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Metered Taxis, Bangkok
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Metered Taxis, Bangkok

Metered Taxis tips and advice posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals.
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Metered Taxis: Taxis around Bangkok
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  • SWFC_Fan
  • By SWFC_Fan on October 8, 2007
  • Bangkok Page by SWFC_Fan
  • Taxis in heavy Bangkok traffic - Bangkok
    Taxis in heavy Bangkok traffic
    by SWFC_Fan
    You will have no problems finding a metered taxi in Bangkok – they are everywhere! Many of them are bright pink coloured, so you certainly won’t miss those ones! Simply signal to the driver and, if there are no passengers already on board, he’ll stop to pick you up.

    Due to the busy nature of Bangkok’s roads, you won’t get very far very fast in a taxi. If you are located close to a subway or Skytrain station, then I would recommend using one of those as your primary means of transportation around Bangkok. However, if you are in an area not covered by either of these, then I would recommend taxis over tuk-tuks. Tuk-tuks are fun for a one-off journey, but you can’t rely on them to take you where you want to go without an unscheduled stop at a shop or factory (where the driver earns commission).

    Within Bangkok, the meter starts at 35 Bahts (approx. 0.45 GBP) when you are picked up. The fares are extremely cheap by European standards, with a journey of several kilometres costing between 1 and 2 GBP. In fact, the 25km journey from Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi airport should only cost about 5 GBP (see separate tip for full details of taxis to and from the airport).

    The only time I used a taxi, other than the airport transfer, was for a journey between the Old Siam Plaza shopping mall in Chinatown and Lumphini Park in Silom. This journey of several kilometres took 20 minutes, involved a lot of sitting in heavy traffic and cost a mere 73 Bahts (approx. 1.15 GBP).

    The first taxi that I stopped refused to take me to Lumphini Park. The driver seemed to be having difficulty understanding where I wanted to go, despite me pointing out the park on my (Thai language) map. Perhaps he didn’t fancy sitting in heavy afternoon traffic in Silom, or perhaps he had to make another pick up and couldn’t get back in time, but either way I jumped out of the taxi and stopped the one behind it and set off towards Lumphini with no problems.

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    Metered Taxis: Taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport
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  • SWFC_Fan
  • Updated By SWFC_Fan on October 5, 2007
  • Bangkok Page by SWFC_Fan
  • Taxis in Bangkok - Bangkok
    Taxis in Bangkok
    by SWFC_Fan
    I arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport at the start of my week long visit to the city in September 2007.

    The new airport is located some 25km from the centre of Bangkok and, at the time of my visit, has no rail link to the city centre.

    I decided that a metered taxi would be the best way for me to get to my hotel in the Chinatown area of Bangkok.

    Upon passing through the arrivals hall, I was approached by many touts who asked me if I needed a taxi. I had read that it is best to ignore them, so I did and followed the signs to the official taxi departure point instead.

    At the taxi departure point, a young lady asked where I was going and wrote down the name of my destination in Thai in order to give to the taxi driver. I also received an official receipt which doubled up as a complaint form. If the driver had turned off the meter, overcharged me or dropped me off at the wrong place, all I had to do was tick the appropriate complaint box, affix a 2 Baht stamp and put the form in the nearest post box. The form included details of the taxi number and driver, so any offending driver could easily be traced. This eases fears of new arrivals being ripped off by unscrupulous taxi drivers.

    My journey from the airport to Chinatown took about 40 minutes, including some time sitting in heavy traffic and cost 400 Bahts (approx. 6 GBP). The meter only read 215 Bahts when I arrived at my hotel, but that didn't include the 50 Baht service charge for all journeys starting at the airport or the two road tolls that the driver had paid en route.

    On my return to the airport, the driver asked me to pay the tolls as we arrived at the toll booths. The first was 40 bahts, the second was 25 bahts (a total of 1 GBP). The taxi fare cost just 220 Bahts (less than 4 GBP).

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    Metered Taxis: Taxi's in Bangkok from the Airport
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  • stappm
  • Updated By stappm on October 8, 2006
  • Bangkok Page by stappm
  • Metered Taxis - Bangkok
    by stappm
    When arriving at the airport, there were 4 of us - we all came in on separate days, and therefore found our own various ways to the hotel from the airport. We ALL paid something different for that very same ride. 250 BT to 800 BT. Basically we found: Make sure you exit the airport completely, go to the official Airport Taxi stand, get into a Metered Taxi and make sure they run the meter. They'll want to talk you into a flat fee (400 to 800 BT) but the ride should only be about 250 BT if they run the meter. Say "no" to the flat fee and tell them to run the meter and take the express toll way. You pay the toll (usually added to the total but sometimes needed at the toll booth) about 20 BHT per expressway (which can be 2 = 40 BHT total). The service cars and taxi's offered inside the airport by the folks in nice suits were the most expensive (800 BHT.) And I must admit after that long flight very tempting, but it is really only a few more steps to the Official Taxi Stand.

    In all actuality it is about a 15-20 min ride into Bangkok and per current exchange rates 400 BHT is only like $10 USD... so it is not all that painful or extreme for a 20 min taxi ride. However, it is nice not to be part of the tourist scam. Also the taxi que lines can be long depending on what time you arrive. If you don't want to wait, go upstairs to arrivals and find a taxi dropping someone off.

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    Metered Taxis: Taxi
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  • thelittlevoice
  • By thelittlevoice on April 21, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by thelittlevoice
  • I know you guys heard some infamous stories about taxis in Bangkok before. But I should share my personal experience too.

