Taxi Prices On Beach Street

[kyb789]

Maybe this is an old subject, but please help the Newbie here. I used to pay 10 baht for a 1-way trip down Beach Street. I've since learned what a sucker I was. Now I know the going rate is 5 baht, JUST AS THE SIGN SAYS, but it just isn't working.

Everytime I hand over the 5, I get complaints and arguements from the taxi drivers. They have even followed me down the street. I showed my Thai girl once, and she was even socked, and yelled back at the driver.

I want to know about you expats out there. What do you pay? Daytime, nighttime? Am I the only guy trying to keep from getting ripped off?? Yes, its the principle.

Steve

[thaiflyer1]

5 baht is for Thai's .....farangs generally always pay 10 baht ,as youve found out if you try to pay 5 baht you end up in a slanging match or worse.

[Sunny Valentine]

Since a few weeks I keep seeing some laminated price sheets with kind of price zones, ranging from 5 to 20 Bt, popping up in a lot of the baht busses. Text is Thai only, cannot read it. Anyone knows what this is about?

I still pay 10 Bt, whatever the distance I travel is, and maybe get into a word with the driver once a month. One time he wanted me to pay 20 Bt from View Talay1 to Central road, pointed to this document. I pointed to the old "The maximum far is 10 Bt" document and left the scene, unharmed.

[kurgen]

Build a bridge and get over it , spendthrift

[davethailand]

Its not principle coz its for the thai's and we are farangs and its part of being in thailand, 5 bht is just over 6p in sterling, pay up cheap charlie

[kurgen]

It's funny how we all want to stick to the rules that suit us

[Simbo]

When you arrive at your destination, always go a little way past where you want to go. Pay the driver the 5baht, and walk briskly in the opposite direction. Don't look back, even if he shouts, just keep walking. there is not a lot they can do. I always do this when taking a songtaew.

[farang24]

What a tightwad!

You want to get into a scrap over 5 baht.

Pay the 10baht and get on with it.

It is a cheap ride anyway.

When i am with a Thai gal i always pay 10baht for here as well ,big deal

[Wanderer]

Maybe this is an old subject, but please help the Newbie here.  I used to pay 10 baht for a 1-way trip down Beach Street.  I've since learned what a sucker I was.  Now I know the going rate is 5 baht, JUST AS THE SIGN SAYS, but it just isn't working.

Everytime I hand over the 5, I get complaints and arguements from the taxi drivers.  They have even followed me down the street.  I showed my Thai girl once, and she was even socked, and yelled back at the driver.

I want to know about you expats out there.  What do you pay?  Daytime, nighttime?  Am I the only guy trying to keep from getting ripped off??  Yes, its the principle.

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is a old subject but I personally don't like being ripped off, if only for 5-10 baht because I think they are taking the piss out you. Just this morning I bought some "cow mun guy" near where I live without the chicken and was still charged 20 baht as the cook in question thought I looked like a passing farang idiot,I thanked her and left but will be sure to buy from shop next to her in future. my MRS wanted to go back and confront her. A few weeks ago a guy quoted us 10,000 baht to paint inside of the house (labour only) got someone else to do it for 2500 baht without any debating, perfect job,The other guy gave us a follow up call yeasterday to see if we were still interested, wife explained to him we had got someone else for 2500 and would recommending him to all our imaginary farang friends, I don't mind paying a little over the odds but it seems some thai's literley think that we pluck 1000 baht notes from the money tree we have back in falang land. I know it doesn't apply to baht -buses waht I would do is rent a scooter or if you are here long term buy one or walk or pay 5 baht extra

[rocky]

pay 10bht

[Emuu]

Their country of origin must be so grateful that the cheap bastards who live in Pattaya no longer grace the old countries.

[britmaveric]

10THB no more or less 5THB for your lady. They grumble, but this is the price! I actually laff- when the unaware ask to be taken some place instead of using the circuit. hehehe (Soon becomes 100THB)

[ProfessorFart]

Just this morning I bought some "cow mun guy" near where I live without the chicken and was still charged 20 baht

I'm confused here. Did you ask for no chicken or did she simply omit it because if she did then she was royally taking the p1ss by charging you 20B for 'Cow Mun'

[ProfessorFart]

I agree with the principal sentiment here. Its one thing if its every now and again but when its a consistent and established system of cheating then it does grate a bit. Its even worse when its an official system but thats another kettle of fish...........

