Walked off the Seatran pier yesterday, with of course the inevitable taxidrivers.

-Hello taxi?

- Taxi meter?

-No meter on Samui.

- No meter, no taxi

..and walked straight on. My friend behind me heard him say in an angry tone to another taxi driver 'ba falang' freely translated as idiot foreigner.

So he got aggravated. My win

How much does TAT care that Samui is changing from paradise island into rip-off island according to the complaints at many European travel agencies?

Sure you are "farang baa" because you ask the wrong question. The nice cab driver even explained you the fact "no meter on Samui" and you still didnt want to let him earn a little fortune.. Your mistake at 100 %!

Yes, and what a shame for the poster to find himself warned and suspended for spreading malicious inflammatory rumors.

No one I ever said that a poster here would do it. I doubt a post here would make it into the foreign press. Although, Samui Express does seem to be using Thaivisa as a source for news lately so maybe there is a chance.

Additional tip for using Samui cab: Don't get off the cab before you get your change back! They might just gas off without giving second thought to it (as they can't count or they just like to rip you off double time).

I can't believe that they are worse than Phuket cabs.

Samui has always seemed to me a 'managed' island. Little Thai mafias in every pie spoiling the place.

With regard to cabs Bangkok is good. They are very cheap to get around, and most taxi drivers are decent enough. Most of the Bangkok drivers work long hours, attempt to be civil, work in Bangkok traffic and haven't had their fare price increse for years. My average twenty minute journeys here and there are always well under a hundred baht.

You Samui folk (as well as Phuketers) are luckier in many respects, but not taxis.

What about this idea.

"We" buy 500 t-shirts and distribute them to tourist in Don Sak. With the instruction to wear them when they arrive in Samui, and when they leave kindly give it to the next tourist that arrive.

"NO METER, NO TAXI"

or something alike.

I would be willing to put a 1000 baht in the "pot" to get this going. Maybe a sponsor would be willing to share the costs. Redbull? M-150?

If nobody does anything, nothing will happen!

And i'll bet it will be on National TV again, when a whole boatload of tourist arrives wearing those t-shirts.

hmm.. what colour would be best......

I think you can get t-shirts with that print in BKK for around 50-60 baht when you order 500 pieces. And good sponsors would be the dive shops.

What about this idea.

"We" buy 500 t-shirts and distribute them to tourist in Don Sak. With the instruction to wear them when they arrive in Samui, and when they leave kindly give it to the next tourist that arrive.

"NO METER, NO TAXI"

or something alike.

I would be willing to put a 1000 baht in the "pot" to get this going. Maybe a sponsor would be willing to share the costs. Redbull? M-150?

If nobody does anything, nothing will happen!

And i'll bet it will be on National TV again, when a whole boatload of tourist arrives wearing those t-shirts.

hmm.. what colour would be best......

Of course it has to be in Thai as well. Count me in for 1000 in any case. But the sponsor would have to be big enough to not be afraid of the Taxi Mafia. Red Bull and M-150 would be. How about the Tourist Police?

What about this idea.

"We" buy 500 t-shirts and distribute them to tourist in Don Sak. With the instruction to wear them when they arrive in Samui, and when they leave kindly give it to the next tourist that arrive.

Ewww, I wouldnt wear a tshirt 15 sweaty tourists had been wearing before... But seriously, it's a great idea, we should make them, and sell them for really cheap around the island... I'm ready to buy 2! Who's ready to make money ? (I'd do it, but I aint got time)

...yesterday afternoon at Bophutbeach: 2 male tourists finished their trad. thai massage on the beach, which was rather "simpel" and lasted for appr. 35 minutes. They were very pleased with that service and gave a 100% tip. It seems, that for them Samui is a cheap paradise.

So, if there are that kind of farangs around, who do not know/care about the standard local conditions, "misunderstandings" between other farangs and thais working in the serviceindustry are no wonder...

The ignorance & arrogance of the majority of Yellow Taxi Drivers disgusts me, it really does..

...yesterday afternoon at Bophutbeach: 2 male tourists finished their trad. thai massage on the beach, which was rather "simpel" and lasted for appr. 35 minutes. They were very pleased with that service and gave a 100% tip. It seems, that for them Samui is a cheap paradise.

So, if there are that kind of farangs around, who do not know/care about the standard local conditions, "misunderstandings" between other farangs and thais working in the serviceindustry are no wonder...

Problem is when you DO know!

Then you feel cheated every time.

With taxidrivers you have to add ignorance, arrogance and hostility.

The meter IS in the taxi and it IS working.

Next time in a taxi take a good look at the console in the middle. The meter sits behind a plastic lid that can be opened.

The only way to get them to use it is to not use a taxi without a meter, ever.

If going out and returning late make an appointment with a songtheaw or maybe a driver from the hotel/resort.

They are happy to pick you up at a good rate.

Better still wave a taxi open the door, ask if it is with a meter and if not 'forget' to close the door properly.

Did that a few times and they sure were pissed off.

Only thing is i don't know how long you will live.

The meter IS in the taxi and it IS working.

Next time in a taxi take a good look at the console in the middle. The meter sits behind a plastic lid that can be opened.

The only way to get them to use it is to not use a taxi without a meter, ever.

yes and how you are going to make 'em use it? Never, ever!

If going out and returning late make an appointment with a songtheaw or maybe a driver from the hotel/resort.

They are happy to pick you up at a good rate.

Still the rates (300-500) are too high!

In Bangkok (Suk/Onnuch) one can ride with a Cab all the way to Samut Prakan for a mere 250.-!

My guess would be = Chaweng-Nathon for something not exeding 80.-!

A petition to a human rights organisation?

Well, i am afraid, this milking of the tourists is so lucrative, it will never, ever change....!

Unless......

The tourists don't except it.

Or would you pay 300 baht for a cup of coffee too at starbucks because ....... they ask it.

Fair prices should be made public so tourists have a reference.

The reference they use now is taxies in their home country.

Chaweng-Nathon for 150 baht would still be ok. It is an island after all, and some things just are more expensive.

But it should not be 400-500. When toursit would know the reasonable price of 150 baht, they would be prepared and would not except a higher rate.

It has to start somewhere!

Maybe start a price list here. At least some people going to Samui would be prepared.

Unless......

Chaweng-Nathon for 150 baht would still be ok. It is an island after all, and some things just are more expensive.

...

No No No.

No reason to be far more expensive than Surathani or Hat Yai or whereever. Samui is not some kind of Bora-Bora in the Pacific ocean, we are 1,5 hours be car ferry. And shipping costs are still very very cheap.