Overpayers in Pattaya, Thailand:
When visiting Thailand, many foreign tourists make the mistake of overpaying for anything and all. This is especially true in Pattaya.
The key issue is that they often equate the prices of hotels, food, drink, and other things to those in their home country. This could be expensive for both you and the other visitors. Don't just give away just because you're on holiday and have a little extra cash.
Enable me to explain.
Let's say you're going out for a seafood dinner and the total bill is $20. You predict that this would set you back at least $50 in your home country. As a result, you attempt to make amends by leaving a $5 or $10 tip. That was a big blunder.
The bellhop transports your belongings to your room and instructs you on how to use all of the amenities. You enjoy it and equate it to hotels you've stayed in on business trips, and you leave a $5 tip for the baby. Another blunder.
You encounter a girl at a bar who decides to accompany you home. You spend the night with her and tip her the same amount as you would at home as she gets ready to leave in the morning. This would be three or four times the going rate.
What happens now is that all of these people begin to expect those tips. Prices begin to rise, and the city that was once the greatest tourist destination in the world will soon be destroyed.
You might be thinking, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, who I'm just a single guy on holiday, so I can spend my money however I want. It's my day off. You'll just end up losing it for the rest of us.
It's a good idea to check out any of the Pattaya forums a month or two ahead of time to see what the going rates are. Then, don't pay too much. Otherwise, you'll be a Lame Dupe Over Payer, or LDOP, as one forum poster put it.
Consider it for a moment. Will you pay $50 for something that you know you can get for $20 at home? So, why are you doing it in Pattaya? I'm not cheap, but there's no way I'm going to spend more than I have to.
Everyone will demand more and more if you keep paying more and more. Consumers must maintain price discipline and refuse to pay inflated rates. They'll work it out eventually and lower their standards.
Keep in mind that the average daily wage in Thailand is about $6. It's absurd to give someone a tip equal to a day's salary. Check prices before you go and don't equate prices to those in your home country. You haven't returned home. You have arrived in Pattaya.
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