Metered Taxis In Phuket

[michellee78]

Does anyone have any experience of using metered taxis in Phuket, apart from using them from the airport ? I read in an old post that the metered taxis will not drop you into Patong. I am staying at Kata and then Bang Tao and I have read that the trip from Bang Tao to Patong is 500Baht and no haggling. What a rip off ! Apart from hiring a driver for the day - 1500Baht, there does not seem to be much option other than to use these thieves. Anyone have any suggestions ? I do not want to drive, so I wont hire a car.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Michelle

[huggybear]

Does anyone have any experience of using metered taxis in Phuket, apart from using them from the airport ? I read in an old post that the metered taxis will not drop you into Patong. I am staying at Kata and then Bang Tao and I have read that the trip from Bang Tao to Patong is 500Baht and no haggling. What a rip off ! Apart from hiring a driver for the day - 1500Baht, there does not seem to be much option other than to use these thieves. Anyone have any suggestions ? I do not want to drive, so I wont hire a car.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

this guy gave me his card when I took his metered taxi from the airport last week.

Mr. Boonchai (nickname:Koh)

Taxi service #51

mobile:086-948-7583, 081-894-2309

Thai Great Travel Co., Ltd

[michellee78]

Thanks so much huggybear. I'll give him a ring when I get there.

Michelle

[keemapoot]

I had a recent experience with one just last week. I had to take my car to a garage in Phuket town for service near the Land Transportation office where you get your cars registered and get your drivers license. I had to leave the car for some days, and so walked over to Transport office as I noticed about 5 metered taxis hanging around there.

Here is the result. I spoke to one of the taxi drivers, who was unable to take me, but another one came up to me and said he'd drive me. It was purely a price negotiation and we agreed a price, and he said forget the meter, nobody will do it metered. As it turned out, I was ok with the price we arrived at, as I figured it was about standard for a Tuk Tuk fare. When we got in the taxi, he plugged his meter in but didn't turn it on.

I think the taxi mafia has probably scared all the meter guys into using the fixed high prices they all use. Just a feeling based on my one experience.

[michellee78]

Thanks Keemapoot,

So it looks like I'll have to pay the inflated prices no matter who I hire. It seems that it is better to stay at a resort that offer transfers into Patong or just stay in Patong and walk everywhere.

Michelle

[LivinginKata]

So it looks like I'll have to pay the inflated prices no matter who I hire. It seems that it is better to stay at a resort that offer transfers into Patong or just stay in Patong and walk everywhere.

Michelle

I suggest that you find a friendly private car driver and negotiate a day/half day price as required through your holiday. There are a few (very few) of these guys about trying to make an honest baht and will give you a fair deal, trouble is finding these guys (or gals). This will work out far cheaper than using taxis.

[keemapoot]

LIK,

I think it's very hard to find those local guys anymore. They've all been brought into line by the tuk tuk and taxi mafia. I used to have a guy, who did it part time that I used for trips to the airport as I traveled a lot, and eventually he said he couldn't do it anymore as he had been talked to. They only need to be threatened once to stop the private car service. Of course, there are still many unlicensed private car operators running around, but they will all charge you the standard rates as agreed by the mafia.

To the OP, I know you don't want to drive a car in Phuket, but how about staying in or around Patong and just rent a motorbike and go slow. Really, in Patong, it's a lot of walking and a motorbike is the practical way to get around. You can also try the motorbike taxis, as they're much cheaper than the tuk tuks. Then, for running around the island you could consider taking the baht bus (chicken buses as locals call them).

Or, you could consider renting a car for a day or two for extended trips.

Yeah, Phuket is a real pain in the ass with respect to the taxis. To put it in perspective, a forty minute drive from the airport in Bangkok to downtown will cost you less than 300. A 40 minute ride in Phuket will cost you from 500-700, depending on the destination. And, even very close by trips are something like a 200 Baht minimum.

[Big Guy]

meter taxi from airport to kathu, near go kart is approximately 360bt, a lot less than the taxi desk.

[tommyj4]

Its a shame that a once beautiful friendly island has turned out to be nothing more than a rip off whatever you want to do......Michelle maybe try one of Thailands less comercialised areas...you wont have these problems