Tuk Tuk drivers

[Mormolin]

Please share your top strategies for negotiating tuk-tuk fares without feeling like you're funding their next luxury vacation.

 

Why do you always feel like you're getting mugged !

 

[marin]

I doubt any of us ride in a tuk tuk. May I ask are you having fun? In less than 24 hours we have been treated to 7/11's are tourist attractions, Its hard to cross the street in Pattaya, and now tuk tuks. First time to the LOS I would guess, you seem to really be hitting all the hot spots. 

[KhunLA]

Why would anyone bother with  tuk tuk, when taxi is safer, cheaper, and more comfy.

 

tourist ????

[dingdongrb]

42 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Why would anyone bother with  tuk tuk, when taxi is safer, cheaper, and more comfy.

 

tourist ????

Because I totally enjoy the smell of exhaust as my life flashes before my eyes while swerving through traffic!

[1FinickyOne]

I thought tuk tuks were mostly just an amusement park ride for tourists... ?? 

[Neeranam]

Things changed for me with these guys and m/c taxis when I just told them where I was going and asked them at the end how much. 

Act like a tourist -  get tourist prices.

Act like a local -  get local prices.

 

Of course a couple of times they tried to charge more so have a laugh about it and get it reduced. Act like a <deleted>, you'll be miserable.

[chuang]

Walk .... or else your 2 baht will help them to own big bungalows...

Idiotic question and  statement.

 

[PeterA]

A few times in the past couple years when I end up in Korat without my car, busses are hours apart to my home, and hours drive away. The taxi's at the bus station always charge 2 times the normal price. I have taken a tuk-tuk 3 times now. A little rough on the bum being a bumpy ride, but it was enjoyable enough to always consider it a viable option. It is almost like a ride in a convertible if you close your eyes. I guess I am not such a high-roller to miss out on some simple pleasures.

[brianthainess]

Apart from the rip offs, I stopped using them after I saw one moving to the outside lane to avoid a slowly emerging car, and it rolled over about 4 times with 2 passengers on board, one passenger got out and was walking off completely dazed, walking in a dream with oncoming traffic, I went after him and got him off the road. Never again.

[AgMech Cowboy]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:20 AM, Mormolin said:

Why do you always feel like you're getting mugged

Because you are...

[DonniePeverley]

They're nothing but tourist traps now. 

 

The tourist will be exposed to some extreme pollution and car exhaust fumes. When they stop at a red light, you just better hope they don't stop behind a red bus. Dayam the fumes. 

 

They'd rather sit idly doing nothing, and won't accept less than 200 baht for any single journey - as if word might get out that they are doing deals. 

 

They're a menace and also loud. 

Edited August 27, 2023 by DonniePeverley

[norfolkandchance]

On 8/26/2023 at 7:17 AM, PeterA said:

A few times in the past couple years when I end up in Korat without my car, busses are hours apart to my home, and hours drive away. The taxi's at the bus station always charge 2 times the normal price. I have taken a tuk-tuk 3 times now. A little rough on the bum being a bumpy ride, but it was enjoyable enough to always consider it a viable option. It is almost like a ride in a convertible if you close your eyes. I guess I am not such a high-roller to miss out on some simple pleasures.

We travel though Korat once a month. Stay in the Rich hotel and call the Monkey Bar resident Tuk Tuk for pick up and drop off. B80 each way.

[watchcat]

On 8/25/2023 at 2:29 AM, 1FinickyOne said:

I thought tuk tuks were mostly just an amusement park ride for tourists... ?? 

Mostly they are.

[richard_smith237]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:20 AM, Mormolin said:

Why do you always feel like you're getting mugged !

Because generally you are when it comes to Tuk-Tuks. 

 

There's no need at all to use Tuk-Tuks in Bangkok when there are so many flag-fall Taxi's available and Bolt & Grab Apps.

 

Tuk-Tuks have always been more expensive than regular taxi's... 

As mentioned, they're a novelty for tourists. 

 

Also, as Neeranam mentioned, negotiate effectively highlighting that you are not a tourist and a better price may be offered, but really, why bother at all when you can sit in AC ??

 

I recall walking out of Siam Square (at road level can't remember why) and the Tuk-Tuk driver spoke to my Wife and I (well, he said "Tuk-Tuk ??").

I figured I'd play along, asked how much to Central World, 60 baht... OK - a Taxi would have been about 40-50 baht, so we took the Tuk-Tuk. 

 

In Hua Hun the Tuk-Tuks (4 wheeled variety) are more useful as they offer competitive pricing with taxi's.

 

 

 

[marin]

Nong Khai has interesting tuk tuk's they call skylabs, no idea why. But they are economical and can find their way through the maze of the one way streets there. The only place in Thailand I have gotten a kick out of a tuk tuk. 

