Tuk-tuks, Bangkok

Ok, this might be the biggest danger you might face in Bangkok, since only tourist take these Tuk-Tuk's be very aware of where your going, they approach you offering a 10 baht rid per person but they'll stop at a clothing store or a jem store, it would be ok, BUT if you don't buy anything they just leave you there and who know where you might end up !!!!! When we took one, the driver wanted 80 bahts, I told them to go "F" himself, and believe me HE UNDERSTOOD perfectly well, what I meant !!!! then another driver wanted 60 bahts and I dropped him to 30 bahts but the bastard dropped us off, not excatly where we wanted and we ended up walking a good 3 blocks, so be aware of where you are at and try not to converse with the driver, your just opening yourself up to a person looking to rob you !!!!!!

Unique Suggestions: If he's says he'll take you for 10 bahts or free...walk away !!!!!! there's no perfect way of getting into one, just be AWARE of your SURROUNDINGS !!!!!!

I heard and read about this scam. Even with prior knowledge, my friend and I were lured into this scam.

After exiting the Grand Palace, we walked to catch the boat ferry back down South. Before catching the ferry we bought a bag of Li Chee fruit and sat on a bench to eat. A nice man struck up a conversation with us. Asked us where we were from and what we did so far. He was really nice and talked about Thailand. He offered to take us around on his tuk tuk to see the Golden Buddah, standing Buddah, and then to a shopping center for $0.50 each. I said okay and off we went. We saw the Golden Buddah and Standing Buddah and then he took us to a jewerly store. Didn't buy anything and then he took us to another store. I told him I didn't want to go shopping but he got upset and insisted we go since we only paid him $0.50 for the ride. When we got there, we walked through the store really fast and he got upset that we didn't even look at the items good. He was mad and said that we should buy something so he can get a coupon for free gas. My friend spent $12 on some charms and we left with him. Tuk Tuk driver was not happy. I told him we wanted to go to a boat ramp to catch the ferry. He was not happy and was going to drop us off along side a road. I asked him to drop us off at the boat ramp..... he got mad but dropped us off at the boat ramp.

Overall not a good experience, but we had to laugh if off and continue to enjoy wonderful Bangkok.

Unique Suggestions: Recommend not riding a Tuk Tuk. Always ride a metered taxi. Never had a bad experience with a Taxi driver. Taxi's are really cheap and you can generally get anywhere in Bangkok for under $4.

Make sure you get a hotel card written in Thai from the front desk so you can show it to the taxi drivers.

If anyone offers you help.... don't take it. They are being nice to you only because they want something from you.

Fun Alternatives: Metered taxi's are good and cheap!

Beware of tuk-tuk drivers that while negotiating the service charge for a trip, they’ll ask for a ridiculously low price and offer that before they drive you to your chosen destination, they’ll stop you at a particular shop. Usually they mention one of these – tailors, jewelleries, Thai massage and holiday agents. If you’re not interested in any – be straight to the point and decline immediately. I NEARLY GOT INTO TROUBLE JUST TO GET AWAY WITH FEW BHATS CHEAPER. Once I flagged a driver from Chinatown to drive us to downtown. As it was late he suggested me to stop at a ‘ Government Travel Agency’ to plan me a trip to Chang Mai or Kancanuburi. I told him that everything was planned from my local tour leader but he insisted that I play the part as if interested. To cut an extremely long story short we went into this agency and acted as we were interested and after two coffees and a desk full of broucheres we walked out on him. He certainly wasn’t pleased. Later I found out that the tuk tuk drivers get free petrol, lunch and a drink as a commission for every client they present.

Fun Alternatives: Most of them will understand if you decline the offer, but if they keep on insisting, tell them that you’ll report them to the police as they’re aware that they’re breaching their Law. Call the Tourism Authority of Thailand at 694-1222 ext. 1090-1094 or after hours call 1155 for the Tourist Police.

After getting a Tuk Tuk to a particular destination, you may be asked to stop in and look at suits or jewelry for the driver. They usually say that they get gas coupons if you just go in and look at suits at certain shops in Bangkok.

