We’ve all heard the horror stories of the average visitor to Thailand getting “stiffed” by a bar girl or whatever.
Why is this? Well I’m about to tell you but, first a word of warning.
Many foreign tourists make the mistake of paying too much for anything and everything when they go to Thailand.
This especially holds true in Chiang Mai.
The main problem is that they tend to compare the prices of hotels, food, drink and anything else to what it costs back in their hometown.
This can be costly for you and for the rest of the tourists. Just because you are on vacation and are a bit loose with your money, don’t just give it away. Let me explain.
Let’s say you go out for a seafood dinner and the total for dinner and drinks is $20. You think to yourself that this would cost at least $80 back home. So, you try to compensate by leaving a $5 or $10 tip. Big mistake!.
The bellhop carries your bags to your room and tells you how to operate everything in your room. You appreciate this, and compare it to hotels you have been to on business trips, and tip the kid $5. Another mistake.
You meet a girl at a bar and she agrees to go home with you. You spend the night with her and when she gets ready to go in the morning, you tip her the same price you do back home. This is going to be 3 or 4 times the going rate.
What happens now is that all these people start expecting these kinds of tips. Prices start to skyrocket, and the city that used to be the best place in the world for a vacation, will soon be ruinously expensive.
You may think to yourself, big deal. I am just one guy on vacation and I can spend whatever I want. It is my vacation. This is absolutely true but, you will just wind up ruining it for everyone else.
The smart thing to do is to hang out at some of the Chiang Mai forums a month or two before you go and find out what the going rates are.
Think about it. You wouldn’t pay $50 for something you know you can get for $20 back home, would you? So, why do it in Chiang Mai? I am not a cheapskate, but I don’t understand paying more than I have to.
If you keep paying more and more, everyone will expect more and more. The consumers need to control the prices, refuse to pay inflated prices. Eventually, they will figure it out and lower their expectations.
Keep in mind that Thailand’s average wage is about $6 per day. Giving someone a tip equal to a day’s pay is ridiculous. Check the prices before you go and don’t compare prices to back home. You are not back home. You are in Chiang Mai.
It matters not, what Nationality you are, you risk falling into the trap of falling in love with a beautiful Thai girl. (And believe me they abound!!)
Everything is great while you are in Thailand and she gives you all her attention catering for your every need.
Eventually you have to go home. Remember, she’s already home. She will have promised you that providing you send her money every week, or month, she will not go back to the bar.
Before you land at home she will be back at work in the bar. It is not unusual for very pretty girls to have three or more patrons in various countries sending them money.
Many people go home and arrange to send their new love money every week or month to keep them out of the bars. This is highly commendable but, fraught with problems.
The old saying is that “You can take the girl out of the bar but, you can’t take the bar out of the girl.”
It has to be understood before ever leaving home, in Thailand a girl has only 2 ways to connect with a man. Either she is a “bar girl” (prostitute) or she needs to be formally introduced through a friend or relative to a prospective “amore.”
No other ways exist in Thai society. Thailand is a very polite society. With a very strict social order.
Whilst Thais accept bar girls as an acceptable profession, no self respecting Thai male would accept a woman by this route. Even though he might have availed himself of their services from time to time.
So, we are left with only one way to meet a nice Thai girl. Either through a friend or relative.
This is not an easy option for someone here for only a short period because, the average visitor has no Thai friends. What is the answer?
Please understand not all bar girls are in the business of “stiffing” visitors but, it is easy money to send to their families, 98% of bar girls do this. Why else would they be working the bars if not for the money?
OK! so now we understand the rules of engagement, how can a visitor who desperately wants to meet a “nice” Thai girl proceed?
Most Thai Introduction sites or agencies are seen in the western world as glorified “knocking shops” This is simply not true!!
There are a couple of very good Thai introduction agencies who can (for a fee) facilitate “formal” introductions before you arrive in Thailand.
Before coming to Thailand you can strike up a relationship with one or more Thai ladies. – Your choice!!
Visit one or more of the Thai introduction agencies. Join up and explore the possibilities before leaving home.