Understanding massage pricing in Bangkok

Price alone tells you almost nothing about quality — a shophouse foot massage and a hotel spa treatment aren't competing for the same thing. Shophouse/street-level places: cheapest, walk-in friendly, quality varies place to place and even therapist to therapist within the same shop. Mid-range dedicated spas: consistent standards, often a fixed staff roster, worth it once you've found reviewers naming the same therapist repeatedly. Hotel spas: paying substantially for the space and amenities, not necessarily the massage itself — fine for a special occasion, not the best value signal. Tipping isn't mandatory in Thailand but 50-100 THB directly to the therapist (not the front desk) is standard for a good session and, per our whole thesis here, is exactly how the 'ask for X' reviews get written in the first place.