[crocodilexp]

Ah, the beauties of double pricing. Yes it's unfair. We're no better nor worse than the Thais are, but we were dealt quite a better hand. I have a Thai friend with a Master's degree earning $15k/year -- here in the U.S., a bus driver would consider it low. Now, *that* is unfair. Not 5 baht here or there on an already cheap 10 baht fare. Try using public transportation in the west for $.25 per ride. Last time I vacationed in the Caribbean, a van ride equivalent to a 20 THB one in Pattaya cost me well over $20. Put it in perspective.

[chuckd]

Their country of origin must be so grateful that the cheap bastards who live in Pattaya no longer grace the old countries.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another blanket statement covering all residents of Pattaya.

It might surprise you to know that not all of us are broken down drunks and cheap bastards. Why, some of us can even read!

[JSixpack]

Maybe this is an old subject, but please help the Newbie here.  I used to pay 10 baht for a 1-way trip down Beach Street.  I've since learned what a sucker I was.  Now I know the going rate is 5 baht, JUST AS THE SIGN SAYS, but it just isn't working.

Everytime I hand over the 5, I get complaints and arguements from the taxi drivers.  They have even followed me down the street.  I showed my Thai girl once, and she was even socked, and yelled back at the driver.

I want to know about you expats out there.  What do you pay?  Daytime, nighttime?  Am I the only guy trying to keep from getting ripped off??  Yes, its the principle.

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The fare is 5 baht and hence a baht bus driver cannot call on police to complain that you have not paid 10 or more baht. When you get off the bus, walk back away from the bus. Drivers don’t like to back up, though they may. Don’t let them intimidate you. It does help to carry a big stick along with you, if you ride regularly. I know of a guy who did this and never had problems paying the legitimate fare.

If all other farangs would pay only 5 baht--which of course, being mainly clueless tourists, they won’t--then it would be somewhat more likely that progress could at last be made toward solving one of the biggest and oldest problems in Pattaya.

Of the three arguments that baht bus driver/dual pricing apologists use to condone baht bus cheating, the most common is the Robin Hood argument. Simply put, it holds that we should all passively accept as legitimate the right of the poor to cheat and steal from the supposed rich. For the Robin Hoods, the baht bus driver is ever a Buddha-fearing, non-smoking, non-drinking, non-gambling, non-womanizing, thrifty, considerate, helpful, hard-working man just trying to put somtam on the table for his wife and kids. There are no mafia godfathers getting most of the money extorted from farangs. If there is any organization responsible for visiting this horrendous traffic mess and moral and physical hazard upon Pattaya, then it is some sort of beneficent charity, the Baht Bus Driver Guaranteed Lifetime Employment Association (BBDGLEA) perhaps, dedicated to serving the welfare of the deserving poor, except that of the poor passengers. Money extorted and cheated from farangs is merely a noble contribution to that charity. It is a mystery as to why rich Thais do not wish to contribute similarly. In fact, rich Thais always pay the standard fare and it's less likely that a driver will try to cheat them.

In our farang case it is actually not the particular amount of money that we are being cheated out of by baht bus drivers that we continue to protest, though, if you use the buses daily, the amount could be significant over time. Our issue is the physical intimidation, insult, degradation, racial discrimination, and ill will that we victims suffer as a result of being cheated out of any amount that is legally and rightfully ours.

The Olympian argument, popular among golfers, maintains that “cheating and extortion happen everywhere, so we should ignore them here.” Answer: they don’t happen everywhere; Tokyo, Georgetown, even Bangkok (excluding tuk-tuks and recognizing that the taxis can sometimes be doubtful), to name a few other cities, have fair, honest, and efficient non-monopolistic transportation systems.

Finally, we have the hip, good-vibes, open-wallet Star Trek Prime Directive argument (aka “Do As The Romans Do” or “Shut Up And Pay Up,” or “No Wiles, No Smiles”) favored by backpackers and aged New Agers. The Trekkies divine that the farang, though a mere “guest,” has been graciously awarded an honored position as an agent of prosperity in a custom integral to Thai culture from ancient Siam, a custom known among Thais as ขี้โกง, or “kee gong.” To disturb the hallowed ขี้โกง cultural rituals, in particular those of the Baht Bus Driver, by protesting or bargaining or even by gasping and laughing incredulously would be to demonstrate ingratitude and disrespect towards our gracious “hosts.” Indeed, it would be to commit yet another crime of Western cultural imperialism in Southeast Asia. Hence what would otherwise seem to be foolish cooperation in one’s own victimization, like jumping gladly into the boiling pot for a tribe of cannibals, is actually, wonderful to tell, embracing cultural diversity and protecting Thai ขี้โกง from possible tragic extinction from Our Planet! (Fortunately, in part owing to the unceasing efforts of the Robin Hoods, the Olympians, and the Trekkies, the custom seems still very much alive and flourishing at present.)

