Got in last night for the first time in a couple years and no more white taxi stand out front............

Hmmmmmm, o.k., this Grab stand. Standing there looking for wifi connection, have the app when I get approached by a woman, she asks where I'm going (Rawai), and we settle on a price, outta there. Probably paid 200thb more but I was gassed, just wanted to get to my hotel.

It's 8:00pm and still takes over an hour for a 40 mile ride. The car line up for the turn to Surin went back a kilometer.

Also noticed Phuket loves their big box stores and malls. Noticed near half dozen new ones.

It was a shame but they got rid of those yellow and red meters taxis years ago, we are left only with taxi mafia - those are right out of international terminal with desks..., but from what I hear their prices are not that higher than Grab or Bolt for long distances, mainly due to traffic these days...!

Out of interest how much did you pay to Rawai....? I think anywhere from 1000b to 1200b is within range...

Yes, 1000thb.

Way back some days later at 6AM was only 40 mins to the airport, so the traffic matter clearly is a time of day thing. Probably stating the obvious there.........

9 hours ago, Agusts said:

It was a shame but they got rid of those yellow and red meters taxis years ago

I am pretty sure, that they are still present at the airport.

58 minutes ago, farang51 said:

I am pretty sure, that they are still present at the airport.

No longer at international terminal of Phuket airport - for years now, they told me years ago there might be some at local terminal. I dragged my suitcase there to find them, but no luck...!

There's a pick up for Grab and Bolt at local terminal now, out of international terminal, then turn left and walk on carrying heavy suitcase etc. , but from what I hear they also now have to pay the airport pickup surcharge, so same price as other taxis...

Cheapest option is walk out of both terminal and on to outside streets, but that's only for those without luggage, and like the excercise after a long haul flight in the heat or rain..., even there is the airport bus there...😉

6 minutes ago, Agusts said:

No longer at international terminal of Phuket airport - for years now, they told me years ago there might be some at local terminal. I dragged my suitcase there to find them, but no luck...!

I took one of the red/yellow taximeter taxis back in October from outside the domestic terminal. I am not sure whether the stand is still there, I was contacted by a driver before I got to where it used to be.

2 minutes ago, farang51 said:

I took one of the red/yellow taximeter taxis back in October from outside the domestic terminal. I am not sure whether the stand is still there, I was contacted by a driver before I got to where it used to be.

By the way, I saw one of the red/yellow taxis yesterday, and as their base is at the airport, they are still there.

Sign in the domestic terminal back in October - it may be difficult to see, but the text under the third icon says taximeter:

On 3/13/2026 at 7:23 PM, farang51 said:

I am pretty sure, that they are still present at the airport.

Red & Yellow taxis, i see them everywhere i travel between kamala patong, kathu, phuket town

I just did a quick trip to nearby Asian countries recently, so some airport taxi report. From Rawai I tried Bolt around 7:15am, showed 650 baht, great, then a driver accepted the ride, but messaged me that he can only do it for 800b, and I should cancel the Bolt...!? I canceled his ride and tried again, but he quickly picked it up again and repeated...??? So not allowing anyone else to pick up the ride...!

Anyway, Grab was showing 900- 1000b, so I accepted this annoying guy for 800...!

On the way back as I had no suitcase, just a light carry on, and not a long haul trip, I ran out of domestic terminal gate, turn left and got the Smart Bus just before leaving, exactly at 6pm. Paid 100 baht and it arrived at Rawai 7:50pm ..., okay maybe double the time but I saved 900b...😉

I was standing outside the terminal loading Grab when a I dunno what, Grab Bolt whatever pulled up. Told her Soi Sai Yuan, lived there for years, hotel, here.600thb, lets go. Few months ago.