so they know what to expect.

Bell boy 50 baht for the bags 100 if I have a lot of hat boxes

Restautants are a different thing If I have received a bad meal or had bad service then the amount they get is NOTHING.

If I have had good service and a good meal 10% If the service is good but the meal is only ok 5% and I dont go back .

[homintern]

I useually Leave 20 Baht if just having a Cofee, after dinner useually leave between 50 and 100. Bell Boy 40. to me thats reasonable, you must remember that these people only earn about 200 Baht a day , I also leave my maida tip at the end of my stay in the hotel.

They must love you!

[Dick]

After 5yrs of reprimands from my Thai boyfriend, I can tell you with some certainty what he has told me for 99% of occasions.
TWENTY BAHT ENOUGH!
That 1% was for example, a 100B tip to the boy who paddled our sea canoe all day for us off the coast of Phuket.

Thai people do not believe it right to tip someone for doing their job. It has become a Western custom to tip, and because of the custom in America to tip 15-20% of the bill, it can sometimes lead to over expectation or embarrassment as has already been remarked.

I leave 20 Baht daily for the maid who cleans up in our hotel room.
I give the bellboy 20B per suitcase when we check-in to a hotel.
I don't leave a tip for a buffet meal.
I leave a 20B tip when I pay the bar or restaurant bill; 50B if good service and the bill amount significant.
I give a beggar in the street small coins up to 10B of if no small coins then 10B tops; but I give to 1 beggar (only) every day. Even poor Thai people give to beggars!

But whenever the bill comes, I am now conditioned to think TWENTY BAHT ENOUGH! and you should be guided accordingly with only minor modification from a Western conscience.

[baziel]

I useually Leave 20 Baht if just having a Cofee, after dinner useually leave between 50 and 100. Bell Boy 40. to me thats reasonable, you must remember that these people only earn about 200 Baht a day , I also leave my maida tip at the end of my stay in the hotel.

They must love you!

I agree whit markie 1, i tip about the same.

[1PR4BKK]

After 5yrs of reprimands from my Thai boyfriend, I can tell you with some certainty what he has told me for 99% of occasions.
TWENTY BAHT ENOUGH!
That 1% was for example, a 100B tip to the boy who paddled our sea canoe all day for us off the coast of Phuket.

Thai people do not believe it right to tip someone for doing their job. It has become a Western custom to tip, and because of the custom in America to tip 15-20% of the bill, it can sometimes lead to over expectation or embarrassment as has already been remarked.

I leave 20 Baht daily for the maid who cleans up in our hotel room.
I give the bellboy 20B per suitcase when we check-in to a hotel.
I don't leave a tip for a buffet meal.
I leave a 20B tip when I pay the bar or restaurant bill; 50B if good service and the bill amount significant.
I give a beggar in the street small coins up to 10B of if no small coins then 10B tops; but I give to 1 beggar (only) every day. Even poor Thai people give to beggars!

But whenever the bill comes, I am now conditioned to think TWENTY BAHT ENOUGH! and you should be guided accordingly with only minor modification from a Western conscience.

I agree with you Dick. I guess I was one of those folks who believed the 20% gratuity rule applied across the board globally.

Whenever I would leave 50THB or more for waiters, my boyfriend would always pick it up and only leave 20THB. I used to feel embarrassed by this but he would also say, “Baby 20 baht is enough. You always give too much.” For hotel staff, I give tips directly to the individual(s) I feel deserve it on a daily basis.

For the exception of cruise ship vacations, I never wait until the end of the stay to give a lump sum tip, as I do not know if the funds will find its way to the intended staff members.

[stevekoolguy]

Fatman what is too much or not is not determined by scale of their wages. It is based on the quality of live you want to live, the quality service you want and how you compensate that. Please do not judge them by the scale of third world countries citizen should be treated by you like a thrid calss citizens. As foreigners who are fortunate in many ways and if we need to re-claim our American Dream of being viewed by the world as kind and considerate people, dno't poke your your 2 cents by suggesting to people who want to give more by suggesting that it is too much. Don't protect your interest. Don't think it will raise the market standards. Be constructive and promote good will amonst the people who are tolerating us

[fattman]

I am expressing my opinion, as you and others do. As a very long term resident in Thailand, with some experience in the hospitality business, my opinions result from that experience. Of course, the recipient of a large tip will be very happy, but most staff don't expect large tips and large tips form some perhaps unrealistic expectations of what future tips should be. As noted above, Thais (I'm talking middle class here) are not big tippers and tipping was something introduced here by foreigners. In some (only some) places, such as the gay bars in Soi 4, staff can almost double their income through tips, as happens in some hotels.

[stevekoolguy]

So in short you agree with me Fatman

[homintern]

Whenever I would leave 50THB or more for waiters, my boyfriend would always pick it up and only leave 20THB.

One of the mem'sahibs used to chip me about not leaving tips and I had to educate him that a tip is for good service, not no service. As I've said before, you need to check bills carefully these days for the "standard service charge" which means the "compulsory tip" and make sure you don't tip on top of that (unless the service was spectacular)

[TrongpaiExpat]

As I've said before, you need to check bills carefully these days for the "standard service charge" which means the "compulsory tip" and make sure you don't tip on top of that (unless the service was spectacular)

Yes, I am seeing that more and more and not easy to notice. Put your specks on, find some light source and ignore the waiter that points out the total and stands there waiting. Then when you get change and there's a lot of small bills when there need not be, ignore that too, unless you want to tip more.

[homintern]

As I've said before, you need to check bills carefully these days for the "standard service charge" which means the "compulsory tip" and make sure you don't tip on top of that (unless the service was spectacular)

Yes, I am seeing that more and more and not easy to notice. Put your specks on, find some light source and ignore the waiter that points out the total and stands there waiting. Then when you get change and there's a lot of small bills when there need not be, ignore that too, unless you want to tip more.

All in Thai - just check the sub-totals that have a % next to them. 7% is the VAT, anything else (usually 10%) is the service charge. Whether the waiters actually get it is anyone's guess

[markie1]

I useually Leave 20 Baht if just having a Cofee, after dinner useually leave between 50 and 100. Bell Boy 40. to me thats reasonable, you must remember that these people only earn about 200 Baht a day , I also leave my maida tip at the end of my stay in the hotel.

They must love you!

I agree whit markie 1, i tip about the same.

I forgot to say i give my loose change to people who need it ,my boyfriend always tips the less fortunate peoople useually old or desabled sat on the streets also.
And one particular guy that is very Disabled that sells his chewing gum every night sat on steps on The beech road heading towards walking street,always has a great smile for everey one ,i dont take is chewing gum but i always give him a 100 baht, he is there every night making a few Baht selling his gum, and to me some one like this deserves a helping hand ,been physically disabled and still trying to make a living .

[dave_syd]

as well as having to support the people who organise the begging rackets. must be hard now with the price of petrol, driving around delivering all the babies to the beggars