Bangkok first timers - your #1 tip?

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a feeling based on my last visit to Bangkok a few weeks back that the bad taxis are on the upward trend.

Disappointing

I guess that makes the pre-booked car option of 800 baht look pretty good and stress free!

 

[Foreigner]

Trip to airport from city hotels can be quite stressless. My last one was a luxurious car which was otherwise returning without passengers to airport. Paid 400 baht.

 

[Archipelago]

You'll be pleased to know that a planned 3 day strike by taxis operating out of Suwanabhumi (BKK) was averted a couple of days back.

If you're getting in this evening at that time, take a taxi, and as mentioned above give them cash for the tolls (just say "tollway" as you get in and give the address.
There is a 50 baht surcharge out of the airport, it is a fairly orderly queue down on the ground floor (level 1), well sign posted. The girls at the counter will ask your destination, assign you a cab and give you a slip of paper. He will add on the 50 baht at destination so don't be surprised when the amount he asks for at the end is 50 baht more (this catches people out some times)

Happy travels...enjoy the flight!

 

[Archipelago]

Oh, and make sure you have change, break 1000 baht at the 7-11 or Family Mart on level 3 or the basement if you need before going to the taxi rank.
I always stop in there and grab a few essentials for the hotel room (extra water, juice, food, booze etc) before leaving the airport, means you can settle in the room on arrival without having to leave the hotel again until the morning.
Having change makes it easier to pay the taxi, some of them will tell you they have no change for 1000 baht to see if they can get more money

 

[ozbeachbabe]

...and the journey begins.

TG474 B772ER HS-TJU. Window seat & 2 shadows.

 

[Archipelago]

Great pic - From those smiles I'm sure the flight will go well.

 

[Alanslegal]

The girls at the counter will ask your destination, assign you a cab and give you a slip of paper. He will add on the 50 baht at destination so don't be surprised when the amount he asks for at the end is 50 baht more (this catches people out some times)

I was there on 31 March and the manned taxi counter desk at BKK are now extinct. You now line up and get a ticket at the automatic machines.

For example at BKK the taxi stand previously manned by real people is now replaced with automatic machines. The machines you print out the taxi number and general destination area whilst the previous system, you tell the clerk where you are off to, they write it down, and then they tell/translate/explain to the driver your exact destination - no issues especially staying at a large western branded hotel. With the new machine, it was up to me to tell the driver where the hotel was. I said Sheraton and the driver pretended he did not know where it was.

 

[Alanslegal]

Disappointing

I guess that makes the pre-booked car option of 800 baht look pretty good and stress free!

We go to Bangkok quite regularly and usually had no issues until this last trip of ours. My partner who generally has no qualms with catching taxis in the past, now tells me that we must stay adjacent to a BTS so that we can avoid public taxis in the future. Our next visit in August sees us booked into a hotel right next to a BTS.

 

[wazza888]

Many years ago this young taxi driver took me to the airport and I was terrified. I buckled my seatbeat and asked him to slow down as I saw speedometer reaching 100kph.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Well I made it to the hotel in one piece eith drama.

On exiting thr customs area you head down the escalators & turn right after you exit the building.

Once I got to the cab I showed the address of the Millenium Hotel from the Tripit app on my phone.

I offered 300 baht but the driver said "no no no" smiling & shaking his head so I asked for "meter" then he explained about 50 baht airport fee & tollway so I said "yes I know - no problem".

In the cab I gave him a 100 baht note for the tolls. The first toll is 25 baht then he gave me change of 25 baht so thought I'd been dudded but he just retained the other 50 baht for the second toll.

I had an eagle eye on the meter which appears to increase by 2 baht every 10 seconds. The journey was about 30 mins having left the airport at 2040 and arriving at the Hilton at 2110.

The final fare on the meter was 315.00 baht plus the 50 airport fee so all up (excluding tolls I paid separately) 365.00 which I gave him 400 baht.

Incidentally there were no seatbelts in the back seat of the cab or as the driver said "front seat okay, back seat no problem". It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

Pic 1: The docket you are given and retain your your record. I took a photo because I thought the driver would collect it at the end of the trip but he doesn't.

Pic 2: The cab departing the Millenium Hilton after dropping me off.

