Originally Posted by
Allvest
I strongly caution tourists from being obnoxious with Thai cab drivers. Is a 5 dollar saving worth getting into an argument, dropped off in the middle of nowhere or worse, being confronted by a bunch of taxi colleagues?
Ask if they'll use the meter before getting in. If they won't use the meter, just wave them on. Nothing obnoxious about it, and it'll be a win-win.
They'll find the flat rate passenger to overcharge (or a Thai passenger they don't feel like overcharging), you'll wait a little but have a shot at finding an honest cabbie who'll use the meter.
Sure you can negotiate and say no. But pushing it too far can have in intended health consequences.
What's there to negotiate? Either they put the meter on, or they don't, and you get another cab.
Originally Posted by
Tchiowa
I find that if you get into a cab and instead of saying "take me to Siam Paragon" (for example) you say "Bai Siam Paragon" just the fact that you used one Thai word seems to make the think you're not a newbie so they don't try to play as many games with you.
How do you pronounce that -- like "buy" in English? Any real obvious tone?
If they start to pull out and don't hit the meter, just say "meter" and point. 99 times out of 100 that ends the discussion.
I'll just ask "location, meter, OK?" or "location, price, OK?" through the window -- or through and open door -- before getting in. Probably has a slightly higher rejection rate than getting in first, but it avoids any misunderstanding.
Originally Posted by
Allvest
I have a reliable driver, and pay him 1000 baht. he comes to my door, picks up the bags, gets me to the airport on time and is trustworthy. he is just a metered taxi.
That sounds like a service potentially worth paying extra for because he's a specific individual and a known quantity.
otherwise i expect to pay 500 baht TO he airport
You're welcome to overpay, that's your prerogative, but there's neither a need to nor any guarantee of better service. If you're away from a major thoroughfare where it's tough to get a taxi, it may save you a bit of time, but for the average tourist staying near a major street if the first taxi to drive by won't take a metered fare to the airport, the one of the next couple will and your net time savings is at most a couple minutes.
Of course, if it's really THAT bad of a rush hour, tourists are probably better off doing BTS to ARL anyway...