 

 

[747man]

28 minutes ago, marin said:

Nong Khai has interesting tuk tuk's they call skylabs, no idea why. But they are economical and can find their way through the maze of the one way streets there. The only place in Thailand I have gotten a kick out of a tuk tuk. 

 

 

They are called Skylabs because the Drivers are Mostly all Ex Astronauts 555 ! They Fly around Here !!

 

[freeworld]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:20 AM, Mormolin said:

Please share your top strategies for negotiating tuk-tuk fares without feeling like you're funding their next luxury vacation.

 

Why do you always feel like you're getting mugged !

 

It is capitalism, the art of the deal, take it or leave it. Usually if you don't agree with the tuk tuk drivers price he just takes off empty, no biggie.

 

You can always walk away and there is other forms of transport that can be used.

[Lemsta69]

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

They're nothing but tourist traps now. 

 

The tourist will be exposed to some extreme pollution and car exhaust fumes. When they stop at a red light, you just better hope they don't stop behind a red bus. Dayam the fumes. 

 

They'd rather sit idly doing nothing, and won't accept less than 200 baht for any single journey - as if word might get out that they are doing deals. 

 

They're a menace and also loud. 

That's a long-winded and very whiny way to say "sorry OP, I have no game" ????

[OneMoreFarang]

There is no good reason to take a TukTuk to anywhere. They are mostly a tourist attraction and for that reason they have tourist prices.

Same principle in another part of the world:

 

 

[Lemsta69]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There is no good reason to take a TukTuk to anywhere.

Plenty of good reasons. Eg. It's 4am and you stumble out of Patpong 2 and there's no taxis, only a lone tuk tuk. Easier to just mumble you destination, tell him the price you're going to pay then pour yourself into the back seat. 

 

You and all the other "tuk tuks are for tourists" brigade are boring. I'll take whatever mode of transport that works for me at any given time without getting all hung up about whether I'm perceived to be a local or not, or if I'm getting "ripped off".

[OneMoreFarang]

29 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

It's 4am and you stumble out of Patpong 2 and there's no taxis, only a lone tuk tuk.

I don't think that ever happened to me.

And if I would have been out until 4am then I really don't care if I pay double the normal amount. 

And most of the Soi 23 motorcycle riders know where to bring me. I don't have to tell it to them anymore. 

[FritsSikkink]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:20 AM, Mormolin said:

Please share your top strategies for negotiating tuk-tuk fares without feeling like you're funding their next luxury vacation.

 

Why do you always feel like you're getting mugged !

 

I don't feel like i am being mugged. If they ask too much, I don't take them. 

[FritsSikkink]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:38 AM, KhunLA said:

Why would anyone bother with  tuk tuk, when taxi is safer, cheaper, and more comfy.

 

tourist ????

Tuk Tuk is handy when you need to go through small soi's.

[SingAPorn]

I think only (foolish) tourists or influence-hunting picture posters would hail and ride a tuktuk in Bangkok or any other popular city.

[SingAPorn]

25 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I don't think that ever happened to me.

And if I would have been out until 4am then I really don't care if I pay double the normal amount. 

And most of the Soi 23 motorcycle riders know where to bring me. I don't have to tell it to them anymore. 

A motorcycle ride for sure is a good choice in Bangkok. But I think it's about the tuktuks here.

[SingAPorn]

On 8/25/2023 at 4:22 AM, dingdongrb said:

Because I totally enjoy the smell of exhaust as my life flashes before my eyes while swerving through traffic!

and you mainly enjoy being taken for a fool ,,,,a ride and getting overchared.

[Lemsta69]

5 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

and you mainly enjoy being taken for a fool ,,,,a ride and getting overchared.

So what? It's a few bucks more than a taxi or moto, tis nothing in the grand scheme of things. Governments and big corporations are stealing tens of thousands of dollars from you over your lifetime.

 

But hey, save money by taking the bus instead of the convenient tuk tuk, arai godai etc etc

[FritsSikkink]

28 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

I think only (foolish) tourists or influence-hunting picture posters would hail and ride a tuktuk in Bangkok or any other popular city.

You think wrong, many Thai people use them to move stuff.

[SingAPorn]

18 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

So what? It's a few bucks more than a taxi or moto, tis nothing in the grand scheme of things. Governments and big corporations are stealing tens of thousands of dollars from you over your lifetime.

 

But hey, save money by taking the bus instead of the convenient tuk tuk, arai godai etc etc

Not a matter of money. Just a matter of being a fool or not as they say a fool and his money are soon parted.

 

And "hey"....if you like to be cheated, that's great for you, but others don't.

[SingAPorn]

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

You think wrong, many Thai people use them to move stuff.

Sure, but they don't get the special "falang" price.