To tip or not to tip? That is often the question when faced with a hefty bill and a grumpy waiter at the end of a meal. To clue you in on this delicate art, here is the Honeycombers’ definitive guide to tipping in Southeast Asia.
In a nutshell, Singapore does not have a culture of tipping. You’ll find that the exorbitant prices around town are enough to put you off voluntarily paying any extra!
Eating out: 10% service charge and 7% GST (Good and Services Tax) are automatically added to your restaurant bill, so tipping is not required. The same goes for hawker centres where tipping is not the norm.
Taxis: Taxi fares in Singapore go by the meter. Some passengers prefer to round up the fare or tip an extra $2 to $5 as a way of saying thanks when taxi drivers help them unload heavy luggage.
Hotels: As with most eateries, hotels in Singapore include 10% service charge on top of the room rates. In theory, this should cover the services of the doorman, housekeeping, concierge, and bellhop but feel free to tip them when the occasion arises. The average rate is $2 per bag for bellhops.
Airport: Although the services at Singapore’s Changi Airport are top-notch and will almost certainly have you reaching for your wallet, airport staff are actually forbidden to accept tips.
The general rule is that you are not expected to tip in Malaysia. But if you do, it certainly won’t be refused.
Eating out: 10% service charge plus 5% government tax are included in restaurant bills, so tipping is not required. It is common, however, to tip waiters RM10 at bars and clubs if you experience exceptional service.
Taxis: Taxi drivers, especially in big cities like Kuala Lumpur, get a bad rep for refusing to go by the metre. If you’ve found one that does, congratulations! It’s like winning the lottery. Most passengers would simply round up the fare and leave the change.
Hotels: Some higher-end hotels encourage travellers to tip RM 2 to 10 per bag to the bellhop. Some guests prefer to leave a small amount (RM 5 to 10) for housekeeping at the beginning of their stay to encourage better service.
As locals themselves do not tip, it is not expected for tourists to. However, the practice is increasingly common in high-end hotels and restaurants. Being an extremely polite nation, Thais will never ask for tips. Do not go overboard and tip more than 50 baht.
Eating out: It is customary to leave behind any coins from your change as a tip. In more upscale restaurants, which provide excellent service, a larger tip of 5% to 10% is quite common.
Taxis: The general custom of tipping taxi drivers is to round up the fare and leave the change. When travelling to the airport, it is polite to tip 30 to 40 Baht as it is a long distance away.
Hotels: For hotels 2 stars and above, service charge is included. It is customary to tip 20 Baht to porters and housekeeping staff.
Things to note: Leaving 1 Baht as a tip is considered a deliberate insult in Thailand.
Tipping in the Philippines is a relatively new concept that is increasingly being expected from tourists.
Eating out: Check your bill at the end of the meal to ascertain whether “SC” (service charge) has been included. If so, 20 to 50 pesos will suffice. If the restaurant does not include a service charge, leave a tip that is 10% of your bill.
Taxis: It is customary to add 20-50 pesos on top of the taxi fare, especially when travelling in heavy traffic. Otherwise, rounding up the fare is also acceptable. Do not tip if the taxi driver does not go by the metre as you are most definitely being overcharged.
Hotels: Service charge between 8 to 10% is included in hotel room rates. But tipping 10 to 20 pesos to bellhops and housekeeping staff is customary. Hand it to them directly or leave it in a clearly marked envelope, as Filipinos will not pick up money that’s left behind.
Services: Tipping is becoming increasingly common in service-oriented places such as spas and salons. The custom is to give 20 to 50 pesos as gratuity or more if service is exemplary.
Airport: Porters and wheelchair pushers expect small tips for their services. 20 pesos per bag and 50 pesos per wheelchair will suffice.
Things to note: Locals will definitely appreciate being tipped with US dollars as it is considered more valuable than pesos.
Due to the prevalent underpayment of labour in Indonesia, any service staff will definitely appreciate tipping. But the social custom of tipping isn’t widely practiced there and can depend entirely on the level of service you’ve received.
Eating out: Depending on the different grades, restaurants will usually include 5% to 10% service charge on the bill. But if they don’t levy any service charge, you can tip any amount between Rp 10,000 and 10% of the bill. Most warungs (casual eateries) don’t impose a service charge, so any tip will be appreciated.
Taxis: Most taxi drivers do not carry coins or small change so passengers should round up the fare. When hiring private drivers, it is encouraged to tip a minimum of Rp 20,000 or more for full-day hires.
Hotels: Many hotels’ services are inclusive of 21% tax. In Bali, tips are shared amongst staff in smaller hotels, so more generous tips (around Rp 40, 000) will go a long way.
Airport: Airport porters normally charge Rp 5000 per bag. You are not required to use their services but they can be a big help, especially going through customs.
Services: Although it is not mandatory, tipping for service industries is common and expected in Indonesia. Most locals tip their hair stylists or masseur 5% to 10% of the total bill.