People have great difficulty understanding that people in Thailand don't always think the way we do.... that includes tipping and who pays for a meal.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

I's like to add something that quite a few forget about that can have great advantages. I stay at smaller hotels, that have a smaller staff. The doorman is usually the same person 6 days a week. After I check in, and the first time I return, I tip the doorman bt100, and give him another bt100 every week I am there.

What this does is get me good taxis when I want, with instructions to the driver where I'm going in Thai. Help to my room with packages. Just the basic above, and beyond service, rather than just opening the door.

Just something to consider.

I stay at even smaller hotels without doormen...that gets round the problem of knowing how much to tip them!

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

refuse to pay the 7% service charge element (after all, it is legally non-mandatory) and give this as tips? The chances are the service charge will never make the pay packets of the hotel workers anyway, so you can be tipping more generously than normal without it costing you a bean!

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!

AFAIK, the kind of beach huts I stay at don't have a 7% service charge either. Nor do the kind of Thai restaurants I frequent and some would be quite surprised if anyone left a tip I think.... probably come running after you to say you'd forgotten some money on the table!

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Carts, stalls and small shops typically don't mess with a service charge. The more established "corporate" restaurants are where this appears.

I believe the term "service charge" is more of a tax being passed on to the consumer.

In discussions on the subject, we have been told that the service charge is actually manditory, required by law. Larger restaurants are more likely to be audited for such things. Smaller eateries are taxed by the boys in brown, at a more arbitrary rate.

Whether manditory or not, I really wouldn't advise the average tourist to argue the point. It's a nominal amount and really not worth entering into a confrontation with the locals.

Not only can it be a source of grief for you, the wait staff typically would prefer it not take place. The extra baht you might reward for good service might cost someone their job.

Mai pen rai.....

The problem is it is not mandatory (hence the reason not all establishments charge / add this - I should know, I run a reservations site and once owned a villa resort) and when hotels say it is, that is because they take it to line their own pockets, not give it to the staff as they are legally obliged. I also very much doubt demanding to give the service charge directly to staff is going to cost anyone their job.

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!

I don't hotel it much in Thailand, so I can't address their policies; I am speaking in reference to restaurants, something we are experienced with.

At most hotels, wherever, wheeling and dealing is part of the game, and I would certainly use a bogus service charge as one of my tools. Even in the States, I barter hotel rates and charges.

In Thailand, bartering is a way of life. Most goods and services are part of the game. However, meals aren't usually bartered.

In the case of disputing a restaurant's "service charge", I don't think it's worth the hassle and/or the grief it might cause the server. All staff that we know would rather forgo any tip than get involved with having the charge removed.

I assume you are not Thai. We Westerners are a bit more understanding/tolerant when it comes to dealing with staff. Thai bosses can be downright ruthless. Most Thai staff would just as soon not have the boss even know who they are, let alone present a problem. And, if there is a problem, they sure don't want to be part of it.

For the most part, Thais are mild mannerd, congenial, accommodating people. But, more and more, another side is coming to light.

I read more and more about tourists experiencing nightmares over what should be minor disputes, if a dispute at all, that turned heated.

Someone familiar with Bangkok, Thais, and matters of face, can get a sense of where an encouter is headed. But, someone armed with only a guidebook, internet wisdom, and the Western concept of rights nad entitlement, might not be so perceptive.

Yes, work your best deal on accomodations and trinkets, but I would proceed with caution at independant pubs and eateries. I don't feel Thailand is a place for a foreigner to stand on principles.

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For Bangkok eatery suggestings, check out my Cheap Eats Bangkok.

This is not about wheeling and dealing, it is about ripping your staff and foreigners off on the basis you (hotels) are takings service charges for the staff when you are in fact lining your own pocket. Plus, with a name like Mark, I doubt anyone would imagine I am Thai, although if you check my bio I lived there long enough. I do not mean to pick a fight with you which you ultimately can not win by token of the fact I run and control this forum, I simply seek to stop the popular misconception you help spread that service charges go to the poorly paid workers when they do not. I want people to know that the service charge BS is about hotel profit and not mandatory, and that visitors should give it directly to the people who legally and morally deserve it. Hence the title of this forum and my company (Travel Ethos, Ltd.). It is less about peace, although peace is good, but more about truth, justice and peace which is infinitely better.

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!

I quote my original statement made when I entered this thread.


This was in direct response to a quoted post, referencing restaurants, that implied that one might offer a "token" tip if a service charge is already levvied (see preceeding post).

My cautioning about arguing the point isn't arguing with your point and isn't addressing hotels; it's more an added insight about Thai people's adversion to conflict.

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For Bangkok eatery suggestings, check out my Cheap Eats Bangkok.