Photo Of Tuk Tuk Mafia's Fixed Price List

[relayer]

Don't know if this has been posted here yet or not but on a recent trip to Patong I managed to persuade one of the "Tuk Tuk Mafiosos" to let me snap a photo of a list of their notoriously outrageous fixed prices (some barked at me with crossed arms and crossed eyebrows that it was "none of my business"). As you can see, fares are upwards of ten times higher than you would normally pay to go an equivalent distance in practically any other Thai town. Word to the wise: arrange your transportation plans (i.e. motorbike rental, car rental, etc.) ahead of your visit to avoid getting gouged by these greedy thugs.

Oh, and I also happened to get into an altercation with one of them, too. Yep. I was on my way back to Patong from a nice walk thru Karon (very quiet indeed, now!) and was at the base of the hill trying to flag down a tuk tuk (with regret, I might add). Along comes one and quotes me 300B to go the short distance over the hill. I offer 200B as that seemed fair, even if a bit overpriced by Thai standards. He's adamant and barks 300B again. I politely counter again with my offer.

It was at this moment that he FLEW INTO AN ABSOLUTE RAGE, stormed out of his driver's seat, came up alongside the vehicle opposite to where I was sitting and SCREAMED AT ME to give him 300B NOW!! He repeated several times, "YOU GIVE ME 300B NOW!! "YOU GIVE ME 300B NOW!!

Realizing I was not dealing with a rational person -- and that there appears to be no negotiating with The Phuket Tuk Tuk Mafia -- I decided to just exit the vehicle. A few parting words to him and off he went. What a prick. Good riddance.

A few minutes later, I manage to flag down another and he quotes the EXACT same 300B, but this guy seemed a little more pliable, for as we reached the other side of the hill, I handed him 200B and quickly walked away, pretending to be hard of hearing... Afterall, that was my last agreed price. I guess he didn't hear me...

So, out of curiosity -- and for the benefit of others -- I did a little investigative work and obtained a current copy of this notorious fixed price list to see just how much tourists are being gouged. So, here it is (I had to photograph it from an angle to keep the flash from washing out some of the prices. It's a little fuzzy at the top but still readable):

I'll be renting a motorbike from now on...

Note: All Prices are quoted from Patong (Jungceylon)

[cobra]

Word to the wise: arrange your transportation plans (i.e. motorbike rental, car rental, etc.) ahead of your visit to avoid getting gouged by these greedy thugs.

Oh, and I also happened to get into an altercation with one of them, too. Yep. I was on my way back to Patong from a nice walk thru Karon (very quiet indeed, now!) and was at the base of the hill trying to flag down a tuk tuk (with regret, I might add). Along comes one and quotes me 300B to go the short distance over the hill. I offer 200B as that seemed fair, even if a bit overpriced by Thai standards. He's adamant and barks 300B again. I politely counter again with my offer.

It was at this moment that he FLEW INTO AN ABSOLUTE RAGE, stormed out of his driver's seat, came up alongside the vehicle opposite to where I was sitting and SCREAMED AT ME to give him 300B NOW!! He repeated several times, "YOU GIVE ME 300B NOW!! "YOU GIVE ME 300B NOW!!

Realizing I was not dealing with a rational person -- and that there appears to be no negotiating with The Phuket Tuk Tuk Mafia -- I decided to just exit the vehicle. A few parting words to him and off he went. What a prick. Good riddance.

A few minutes later, I manage to flag down another and he quotes the EXACT same 300B, but this guy seemed a little more pliable, for as we reached the other side of the hill, I handed him 200B and quickly walked away, pretending to be hard of hearing... Afterall, that was my last agreed price. I guess he didn't hear me...

I'll be renting a motorbike from now on.

So if I understand you correctly, you tried to negotiate a fare that's already fixed and end up in a altercation with the first tuk,

Then on the second you play deaf and dumb and simply walk away without paying the full fare, I'm tring to figure out who is the irrational one in all of this.

