Tipping?

hello

anyone can tell me how much is the norm for tips

ie , taxis waiters, also we have a private transfer

booked from bkk airport to HH pre paid thru travel agent, what would we be expected to tip the driver

thanks guys.

Tipping?

Meter taxi you don%26#39;t tip, just round the fare up to the nearest 10 baht. Waiter in an airconditioned restaurant 20-40 baht is enough. In a hotel or up market restaurant then add 10%, but note that many of those type places add service charge already.

For your transfer, about 2-300 baht would be fine.

Many tourists go over the top with tipping, as there is traditionally no culture of tips.

Tipping?

Tipping in restaurants is not expected, however I always at least round up the bill. For a private transfer I%26#39;d probably give the driver 100baht or so. Maybe a bit more if the service was exceptional.

thanks guys, not long now so looking forward to this hol.

hi there

we visited hua hin earlier in year and our taxi was paid for through travel agent.

but didnt tip

Tipping originally is not a practice in Thailand because service staff receive a full salary. However, the practice has spread because the Americans keep tipping for every little thing. I am doubtful if the tips go to the staff.

Tip 5 baht for a cheap water or soda in a beer bar (10 baht if you intend to return,) tip 10 baht for a beer or mixed drink - that%26#39;s it! Tip 10 baht for a cheap meal in restaurant if you are coming back to that restaurant.

Tip for a driver? Well you are paying a lot already for a ride to the airport, more than a local would pay - give him 20 baht, if the driver is real nice and you are a softie maybe 40 baht!

I usually find that the Japanese tip quite a bit more than everyone except a drunk European! You will find that 10 and 20 baht tips go a long way! No need to over tip! Besides what are they going to do - follow you home to harass you?

Enjoy your holiday!

Frostfire - frosty allright!!!

';No need to over tip! Besides what are they going to do - follow you home to harass you?';

I tip because I enjoyed my meal, drinks, holiday etc. It%26#39;s a social custom designed to show your appreciation for hard working people who earn fraction of what westerners earn. I may be European, generally not particularily drunk, but I can%26#39;t see why not be a bit generous with cash if one is lucky enough to be born in the west and earn a decent wage.

So just have a bit of compassion, generosity and reward good service - not because you are worried about being harassed.

';if one is lucky enough to be born in the west and earn a decent wage.';

I guess you still have the colonial hangover. There are plenty of Asians who travel to west and are wealthy enough to tip generously. Being western and probably white does not mean you should be tipping excessively. Frostfire is right, how much you tip is your personal choice and the figures she suggested are not far off the mark.

Correction - figures ';he'; suggested

As someone who lives here, we regularly are in places where tipping you might say is the norm.

We have discovered that nobody really expects a large tip, never give to the Tuk Tuk drivers, rarely the Taxis unless on a long journey or they have been exceptionally helpful. Most small eating places 10 - 20 Baht is gratefully recieved with a smile and a wai and proven by our repeated visits for even better service. I for one have never been in favour of the dreaded 10% on the bill, why should my ';tip'; be bigger just because I chose a more expensive item from the menu and like a previous poster, I%26#39;m not convinced the staff always get it, but once again the posher outlets and most hotels always include it - like it or not, but then to contradict myself I sometimes do give the waiter in these places something for themselves.

But I suppose that when on holiday you are often in a more generous mood anyway.