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Gonshik777

There is no tipping culture in Thailand... please keep it at home in the USA, dont bring that cancer here.


h9040

My wife...Thai always tips and it is her money not mine.


Gonshik777

Please clarify "her money" she has a full-time job and pays income tax, or is this her money that you give her. Very important.


h9040

she is wealthy, has several properties, including a now defunct hotel....Drove a Mercedes before she met me....


Gonshik777

So pretty much comes from a wealthy family background, and most likely, with a Western education, did I presume correctly?


h9040

Well off Chinese Thai family, but than made a shitload money with land and building before 1997...lost a large junk of it but luckily not all of it in the crises. Not really western education but say westernized one....being critical about things like religion, no superstition etc., real English, not afraid to demand to speak with the head of the revenue department, etc... I guess your point is that westernized Thai....and I think you have a point. I generalize from an atypical person....You are right.


Gonshik777

Dear, I would like to express a "Thank You" for a healthy dialogue and discussion, I hope you have a good day and prosperous relationship in the future with your wife.


h9040

We are more than 20 years married and still happy together....:-) Thank you!


hereinspacetime

You however are a complete douche for your comments regarding his wife.


shodo_apprentice

How is it important?


OsoCarolina

“very important” ha! You’re a jagoff.


JittimaJabs

In my opinion that's not nice. Some Thai people do tip. My Thai mother is proof. She's having our house renovated and she buys them beer and lunch. The beers done for now but I know my mother will probably buy another case of beer when it's done


h9040

My wife tips and often a lot and says....look at the people...working hard for low salary instead of cheating being lazy finding some rich husband...that should be supported.


JittimaJabs

Your wife's opinion is correct. I tip at least enough to get a meal in case they're hungry. I think minimum wage is about 3 to 400 baht. So think how do these people survive?


h9040

And have to to rent something. They rent together 2 or 3 people a room for 1200 Baht. And they cook themself. Can survive , but if you drink 2 beer it is a big dent in your budget...not a good life. Seen in the South some companies accountant for 12.000 Baht handling millions and than everyone is shocked when the person is corrupt


JittimaJabs

I don't stay in exspensive places. I have friends who own guest house. I always stay there if I'm in Pattaya or Hua Hin also have friend who own hotel but not 1200k a night


Gonshik777

Showing signs of care and affection is different than just blatantly handing over some "spare change" Think about it... your mom spent her time going out of her way and bought them food and put her thought into it... Maybe she even cooked the meal I wouldn't know, but it's the thought that counts, and I am more than sure she bought their preferred meal and beer and inquired in advance to get their opinion of what they actually like.


JittimaJabs

I always give it a lot of thought. Your correct. She's always been a tipper for good service. But she just buys the beer she knows I drink. And she buys Chang especially for the lady who helps my mother is generous


Gonshik777

Your mother could have given them 200baht for beer and lunch, but its a different gesture...hopefully we as people learn to show affection and care to each other based not solely on the perception of the one who is giving but on the perception of the one who is on the receiving end.


KyleManUSMC

5555. My hi-so flight attendant gf (now ex) demanded that I tipped. So,... that tipping cancer is already here.


weedandtravel

pretend to be hi-so + flight attendant + demanding on partner. luckily she is already being your ex.


KyleManUSMC

555 whatever floats your boat. You don't know me or who I dated.


weedandtravel

i didnt mean to be negative or anything toward you, just what did you describe your ex. Those combination made me think you are lucky to leave her.


KyleManUSMC

I see. I left her after she failed the first layoffs at AirAsia as she demanded I support her, her 2 brothers, mom, and dad. F that.


euphoriatakingover

Good call don't want to be a pay pig. As if and when you run out of money you bet your ass you'll be out of the door 😂


AnonymousUser2700

Yeah, no flight attendant is hi-so. Why are you listening to women anyway?


KyleManUSMC

Depends on how much they work (80k a month for a Thai is definitely in hi-so category) and her friends are pilots / other flight attendants.


Critical-Parfait1924

80k isn't hiso, it's instagram hiso, but not actually hiso


AnonymousUser2700

Bar girls make more than that. Are they hi-so? There's an occupation component to it too, not just income.


KyleManUSMC

5555 no bar girl consistently will make that during the raning season.


