I use Bolt. I used to use it to go home after drinking, but just recently I've tried to use it on the way out as well. The problem is that the drivers can't find me. Last night, I gave up and walked to my local bar and had the mamasan book the trip for me on her phone. It came after 3 minutes. I live in a condo on Soi 10 Thepprasit Road. I never had a problem going home, but they can't seem to find the Soi when they are coming to the condo to pick me up.

I look at the map to see where the car is, and it seems to go everywhere but Soi 10, but ordering it from a bar on Soi 10, it was there straight away. I have tried contacting Bolt, but that's a waste of time. Is Grab any better?

12 minutes ago, roger101 said:

I use Bolt. I used to use it to go home after drinking, but just recently I've tried to use it on the way out as well. The problem is that the drivers can't find me. Last night, I gave up and walked to my local bar and had the mamasan book the trip for me on her phone. It came after 3 minutes. I live in a condo on Soi 10 Thepprasit Road. I never had a problem going home, but they can't seem to find the Soi when they are coming to the condo to pick me up.

I look at the map to see where the car is, and it seems to go everywhere but Soi 10, but ordering it from a bar on Soi 10, it was there straight away. I have tried contacting Bolt, but that's a waste of time. Is Grab any better?

Grab maps are better yes

Always use Bolt in Pattaya, Grab were not as easy to get, and always more expensive, if you have a Taxi bike stand near your condo I always found they would all avoid the pick-up, a driver told me to go to the nearest bar/restaurant, which is what I used to do.

You are probably not selecting your location properly, depends how good the gps is

8 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Always use Bolt in Pattaya, Grab were not as easy to get, and always more expensive, if you have a Taxi bike stand near your condo I always found they would all avoid the pick-up, a driver told me to go to the nearest bar/restaurant, which is what I used to do.

Yeah,  ever since I sat on a Pizza I have preferred Bolt!

I ordered a bolt to sukumvit soi 8 in Bangkok.He parked 200 m from my location so i had to walk to him.He said it was a problem to find my real location.Anyway not a big issue.

Some of the drivers really do struggle...

 

I've encountered drivers going to the wrong Moo-baan and see them waiting..  then when I call them to tell them they are in the wrong moo-baan - they respond as if its my fault...   delivery drivers sometimes do the same...  They simply fail to check the 'Moo-baan' name before entering and just tell security a house number then get let in !!!... 

 

But... Worse, are the drivers who accept the ride, then sit there not moving... I think its a 'glitch' but its happened enough times that I suspect its a little 'Thainess' creeping in and due to their terms and conditions they have to accept a ride if they are 'online' and nearby...  but once they accept the ride, if its not across the city they are not interested and 'wait me out' until I cancel...    OR... they are at a gas station or noodle stall and accept a ride, but finish their food etc and move on in their own time.....   

 

I've actually ordered a Bolt or Grab before (can't remember which) and saw the car sat there 100m up the road...  no attempt to move...    So I cancelled, then attempted to rebook and the same driver accepted, saw the car sat there, no attempt to move again...  Total time wasted - about 20mins !!!...   

 

Its never a shop stopper, but flippin ek...     the silliness can get tiresome sometimes. 

 

All of that said: For the price and availability compared to other cities, its still very good...    The only other place I see such 'fluckwittery' where the drivers try and get one over on the customer is Turkey... 

 

 

On 9/2/2025 at 4:38 AM, scubascuba3 said:

You are probably not selecting your location properly, depends how good the gps is

The GPS on my phone shows exactly where I am. It just seems that the GPS on their phones doesn't.

On 9/1/2025 at 2:19 PM, roger101 said:

I live in a condo on Soi 10 Thepprasit Road. I never had a problem going home, but they can't seem to find the Soi when they are coming to the condo to pick me up.

 

Once you've ordered the car, just send a message to the driver via the Bolt app explaining exactly how to find your location. No need to translate it as the app does that for you. Even better if you can speak Thai, call the driver via the app. 

Experienced 2 times a Bolt motorbike, with a terrible adjusted loud exhaust pipe.
Sent him away. A friend of me had done the same.
Pls, do not accept loud motorbikes.