Tipping in Thailand

You are not obliged to tip in Thailand. But if you are treated well, a tip is appreciated. As a general rule, if you hand 20 Baht to the porter, bus driver and waiters at normal restaurants you are correct. At high-class hotels and restaurants the average tip can double or triple. Room maids at hotels, receptionists and tour guides you can tip once a week or on departure. Many hotels have a common box for tips to make sure that also the technical staff is not forgotten. Taxi drivers are not tipped as they work on their own and as they agree directly with you on the price for the trip. If one of them ask you for a tip, you got a bad one already. Agree the price with the taxi driver before you enter his car or you pay to much! Also insist that he brings you to your destination without delivering you first to a jewellery or any similar establishment. The taxi drivers in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya are not a honour for their nation and provoke a lot of bad will! In a serious confrontation it helps a lot to ask the driver to call the tourist police.

© 2002 Fishing Phuket