Pic 3: The queue moved pretty quick and there were two staff who ask you what hotel then print out your docket which has the number plate of the cab & the bay where he's parked.

Pic 4: A cartoon of what I believe is meant to be a cabbie but looks more like Eric Cartman in a Jetstar F/O's uniform.

Pic 5: Dashboard of the cab before the meter was turned on.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ozbeachbabe that sounds about right! I think a hot meter would have run quite a bit higher (my friend's was in the 600 baht range).

the lack of seatbelt (and if you're really lucky speeds of 130-150km/h) are at least half the reason I was alluding to 'peace of mind' in my earlier post with taxi v pre-arranged transfer. it can get scary in a taxi.

 

[Alanslegal]

Glad to hear you had a good experience OBB. Thanks for adding the photos as well, as you can see on your ticket )and the new automatic machines) there is no destination anymore. You goto the nominated bay and hope for the best.

 

[Archipelago]

I was there on 31 March and the manned taxi counter desk at BKK are now extinct. You now line up and get a ticket at the automatic machines.

Apologies, missed that - thanks for the update, as I will be through there again next week.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Had no problems getting taxi from Hilton back to the airport although it took nearly three times as long as inbound. Hotel pickup 1720 arriving at 1840.

I told the bellman at the hotel I would like a "meter taxi" & when I got into the cab I reminded him about the meter then he laughs nervously repeating the word meter.

I think once I handed him the 100 baht note & said "toll way" he knew it wasn't my first timd in a cab.

I paid the tolls sepatately although I only remember going through one toll booth for 25 baht (inbound was 25 & 50 baht).

The fare was about 365 baht plus tolls. On arrival at the airport the driver got me a trolley & loaded my bags onyo it so I gave him my last lot of baht so around 430 baht.

I had some US cash on me as back up if the fare exceeded what I had in baht.

This cab did have seatbelts which was a good thing as he really cranked it up a notch once on the Chonburi Fwy.

 

[JohnK]

While bad taxis are out there... they're not that common. It is usual to get a good cab rather than a bad one.

The statistics fail me again.

The taxis are the main reason I am boycotting Bangkok hotels in favour of staying at Ladkrabang with the free shuttles to/from BKK airport.

 

[diningdecadence]

finally off on this trip this weekend. quick question about heading back to the airport from the city. Our flight is at 720pm so am guessing we are going to be in the midst of peak hour - i've managed to convince the missus to HLO (our 1st time), so should we try the public transport instead of a cab? Thinking about the MO for brunch so would be coming from there.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

finally off on this trip this weekend. quick question about heading back to the airport from the city. Our flight is at 720pm so am guessing we are going to be in the midst of peak hour - i've managed to convince the missus to HLO (our 1st time), so should we try the public transport instead of a cab? Thinking about the MO for brunch so would be coming from there.

Yeah - that's a tricky time to be heading to the airport... given you'll need to leave during the main peak.

In your case I'd be leaving the hotel around 4 (415 at the absolute latest), which should get you there fairly quickly. I'd prefer to take the extra time in a car or taxi, with air con, than arrive sticky and wet having to walk outside. (if your hotel is connected to the train that might sway it.)

 

[Alanslegal]

finally off on this trip this weekend. quick question about heading back to the airport from the city. Our flight is at 720pm so am guessing we are going to be in the midst of peak hour - i've managed to convince the missus to HLO (our 1st time), so should we try the public transport instead of a cab? Thinking about the MO for brunch so would be coming from there.

If you are having brunch and at the Mandarin Oriental, it will be a Sunday so traffic should be less congested than a regular weekday. From the MO it is quite close to getting onto the tollway/highway and then straight to the airport - should get there in 45 minutes. With the 7:20pm flight I guess you are taking TG475, hopefully in F

 

[diningdecadence]

If you are having brunch and at the Mandarin Oriental, it will be a Sunday so traffic should be less congested than a regular weekday. From the MO it is quite close to getting onto the tollway/highway and then straight to the airport - should get there in 45 minutes. With the 7:20pm flight I guess you are taking TG475, hopefully in F

perfect thanks, and sure am! thank you Lifemiles!

 

[Foreigner]

Guide to Thailand, BKK and beyond...recommendations of hotels, restaurants, etc.

http://first2board.com/verygoodpoints/2015/05/15/insiders-guide-to-thailand-2/