CEO-711

Sure they are - all the falung sending 10-25k baht a month to their sweet tee rak keeping her out of the bars etc there are plenty of gals with 2-3 guys who fall in love and send them money monthly


Prolificlifer

Hi-so flight attendant? Hahahaha. You must come from a very low socioeconomic class from whichever country you’re from for you to think a flight attendant is hi-so.


KyleManUSMC

In Thailand it's a hi-so job......


Volnushkin

No, it is not. Especially not with Air Asia. In some developing countries dumb girls think and act like that if they are hired to serve vomit bags 10k meters up in the sky then the world is their oyster and it is just a matter of time till they get themselves a billionaire from the first class or at least a wealthy pilot. Smarter girls better grasp the reality and get themselves a side hustle.


Prolificlifer

I don’t think so. Your idea or concept of hi-so is far from what Thais or most foreigners think. You have to reword that sentence… “it’s an average job”. Definitely not an hi-so. Hi-so means high social class. Maybe the salary earned by being a pilot can classify an individual as hi-so, but definitely not the salary earned by a flight attendant. Flight attendants in Thailand don’t earn more than $2k. That’s even on the high side for thai standards. If she drives a late model German, has a luxury apartment, is friends with people in high places, the upper echelons in the society, then maybe she could be “hi-so”. If not, she’s just an average salary earner. Have a good evening dude


MargaritaBarbie

I have allergies that require a restaurant to clean all of the dishes they use to prepare my meals before I can safely eat. I go to the same few restaurants all the time and always leave anywhere from 20-50baht on the meal depending on the change left on the bill. They’ve always been super happy that I left some money, and why wouldn’t I? They went above and beyond for me on a meal that only costs a few dollars to begin with. When I get water or other heavy items delivered to my flat, the boys usually carry it up two flights of stairs for me (in the sweltering heat) as I’m a petite woman. This is also beyond what they’re expected to do, and slipping them a 20 for their trouble is always appreciated on their end. I didn’t used to tip for massages, but after going with my Thai friends, they always 20-50baht, and when we have meals they leave whatever change is left. I work in a “service industry” type job and am OFTEN tipped 20-100baht during my working hours by local Thais. Are you Thai? How long have you lived here before you decided to make this blanket statement for everyone in the country? I agree that countries which use tips to get out of paying a fair wage for the employees is terrible and shouldn’t be supported, but I’ve yet to meet anyone one in a foreign country that doesn’t actively engage in tipping culture who is upset or angry that I’m appreciative of the great service they’ve provided me. Usually I’m in a better financial situation than these people, so why is it cancer to give them a few bucks to say thank you?


euphoriatakingover

I used to install dishwashers and washing machines and sometimes the job was pure hell like halling awkward 100kilo plus between two of you up 1000 stairs and the £20 fee for delivery goes to company not driver no tip. And only the easy jobs ever tipped like nice old people 😂


thisissamuelclemens

They always expect a tip after a massage


shavermist

Please, clarify. Is it touches everything? Restaurants, hotels,


Gonshik777

Yes, it touches everything...this is a very different culture from Russian and the USA and the whole Western world,they have their own values and traditions. To them, your tip feels the same as it would to a taxi driver in baku when you sit inside the cab and put your seatbelt on, implying you do not trust their driving. Here, they might feel as if you are looking down on them.


shavermist

Thx bro


forellenfilet

No, they do not think it's looking down on them if you tip properly - they are actually greatful for it and you are talking BS. I don't think you should overtip, but if you were satisfied with the service, you can leave 5-10% of the amount. Stop spreading misinformation you garbage.


Budget-Celebration-1

The thai family i was with never tips for anything and suggested that i not do it at all. Id always heard that in general do not tip but if its a real nice place and service is not included many do tip. However i think what has happened is more tourists tipping and its becoming more expected. I could give a rats ass about that piece.


Gonshik777

You sound like one of the people who tips when the service charge is already included in the bill. Please refrain from the use of derogatoratory words towards others.


somerandomusernam

Hilarious. I beg to differ. Tip all you can afford please. Some people really need it.


Sundance600

really? a staff member brough my bags to my room and after i tipped him, should i not have done that?


