| To tip or not to tip? As an American I was | | | | taxi's I usually round up the meter charge as a tip |
| brought up in a tipping culture and therefore tip | | | | but for the maids, waitresses, and bartenders I |
| service wherever I go. Many people will tell you | | | | tip well. You don't have to give huge tips but what |
| that Thailand is not a tipping culture or at least it | | | | you give is appreciated and usually remembered. I |
| wasn't until us Americans ruined the place leaving | | | | usually leave the maid 20-50 baht a day tip and at |
| tips everywhere. | | | | the restaurant or bar leave a 20 - 50 baht tip |
| So, some people tip when they go to Thailand | | | | sometimes more as the restaurant and bar staff |
| and some don't and the argument rages on. | | | | usually pool their tips. If I want to make sure that |
| I had the chance to eat in some small Thai | | | | the person I want to get the tip gets it I'll slip it to |
| restaurants on my last trip and I watched what | | | | them on the sly. More times than not they'll split it |
| the Thai people did and oddly enough most of | | | | with the others anyway. |
| them left a tip for their waitress, not much but a | | | | Some people argue that they are already getting |
| tip all the same. They all seemed to leave just the | | | | paid to do their job and should not get any more |
| change from the bill...maybe 5 to 10 baht each. | | | | but for me I can't see things that way, especially |
| One thing is for sure whether the Americans | | | | in a country where the average Thai earns |
| started it or not Thais in the service industry | | | | between three to six thousand baht a month |
| expect something. Believe me, I've heard the | | | | ($100-$200). Yes, the cost of living is a lot |
| term cheap Charlie thrown around on quite a few | | | | cheaper in Thailand but that is easy for a |
| occasions when a non tipper left the scene of the | | | | foreigner to say when we are spending the |
| crime. | | | | equivalent of a Thai's yearly salary in a week or |
| Not everyone expects a tip. The street cart | | | | two on vacation. |
| vendors or baht bus drivers you don't tip. The | | | | |