Tip Guide - Thailand
Currency: Baht (THB)
Tip name: เคล็ดลับ Khel̆d lạb
Annual income: 18,200 US dollars = 15,480 euros
Tipping is a voluntary matter in Thailand and is considered a sign of satisfaction with the service. In (high-class) Thai restaurants, about 10% is expected as a tip – unless a “service charge” is already explicitly stated on the bill. Less than 10 THB tip is considered an insult. The situation is different in small cookshops and street restaurants: Here, no tip is given as a matter of principle. However, if these are frequented not only by locals but also by tourists, there is sometimes a small tip box where you can leave a tip.
Reception
With a tip box at reception, 50 to 100 baht can be given per day spent depending on satisfaction on departure.
Luggage carrier
20-50 Baht per suitcase.
Room cleaning
20 Baht per day (clearly mark tip as such: best in an envelope labelled with short words of thanks).
Restaurant
In high-end restaurants: 10% of the bill. In cookshops, markets, self-service restaurants: no tip usual.
Taxi
Taxi drivers do not expect a large tip, but usually the amount is rounded up to the nearest 20 baht note.
Tuk Tuk
No tip is expected, price is negotiated before the ride.
Stylist/Cosmetics
At a high-class hairdresser: 10% of the invoice amount (not at a barber).
Massage
At a hotel spa: 10% of the invoice amount. At a massage parlour: 100 baht per 30 min. treatment.
Tour guide
150 to 300 Baht per person per day.
Tip@Click Expert-Tipp:
In Thai restaurants, chopsticks are only used in exceptional cases. Instead, spoons and forks are used.
The spoon is taken in the main hand (depending on whether one is right- or left-handed), the fork in the other.
It is used to push the food onto the spoon, from which it is then eaten.