I am traveling throughout Southeast Asia and I understand that new bills are the best to carry,true or not?$1 bills for tipping and larger to exchange for local curreny.Also I have read that $100's again are preferred.As far as tipping for a guide can I get some feed back.One more thing Myanmar seems a bit more strick on the condition of dollars then all the other countrys,True or not?Some first hand current feed back would be appreciated.Thanks
Reply to this I've never tipped using dollar bills, I tip in the local currency. I might carry dollars to exchange but usually I just withdraw local currency from ATMs. This works in most places, except perhaps Laos (there didn't used to be ATMs, but there might be now) and Myanmar.
In Vietnam they are strict on the condition of the dollars too. They can't be old or ripped or damaged at all or they won't accept them. Same in Cambodia. $100 bills would be ok for changing to local currency I guess. How many dollars are you planning to carry around with you? Not too many $100 bills I hope, considering what we said about petty crime!
As for a guide on tipping, do you mean how much to give? Tipping is not a cultural thing in SE Asia, it's something tourists have brought. My Vietnamese students tell me that they never give tips. However, as a 'rich' Westerner on holiday it's nice to tip for meals or if the porter carries your bags. For example, in Thailand we tip something like 20 baht, in Vietnam about 5,000-10,000 dong. In Vietnam a service charge is added to your bill anyway. I can't remember if Thailand is the same.
Hope this helps.
Reply to this Thanks again for the quick responce.your the best,I have been to India 3times,Nepal four and I just want to get a feel for southeast Asia.It seems to be just about the same as anywhere else, just use your best judgment.But again they all have there nuances the new bills for instance.I feel that if a guide gives a good tour and stays away from his commision shopping they deserve a little more.So I guess I mean what is a fair tip for your guide and driver in Southeast Asia?How much is the average?In India it was $5 or $6 for the guide and $2 or three for the driver.Again thanks for input.
Reply to this Hi
For me, the cultural tipping is very popular now in the world. So depend on the rate of each region we can tip how many percent of payment (meal), or how many usd per day service (guide and driver) and do you think your tips can buy at least small things or just a bottle of water, small coffee or cheap cigarette...
In Vietnam, normally is around 2-3usd/per day/for each guest (1 for driver 2 for guide) but you can tip more if service make you satisfy, it is very important, if not satisfy, no tip is accepted (Other small tip for supplement services: boat men, horse cart man, hotel doorman...., or note-book, pencil, erase if you visit a school in poor area....)
Thanks
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