The truth is, however, that average Thais in Pattaya also hate the baht bus mafia. Local Thais would also welcome an end to baht bus cheating. They would very much like it if a baht bus driver would always return their change; would always take the route to their destination that he promised at the beginning; and would not kick them off the bus for the sake of better-paying passengers. The locals are also disgusted by the erratic driving habits of baht bus drivers and the clogging of the streets with empty buses constantly beeping at pedestrians. Taking half those empty buses off the streets would mean a very substantial rise in the incomes of the remaining drivers in addition to greatly improved traffic conditions in Pattaya.

As it stands, however, the whole baht bus mess is made possible because it is subsidized by the cheating of farangs.

If you have lived in Pattaya for a long while, been dependent daily on the buses, continually have fought the unnecessary and hazardous traffic and pollution (air, noise, eye) that the baht buses generate, then you know what a plague on the city that the baht buses are. You know of the long history of assaults and physical threats and cheating committed (on a racially discriminatory basis) by the drivers against farangs who have attempted to pay legitimate fares. You know of all the failed attempts by city administrations over the years to rid the city of the baht bus stranglehold. (Now there is evidently to be yet another traffic study by “a team of private consultants.”)

[aughie]

crocodilexp: Ah, the beauties of double pricing. Yes it's unfair. We're no better nor worse than the Thais are, but we were dealt quite a better hand. I have a Thai friend with a Master's degree earning $15k/year -- here in the U.S., a bus driver would consider it low. Now, *that* is unfair...Put it in perspective.

Yes put it in perspective. From his $15k a year your Thai friend pays 5 baht for a ride that would cost $15 in the U.S.. He pays 50 cents for a papaya that would cost $3 in the U.S. and how about tom yung gai take out? $5-7 in the U.S.

[bartender100]

Their country of origin must be so grateful that the cheap bastards who live in Pattaya no longer grace the old countries.

You should read the thread on tipping,I can assure you not all the cheap Charlie's live in Pattaya

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21911&hl=

[Dickie]

Ah, the beauties of double pricing. Yes it's unfair. We're no better nor worse than the Thais are, but we were dealt quite a better hand. I have a Thai friend with a Master's degree earning $15k/year -- here in the U.S., a bus driver would consider it low. Now, *that* is unfair. Not 5 baht here or there on an already cheap 10 baht fare. Try using public transportation in the west for $.25 per ride. Last time I vacationed in the Caribbean, a van ride equivalent to a 20 THB one in Pattaya cost me well over $20. Put it in perspective.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try buying a large bottle of Chang for £0.56 in the UK, a full bowl of tom yam for 40p, a taxi going out of town to the zoo (CM) for 50p, the list is endless. 15k/year ain't so bad in a country where prices are as low as they are in LoS.

[Heng]

Double/over pricing is something you let happen (you can always choose not to patronize whoever is "ripping you off"). I'm a Thai and I get overcharged all the time. Nothing racist about it, obviously.

Building a spiral staircase at the moment and my regular construction crew isn't available. Had to get another crew to do it. 32,000 for the labor. Phone consult with my regular crew chief says 20,000 is plenty. I've seen their work though and it's top notch, not to mention that there is often opportunity cost to finding a work crew (not easy during this flurry of building that seems to be going on everywhere this year) or waiting for the next taxi or going to the next tailor, etc., so I don't make a big deal out of the US$300 difference. What's that? A golf club? A couple of tennis rackets?

[Rinrada]

Even 5 baht is too much for these ha baht bast..bus drivers.

By my reconing with the min.wage @bt 20 hour the going rate should be no more than 3.5bt.

If you wana tip the 1.5 on top ....up 2 you.

[kyb789]

Ah, the beauties of double pricing. Yes it's unfair. We're no better nor worse than the Thais are, but we were dealt quite a better hand. I have a Thai friend with a Master's degree earning $15k/year -- here in the U.S., a bus driver would consider it low. Now, *that* is unfair. Not 5 baht here or there on an already cheap 10 baht fare. Try using public transportation in the west for $.25 per ride. Last time I vacationed in the Caribbean, a van ride equivalent to a 20 THB one in Pattaya cost me well over $20. Put it in perspective.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for all the comments. I've enjoyed them all. Let me summarize a few of these.