Unique Suggestions: My brother and I were involved in this scam a couple of times while in Bangkok. After trying to get out of looking at suits, we ended up trying to spend 10 minutes (that is what the driver said was the minimum time before he would get a gas coupon) I got kicked out of the store after about 3. My brother somehow managed to stay in there for the full time, however I never did see a gas coupon given to the driver.
Even as my brother was still in the siut shop, the driver was wanting me to go see some gems, because he happened to notice my rings.

Fun Alternatives: The best suggestion that I can give would be tell the Tuk Tuk drivers that are offering a "cheaper" than normal ride, that you don't want to see any suits, or gold/gem shops. If you tell them this right away it may help to avoid getting caught up in this particular scam.

Do not accept very cheap offer from Tuk Tuk drivers. 1 tuk tuk driver "quoted" 20 baht for an hour but he ended up bringing me to tourists spot (like jewellery marts) in the hope that I will buy and he will earned "commission" in the form of gas coupons. Although I reached my destination finally, I have spent a good whole 30 mins looking at Sapphire and Rubies.

Most (or should I say all?) tuk-tuk will agree to give you a good price UNLESS you agree to stops at their selected shops before going to your destination. Of course it's okay if you don't purchase anything, but the place they brought you are always places which are very expensive.

One incident, I was brought to a big stores selling antiques & clothes. The representative showed me & my friend around the shop. He seems nice at first, but later tried to "be funny". So ladies, be careful. Even in such a big tourist store is not "safe" :(

Tuk Tuk tours can be good or they can be bad. I never had a bad experience but of course Ive heard them. The generall rule is you ask to go somwhere and the guy says 20b if he can take you to a temple and a 'thai factory', meaning a jewellery shop or tailors. Some of the temples are very beautiful but you feel intrusive and there are some dodgy men who hang around becasue tourists are common. Even if you blatantly dont want to go into a tailors etc its easier just to do it and then walk out after 5 minutes because the shops give the tuk tuk drivers vouchers for fuel. Its common for them to say they dont have change aswell, so a 20b ride will end up costing 50b or even 100b. Or maybe thats my fault for not having change myself.

Unique Suggestions: The best thing to always do is smile and be polite. This aplies to all travel but I really learnt it in Thailand. Getting stressed never helps. Just take it smoothly and dont worry, but be sure what you are getting and where you are going. I felt safe on my own but Bangkok is a huge city and I wasnt there for long. NOt all Thai people can be as nice as the ones I met. THere are execptions everywhere.

Fun Alternatives: Do some research into what temples you want to see, and be firm about where you want to go. Obviously getting a taxi will solve the problem but it will be more, however metered taxi do work out a lot cheaper I found.

Many tourists mentioned about the tuk-tuk driver and how they cheat you. Yes they did try to cheat, but not only tuk-tuk drivers, they are many of them, and there exist in many countries all around the world as you can imagine. What i feel to be fair to them is, they are really so poor, and they are making life on it. On my trip I actually made a few trips with tuk-tuk, and all were the pleasant one. There was a driver while bargaining the fare, he politely told me whether I can help him by allowing him to bring me to stopover at a store before to my destination, as that way can help him to claim a free meal or petrol and I need not buy anything. I really want to help the poor guy but I was in a tight schedule so i had to reject the offer. In fact, they know it is getting hard to cheat the tourist, as we are getting smarter, and there are too many tuk-tuk around. They realised if they don't take the business, we can easily get another in the fare we request. I think it just the way how you will to deal with them and everything will be fine.

Unique Suggestions: You must always bargain with the tuk-tuk driver. If their offer is too cheap, you can just ask directly whether they are going to make some stops, and I believe they will just be honest to you. If the fare seems a bit high, I always cut down to the half at the beginning, and slightly increase at the end of the bargaining. This way always work, at least for myself. Riding on the tuk-tuk is too fun that you really won't want to miss it.

Fun Alternatives: Alternative way? Don't take the tuk-tuk if you really so scare. But since you are already have the courage to leave your home, what so scare to only BARGAIN?