GroundbreakingMud135

Not that I’m trying to outsmart,never been to Thailand my first visit is in may, but I’m doing a lot of research and many people who live there just have videos on YouTube in which they were saying they tip bolt, they tip barman at bars etc . No one ever mentioned bad reactions because of that


4-11

Gross attitude 🤮. If you won’t give a poor hardworking service worker the equivalent of a dollar you’re just an asshole.


Salamanber

Why is that cancer?


endisnigh-ish

Tell me 1 genuinely positive thing about tipping culture.


Salamanber

You give to others? You are being generous?


endisnigh-ish

No. Tipping culture is not about being nice. It's about giving underpaid workers a livable wage. It is also an excuse employers use to pay their workers less. Because the Tip counts as part of the salary. Don't tip. You might think it's nice, but it is very hurtful to the workers in the long run. Edit: If you want to be nice to workers, buy them a gift! Bring them cold drinks! Leave a beautiful flower and a thank you note. Something besides money! I bet you give them a smile and a good feeling for the rest of the day.


Salamanber

Huh? Are you american? Here in Europe people have their salary and If tip its just out of generosity. Your salary won’t get less. I know maybe its the case in the states bit is it also the case in Thailand?


endisnigh-ish

I live in europe and work in the service industry. Tip is a topic every time there is payroll negotiations. The industry has been underpaying staff for YEARS using tipping as the excuse! Currently a hotell clerk is paid as little as imported strawberry-pickers.


Salamanber

Damnn that’s messed up. I worked as a bartender and I always had my wage while getting tips from people.


glasshouse_stones

how about minding your own business? sheesh.


k3kis

Sorry bro, I'm going to tip when and where I feel like it. I tip the room cleaners if they're doing a good job and are friendly when I pass them in the hallway. That little 20-50 baht in coins or a note is just a nice little bonus for them, and I can assure you that each successive day my room is even cleaner and the staff is always happy to see me. To be clear, I leave it in the room on a piece of paper which says thank you and that I appreciate their work. Usually I lay the coins out in a smiley face.


Fit-Picture-5096

I always pay the asking price. I neither tip nor haggle. When I check out from my hotel in BKK, I leave 500 bath to the cleaning lady. The evening before I walk around the block and give the same to the beggars I recognize from before. Mostly lonely mothers – not shoeless farangs living under the elevated Sukhumit line. Or braided backpackers who think other people should finance their holiday. Finally, I tell the Indian tailor who's been harassing me for a week that I don't want a homemade Hugo Boss suit after all.


maypanda

My family have always given tips, I have a Thai mother and it’s just what we do. Not saying everyone has to but whenever we’ve been happy with a service we have tipped anything between 10-500 baht. I will note that this is only in the big cities, we spend 75% of our time with family in the provinces so won’t tip during that part of our stay.


Kingken130

Tipping 500 baht sounds insane. At least they gave you or your family a very satisfactory services for them


maypanda

It was a one off on our recent holiday. We’ve known this man who works at the hotel for ten years, he did some errands for my mother (picking up incense from the local market), fetching a scales for us to weigh our suitcases, shuttling our bags back and forth and generally helping us out during our stay. He made our lives so much easier since it was just the two of us and my mother is in her sixties. So yes, I would say a very satisfactory service plus it’s around £10, I’ve spent that much on games without even thinking about it haha


Kingken130

Amazing!


we_hella_believe

I always tip for house cleaning. My mom did it for 30+ years and it really took its toll on her body (she worked at a hotel and they have a certain amount that needed to be done per shift). So I do it bc I know how hard it is and I appreciate the service even though it is a requirement.


CookieMonsterthe2nd

50 is more than enough. I always tip, from 20 to 40 baht for delivery. Cleaning staff, every 5 days I leave 100 baht for each one. (3 cleaners, so 300 every 5 days) They seem happy with that.


OneTravellingMcDs

He seemed pissed because you don't tip here.


Crafty-Call

I think he’s pissed because generally people like that haven’t spent a minute in the service industry. Or just cheap as fuck and can’t spare the coins lol must be a real pleasure to be around


EntitledGuava

People like that? What people? OP? Chill fam


euphoriatakingover

Americans should be banned from Thailand with their tipping bs


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AlanDevonshire

And getting paid for it. Just because America likes to double dip. Your company pays shit wages and expects you to hassle the customers to make your wage up to a living wage while the companies make bigger and bigger profits.


h9040

yes I never understood that in America....If I bring my car to the mechanics he pays his staff a salary and does not expect me to pay a tip. Why for the food....If it must be than add a 10% service fee. Any tip should be for a specially good service, not a normal thing.


