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Social Norm, I agree completely. Everybody spends what he can afford. A (young) guy not having a lot of money and taking care of it is not a cheap charlie, he is smart. If one finds that he can enjoy a budget hotel and eat no expensive local food every day, OK with me.
On the other hand, I have seen people staying in 4 star resorts and paying 4-5k a night emptying the minibar in their room and fill it up with beer and (Mekong) coke from Patong foodmarket, or asking discount in restaurants...now that is cheap charlie. It is more often rich people who haggle on the price than those with a smaller purse. (Some restaurants give discounts to expats, for ex. Baan Rim Pa). I have a colleague and we sometimes go out together and I see how much I spent, and how much he spent, and knowing we have an nearly equal salary... I don't like guys either who bargain on the price for "services" from a lady, especially if the proposed rate looks fair to me. If I read some message boards in the Pattaya pages, then I get a problem, looks like Pattaya is full of (old beerbellied) cheap charlies.
When I was young (not that I feel old now, I just look it) I couldn't afford to spend a lot of money, so I didn't, on the contrary I turned every cent twice before spending it. I now have a good steady well paid job, I am not married, have no children, so, why should it be insane for me to spend a lot of money? I don't want it to go to the gouvernment when I die, I allready pay 57% taxes, I don't want to be the richest corpse on the cemetary.
I want to relax and being "pampered" during my holidays. If I am in a bar I like to give the ladies a drink, as I know they get a small tip on it. Especially the staff who is never barfined is very happy with this. I sometimes give a lady a few 100 baht tip or pay BF just to sit and drink with me, who am I hurting? I couldn't afford it before but now is no problem. I like a good hotel with all comfort on or close to the beach...so why not? If I am going to my favourite resaurants, like Savoey, they know I tip good... they allways have a good place for me, and when I say the fish they propose doesn't look fresh I have known them to get another one straight from the fridge.
When I arrive in my hotel straight from home, I allways have Belgian chocolates for the staff... they care for me and pamper me, never a problem, money well spent, I don't find it crazy. Some extra money given here and there can be positive.
But at the end, whatever you can afford to spend, you have paid a fair price for what you got, if you are happy with it, then you had a good holliday, and nobody has to say cheap charlie or not.
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