Besides the cheap-charlie or Forest Gump approach there is a third, just decline, smile and wave them on.

Let us know how your negotiations go on a motor bike rental, I'm sure it'll be interesting.

[relayer]

Word to the wise: arrange your transportation plans (i.e. motorbike rental, car rental, etc.) ahead of your visit to avoid getting gouged by these greedy thugs. Oh, and I also happened to get into an altercation with one of them, too. Yep. I was on my way back to Patong from a nice walk thru Karon (very quiet indeed, now!) and was at the base of the hill trying to flag down a tuk tuk (with regret, I might add). Along comes one and quotes me 300B to go the short distance over the hill. I offer 200B as that seemed fair, even if a bit overpriced by Thai standards. He's adamant and barks 300B again. I politely counter again with my offer. It was at this moment that he FLEW INTO AN ABSOLUTE RAGE, stormed out of his driver's seat, came up alongside the vehicle opposite to where I was sitting and SCREAMED AT ME to give him 300B NOW!! He repeated several times, "YOU GIVE ME 300B NOW!! "YOU GIVE ME 300B NOW!! Realizing I was not dealing with a rational person -- and that there appears to be no negotiating with The Phuket Tuk Tuk Mafia -- I decided to just exit the vehicle. A few parting words to him and off he went. What a prick. Good riddance. A few minutes later, I manage to flag down another and he quotes the EXACT same 300B, but this guy seemed a little more pliable, for as we reached the other side of the hill, I handed him 200B and quickly walked away, pretending to be hard of hearing... Afterall, that was my last agreed price. I guess he didn't hear me... I'll be renting a motorbike from now on.

So if I understand you correctly, you tried to negotiate a fare that's already fixed and end up in a altercation with the first tuk, Then on the second you play deaf and dumb and simply walk away without paying the full fare, I'm tring to figure out who is the irrational one in all of this. Besides the cheap-charlie or Forest Gump approach there is a third, just decline, smile and wave them on. Let us know how your negotiations go on a motor bike rental, I'm sure it'll be interesting.

Well I'll be damned if it isn't a tuk tuk sympathizer! Allow me to shake your hand, sir.

Glad you found my information useful.

(And, yes, T.I.T. Everything's negotiable.)

[ScubaBuddha]

I had a very interesting conversation with a Karon/Kata tuk tuk driver recently. (they are a seperate "orginization" from Patong), I noticed fares are a bit higher in Kata/Karon then in Phuket. He explained that the Karon/Kata mafia (his words) are much better organized than Patong, and there are much less tuk tuks per fares. He said in high season they make over 50,000 baht a month in Kata Karon. I forget what he said on low season but it was still pretty impressive for a Thai wage. That's in Karon/Kata anyway. So this might help explain the prices you were getting for the short ride in Karon.

And a little advice, ( for anyone reading this, not just to OP) don't try the walking away thing. Your asking for trouble. And if there is a cop nearby and the tuk wants his money, it may mean more trouble for you. I, too, have had altercations with tuk tuk drivers in Patong. They are very often buzzed or drunk later on in the evening and like to show off in front of their friends. It's a high school/pack mentality with them. Remember there is no such thing as a one-on-one fight with a Thai if you are a farang. And understand that weapons will be produced, it is a certainty. And they enjoy kicking in the head once you hit the floor and become unconscious. I have seen this and heard these stories first hand from friends countless times. The police will not likely side with you.

[fiddlehead]

Wow 1100 baht RT to Rawai.

9 or 10 trips and you could pay for a used motorbike.

or buy a new one and sell it when you leave.

that is hiway robbery.

I've only ever taken one tuk tuk here in 9 years of living here because it was raining really hard and i was stranded with a suitcase.

I paid 400 baht from Patong to Rawai. That was about 4 or 5 years ago and i thought it was very expensive at the time.

[LivinLOS]

Well I'll be damned if it isn't a tuk tuk sympathizer! Allow me to shake your hand, sir.