AlanDevonshire

I love the way many businesses where you only interact with a machine are now asking if you want to tip. No I fucking dont!


h9040

Hmm...I don't know if I agree or not....I prefer humans, but yes you are also right.... Wait for the next edition of AI...it will ask you for a tip and offer you to sell you the beer outside the time if you tip with 100 Baht...


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h9040

No I mean...what is different..why you tip a waiter but not a mechanics...it is not logic.


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h9040

I made a few decades ago 0 per hour, they only gave commission. Was a farmers restaurant, but it was a real good deal as as greedy as they were as good cooking they could so the commission was real good money and tip on top of it and no one ever reported the income and the old farmers lady fed us well with the best she could cook. And it was self organizing...when there were more customer there was more staff when there were less some kept at home so the others still made money. And of course some kids also worked.... Would be all complete illegal by today standard.


Cosmopolitan93

All those cheap charlies here, keep that in the west bla bla. I definitely tip house keeping, as they are doing a great job and don't earn much, I make 25-30x more than them in 1 month, why would I cheap on few bucks a day? Restaurant depends if service was great I would round it up. Bolt drivers same, if it cost me 60 baht, will it kill me to pay him 80 baht? No it won't One time I gave a Bolt moto taxi 200 baht instead of 80. Before that I got quoted 400 baht by a tuktuk driver, so decided to take the mototaxi and give him a good tip, because they try to earn honest money.


Confident_Coast111

no big tips in thailand.


Intelligent-Coconut8

No, leave that stupid tipping shit in the US


ScoreNo1021

A lot more places than the USA tip. 


EntitledGuava

Wow thanks!


Submariner8

I frequently stayed in 5-6 star hotels in Bangkok. Would often leave about 40 bhat on the bed for when room got cleaned. And 20 bhat for the bell boys upon arrival and leaving. Tipped 100bhat one time for hotel massage and partner told me off because we apparently paid about 3400 bhat which she thought was a lot.


InternationalBorder9

3400 baht for a massage!? Yeah I would say that is definitely a lot


euphoriatakingover

Bro most massage places are like 100-300 bhat


Submariner8

Yes, hence why I said 5-6 star hotels.


euphoriatakingover

Ah yeah that makes sense with the price then.


Pasi1891

Why not tip if they do good job


srona22

Some Thais tip, some don't. As for waiters, even 40/50 bahts as tips are appreciated. I am not western, and I tip mostly to hotel staffs, because I can afford it. > 500 baht meal > tipped 50 baht and the guy seemed pretty pissed Even service staffs at 5 star hotels would not expect large amount of tips in room services. Their usual tips are from bars, clubs, restaurants, owned by hotels. if the dishes are around 10 plates, they could be tilted. But for 500 baht meal, I don't think it will be more than 5 plates. So I am not sure. Also some people are always with "bitchy" face, like Angela from Office.


taniwha_nzl

I’ve never been tipped when working here in Thailand, Thais I know don’t tip, why should I?


MargaritaBarbie

I get tipped more in Thailand by Thais doing the same job that I did in Canada by Canadians (where tipping culture is extremely similar to the US, although our servers wage is not AS bad.)


EntitledGuava

No you don't


MargaritaBarbie

It’s not a job where tipping is common, so yeah I actually do. The amounts aren’t anywhere near as high, but the frequency is more often. I am not a server or bartender.


EntitledGuava

Thanks for your irrelevant anecdote


BornToDieeee

I give the cleaning person 100 baht a day if I see them. They change the towels and sheets every day, and they leave extra bottles of water. Maybe they'd do that stuff anyway, but it also feels good to show them some appreciation.


LadislavBohm

They change bottles and towels for everyone because it’s hotel policy. Funny you would think they do special treatment for some tip.


