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#1
09-03-2005, 17:17
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Cheap Charlie vs Big Spender
I have seen quite a number of references to the term Cheap Charlie on this forum and feel that sometimes, less well off visitors are treated a little unsympathetically.
It seems that anyone who is not spending at least 3,000 baht per day plus accomodation and flights is considered to fall into the cheap charlie category. Advice from some members seems to be that if you can't afford at least this level of expenditure, don't bother coming. I do not fall into the cheap charlie category but I'm no big spender either. I think that if students or other less well off people wish to visit and spend their limited precious hard earned funds, they should be encouraged. I would encourage anyone provided they are going to be respectful and courteous at all times. Disrespectful behaviour is found across a whole range of social and economic backgrounds so this is no reason to shun the less well off. Imagine a student who spends two nights out of three in his budget room drinking cans of beer from a supermarket but then spends what he can afford on the third night in a beer bar, ensuring that he sets aside enough to make a contribution in the form of tips or drinks for staff. This guy is not harming anyone. He probably spends quite a bit of time on the beach or at the local markets etc during the day and if he didn't budget carefully, he would not be able to visit at all. If he finds he can afford to spend a small amount on ST, he finds a girl who asks slightly less than he can afford so that he can tip her on top of the agreed price. I don't think this type of person deserves denigration. I empathise with this type of situation because I've been there before. On the other hand, a better off person who thinks nothing of spending 5,000 baht on going out for a meal and a few beers at home then tries to claw back every last baht from the locals in LOS is to be thoroughly despised. My point is that budget travellers with a well developed sense of fair play and who show all due respect to their hosts should be welcomed in LOS and not dismissed as cheap charlies.  
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#2
09-03-2005, 17:27
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I could have have 5k to blow on my 2 month visit this year but I dont see why I should spend this amount when its not needed. I will spend around 3k during my two months and that includes travel/accomodation, I can sleep/eat/drink comfortably for that amount of money in Thailand, I just dont see the need to spend more and I cant comprehend the amount some board members spend, it's absolutely insane.
On another note I rather go the backpacker way for social reasons, you meet so many people on overnight bus journeys and backpacker hangouts. I have seen the dissing happen on this board a few times but i've never seen it happen in Thailand. You're right nobody should be discouraged from visitng Thailand.
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#5
09-03-2005, 20:47
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My opinion is.
If someone act in LOS as a cheap Charlie that do not mean he is “a cheap Charlie”  I know a fellow who was his dream to go to LOS. He do not earn a lot of money and so he save at home money where he could do. He called him at home as cheap Charlie. Then after some year his dream come true. He couldn’t do so much in LOS. He was in LOS also called a cheap Charlie. This doesn’t bother him. But he had his best holiday ever had.  So you have to remember, that some have not so much money – but with there less money they try the best. They have also a big respect of mine. 
__________________
Werwolf "When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses"
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#6
09-03-2005, 20:58
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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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#8
09-03-2005, 23:06
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That is very philanthropic and I like making gestures like that too. I'm happy to see that so far on this thread there has been no criticism of genuinely less well off spenders and also no criticism of those who can afford to pay more. Let's face it, we have no right to operate any kind of cartel to maintain BG prices or any other prices at any level - high or low. The market will regulate itself. All the same, most of us dislike unneccessary tight-fisted or over-extravagant spending.
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#9
09-03-2005, 23:16
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You're right about the backpacker modus operandi. You do get to meet some very interesting people and experience facets of the local life and culture that are easily missed on a resort style trip. When I was younger, I was more inclined to the backpacker way than I am today. These days, I have become rather tightly attached to creature comforts
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#10
09-03-2005, 23:22
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Currency?
IreMark, I was just curious to know what currency you meant in your post. I'm guessing Euro?
Not that it matters - we must all cut the cloth (can't remember exactly how the saying goes)
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#11
09-03-2005, 23:40
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I happen to be the case of being a real cheap charlie here at home. I go out of my way to save a few cents on a gallon of gas, just out of principle. I am just doing my part in driving down inflation.
However when I'm on vacation I prefer not to worry about that sort of thing. I do create a budget, and then just make sure that I have extra money over that budget. Then when I'm relaxing, I dont think about it too much. I take a vacation from work as well as my geral tendency to be a tightwad. I do think in terms of baht when I'm in Thailand and I will refuse something if I realize I am getting a ridiculous farang special. I guess I want to be kind but not stupid.
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#13
10-03-2005, 00:17
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Well said
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Very succinctly put!
