When to tip, how much to bargain, and how to handle money in Bangkok without losing it.
Not expected but appreciated in restaurants (5–10%) and by guides; hotels/taxi not mandatory.
Expected in markets and street stalls; not in malls or restaurants; start at 50% of asking price, negotiate to 70–80%.
Use credit cards for hotels/restaurants (rewards points); use cash for markets/street food; no-fee ATMs at banks.
Keep passport/cash separated; use hotel safe; report lost cards to bank immediately; keep receipts/serial numbers.
Street food, markets, and small local restaurants remain largely cash-only — carry enough small bills (20, 50, 100 THB notes) for daily transactions, since vendors often can't break large 1,000 THB notes.
Malls, chain restaurants, and hotels accept cards without issue; independent restaurants and most transport increasingly accept QR-code payment via apps like PromptPay, though this typically requires a Thai bank account to use yourself.
See the ATM fees guide for minimising the flat 220 THB foreign card withdrawal fee — withdrawing larger amounts less frequently is the simplest way to reduce the cumulative cost.
Card terminals and ATMs often offer to charge in your home currency instead of THB — always decline, since the conversion rate offered is reliably worse than your card issuer's rate.