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Tipping in Thailand; Should You or Shouldn’t You?
by Scott Mallon, www.ThaiBoxingGear.com
For more information about Scott Mallon & ThaiBoxingGear.com,
( please click on the above banner.)
One subject that is always sure to be a topic of debate anywhere in the world is the subject of tipping. Each country has its own customs and norms with regards to tipping however as visitors and we sometimes forget this and tip as if in our home country.
Here are some general rules of thumb when tipping in Thailand (approx 40 baht = $1.00 U.S:
Situation 1 (In a taxi):
You take a taxi from your hotel to Lumpini stadium. By the time you get there, your fare is 97 baht.
Do you:
a) give the driver 200 baht, smile and say khob khun khup (Thank you).
b) give the driver 100 baht and get out.
c) give the driver 120 baht and head in to the stadium
d) tell him to take you to the massage parlor
If you said b, you would be correct. Some Thais would wait for the 3 baht change but a 3 baht tip is perfectly acceptable and this is generally what Thais would give as a tip. BTW – If at all possible you never have a taxi driver take you to the massage parlor of his choice as they get a commission from the place.
Situation 2 (In a taxi):
You take a taxi from your hotel to Lumpini stadium. By the time you get there, your fare is 101 baht.
Do you:
a) give the driver 200 baht, smile and say khob khun khup
b) give the driver 100 baht and get out of the taxi before he can practice his Muay Thai on you for the 1 baht.
c) give the driver 120 baht, smile and head in to the stadium
d) give the driver 100 baht and say goodbye
Answer: If you said d, you would be correct. Paying 100 baht on a 101 baht taxi fare is again, considered perfectly acceptable and you will not get hassled for more money by the taxi driver. This goes for if the fare is 151, you pay 150 etc.
Situation 3 (In a restaurant)
You go to Black Canyon Coffee with some friends for a hearty meal. The place is nearly empty. When the waitress asks you what you want to drink you ask for the spaghetti dinner. You wait and wait and wait. You again ask for the dinner. You get nothing and continue to wait. You never do get what you asked for and when you ask why not, the waitress tells you she forgot. When it comes time to pay your 125 baht bill, do you:
a) leave a 15% tip
b) leave 75 baht as a tip
c) pay only the 125 baht, no tip
d) tell them you aren’t paying shit
Answer: You cannot, out of principle leave a tip so the answer is C. Some Thais think that they deserve a tip no matter what but as we westerners know, a tip is normally given for good service. If the service is shitty or they forget your order, don’t leave a tip no matter how much they smile!
Situation 4 (Can happen anywhere):
You are out and about, running around town, shopping, hanging out. You are in a grocery store and need help finding something so you ask a store clerk working in one of the aisles to assist you. To your surprise, after she helps you, she says “Tip, tip?” Should you:
a) Give her a tip because she’s cute
b) Call her a whore
c) Laugh at her and tell her you’ll give her a big tip if she bends over.
d) Tell her you are poor and watch what her expression is.
Some Thais are of the opinion that because you are a farang (foreigner) and in their minds are rich, you should give them a tip simply because. They can give you crappy service yet get pissed off when you don’t leave a tip. It’s my own feeling that if a waiter or waitress gives you poor service you shouldn’t give them diddly and if they want to get pissed, oh well. Better to be pissed off than pissed on.
When riding in taxis it sometimes pays to give them a tip. I’ve tipped a driver 10 or 20 baht and when I forgot my mobile phone in their cab, they’ve actually driven back to where I was and given it back to me. It’s always a judgment call but understand that most Thais are not tipping like tourists and are laughing at those who do.
By the way - The answer to situation 4 is C, laugh at her and tell her you’ll give her a big tip if she bends over.
* Article by Scott Mallon, www.ThaiBoxingGear.com.
* Back to This Issue's Frontpage
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