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#14
10-03-2005, 01:26
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Yeah the currency in question is Euro, I even know a lad in work who went to numerous locations around Thailand/Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam for 2 months and spent just over 1,000 including travel/accom/food/drink, personally I could not do that but it just goes to show what can be done.
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#15
10-03-2005, 01:41
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#17
10-03-2005, 01:49
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It's a world of difference between "keeneao" and "pajat". 
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#18
10-03-2005, 02:46
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The backpackers of today, will be the big spenders of tomorrow....
As long as they have a good time when they are backpackers, then they may come back with friends for a 'lads' holiday, or even later when they settle down and have a family. To turn away ANY customer is a foolish thing to do. There is ALWAYS somebody else who will look after that customer. If anybody calls me a cheap charlie (like a bargirl who wants a drink out of me), then on principal I just think 'fcuk you'. If someone is nice and friendly, then i might buy them a drink. Its your holiday, dont let anyone pressure you into doing anything.
__________________
Dirty Mike You can beat an egg, but you cant beat a wank.
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#19
10-03-2005, 07:53
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Spending Patterns
There is obviously a balance between spending a lot of money and spending money you cannot afford to. The problem in Patong is that the "attractions" do cost money and it is actually quite difficult to enjoy the attractions on 1000 baht a day. So if you haven't got the money to spend enjoy yourself in a slightly different way.
Thailand has many other attractions apart from the delights of a hot girl pandering to your every need for 1000 baht a night, plus lady drinks etc. I particularly enjoyed the beach at Kalim, the walk up to the view point round the bay and eating in less expensive places. Holidays in Patong are a kind of dream land and I am sure that the board members are not saying that you cannot come if you will not spend 5k a day, only that if you do come you probably will spend 5k a day if you cruise the bangla road and associated sois. It is just the way it is. You could of course try putting wax in your ears and tying yourself to the mast of your ship... Mac
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#20
10-03-2005, 17:59
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I am both old and beerbellyed, I have also been to pattya,does this make me a cheap charlie skipper???
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#21
10-03-2005, 18:35
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Quote:
Well put Mikey I totally agree. Once I was called a Cheap Charlie it was my first time in BKK this b*tch who for one failed to live up to her side of the bargain the night before ( which is another story) then when I asked her somewhere good to go for lunch she dragged me around shopping for an hour asking me to buy her lots of clothes I put her in a taxi and that was the end of it. If I'm in good company I don't mind spending money if I've got it but I understand some people are not always as fortunate or can't afford to spend money freely. Cheap Charlie in my book is someone who has plenty and spends as little as possible I don't know to many people like this or maybe choose not to.
__________________
Always play to win!
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#22
10-03-2005, 19:07
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There used to be a popular song in Vietnam that went:
Uc-dai-loi, Cheap Charlie, He no buy me Siagon tea, Siagon tea costs many many P, Uc-da-loi he Cheap Charlie. Uc-dai-loi,Cheap Charlie, He no give me MPC, MPC costs many many P, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie. Uc-dai-loi, Cheap Charlie He no go to bed with me, Bed with me costs many many P Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie. Uc-dai-loi, Cheap Charlie, Make me give him one for free, Mamma-san go crook at me, Uc-dai-loi, he Cheap Charlie. Uc-dai-loi, Cheap Charlie, He give baby-san to me, Baby-san costs many many P, Uc-dai-loi, he Cheap Charlie. Uc-dai-loi, Cheap Charlie, He go home across the sea, He leave baby-san with me, Uc-dai-loi he Cheap Charlie
__________________
"管它黑貓白貓，會抓老鼠的就是好貓"
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#23
10-03-2005, 19:35
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Cheap Charlie............
Im Cheap And My Name Is Jonny.......... So Now They Will Call Me "cheap Jonny"............but on a seroius note..when i go on a nite out in ireland i would spend 100 euro.no probs.......i never budget when i go out..i just count the cash in the morning and see what ive spent.in los ive always worked on the 5k rule per day.......somedays i spend 3k some days 4k and other days 7k or 8k.......i always tip as things are so cheap in los. some guys dont drink. some guys dont smoke,some guys dont even go with chicks........what im saying is evry one is different and every one spends their money in different ways......... Ij
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one life.......live it.......tomorrow never comes...... Last edited by IRISH JONNY : 10-03-2005 at 19:55.
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#24
10-03-2005, 20:01
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No offense, maybe we are lookalikes. I propose to check out the members section of the Pattaya pages and the discussions going on there about the cost of everything. If you did that, aren't you amazed? Let's agree that ladies don't go with us for our looks, so offer them a fair price (makes me think of Oxfam),without bargaining bellow some standards. If you want to bargain bellow that amount I would call it |