Glad you found my information useful.

(And, yes, T.I.T. Everything's negotiable.)

Everything may be negotiable but renegotiating after using the service and agreeing a higher fare is asking for trouble.

[hkt83100]

Everything may be negotiable but renegotiating after using the service and agreeing a higher fare is asking for trouble.

1. I never use a Tuk-Tuk.

2. If I take a motorbike taxi, I tell him something like "30 baht to Nanai, ok?" and expect either yes or no. It is pretty clear and the drivers understand it very well. Obviously, in case of a "no" I just walk.

[relayer]

Thanks for all your feedback. My intention in these posts is to inform and forewarn, so as to help fellow travellers avoid the oft reported tuk-tuk "sticker shock" of Phuket and thus have a more pleasant holiday.

On a separate note, I might add that for those on foot looking to go to/from Phuket Town bus station and Patong there is a shuttle service that runs every hour on the hour from 7am to 6pm, starting from south Patong at Prachanukhro and Thawiwong Rds. (Pickup a free Thaiways Map of Phuket at any hotel if you're unfamiliar with the street locations). The shuttle looks like a giant, oversized blue songthaeo except that it has three rows of seats instead of the usual two. It runs the length of Thawiwong Rd (along the beach) first and, like any songthaeo-type taxi, you can flag it down wherever you are along its route. After reaching Phra Barami Rd (4029) at the north end of Patong (about 10 min. after the hour) it turns and heads east toward Phuket Town bus station.

When I originally arrived, I recall being quoted a price of 105 baht at the bus station counter to take this shuttle to Patong, but the return trip turned out to be only about half that! Go figure. I was unable to take it upon arriving, however, due to having missed the last one of the day (I ended up negotiating a price of 300B for one of the dreaded tuk-tuks standing by, down from 400B, but managed to share the ride to Patong with another traveler, so it turned out okay). As expected, I was dropped off at his buddy's hotel, with him expecting his commission, but that area along Rat-U-Thit turned out to be ideal and I soon found a nice room in a boutique hotel only steps away from all the food for much less than I expected to pay. So, it is true that it's a buyer's market for hotel rooms in Phuket at the moment.

All in all, an excellent stay (except for the tuk-tuks, of course...)

[LivinginKata]

The public bus between Patong & Phuket town runs every 30 minutes and costs about 35 Baht. Starts at the circle on beach road by the Holiday Inn and runs along the beach road. From 06.00 to 17.00 every day.

[zorro1]

dude 2 things you never do.

1.Try to negotiate after the trip. ITS TO LATE THEN

2. Never ask how much for the trip, just tell them confidently 150 bht over the hill. That puts pressure on him since he is now aware you know your stuff. If he comes back with 300 then tell himk 200 no more and start to walk after 5 seconds towards another tuk tuk

[relayer]

The public bus between Patong & Phuket town runs every 30 minutes and costs about 35 Baht. Starts at the circle on beach road by the Holiday Inn and runs along the beach road. From 06.00 to 17.00 every day.

Okay, great. Thanks for the input. I was told it was hourly but that doesn't seem right being that it's such a busy area. I will defer to you on this.

[JimmyTheMook]

Phuket , LOL !

[relayer]

dude 2 things you never do. 1.Try to negotiate after the trip. ITS TO LATE THEN 2. Never ask how much for the trip, just tell them confidently 150 bht over the hill. That puts pressure on him since he is now aware you know your stuff. If he comes back with 300 then tell himk 200 no more and start to walk after 5 seconds towards another tuk tuk

At the bus station, with the last shuttle having already left for the day, I was obviously at a disadvantage. I could have just said "go Patong" and haggled after the fact, but like others have stated here, that is dangerous to do with these hombres. They have their own set of laws, I hear...

So I negotiated a price beforehand, like I usually do (and which, of course, is standard procedure). He earned his keep and I found a great little place to stay near the food I like. On balance, it turned out okay.

But, next time, I will plan better...