Taxis from the airport

[porno frank]

I just wondering about the taxi drivers at the airport because of the scams that go on and what to look out for. Are there any alternatives to using a cab driver.
Because i want to spend a night in bangkok and rest up for the trip to pattaya on the next day.

[MeMock]

Go to taxi cue, tell them were you are going, get in taxi. Arrive at destination.

If he doesn't turn the metre on, tell him to, if he continues to refuse then get out. It ain't hard.

[Shipm8te]

Agree with MeMock. I recently got a taxi at the authorized taxi stand and we were several miles down the road before I realized he had neglected to set the meter. When I informed him, he immediately did so and with a grin infoming me he though I wanted a special rate that included tolls. No thanks, just the meter rate please.

[Khun Custard]

^^ Agree with the above BUT you must insist that you pick the taxi
Get a new looking one - I travelled to Pattaya once in one that looked 10 years old, had no suspension, no air and the driver insisted on travelling at 140kph in a car that was really only capable of 80kph

Never had any other problems with BKK taxi's - just ask them if they are from Roiet 1 or 2 and your home!!

[MeMock]

For long distances pick the taxi for sure but for just the hop into town I just go with what ever is on offer, usually the old crappy ones have the most interesting drivers to talk to.

[Rural Surin]

Originally Posted by MeMock

For long distances pick the taxi for sure but for just the hop into town I just go with what ever is on offer, usually the old crappy ones have the most interesting drivers to talk to.

The long distance queue can be an advantage, as one can manage to bargain with the intial toute {official} and the driver. If the price quoted by you seems reasonable, they won't turn away the business.

[rickda]

The simplest way is not to que at arrivals go up 2 floors to departures and ask the taxi's dropping off to take you to BKK they will do on metre as they do not have to go and join the long queue at arrivals. Cheap quick and simple

[seamusogin]

Originally Posted by rickda

The simplest way is not to que at arrivals go up 2 floors to departures and ask the taxi's dropping off to take you to BKK they will do on metre as they do not have to go and join the long queue at arrivals. Cheap quick and simple

Good point well made

[Bobcock]

I always go up to departures, they are usually happy to get a fare back into town and I've never had one trying anything.

That said, I came in last Monday with a mate and he couldn't be arsed to go up two floors because there was zero queue at the official line.

He called me later as he'd lost his phone. I still had the slip of paper with the drivers number on it and he was able to retrieve his rather expensive (and pointless) iphone. Lucky I allowed him his request.

[DaffyDuck]

Originally Posted by Bobcock

He called me later as he'd lost his phone. I still had the slip of paper with the drivers number on it and he was able to retrieve his rather expensive (and pointless) iphone. Lucky I allowed him his request.

I guess one more reason to take one of the official taxis - you have a record of the driver and car.

Seriously, I never understood how people lose their phones (iPhones or not), or cameras, or what have you, in a taxi. I've had friends who have lost both cameras and phones (sometimes both) in their taxis, and I am befuddled over how anyone can be that scatterbrained, or stupid, to not return an item to the proper place (i.e. your pocket) after use -- or just have a shoulder slung bag where everything belongs into.

[MeMock]

I am sitting in one at the moment from the airport. So easy and well organised - they have even got cameras set up taking a photo of the driver as well as the passenger(s)

[The Zapster]

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

I guess one more reason to take one of the official taxis - you have a record of the driver and car.

Seriously, I never understood how people lose their phones (iPhones or not), or cameras, or what have you, in a taxi. I've had friends who have lost both cameras and phones (sometimes both) in their taxis, and I am befuddled over how anyone can be that scatterbrained, or stupid, to not return an item to the proper place (i.e. your pocket) after use -- or just have a shoulder slung bag where everything belongs into.

Have you never heard of beer?

[The Zapster]

As for alternatives, you can get the airport bus into the city for 150b, or the ordinary buses for 35b, which are probably more hassle that they're worth if you don't know what you're doing.

[attaboy]

Originally Posted by Khun Custard

^^ Agree with the above BUT you must insist that you pick the taxi
Get a new looking one - I travelled to Pattaya once in one that looked 10 years old, had no suspension, no air and the driver insisted on travelling at 140kph in a car that was really only capable of 80kph

Never had any other problems with BKK taxi's - just ask them if they are from Roiet 1 or 2 and your home!!

I took one which had window shades for good reason; no air conditioning. Never again.

[Bung]

I agree you should look for a newer one, We had one the other day up on the tollway and it was shaking so hard I begged the guy to slow down and I have had a few old bangers myself over the years. It was very close to self destruction. True the old guy driving was a good bloke, I gave him a good tip and told him he really needed to fix it. Not worth getting the crappers when there are new models to have.

[muskien]

Some taxi driver are mad in the rapid way. the first word you have to know in bangkok is Cha cha

[jandajoy]

I remember getting into Swampy at around midnight and grabbing a cab to Banchang, normally a 2 hour trip. This venerable looking cabby grabbed my bag and opened the door for me. It all looked good.

I then spent 1 hour and 45 minutes in a suspensionless crate traveling at speeds of up to 180km/hr in absolute fear. Fortunately I had some duty free on board and the bottle of Laphroig eased the bruises. Scary as all buggery though.


just lean on the back of the taxi and see if it bounces back. Suspension is good.

[jim1176]

my offer from the airport to sukhumveit is 200 baht, usually turned down by 4 - 5 taxis until one figures 200 is better than driving back empty... a win -win.

The actual meter is slightly more but I like watching Thais bargain when they have no bargaining power and see how fixed they are at not cutting a distinguished farang a break

[jandajoy]

Originally Posted by jim1176

The actual meter is slightly more but I like watching Thais bargain when they have no bargaining power and see how fixed they are at not cutting a distinguished farang a break

What a fine, distinguished and charitable creature you are.

[DrB0b]

Originally Posted by The Zapster

As for alternatives, you can get the airport bus into the city for 150b, or the ordinary buses for 35b, which are probably more hassle that they're worth if you don't know what you're doing.

At Don Mueng you can walk over the footbridge to the train station and get into town for 5 baht.