Tipping in Thailand is not customary and there are no requirements to tip anyone, leaving a small gratuity for great service is appreciated, but unlike other parts of the world you will never see a Thai service provider with their hand out expecting to be tipped.
Tipping is NOT customary in Thailand, there is absolutely NO mandatory requirement to tip anyone, but small gratuities for great service are very much appreciated. Unlike some other parts of the world, you will never see a Thai service provider with his hand out waiting for a tip.
Many Thais will tip at these kind of places. Although, again, this isn't a fixed amount and it's just as much for convenience as it is for gratitude or a comment on the quality. Assuming the food is good and your server are pleasant, the small tip will either be a small banknote – 20 Baht being the most common.
Tipping is NOT customary in Thailand, there is absolutely NO mandatory requirement to tip anyone, but small gratuities for great service are very much appreciated.
If you were happy with the trip and you wish to give the driver a tip, you can leave them change or round up to an even amount. For example, if the taxi ride costs 94 THB, it is advisable to round up to 100 THB. Many Thais are also doing like this.
Plan to tip around 10-15% in Bangkok restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Bangkok depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
The amount of tip depends your level of satisfaction to the service, feel free to give as much as you like if you really enjoyed the Thai Massage, otherwise, 15% of the massage price per hour is enough to put a smile on the massager's face.
Tip a minimum of 10%. Tipping in restaurants is the easiest thing to do. If the service charge is not built into the bill, tipping 10% from the bill will fine. In high-end restaurants, a higher tipping rate is customary, and 100 Baht (3.25 USD) would be a polite minimum tip.
TAP WATER. Unlike in many developed countries, tap water in Thailand is generally considered not potable as such, although you can safely brush your teeth and steam rice with it. Some local people boil tap water and cool it down to drink it later, but that's not recommendable.
Tap water in Bangkok is as safe in theory as the tap water in any developed city worldwide. This means that there's no need to boil or treat it before drinking. Bangkok's tap water is certified safe for brushing teeth, showering or making a cup of coffee etc.
The average cost of a basic Thai meal in a restaurant is 90 – 150 baht. Seafood invariably costs more. A plate of noodles in a basic restaurant in Sukhumvit is around 100 baht. Thai portions are often smaller, so you may end up eating an extra meal or snacking during the day!
Drinking alcohol in Thailand is legal, but it is restricted for use in such locations as temples, parks, gas stations and other. It is allowed to drink alcohol in public, but walking around with an opened bottle in Thailand is less socially acceptable.
Some places will have a service fee included in the bill, so keep an eye on the fine print of your bill. Restaurants aside, some locals do tip taxi drivers, whether it's the official bright coloured ones or lowly Grab drivers. You don't have to tip a lot; anything is appreciated.
Bargaining in Thailand is widely expected in places run by small shop owners and at Thai markets. You can also bargain for local services such as tours, transportation, and accommodation. As a tourist, this is a skill you're going to need!
The most commonly used phrase in Thai to say “thank you” is ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ (kop khun krap/ka). If you are a male speaker you would say ขอบคุณครับ (kop khun krap) and if you are a female speaker you would use the phrase ขอบคุณค่ะ (kop khun ka).
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), guests should tip housekeeping anywhere between $1 to $5 per night for a mid-range or business hotel. For luxury hotels where the staff offers daily cleaning services and nightly turndown services, guests should leave a little more.
The most common trouble travelers face in Thailand is trip-spoiling stomach bugs. Never drink tap water, wash your hands before eating, stick to busy eating establishments and be cautious of ice, unwashed or unpeeled fruit and uncooked vegetables.
Unless you start to feel really sick though, this is not cause for concern. To be extra-safe, eat at food stalls that cook the food when you order it. Stalls that offer trays of pre-cooked food are usually alright, but just to be safe, avoid them when you're first tucking in.
It is perfectly fine to brush your teeth with the water straight from the tap, touch your face or eyes after you've washed your hands, clean your pots and pans with the water, etc.
Taking cash & cards to Thailand
Western currencies can easily be changed all over the country. We recommend that you change some money into Baht on arrival and it is advisable to carry local currency in small denominations (20, 50 and 100 Baht notes) for tipping and the purchase of small items.
If you enter Thailand via air, there is mostly no minimum amount of money you must carry. However, I highly recommend you to bring at least 2000 THB to use when you arrive to buy a SIM or necessities. If you don't have THB, you can exchange it at the airport too.
Tipping your taxi drivers is not required, though rounding the fare off to the nearest 5 or 10 baht is common practice (it's a nice thing to do, as they earn very little, work long hours in often stressful conditions).
Thai Massage has a lot of movement and stretching. Thus, it requires a loose comfortable clothing. Leave the leather pants and pencil skirts at home! The best practice is to wear a t-shirt and yoga pants, sweatpants, or shorts.
“You should always tip something after a massage—it's rude not to,” says Beth Rose, a licensed massage therapist and business owner in Kennewick, Washington. “We are providing a service. Plus, massage is hard physical work! A good tip gives us an incentive to serve you better the next time.”
For example, in some cases a Thai masseuse will stand on top of the clients back, using the pliant feet instead of stiff forearms to knead back muscles.