    As another driver on the road, the blue/red taxis are the worst ones ever. If you have Thai fonts installed on your PC, the ones with ýý on their plates are very bad. ýý means patience so I guess they want other drivers to have it lol But as a customer who sits in this kind of taxi, you probably get to your destination very quick! The green/yellow ones are personal taxis. That means they can do anything to their meters to make it charge more. The rest are varied.

    The meter starts from 35 Baht. Be sure that the driver really starts his meter! If you use a pre-paid taxi from the airport, 50 Baht is added.

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    Metered Taxis: Bangkok International Airport - National Stadium
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  • shintarojon
  • Updated By shintarojon on March 3, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by shintarojon
  • Taxi-Meter - Bangkok
    Taxi-Meter
    by shintarojon
    (date took the taxi - Feb. 7, 2004)

    Bangkok International Airport - National Stadium Station

    Since I will stay in Muangphol Mansion which is too near to National Stadium Statiom, my Japanese friend and my gf decided to take taxi rather than taking Airport bus ' coz it will cost THB 300 (THB 100/person).

    Taxi fare - THB 140 - THB 150

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    Metered Taxis: Khao San Road - Morchit Bus Station
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  • shintarojon
  • Updated By shintarojon on March 3, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by shintarojon
  • Taxi-Meter - Bangkok
    Taxi-Meter
    by shintarojon
    Most of the backpackers are staying in the Khao San Road...so if you are in a hurry and your destination is going to Northern Bus Terminal (aka Morchit Bus Terminal), taking taxi is still the best option. But look for Taxi-Meter!!!

    Taxi Fare - THB 80.00 up to THB 100.00

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    Metered Taxis: Bangkok Taxis
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  • Jmill42
  • By Jmill42 on March 25, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by Jmill42
  • Tuk-Tuks aren't always the cheapest!! - Bangkok
    Tuk-Tuks aren't always the
    cheapest!!
    by Jmill42
    I found taxis in Bangkok to be extremely clean, fast, and cheap. I took a taxi with A/C all the way from the airport to Khao San Rd, and it cost me less than 200 Baht (5 USD). Sometimes, taxis can be cheaper than tuk-tuks because they seems to want the business.

    I found that out as I was going back to my hotel from the Muay Thai fight and the taxi guy low bid the tuk tuk driver I was bargaining with!

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    Metered Taxis: Cheap way around bangkok
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  • machomikemd
  • By machomikemd on July 24, 2007
  • Bangkok Page by machomikemd
  • Red Blue Taxi - Bangkok
    Red Blue Taxi
    by machomikemd, 1 more photos
    the easiest and most comfortable way to get around, if not always the quickest, is by the aircon taxi. These come in quite a few different colours though the green-yellow and red-blue ones are the most common. Bangkok has thousands of taxis, and finding one at any time is never a problem. The occasional exception to this is during a monsoon season downpour.

    The two tone green and yellow taxis are generally reckoned to be the best ones. All licensed taxis have yellow and black number plates. Tipping of taxi drivers is not really a Thai practice, though rounding the fare up to the nearest 5B or 10B is fairly common. Any more is not expected and not really necessary. If you're unlucky, the driver will sometimes claim to have no change to try and force you to leave a 30% tip or thereabouts - getting out to change money at a nearby store will often lead to him remembering where his change is kept.

    the flagfall rate is 35B (1.15 US$ ) including the first 2km and it's 5Baht/km after that. This means that even relatively long journeys, such as from Sukhumvit to the Grand Palace often aren't above 100B (3.35 US$) and from nana plaza to pratunam at just 52 baht (1.60 US$). A surcharge is applied in traffic jams (1.25B/m when moving under 6km/h), meaning at night when there's not much traffic they're definitely the best way of getting around.

    if you aren't near any taxis, you can phone 1661 and order one to pick you up. This costs the meter fee + 20Baht.

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  • Phone: 02-880-0888
  • Other Contact: Bangkok Taxi Coop
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    Metered Taxis: Taking cab to Chinatown
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  • Yijie
  • Updated By Yijie on January 18, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by Yijie
  • Chinatown - Bangkok
    Chinatown
    by Yijie
    I took BTS, transferred to subway and finally a tuk tuk to get to Chinatown. It costs around 50 bahts by tuk tuk (the normal rate for locals is 30 bahts) to get to Chinatown from the nearest subway. I stayed in Siam City hotel, close to skytrain Phayathai station. It only costed me 60 bahts to travel back my hotel from Chinatown. I would suggest going to Chinatown by cab, saves time and in my case, money too. Just double confirm with the cab driver that he is charging by meter and note down his cab number too in case of any problems.

    PS: You may worry about traffic jams, just go a bit earlier to avoid it. ;-)

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    Metered Taxis: Taxi-Meter
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  • imstress
  • Updated By imstress on February 16, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by imstress
  • Taxi - Meter signboard - Bangkok
    Taxi - Meter signboard
    by imstress
    Taxis can be found everywhere. But be sure to take those with Taxi-Meter sign on top.

    The starting fare is 35THB.

    If the taxi driver dont turn on the meter you may alight and hop on to another one.

    There is a airport surcharge of 50THB when u depart from the airport.

    There are 2 tolls 40THB and 20 THB.

    Cab fare to town will cost 150 THB to 200 THB. It all depends on the traffic conditions.

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