Hey girls (and guys :-)

I'm arriving on a late night flight to BKK (around midnight + time to clear immigration). I'm probably just being paranoid, but recent comments about the safety of taxis have made me a bit apprehensive about this late night taxi ride by myself. It's my first time arriving at the new airport, I'm not being picked up, and I've been told it's a 50 minute ride from the airport to where I'm going (close to JJ market). Having a mobile phone usually makes me feel safer on late night taxis, but I won't have a phone that works on the Thai network immediately on arriving.

Any safety tips, anyone? I'm usually pretty street-wise, but I probably won't be at my best here -- jetlagged, probably sleepy and dealing with the shock of going from 0 degrees to 30 degree weather!

Are those airport limousine deals safer than the usual taxi queue?

Anything else to watch out for?

Thanks for any advice!

I take the airport limousine, but make sure it is an official AOT limo --go to the AOT desk--some of those guys hanging around are not official.

I don't bother with the taxi queue, frankly, but pay the extra cost of a limo.

Book a taxi service in advance, sure you will pay more, but least you will have piece of mind.

oriental escape is a good service or you can pm me for the lad who normally picks me up.

have you already booked your first night accom?? If not then book with a larger more expensive hotel for one night & ask them to pick you up or if you have already, do as the others have said & go straight to the limo desk & book with them.

Also if you have a mobile phone handset, when you get into the taxi, pretend to call someone and then have a brief 'conversation' with them. Give the impression you have a working mobile phone and someone is expecting you at your destination.

Do some research to decide what late night watering hole you will be near, as that is after closing time... the biggest tragedy of late night flights

Don't stress, I have yet to meet a Taxi Driver that I have been worried about other than his driving.

learn how to say the name of your hotel in Thai, and lead with "hotel name Cop Khun Kaaaaaaaaa" so he will think you are an old hand... (although you seem to have been around here forever, so maybe you are)

If you are heading to a common area, see if there is anyone heading that way while you are queueing at immigration...

you'll be right mate

Thanks to everyone who replied with advice and info. Definitely some good ideas in here. :-)

Hey girls (and guys :-)

I'm arriving on a late night flight to BKK (around midnight + time to clear immigration). I'm probably just being paranoid, but recent comments about the safety of taxis have made me a bit apprehensive about this late night taxi ride by myself. It's my first time arriving at the new airport, I'm not being picked up, and I've been told it's a 50 minute ride from the airport to where I'm going (close to JJ market). Having a mobile phone usually makes me feel safer on late night taxis, but I won't have a phone that works on the Thai network immediately on arriving.

Any safety tips, anyone? I'm usually pretty street-wise, but I probably won't be at my best here -- jetlagged, probably sleepy and dealing with the shock of going from 0 degrees to 30 degree weather!

Are those airport limousine deals safer than the usual taxi queue?

Anything else to watch out for?

Thanks for any advice!

Good evening madam, taxi ? , yes i agree with our friend, get the official limousine, it will cost a bit more but you are worth it darling !..

A pre booked hotel taxi from a larger and more expensive hotel is probably the safest. Failing that use the limo's from the airport but only from the desk and not from people that approach you in the airport.

I agree with booking the taxi thru the resort/hotel - in Phuket the limos drive like nutters and a high percentage crash