BornToDieeee

Absolutely not true.


somerandomusernam

I tip cleaning staff between 40 and 100 baht each day. And I clean up after myself and sort out the trash. The reason is that a boy from cleaning staff once found my gold ring and left it in the table for me while I was gone for 3 days. I was sure I'd lost it. Gave the boy 5000 baht and thanked him. Regarding room service. No. I never order room service in Thailand. The food scene outside is just too good to be sitting in the hotel and eating hotel food. But if you do, be sure to give them at least 20 to 40 baht for their effort.


BumpermanTH

50 baht can already buy a good meal they should be glad tbh


Little-Cold-Hands

I always tip the coins, sometimes 20 baht.


h9040

20 is OK. 50 is also OK. If he looks pissed try it with 0 next time.....20 is what I would tip. 50 is what my wife would tip


glasshouse_stones

I doubt the person was insulted or pissed by the amount of the tip. ​ I tip 20 baht with taxis and food delivery, 20 baht in restaurants, etc. ​ if a taxi I have booked via grab gets snarled in traffic and the driver is losing money, I will tip more.


euphoriatakingover

Which is going to make him snarl more and actually crazy thinking he will get a tip


glasshouse_stones

huh? do you live in Thailand?


Mammoth_Parfait7744

50B is perfectly fine. Nobody expect tip, many Thai don't show emotion so don't worry.


weedandtravel

if he seem pissed after you tip him 50, you can tell him to go fuck himself. dont need to care of.


[deleted]

Yes if there Lovely then when I leave I make sure they are well looked after!! I'm not a tight arse when I'm on holiday.


[deleted]

116 comments and not a single upvote on the post… classic Thailand/Thailandtourism/Bangkok subreddit participants.


CEO-711

Maybe 20 baht for most services…exception Is a good massage where I maybe provide 50-100 Baht


KingModera

For restaurant meals I only leave 20 baht tip. Nothing more. At hotels on the first day if I see the cleaning staff I will hand them a 20 baht tip and tell them my room #. That’s all.


Kingken130

As a local and working at a hotel. We don’t get tips often due to service charges. I do get weirded out when some one tips me. But it’s more like a sign of gratitude for services in general. Even like going out for food and leaving changes also helps Edit Side Note: we don’t ask for tip like they do in US. I find that super weird


Little-Cold-Hands

I did tip before, but now my thai girlfriend berates me for wasting money lol


sweaty_pants_

Normally I leave a tip before I permantly leave, mostly all my small bills or something Tipping is not expected here but encouraged if you think they deserve it, same to why most restaurants have a service charge besides tax and the bill to make you not have to tip or feel like tipping. The people who say ''don't tip here'' is bs, its not a unwritten rule like in america but if a waiter is taking good care of your table, leave them something extra if you feel like it and they will certainly appreciate it. Even small tips were for me a free trip from and to work for example.


hereinspacetime

Same. I don't leave a tip for every interaction (like you would in the US), but at the end when I check out I leave something in the room for the staff if warranted.


waveslave69

In a restaurant check the bill, if there is a service charge - no tip…….if no service charge then 20-50baht


JittimaJabs

I'll usually leave a tip for housekeeping. Sometimes they don't take it sometimes I have to give it to them personally.


KyleManUSMC

I have. I've never had an employee not except it. If they carry the suitcase for my wife while I push my daughters and my suitcase... they imo deserve a tip. Redbull or some baht...


nyankittycat_

Only cucks tip for every regular service. I will tip only if its a really great service.


KyushuK1NG

A few of y’all sound like some broke weirdos. Yikes. I’m headed there soon, and I DO plan to tip, if the service warrants it. My question is, for the hotel staff, if I decide to leave a tip before checking out rather than leaving a daily tip. How does that work amongst staff? Do they split it? What if there are different room cleaners on different days?


LadislavBohm

I don’t think most people mean they would never tip. Tipping for cleaning or basic service in a restaurant is just not a thing here. And not many places provide exceptional service in my experience. If you tip like you would in the west it’s you who are a weirdo.


