After a long flight I just want to get to my hotel in as quick and smooth a manner as possible. I take the airport limousine from one of the desks in the main arrivals hall. Guy takes your luggage puts it in the boot of the comfortable car, which is waiting just outside the door with the driver. Usually wheels rolling within five minutes of exiting the baggage collection area. 1,000 Baht paid at the desk, includes tolls, no hassle.
This has happened to me at least four times during the last two years. When pointing out this to the driver upon arrival, they usually apologise and accept what I offer. On one occasion, however, the driver turned very nasty and paid to get rid of him.
My experiences with taxi from departure (several times) were all positive, my one experience at arrivals negative (fixed fare of 600 Baht on my first trip to Thailand, I didn't know better).
Taxi, mocy, van, bus stopping for petrol have happened each once in all my time in Thailand. This is a mystery to me, in Europe this would be unacceptable. At least they didn't ask for a cash advance to pay for the fuel. It can be weird, on an several hour long bus trip the bus stops in the outskirts of Bangkok for a 15 minute break (petrol, toilet), when it would take just another 30 minutes to reach the bus station!
Returning from Hong Kong late last night, there were no queues for taxis. Very easy getting to the machines and, as you can see from the slip, this not only gives you the lane number but also the driver's name, ID, car type and registration plate number. The call center number for complaints is also clearly marked. So it's clearly a more sophisticated system than the old one. The price was as I expected, although all taxi fares have recently gone up by around 8% - 10%.
I am traveling very light on my next trip, but will arrive around 10:45 PM. That will be too late to take the train into Bangkok, right?
Maybe I was lucky, but I never had a bad experience with a taxi in Bangkok.
Up to 5/6 years ago I would regularly take the free-lance taxis but now I'm more security conscious.
The incident involving the shooting dead (motive robbery) of an english passenger in a remote soi some years ago scared me.
It has happened that my taxi has taken a detour for fuel and on these occasions I get on the phone to a friend giving details of the car in english and my version of thai and I make sure the driver hears me-just in case.
MRT, BTS and ARL run until midnight, but last train leaving a particular station in a particular direction might be as early as 23:30 (so it arrives in its final station before midnight).
Always an adventure if you don't have a regular driver you can trust. Last trip from Pattaya to airport driver pulled off the road, drove to this dark forested area, no lighting. Met someone there, could hear gas cans rattling around awhile, then filling the tank. Then on to the airport.
All's well that ends well.Originally Posted by blazer
Another recent experience similar to the OP's coming from Suvarnaphum. Driver used the meter and I had the slip from the automatic machines (only one of which was working with some guys handing out the tickets). Part of the meter was covered with some dashboard mat thingy.
On arrival the fare was clearly too high so I asked how many km. He tried to switch off the meter but I flipped up the cover thingy which revealed a distance of 45 km (To Silom)! I immediately asked him how much and got a reduced fare; still 50 Bt over what I might have paid, but a reasonable outcome. I guess I could call the call center and complain but can't be bothered.
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