Songthaews In Koh Phangan

[girlx]

i recently took a songthaew from phangan animal care in ban tai to the stoplight in thongsala and they charged 50b saying it was a flat rate no matter how far you go. is this correct? thinking of moving to ban tai and 50b tips can add up.

[sbk]

Count yourself lucky, most people are getting charged 100 baht to go to Ban Kai from Thong Sala.

[mssabai]

Count yourself lucky, most people are getting charged 100 baht to go to Ban Kai from Thong Sala.

Yep - Had Rin to BT 7/11 I have never got cheaper than 100. They are really rude unpleasant drivers as well. Apart from the ones I know who are lovely, but never seem to be there when I need them. Tried speaking Thai, telling them I know how much it is, reporting them etc etc. Now I just rent a bike from Ban Tai/Tong Sala for 200b if I am going, or take a bike from TNP. Can't bear being ripped off.

Girlx if my memory serves me right you have a push bike yeah? Ban Tai - Tong Sala is about the most rideable push bike road on the island I would have thought - and you will get a great ass!!

[girlx]

ooh yeah good point... maybe i'll just fix my bike.

[girlx]

Count yourself lucky, most people are getting charged 100 baht to go to Ban Kai from Thong Sala.

really? i thought it was supposed to have changed to 50b from thongsala to had rin years ago!

[sbk]

Umm.. yes, it was 50 baht for years. It has been 100 for a few months. Some songtaew drivers are willing to negotiate, many are not. Most of the songtaew drivers along the Thong Sala-Hadrin route are not local Koh Phangan people but are working for a mainland company from whom they rent their trucks.

At the pier in Thong Sala is a number to report rip-off taxi drivers but from the sounds of mssabai's report, that doesn't necessarily work.

[suegha]

50 Baht sounds like you got a good deal!