I'm currently in Pattaya, enjoying my vacation and honestly having a pretty good time overall. I'll be here until October 26, so I'm not in a rush and I'm just enjoying the daily life, exploring different places, bars, restaurants, and trying new things.
But I've noticed something happening a few times, and I'm curious what other people think.
For example, I went to Boss Club and ordered a Sex on the Beach cocktail. It was 585 baht, which is already quite expensive compared to other places I've been to. The drink itself was nothing special. No fruit, no decoration, just a pretty average cocktail that honestly tasted no better than ones I've had for much less.
Anyway, I handed over 1,000 baht and got 400 baht back (three 100s and two 50s). The girl then asked me for a tip.
I was thinking, wait, I'm already paying almost 600 baht for an average cocktail, and now I'm being asked to tip on top of that?
I ended up giving her 20 baht. Not because I can't afford more, but because I didn't particularly enjoy the drink or the whole experience.
Another example was a manicure and pedicure shop. The service cost around 650 baht, and when I went to pay, one of the girls politely mentioned a tip for her colleague. But here's the difference: the work was genuinely excellent, and I was happy with it, so I gave her another 50 baht, making it 700 total. No complaints there.
I've had a few other similar situations too.
To be clear, I have absolutely no problem tipping for good service. If someone does a great job, I'm more than happy to show appreciation. What I don't really like is being directly asked for a tip, especially when the service is average or the place is already charging premium prices.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding the local tipping culture, which is why I'm asking.
Also, one more thing. I've read some comments claiming that certain big clubs, particularly Indian-style clubs like Boss, sometimes show different menus or prices to tourists they think are visiting for the first time. Is there any truth to that, or is it just another Pattaya rumor? I've heard of similar things happening in Turkey, but I don't know whether that's actually a thing here.
I'm not trying to complain about Pattaya or the people here. I'm genuinely enjoying my stay, and most of my experiences have been positive.
Just curious to hear from people who live here or visit regularly.
Do you normally tip every time someone asks, or only when you feel the service deserves it? And have you ever experienced different pricing at these clubs?
Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I'd rather understand how things work than feel like I'm being taken advantage of just because I'm a tourist.