TAXIS IN BANGKOK THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

GETTING AROUND THE CITY BY TAXI, TUK TUK AND MOTOR CYCLE TAXI.


                                                                                       THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY!



Bangkok has been my home for more than Six Years now! time really does move quickly, unlike the traffic in Bangkok!
Generally speaking I don't really have any problems using public transport and when I use any of the above mentioned, honestly I hardly ever have any problems, I am not Thai! I'm English. I really do believe I'm Lucky because I live with my family, my wife who is Thai and my son who is 2, in a REAL THAI AREA, Not a Touristy Area and that seems to be the key to the problem that a lot of tourists have when using taxis , Tuk Tuks and Motor Cycle Taxis, they are in Touristy areas or at a major Transport Hub.
So do I sit back and think I'm OK not my problem, I'm OK, well honestly NO!
I've decided to Become a Guinea Pig and act as a Tourist (I can do that!!) and see what B.S. we are fed , what rip-off's we get and are Thai folk suffering the same or similar problems, I'll chat with them too.
So we can then work out where the bad and the ugly are ( rip-off , over charging and scams). Then I'll give you the real true price from the Good Guys and some great tips on how to avoid the overcharging and rip offs!

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE.
HUA LAMHONG TRAIN STATION TAXI RANK

I travel from Hua Lamphong to Pinklao on a regular basis,so it's a journey I know well, it's not too far and as long as the traffic isn't too bad in China Town it can be a fairly short trip!
So off I go walking towards the Taxi Rank, a very friendly Thai Guy walks towards me smiling and asking "where you go?" I reply "PinkLao"., "400 Baht" that was his first price,...."NO",...."250 Baht"... Oh that's good he's offering me a discount, THIS WHAT YOU MAY THINK! THAT'S A GOOD PRICE, NO IT ISN'T , THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT IN BANGKOK ALL TAXI DRIVERS ARE SUPPOSED TO  USE THEIR TAXI METER AND NOT TO OFFER YOU A PRICE!!!!!STRAIGHT AWAY YOU SHOULD REALIZE  THAT THIS GUY IS BAD -UGLY DO NOT USE THESE TAXIS...WALK AWAY DO NOT BARTER WITH ATAXI DRIVER IN BANGKOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.."NO", Then he was quickly joined by a Tuk Tuk Driver and  a Moto Cy Taxi Rider, "250 very cheap"......"I take you quick quick" I still refused and I decided just to wait for the next Taxi to arrive and to my surprise these 3 guys told  the Taxi driver who had just dropped off a fare to go and leave. So I lent in the Taxi  and the Taxi driver asked where do you want to go "PinkLao" Taxi driver nodded I jumped in and off we went!
This whole experience really annoyed me, and made me realize that at Main Transport Hubs and.Main Touristy Areas this is a real common place occurence.
My Business is all about promoting Quality in Thailand and this is Disgusting that this may be  a Tourists first impression of Thailand or Bangkok You know Bangkok is a really great City to live in and life is very enjoyable here!.
So I'm more determined to try to create a price guide now and really promote awareness!
My actual trip with The Good Guy, was fine, just like normal! A fairly quick, simple trip with no scams and no rip offs. Most Thai Taxi Drivers are OK they drive a bit crazy, but not too bad, they're just trying to make ends meet!

MY ORIGINAL QUOTE FROM MR. BAD-UGLY TAXI DRIVER WAS 400 BAHT !

The Final cost from HUA LAMPHONG TO PINKLAO.........81 BAHT

.

A SAVING OF 319 BAHT ON THE ORIGINAL TAXI QUOTE.............RIP OFF!!!!!

HUA LAMPHONG BAD BOY TAXI DRIVERS.......

TAXI-TIP

THE TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING AND HANGING AROUND WITH THEIR TAXI PARKED ARE USUALLY THE BAD-UGLY GUYS AVOID THEM ...DO NOT USE THEM!

A TAXI DRIVER IN BANGKOK WHO OFFERS YOU A PRICE IS BAD-UGLY GUY DO NOT USE !

EASY SOLUTION IS TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TAXI, OR WAIT FOR A TAXI WHO HAS JUST DROPPED  A FARE OFF!

OR

JUST WALK AWAY GO, GO A FEW METRES AWAY AND YOU SHOULD FIND  A

GOOD-GUY USING HIS TAXI METER.

A TAXI DRIVER SHOULD USE HIS METER HE IS A GOOD GUY, USE HIM!

A TAXI DRIVER CAN REFUSE TO TAKE YOU TO ANY DESTINATION, IT'S VERY COMMON AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME TO THAI AND FOREIGNER, IT'S NORMAL TO BE REFUSED,
USUALLY A SHAKE OF THE HEAD OR A HAND GESTURE.
wwTAXI DRIVERS  SHOULD DISPLAY A RED SIGN IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE ( AS YOU LOOK AT IT) OF THE WINDSCREEN WHEN THEY ARE FREE TO PICK UP A FARE!

TAXI DRIVERS SHOULD BE REGISTERED AND SHOULD HAVE A TAXI BADGE  SHOWING HIS DETAILS  DISPLAYED INSIDE HIS TAXI.

BANGKOK HAS THOUSANDS OF TAXIS , SO IF ONE REFUSES OR IS GIVING YOU A PRICE, IT'S OK THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE ALONG VERY SOON!

TAXIS ARE VERY CHEAP IN BANGKOK AND FOR THE MAJORITY OF SHORT TRIPS IT SHOULD NOT COST TOO MUCH, TYPICALLY I PAY 50 TO 100 BAHT FOR MOST OF MY CITY CENTER TRIPS! THE TAXI METER STARTS OFF AT 39 BAHT, THIS IS YOUR MINIMUM FARE.

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU EXIT A TAXI, LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, MAKE SURE THE TAXI HAS STOPPED AND WATCH OUT FOR MOTOR CYCLES COMING UP ON THE INSIDE.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS USEFUL IT'S ONLY A GUIDE AND IS IN NO WAY A GUARANTEE OF GOOD DRIVING STANDARDS , THAT IS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME!

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

www.lok8rboutique.com

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Laos and Thailand.

A TAXI RANK AT MO CHIT BUS STATION, GOOD-GUYS

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