Tipping is
not customary in Thailand. There is no obligation to tip, but a small tip for
great service is greatly appreciated.
Unlike other
parts of the world, you won't find Thai service providers waiting for tips.
Given that
the average annual income for Thais is around $3,000, tipping in Thailand can
mean the difference between barely making ends meet and enjoying a higher
quality of life.
Remember
that service staff work long hours with little to no breaks and are able to
maintain a positive attitude most of the time.
When you
receive good food or great service (as is often the case in Thailand), giving a
small tip to show your appreciation can have a big impact in the long run.
When tipping
based on service in Thailand, be sure to give the money directly to the waiter.
If you give it to the administrator or leave it on the map, the server may not
be able to receive it.
Tipsters in
Thailand do not have the infrastructure to use tips as is common in tipping
culture.
Thai
workplaces do not have a culture of counting tips and redistributing them to
the front and back of the house at the end of the shift.
Things to keep in mind
Before we
talk further about who to tip and how much to tip, there are a few things to
keep in mind.
Do you want to keep the
changes?
Depending on
where you eat, tipping culture can vary greatly. If you order street food and
ask the vendor to leave you the change, even if it's only 5 baht, the vendor
will take it back, whether out of humility or confusion about overpaying. more
likely to claim that.
Acting like
a local is good advice for all travelers. Locals are unlikely to tip street
food vendors, so don't worry too much. If the food was really good, order
another one or leave a few baht and run away before they shove it back into
your hands.
Eating at a
restaurant or cafe is a different story. Note that waiters in such
establishments often work long hours with short breaks for less than $10 per
day.
For example,
if you order snacks and coffee worth 85 baht, it's common to keep the remaining
15 or 20 baht bill. You probably won't miss it, but it might help make up the
difference. To a young waitress with a family and a college degree.
You don't
have to tip every time you travel for an extended period of time, but as a
regular, you may receive better service and preferential treatment.
The more
expensive the restaurant, the higher the tip. When your bill reaches the low
hundreds of dollars, consider tipping 10% or more for good service. However,
please make sure your bill does not include a service charge.
Fair fares and a pinch of
tipping
In the
tourist areas of Thailand's major cities, especially Bangkok, it's very
difficult to find taxi drivers who actually use the meter. With this in mind,
it's worth rewarding drivers who do this with a small tip.
You don't
have to bet a lot of money. For example, if it's 61 baht, give them 70 baht and
don't expect change.
They will be
grateful for this and may persuade him to continue living honestly without
taking 200 baht for the upcoming trip.
As anyone
who has visited Thailand knows, massage parlors can be found on almost every
street corner, and there is fierce competition and price wars between them to
make them easy and affordable for tourists.
Massages are
personalized to the recipient and can be tiring. Additionally, due to
competition, massage therapists often have to wait hours without seeing a
single customer just to receive a portion of the massage fee after the facility
has received its share.
Again, tips
are not expected but fully appreciated. So if the masseuse charges her 300
baht, it would be better if he tips the masseuse 50-100 baht and gives it
directly.
It doesn't
cost a fortune, but it can brighten someone's day.
Sweet Dreams and Guide
Price
There's
nothing worse than not reconfirming your reservation, arriving at your hotel
exhausted and jetlagged, only to find yourself on the 4th floor and there's no
elevator.
Think of the
poor bellboys and porters who have to drag their luggage around. These jobs,
like hotel cleaning jobs, often have low pay, long hours, and high standards,
with a tip of 20 baht for each bag carried or room cleaned. You can get a
considerable effect.
Tour guides
are a godsend in Thailand. Some people are definitely going to travel, while
others may feel like going somewhere else. The amount of tip depends on the
tour guide's service and length of stay.
It is not
uncommon for a good guide to be paid more than 1,000 baht for being out all day
with a group. That's a lot of money for someone whose monthly income is only
about 15,000 baht.
You are not
obligated to tip if you are not satisfied with the service. But remember,
everyone has good days and bad days, and the hours can be long and tiring.
As the Thais
say, it's really "up to you". Tourists are not expected to tip, but
it is definitely appreciated.
It may be
easy to drive through a city you'll never visit again without tipping, but good
service and satisfaction should always be rewarded.
Think about
how much people make in restaurants and hotels and think twice before scooping
change out of your coin purse.
Who do you tip and how
much?
Here are
detailed guidelines to help you tip as a tourist in common cases.
Tip your tour guide
Tour guides
in Thailand can be a godsend. In some cases, you may hire a guide to show you
parts of Thailand that you would never see otherwise.
In other
cases, you may want to book a tour guide who clearly wants a different
location.
Even if you
don't understand what someone is saying, some people will transport you to
another time and place and open you up to history and culture.
No matter
what your tour is, we encourage you to leave a small tip. Tour guides often
work for hours in the hot sun just for tips.
The average
income of these people is about 15,000 baht, and a large tip can get them
through the day, or even the week.
Tipping in
Thailand often depends on the quality of the experience, but when tipping a
tour guide in Thailand, you should also consider the length of the tour.
