tipping in Bangkok

Many hotels in Bangkok add a 10% service charge on your nightly rate. But, since people in the service industry aren’t exactly paid well, some staff positions in hotels are used to getting tips. How much you should tip for each service usually depends on the quality of the hotel. Bell boys, concierges don't get paid well. So, always give 20 Baht per bag to the bell-boy or porter who carries your bag to the room.

If the concierge or hotel portiere has fulfilled a difficult request like securing a restaurant reservation that was impossible or getting those last movie tickets a 50-100 Baht tip should do well. Additionally, don’t forget to leave a small tip of 20 to 50 baht in an envelope on the pillow of the bed for the hotel maid and always make sure to tip the room service at least 20 Baht.

Many restaurants are likely to include a service charge of 10% on the bill. Therefore, it isn’t exactly necessary to leave a tip behind. However, if there is no service charge present, leaving a tip that equates to 10% of the total charge, is quite common.

At cheaper restaurants, it is even ordinary to leave small change behind and if you are eating a roadside place, it is common to round the bill up. At more expensive and high-end restaurants with professional waiters/waitresses who provide exceptional service, a larger tip of 15% is quite common apart from the 10% service charge.

Masseuses/masseurs in Bangkok will not expect you to tip. However, leaving behind a tip would be a good way to show your appreciation for the service received. Usually, at high-end hotels with spas, you should tip the masseuse or masseur at least 15% of the bill.

If you treatment is longer, then you should tip 50 baht for every 300 minutes. Hence a two hour massage should receive a tip of at least 200 Baht. However, do bear in mind to always tip directly to your therapist and always pay in cash, to ensure they receive the gratuity and not the massage centre.

As a general rule, taxi drivers don’t expect tips in Bangkok, so it’s entirely up to you whether you want to leave a few bucks behind or not. If not tips, you can always round the fare to the nearest Baht, which will be both convenient for you and the driver. For instance, if you fare is 150 Baht on the meter, it would be common to leave behind 200 Baht and tell the driver to keep the change.

However, some taxi drivers in an attempt to make a bit extra out of passengers try negotiating a fare in advance rather than follow the meter. For this reason, it is imperative to watch out for such drivers and even if you do reach your destination, forget leaving behind a tip.