Its Ok to cheat the Farang as long as its not a lot of money. After all, if they can get us to pay it, its fair game.

What about the taxi driver who will not turn his meter on in Bangkok? Aftere all, paying an extra $2 on a 50cent taxi ride is not too much, right? At least not for a $90k/yr visitor from the US on a 2 week vacation maybe. But what about the Farangs living in Bangkok on a $10/yr income? What about those from India on vacation they saved 5 yrs to afford? What about those here on retirement?

A few years ago I couldn't find a taxi at 2am who would turn his meter on. Today, there is no problem..I just get out and hop into the taxi behind him. Maybe more people expecting honesty and fairness like this would help Thailand rise above its 3rd-world image. Just a thought.

[cojones]

its not worth the hassle with these taxi scumbags , i always rent a bike for 100 bahts a day . that gives you unlimited 24 hour travel around town with no hassle .

so long as you lock it up well .

you get peace of mind without arguments and friction with the taxi drivers .

in fact i never use a taxi when i am in pattaya , i take a taxi from BKK to the hotel i am staying then when i take the bike back i get the guy at the rental place to take me and girl to bus station or car rental place to go back to BKK.

[tuky]

I just drive. Then the wife drives home ( I don't like to drink and drive).

[Crazy Dave]

Double/over pricing is something you let happen (you can always choose not to patronize whoever is "ripping you off").  I'm a Thai and I get overcharged all the time.  Nothing racist about it, obviously. 

Building a spiral staircase at the moment and my regular construction crew isn't available.  Had to get another crew to do it.  32,000 for the labor.  Phone consult with my regular crew chief says 20,000 is plenty.  I've seen their work though and it's top notch, not to mention that there is often opportunity cost to finding a work crew (not easy during this flurry of building that seems to be going on everywhere this year) or waiting for the next taxi or going to the next tailor, etc., so I don't make a big deal out of the US$300 difference.  What's that?  A golf club?  A couple of tennis rackets? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

heng.

you aRE AN AMERICAN thai chinese, please try to be truthfull....

[Crazy Dave]

Maybe this is an old subject, but please help the Newbie here.  I used to pay 10 baht for a 1-way trip down Beach Street.  I've since learned what a sucker I was.  Now I know the going rate is 5 baht, JUST AS THE SIGN SAYS, but it just isn't working.

Everytime I hand over the 5, I get complaints and arguements from the taxi drivers.  They have even followed me down the street.  I showed my Thai girl once, and she was even socked, and yelled back at the driver.

I want to know about you expats out there.  What do you pay?  Daytime, nighttime?  Am I the only guy trying to keep from getting ripped off??  Yes, its the principle.

Steve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The fare is 5 baht and hence a baht bus driver cannot call on police to complain that you have not paid 10 or more baht. When you get off the bus, walk back away from the bus. Drivers don’t like to back up, though they may. Don’t let them intimidate you. It does help to carry a big stick along with you, if you ride regularly. I know of a guy who did this and never had problems paying the legitimate fare.

If all other farangs would pay only 5 baht--which of course, being mainly clueless tourists, they won’t--then it would be somewhat more likely that progress could at last be made toward solving one of the biggest and oldest problems in Pattaya.

Of the three arguments that baht bus driver/dual pricing apologists use to condone baht bus cheating, the most common is the Robin Hood argument. Simply put, it holds that we should all passively accept as legitimate the right of the poor to cheat and steal from the supposed rich. For the Robin Hoods, the baht bus driver is ever a Buddha-fearing, non-smoking, non-drinking, non-gambling, non-womanizing, thrifty, considerate, helpful, hard-working man just trying to put somtam on the table for his wife and kids. There are no mafia godfathers getting most of the money extorted from farangs. If there is any organization responsible for visiting this horrendous traffic mess and moral and physical hazard upon Pattaya, then it is some sort of beneficent charity, the Baht Bus Driver Guaranteed Lifetime Employment Association (BBDGLEA) perhaps, dedicated to serving the welfare of the deserving poor, except that of the poor passengers. Money extorted and cheated from farangs is merely a noble contribution to that charity. It is a mystery as to why rich Thais do not wish to contribute similarly. In fact, rich Thais always pay the standard fare and it's less likely that a driver will try to cheat them.

