transpac

He paid with a 100 baht note, he received a 20 baht note and 2 one baht coins. He accepted the change, looked at it and then handed it back to the cashier. It looked to me like it was meant to be a tip, hence I mentioned it here.

IAN-UK

Last week I witnessed a customer leave her Ł3+ change with the cashier in WH Smiths bookshop at Heathrow. Not sure if it's a coins-as-change phenomenon, or a true tip: but nice to know it's not Thailand specific. If it's coin phobia, UNICEF’s 'Change for Good' might be a better destination for the largesse.

dgoedken

I'm on the "it depends what it is for" in regards to tipping. But most everything I've read in regards to tourist and costs, is that there is a price for locals/long-term expats, and another for farangs.

So, tipping on top of that would seem (to me who is still learning/investigating) the farang/tourist/traveler is getting hosed on price for taxi/tuk tuk/etc and then tipping on TOP of that.

dsquared37

Never negotiate for a taxi and you're less likely to get hosed. Always use the meter.

As for the tuk tuks; I never tip when having negotiated a price.

mario33

Outside of Bangkok, I am not sure how many places actually have taxis using meters (or willing to use meters) ....

dsquared37

Agreed taxis can be limited, but they do exist in an increasing fashion. My last time to UBP imagine my surprise seeing a new fleet of taxis (in a provincial capital that didn't even have many tuk tuks).

Down at the touristy beaches you're screwed mostly, but it's always good to ask for the meter rather than agree to a set price. When the driver declines you've a decision to make.

spideysense

In Thailand, peoplr are extremely gracious when you tip well, which is why I like to do it. At the Ritz in Toronto the other day, I tipped the valet $20 and he seemed like he couldn't have cared less.

In China, I got a great foot massage, so I tipped the girl the equivalent of $10. She was absolutely shocked and so thrilled, it was nice to see. She immediately ran to her colleagues and they just stared at me like I was an alien.

The largest non-bar/restaurant tip I've ever left was $100. I was in a cab in Toronto after a night out on the town, and the cab driver was on his headset talking to some friend who was apparently having a hard time financially. I couldn't help but overhear snippets of the conversation, but I heard him say somrthing about a food bank. When the cabbie dropped me off, I told him to give the $100 to his buddy to help him with his groceries. I don't know if this qualifies as a tip though, now that I think about it, more like a charitable donation, as the money was intended for someone who did not provide me with any service.

mario33

If there are more visitors like you in this part of the world, very soon the massage girl would be behaving like your valet in Toronto.

And if you need to buy recognition or attention by throwing money in such manner, you do really need professional help ....

User Name

Seriously not cool.

Exactly.

jiejie

Agree with mario and user name: you are only creating future problems, and you urgently need to get yourself under control when visiting Asia. If you want to make charitable donations while in this part of the world, there are acceptable ways of doing so to worthwhile places.

FAllWay

Lets get this straight. Tiping is not the norm in asian countries. Only tourists do it.

User Name

Uninformed or culturally illiterate tourists. I'm sure there are plenty of responsible tourists out there.

tide

Not sure why everyone seems to think there is absolutely no tipping in Asia-Pac or that locals never tip. While definitely not across the board, Asians do tip in very specific situations. Some common examples are in entertainment establishments (bars, nightlife, some dining especially when there is big group etc), tour guides, casinos, service providers when extra service is requested etc.

spideysense

Creating future problems? You make it sound as if tipping is some sort of scourge plaguing mankind. If anything, we need to be more generous to one another.

If someone does a good job for me, wherever in the world that may be, I will reward them as I please.

IAN-UK

This thread is getting longer legs than even the epic how to catch a taxi at BKK. Why so much interest in what other folk do?

Tipping is between the donor and the recipient: give as much, or as little, as you are comfortable with.

Unless you are in the US .