If you meet
someone who is downright rude, never tip them. However, if the service was
so-so and the tour was exceptional, I recommend tipping between 50 and 100 baht
per hour.
I don't
think it's necessary to tip the guide 600 baht for a full-day tour, but I
understand that.
In that
case, you might only give them 50 baht per hour, but if you're happy, educated,
and satisfied after your trip, try to tip as much as you can when you get home.
Recommended
tip:
- Half day tour =
150+ Baht
- Full day tour =
300+ Baht
Tipping for bellboys
If you're
staying at one of the better hotels in Bangkok, your luggage will most likely
be delivered to your room. The amount of tip depends on the amount of baht you
have. The recommended tip is 20 Baht/50 Baht/100 Baht depending on the number
of bags.
Again, there
is no tipping in Thailand, but you will notice the bellman hanging at the door
when you leave. They happily accept tips.
Recommended
tip:
- 1 bag = 20 baht
- Multiple bags =
50 baht
Housekeeping tip
This can be
difficult. In Thailand, it is customary to tip the room attendants at luxury
hotels. You realize this when there is a tip envelope in the room. Please put
the tip in the maid's envelope. Tipping is not customary when staying at a
3-star hotel or below.
If the
envelope is missing, the maid may not know that the money left in the room is a
tip and may not accept it. It may sound strange, but if you leave a 50 baht
note on your bed, it may be considered forgotten and placed on your desk.
This
happened to us. The best way to tip housekeeping in Thailand is to literally
hand it over or make it clear that it's a tip. Thank you notes with money etc.
Recommended
tip:
- 1 night = 50
baht
- 3 nights = 100
baht
Tipping at restaurant
Tipping
roughly 10% of the bill is a good tip and rounding up or down just like you
would do at home.
If eating at
a fancier restaurant and the bill is higher, you can ignore the 10% rule and
give based on how the experience was with a minimum of THB100 tip.
Always check
the bill and see if a service charge was added, if a service charge was added
no need to tip.
When tipping
in a sit-down restaurant it isn’t a straight percentage of the check. Also,
look at the cost of the meal and the service. Just like you would at home.
If you had a
not-so-good waiter at home would you tip? Yes, you probably would tip but you’d
just tip less.
If you had
an amazing waiter, you’d tip a little extra. And if you had a terrible server
and dining experience you probably wouldn’t tip. The same goes when tipping in
Thailand at restaurants.
Suggested
tip:
- 100 baht bill =
10-20 baht tip
- 177 baht bill=
23 baht tip just leave all the change and round up
- 830 baht bill=
70-100 baht tip
- 1900 baht bill=
150 baht tip
Tipping at Bars
Tipping at
bars in Thailand varies from bar to bar. For bars where you go to the bar and
order your own drink, no tipping is required.
If you're
going to be at a beach bar on Koh Lipe all day, it's a good idea to tip him 10
baht on the first drink so the waiter can come by later to check on you.
If they
don't come back to check on you, don't tip them the next time you drink. If you
sit at the bar for a few hours, chat with the bartender, and have a great time,
your tip should be around 50 baht.
Always check
your bill to see if a service charge has been added. Tipping is not required if
a service charge is added.
Sky bars in
Bangkok often charge a service fee. So you don't have to tip unless it was a
special service and you want to leave an extra tip.
Suggested
tip:
- 10 THB for 2
drinks
- For groups and
long drinks: 10% of the bill
Tattoo Artist Tips
Getting a
tattoo in Thailand is an experience you'll never forget. Even better is to get
a Sakyan tattoo, a traditional Thai tattoo.
If your
tattoo artist creates a custom design that you like, show your appreciation
with a tip, usually 10%, or at your discretion.
Recommended
tips:
- 2,000 baht
tattoo = 200 baht tip
- 4,000 baht
tattoo = 300 baht tip
Massage tip
Anyone who
has ever visited Thailand knows that there are massage parlors on every street.
You probably know that.
Whether
you're interested in a relaxing oil massage, a deep tissue foot massage, or an
intense traditional Thai massage, it's important to try a massage at least once
if you want to experience Thai culture.
Therefore,
this task is one of the most important when it comes to tipping in Thailand.
Thai
massages often last for hours and are a demanding task. The masseuse then has
to wait for hours without a customer.
Once the
payment is completed, the massage parlor receives a portion of the profits and
the masseuse is left with only a portion of the profits.
Not only do
we highly recommend tipping for Thai massages, but we also recommend tipping
generously. If you want to unleash your inner generous nature, now is the time
to shine.
For an extra
50 or even 100 baht, you can have a fun day. And, as mentioned above, tip and
make sure to keep it to yourself.
Conclusion
If you are
often short on money but still want to appreciate the work of a waiter, there
is no need to worry.
Track your
tips with the electronic waiter tipping app for cashless tips. Take advantage
of the ease of use of the digital gratitude app.
Digital
tipping software that allows you to tip. The good news is that this typing
software can be used on both iPhone and Android smartphones, regardless of the
phone's operating system.