In our farang case it is actually not the particular amount of money that we are being cheated out of by baht bus drivers that we continue to protest, though, if you use the buses daily, the amount could be significant over time. Our issue is the physical intimidation, insult, degradation, racial discrimination, and ill will that we victims suffer as a result of being cheated out of any amount that is legally and rightfully ours.

The Olympian argument, popular among golfers, maintains that “cheating and extortion happen everywhere, so we should ignore them here.” Answer: they don’t happen everywhere; Tokyo, Georgetown, even Bangkok (excluding tuk-tuks and recognizing that the taxis can sometimes be doubtful), to name a few other cities, have fair, honest, and efficient non-monopolistic transportation systems.

Finally, we have the hip, good-vibes, open-wallet Star Trek Prime Directive argument (aka “Do As The Romans Do” or “Shut Up And Pay Up,” or “No Wiles, No Smiles”) favored by backpackers and aged New Agers. The Trekkies divine that the farang, though a mere “guest,” has been graciously awarded an honored position as an agent of prosperity in a custom integral to Thai culture from ancient Siam, a custom known among Thais as ขี้โกง, or “kee gong.” To disturb the hallowed ขี้โกง cultural rituals, in particular those of the Baht Bus Driver, by protesting or bargaining or even by gasping and laughing incredulously would be to demonstrate ingratitude and disrespect towards our gracious “hosts.” Indeed, it would be to commit yet another crime of Western cultural imperialism in Southeast Asia. Hence what would otherwise seem to be foolish cooperation in one’s own victimization, like jumping gladly into the boiling pot for a tribe of cannibals, is actually, wonderful to tell, embracing cultural diversity and protecting Thai ขี้โกง from possible tragic extinction from Our Planet! (Fortunately, in part owing to the unceasing efforts of the Robin Hoods, the Olympians, and the Trekkies, the custom seems still very much alive and flourishing at present.)

The truth is, however, that average Thais in Pattaya also hate the baht bus mafia. Local Thais would also welcome an end to baht bus cheating. They would very much like it if a baht bus driver would always return their change; would always take the route to their destination that he promised at the beginning; and would not kick them off the bus for the sake of better-paying passengers. The locals are also disgusted by the erratic driving habits of baht bus drivers and the clogging of the streets with empty buses constantly beeping at pedestrians. Taking half those empty buses off the streets would mean a very substantial rise in the incomes of the remaining drivers in addition to greatly improved traffic conditions in Pattaya.

As it stands, however, the whole baht bus mess is made possible because it is subsidized by the cheating of farangs.

If you have lived in Pattaya for a long while, been dependent daily on the buses, continually have fought the unnecessary and hazardous traffic and pollution (air, noise, eye) that the baht buses generate, then you know what a plague on the city that the baht buses are. You know of the long history of assaults and physical threats and cheating committed (on a racially discriminatory basis) by the drivers against farangs who have attempted to pay legitimate fares. You know of all the failed attempts by city administrations over the years to rid the city of the baht bus stranglehold. (Now there is evidently to be yet another traffic study by “a team of private consultants.”)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nice post, this should be sent to the tourisoum authourity of Thailand.

[loong]

So people who don't want to pay more than the going rate are cheapcharlies, tightwads etc.

Once all Farang are conditioned to paying double, what's to stop it doubling again and again?

So at the moment, most of you don't object to paying 10Bt for a 5Bt Fare.

When will you start to object?

When 10Bt changes to 20Bt, 40Bt, 80Bt??????

When do you stop being a cheap charlie and become rightously indignant?

[farang24]

So people who don't want to pay more than the going rate are cheapcharlies, tightwads etc.

Once all Farang are conditioned to paying double, what's to stop it doubling again and again?

So at the moment, most of you don't object to paying 10Bt for a 5Bt Fare.

When will you start to object?

When 10Bt changes to 20Bt, 40Bt, 80Bt??????

When do you stop being a cheap charlie and become rightously indignant?

Yeah and the end of the world is nigh and there is a conspiracy around every corner...

Sorry but have more important things to worry about than the 5baht farang surcharge... it is after all still a very cheap way of getting around

[dfwbkk]

I typically hand over 10 or 20 bath and extend my hand for the change. 9 times out of ten I get the correct change back(i.e. based on a 5 bath fare). If not, a slight smile and off I go...even if they keep the 20...

/// dfw