[QUOTE=dsquared37;22528488]I've had a handful of times where taxis weren't willing to pick us up at Phaya Thai unless we agreed to an exorbitant set fare.

Several successive incidents actually put the kabosh on any further attempts.

I, too, have had little to no luck getting a taxi at Phaya Thai to go across town to the ROS for meter . Lots of them will go for 2 to 4 times what the meter would be. My solution - I take the 36 bus directly to the end of the line which is a 1 minute walk cost - something like 12 baht (air-con). Downside- I have to lift luggage up a very high first step onto bus, sometimes I have to wait 20 minutes for the bus to come.