Tipping for meals in Thailand
What are the Thai tipping habits for meals? I expect that it depends on type of establishment: street stalls, budget restaurants, upscale restaurants. I've read that it's common to leave either 10% of the order or coins from the change: which one of them is correct, or are they applicable to different cases? How can I tell from observed features of establishment the amount of tips they expect from the customers?
Best Answer
Tipping is typically not expected in a Thai restaurant. But a lot of the chain restaurants will have a tip jar at the cashier. But occasionally if I am in a good mood, I will leave change or 10-20 baht. Maybe a bit closer to 10% at a sit down restaurant if I was impressed. For example, if it was like 280 baht for a meal at a sit-down restaurant, and you were satisfied with the service you might just leave the remainder in the checkbook or when the person is giving you change just hand it back to them immediately and say something like ?????? (hi tip). Not too many venues that I've seen will include the service charge (10% or so); that is more common in Malaysia.
They should never ask you for one though. But it's not like Japan where they will actively refuse the tip. The bill is the minimum payment required...and anything over that is "up to you".
Tipping is a little more common (although not required) in service industries like beauty (barber/hairstyling, private taxi, massage.
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Do you tip in restaurants in Thailand?
Tipping is NOT customary in Thailand, there is absolutely NO mandatory requirement to tip anyone, but small gratuities for great service are very much appreciated. Unlike some other parts of the world, you will never see a Thai service provider with his hand out waiting for a tip.Is 300 baht a good tip?
Again, tipping isn't expected but it's more than appreciated, so you may want to consider tipping the masseur perhaps 50-100 baht on a bill of 300 baht, and giving it directly to them. It won't break the bank, but it can make a person's day.How much do you tip a bell boy in Thailand?
How Much Do You Tip A Bellboy In Thailand? Tip a minimum of 20 Baht (0.65 USD). Tipping hotel staff in Thailand is customary, and in most cases, the tip should be 20 Baht. If the bellboy has to help you with several heavy bags, a larger tip would be expected.Is 200 baht a good tip?
Tipping Tour Guides In which case, a tip of 100 \u2013 200 Baht per person would be fine at the end of the day. If you're on large group tour with 20 or 30 other people, then no tip is required for the tour guide.Tip in Thailand? The complete guide to tipping in Thailand!
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Answer 2
As @Itai said, there is indeed no tipping in restaurants, or anywhere else, really. While a large chunk of Thailand is geared towards tourism, and fleecing tourists, tipping is not something that reached restaurants. While people in many tourism-related industries (taxis, massage, etc) expect, sometimes even demand, a tip, they can do this on a case-by-case basis. Asking for a tip in restaurants would mean that all customers, including Thais, would be submitted to it -- which wouldn't fly with the Thai customers...
[NB: I travel to Thailand every month for work]
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