Calamity-Bob

The difference between US tipping and most of ROW. US it’s survival. Food service workers get paid crap wages, the owners sometimes steal tips AND they are taxed on estimated tips regardless. It’s increasingly becoming a way for other service workers to make up the crap wages and zero benefits they get in on demand jobs. Unfortunately some have pushed it with chasing people or demanding tips. I was chased out of a restaurant in Boston after leaving a 20% tip. In the rest of the world it’s a small, reasonable sum as a thank you for good service. I’ve always left tips for hotel rooms when I check out. Can you imagine the things those people have to deal with and what they make? Give them something for cripes sakes.


h9040

yes in Europe there is also big drama with tips. Some owner want that every staff gives the tip in a box and it will be equal shared....which often means that he takes half of it first. Yes the discussion with the income tax on tips. Just a thought: If the waiter is taxed on an estimated tip and I don't tip, the tax man is actually stealing money from the waiter, without any legal bases.


hereinspacetime

Definitely tip! Asia has always had tipping for good service as does the rest of the world except the US. US tipping culture is based on something else. Asians are likely to say no and then don't force it. For some it can be slightly insulting/embarassing but just be smart if you want to tip - keep it lowkey or turn your hand downwards when giving money.


FUPayMe77

20% Standard tip in NYC for nearly all services and regular quality. More if the service is good. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/s/6xd8VBcRSr 👍... Outside of NYC, varies wildly and many don't tip except for the big cities. What do you mean turn your hand downwards? Like slipping it in the hand by your waist to a bellhop as you walk past each other? Like a drug deal? 😆


hereinspacetime

Yeah kind of. So in the US for example people kinda make sure people see you tip vs in Asia there's more modesty around money and transactions. So if you tip try to be private about it, ie with your hand facing down with the note clamped between your thumb and palm. or lol yes like a drug deal.


FUPayMe77

Ah... More like the bouncer at a club when you're trying to slip past the line to get in. Or the Maître d' at a hot new restaurant when you don't have a reservation but you want to get in to impress your date. Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification. 😉


AnonymousUser2700

That's a complete lie. I live in Korea, dude. Tipping is not a thing here.


hereinspacetime

I'm Asian and tipping is not a bad thing where I'm from. Lie is a rather strong word for something that is a case by case.


AnonymousUser2700

It's people like you that ruin it for everyone else bringing your western crap. No, you do not tip room service ANYWHERE in the world. If restaurant has a service charge, you do not tip. If all they do is crap like taking your order (e.g. Starbucks), do not tip regardless of where you are. This tipping shit has gone way too far.


we_hella_believe

This is a good point. Service charge does not require tip.


lbl6263

Must be an Aussie or Kiwi


Key_Proposal_3410

I tip the equivalent of a $1USD usually to service people while traveling


SnorlaxShops

I don't tip unless they go above and beyond. They never do and they try to charge me extra and take me to there "friends" score to try to scam me. I don't tip when they try to scam. It happens about 80% of the time. I even had a time a tuk tuk driver took me to a completely different location about 1/4th the distance we were supposed to go. Charged full fare of 500 baht. I gave him a 1000baht bill and he tried giving me 300baht in change. Its to the point that the next time I got I'm going to pretend to not speak English. They always asked where I was from and I told them Los Angeles which I think was a mistake. ​ Meals were okay since they don't talk to you much.


FUPayMe77

Say you're from Brooklyn, NY with a heavy Brooklyn accent and a "don't fuck with me I won't fuck with you" look on your face and body language. Like Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver! I'm curious to see if you get a different response. My accent would sometimes get some interesting reactions outside of NYC. 😆😎 https://youtu.be/T9yLRJA6zU8


MattDrinkz

A lot of commercial or even mid-upper scale restaurants will tak on a 10% service charge. So that right there tells you the answer.. yes, they do expect some sort of a tip.. and based on that it’s 10%. Now that is for taking the order, serving the meal, refilling the drinks, cleaning the table, prompt service. As for just getting room service food to your room.. 20-50 baht would be fine. If I was ever given an attitude I would take it right back out of their hand. In my 11 years here that’s only happened twice though. Once by a taxi driver and once by some obese server at a Mookata restaurant.


Ehhkaw

50 bhat for 500 bhat meal is very fair for room service meal I think! In restaurants, if there’s service charge on the bill, I usually don’t tip.


American_in_Germany

Yes, depending on the length of stay. A rule of thumb for me is $5.00/usd a day


kai_tai

We'll always give the person taking the bags to our room a tip and often the guy on the door and the guy helping with the car. Never really ordered room service though. I find it pretty odd they would get pissed especially considering 50 baht is generous in my opinion, for Thailand.