How much should I tip in Thailand?

Tipping culture is different from country to country. If you are travelling to Thailand and you are pleased with services, where to tip and how much to tip are frequently-asked questions

You go to a Thai restaurant and are pleased with the excellent services. How much should you tip? Is 20 baht a way too little and you will receive glances from the waiter? Actually, there is no standard telling you about the amount you need to tip. However, getting the following advice may help you avoid the confusing situation.

1. Tipping in Thailand

Tipping is not a custom in Thailand. You might not see the local doing so and you are not required to tip anyone. Tipping in Thailand has become more popular than ever before because it is like a small gratuity for good services. No matter the tipping amount is, it is appreciated. Different from some parts of the world, you do not see Thai people with their hands out waiting for a tip. According to them, this will put their customers in a confusing situation, for instance, if he is not pleased with the services or if his budget is not that large.

In Thailand, the average wage of Thai people is less than 9,000 Baht a month. Food street sellers or taxi drivers and pink-colour workers often have their wage even much lower than this amount. So some Baht tip may be nothing to you but can add up much to their total earning.

Tipping is not a custom in Thailand

2. Where to tip?

This is just our recommendations, not the rules. You can feel free to follow them or not. Below are where to tip and how much you should tip in Thailand.

Excellent restaurants

If you are pleased with a restaurant, from their services to their tasty foods and stunning design, you should tip them 10% of the bill. It is perceived as a generous and well-appreciated tip.

For a luxury restaurant with snooty waiters and waitresses as well as magnificent view, the tip of 10% bill seems to be a ground-rule that you should unless you want to witness some glances when you leave.

You also should check the bill to see whether there is a service charge. This charge is different from a personal tip. While service charges are to be divided among waiters and waitresses, the personal tip is more likely to belong to the waiter who serves you directly.

Unlike in some restaurants in America, even if you do not tip, you still get it out safely and the waiters will have no bad behaviours towards you. In Thailand, they consider the tipping money luck instead of something they must have because of the service they provide. If you are lucky enough, you get it and if you are not, accept it. Tipping is just a voluntary gesture and you can decide to tip or not.

If you are pleased with a restaurant, from their services to their tasty foods and stunning design, you should tip them 10% of the bill

Street food vendors

Feel free to tip when you eat street foods in small vendors. If you are crazy for the unique flavours or if the sellers are really friendly, tip them some. It is fine to do so even if you see no one doing the same. Simply because they are worth it. Most street food vendors have their price clearly stated so that you can estimate the amount for things you have eaten and the tipping money. In franchises such as McDonald's, Starbucks, KFC, Svenson's, Tom Tom’s,..you do not need to tip if the waiter or waitress does not come to your table.

Feel free to tip when you eat street foods in small vendors.

Bar

If it is a bar in a nice venue, there is no need to tip. However, if it is a beach bar and the waiters have been serving your drinks and foods all the morning while you are admiring the beauty of the coastline, then it is suggested that you should tip them about 100 baht. If you spend the evening chatting with the bar attendant, then you should tip him about 50-100 baht. He is willing to share your story and the tip would be appropriate.

If it is a bar in a nice venue, there is no need to tip

Massage

After a day exploring beautiful Thailand, spend time with traditional Thai massage instead of the massage include “happy-ending”. It is better to ask the hotel concierge or ask the tour guide or the locals. For excellent Thai traditional massage, you should find a spa with experienced masseuse and masseurs. As they help you to relax after a busy day, a tip of 50-100 baht would be appreciated.

After a day exploring beautiful Thailand, spend time with traditional Thai massage instead of the massage include “happy-ending”

3. How much should I tip?

If you are still confused about tipping in Thailand, here are some suggested tips:

For 100 Baht bill, the tip should be from 10 - 20 Baht

For 177 Baht bill, tip 23 Baht as it is also the change

For 830 Baht bill, a tip from 70 to 100 Baht

For 1900 Baht bill, tip about 150 Baht

These suggested tips are just normal ones and are not compulsory ones. You can tip a little extra if you had an amazing experience in the restaurant and refuse to tip if the dining experience is terrible. If the bill is 950 Baht and you have a 1,000 Baht note, tip 30 Baht and do not receive the changes.

These suggested tips are just normal ones and are not compulsory ones

Knowing some tipping etiquette may help you avoid confusion when you are about to tip some for the excellent services and tour. Tipping is not too popular in Thailand and you can feel free to tip or not, but some little amount would be appreciated. And even if you do not tip, Thai people are still polite and smile with you.

Hang Moon

Image sources: Internet