Tipping

Taking the type of hotels we’ve been staying in into account, you would have thought the staff would be the money grabbing, impolite and thoughtless type you so commonly meet in the UK, but something’s changed since the last time I stayed in a hotel. No-one seems willing to accept a tip which has really amazed me. I don’t tip all the time but I like to tip where I think it’s due i.e. good service/food at a restaurant or a helpful bell boy. But every time I’ve tried it’s been refused.

The first time was in the Renaissance (Marriott) just outside Heathrow Airport, the bell boy came quickly, was helpful carrying the bags to/from the room and was gentle when transferring the bags so, being in the holiday mood I offered a tip but he just gestured no, shook his head and walked away, leaving me with my jaw to the ground. Then, again at the Hilton in Hua Hin the same thing happened.

I’m not sure why they’re not accepting tips but I expect it’s got something to do with some T&C’s in their contract. Interestingly though I was left feeling rather bad –not for refusing the cocky git who’s waiting for a tip “filling out some paperwork” but because I offered. Still it beats not tipping ;-)

Then when we went out for our first dinner I noticed something interesting, at the bottom of the menu in small print there were two lines: “All prices are subject to a 10% service charge” and “All prices are excluding government tax at 7%”. Automatically including a “service charge” is one of my pet hates, to me it’s like saying “we know we’re not good enough to earn a tip on our service so we’ll just take it anyways”. Normally it’s optional but how many people ask to have it back…?

Over the two weeks we were in Thailand I noticed it was a standard thing, some places included this additional 17% in their prices, others just added it on at the end. It’s certainly an interesting concept –and one I hope doesn’t start here too. It’s a shame imho that they feel they have to force a tip on you like that when we’d generally leave one if the service wasn’t appalling. Then again I can hardly moan, most meals were under £5 with drinks for two people including the tip…

Then we went to the Marriott in Bangkok. As soon as we pulled up it felt different. The atmosphere was far colder (not heat wise), very clinical and business like. It’s clearly a hotel that the business men visit on their trips. Having spent the last 11days having our tips refused it was a shock when we were back to the usual bell boy standing in the doorway filling out some “paper work”. This time however I ignored him and he got the hint –clearly the difference in clientele. The service charge still applies in Bangkok though, so it must be a nationwide agreement…