Taxi, or Not Taxi, That Is The Question

Public transportation involving a taxi or a tuk-tuk is truly an experience in Thailand. Relative to the States, a metered taxi is quite affordable. For example, a 28 km (17 mile, 30 minute ride) from the BKK airport to our hotel in Bangkok cost us between 180-250 baht ($6-8). Not bad, not bad.

Neon colored taxis and three-wheeled tuk-tuks fill the streets nearly as much as private cars and motor bikes do. On the main drag in Bangkok (Sukhumvit Road) and any smaller adjoining streets (Soi), you can bet that every street corner someone is calling to you “Tax-ee tax-ee! Forty baht, anywhere!” Those cabbies are out to hustle you!

The best advice we can give is to always request a metered taxi. Always. A metered taxi provides the assurance that you are not going to be ripped off, often two or three times the true rate. Tuk-tuks and non-metered taxi drivers are notorious for asking outrageous prices for a ride. As a tourist, 200 baht ($6.50) seems like a reasonable price to go a mile or two down the road until you realize that it should cost closer to 60 baht ($2). Doh! Do that a few times a day and soon you’ll be burning through cash simply to get from point A to point B instead of spending that money on something more worthwhile. If you’re going to take a taxi, approach one that says TAXI METER on its dome light. In fact, never agree take a taxi if a random driver approaches you first, unless you specifically ask to put on the meter (godt meetah nah kah) and he agrees to it.

Ok, so riding in a tuk-tuk once or twice never hurt anyone, and it is a really nice experience seeing the hustle-bustle of the city with the warm wind blowing in your face, especially at night. If you do decide to take a tuk-tuk, do not agree to the first price offered by the driver, and instead have a little fun bartering with the driver!