Tips For Using Bangkok Taxis
Last updated 2007-10-26
A few tips and pointers when using Bangkok Taxis.
Now Suvarnabhumi (the new airport in Bangkok) is open, it has an official meter stand, just like at the old Don Muang airport and you should always use this if you plan on using a metered taxi. Obviously, if you're using an airport limo service, this is irrelevant to you.
If you don't and you jump in any taxi that happens to hoot at you, you're likely to pay way over the going rate for a ride into town. If a driver from the official taxi rank attempts to overcharge you, you will have some means of recourse. However, it is very unlikely you will have any problems using the proper taxi rank. A ride from Suvarnabhumi to Sukhumvit for example, should cost you no more than 300 baht, unless the traffic is really bad.
You are much more likely to have trouble when hailing a cab in town and the hot spots are the tourist ghettos and night spots, like the entrance to Nana Plaza, or the taxis that hang around at the end of Patpong, waiting for ignorant tourists who don't know any better.
The typical first sign of trouble is the meter is switched off. If you question the driver about it, he will always tell you it is broken. You can be sure that this is not true. The meters are extremely reliable and the driver is lying to you and you will be charged an exorbitant rate for the journey. Don't be afraid to get out of the taxi and tell him why. A metered taxi should never have the meter switched off.
I once jumped in a taxi at Nana Plaza to make a very short journey that would have cost no more than the flag fall of 35 Baht but the meter was switched off and the driver wanted 100 Baht, assuming I was a tourist and would pay without question. I just got out of the cab and hailed the next one that comes along. Why pay 3 times more than you have to?
Another favourite is for drivers to claim they have no change. Of course they have change! For example, if the fare on the meter is 60 Baht and you hand them a 100 Baht note... and you were picked up from one of the tourist ghettos, it's highly likely he will claim he doesn't have change for you, hoping you will just say 'no problem' and give him a handsome tip. In these circumstances, I will NEVER tip the driver and insist he produces the change, no matter what he has to do to get it and how small the amount. I really hate to be lied to in this way. There are 7-11 stores everywhere where the driver can get some small change to give you but when challkenged like this, they will usually find some change in their pocket that they had somehow 'forgotten about'... Yeah, right.
Incidentally, if the meter is used and there are no problems with change, I will nearly always reward and encourage their honesty with a small tip, especially if the drive was safe and sedate (I hate to be scared by the driving habits of some Bangkok taxi drivers).
Incidentally, tuk tuk's are a waste of money, unless you're a first time tourist and want the experience. Why use a dirty, smelly, noisy tuk tuk to arrive at your destination with messed up hair when you can use an air conditioned taxi for less money? In fact, a tuk tuk is likely to cost you more and you'll only have to put up with the driver trying to take you to a gem scam palace.
Motorcycle taxis, which can be found at the end of most sois, are good in an emergency when the roads are gridlocked, or you just need to go a short distance down a back street... but they are a very dangerous mode of transport and don't really save you any money.
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