Taxi Situation Update

[itishothere]

The taxi system in Samui works on private car charter bases. It is up to the passenger and taxi driver to negotiate the price. If the price offered is covering taxi's costs and driver's wages no taxi will refuse it because of competition.

I suspect we are going to go around in circles here .... BUT, I do not know of a single person on this island who has paid less than THB 300 no matter what the distance. That strikes me as odd. Well, not odd if you think that the minimum price is set by some 'higher authority' than the driver himself. The same 'authority' that dictates that the meters are not to be used and the daily rental rate needed is THB 1,000 and all the shirts are blue, and all the cars are polished, and etc. Negotiation MAY work to get the price down to that minimum level - whatever it might be for each journey, but I would still say it is too high!!

[doingok]

found this on TripAdvisor You can get a taxi from the front of the airport, shouldn't pay more than 500 baht to Patong. now that sound a fair price,so why do there not get sorted and do the same instead of ripping you off surely they will get more trade?

people would just jump in a taxi instead of hotel transfer wake up.

[Cleveland]

Cleveland,

To get back to your question. As you see from the other posts taxis on Samui are not so much fund. I'd suggest go with the hotel transfer. For $13 you will find it much more pleasant on arrival. Nothing worse than taxi problems to spoil your attitude when you arrive on holiday.

I'm doing the hotel transfer both ways now. Much more relaxing and far less hassle.

I took your advice and paid the B400 for the ten minute ride to our hotel close to Coyote in Chareng, and it was hassle free.

They have just quoted me B650 for the return journey tomorrow which I think is outrageous!

If I grab a taxi from outside do you think I will get a better deal?

[Rooo]

Cleveland,

To get back to your question. As you see from the other posts taxis on Samui are not so much fund. I'd suggest go with the hotel transfer. For $13 you will find it much more pleasant on arrival. Nothing worse than taxi problems to spoil your attitude when you arrive on holiday.

I'm doing the hotel transfer both ways now. Much more relaxing and far less hassle.

I took your advice and paid the B400 for the ten minute ride to our hotel close to Coyote in Chareng, and it was hassle free.

They have just quoted me B650 for the return journey tomorrow which I think is outrageous!

If I grab a taxi from outside do you think I will get a better deal?

Ask a couple of taxi drivers to day & see. If it suits, book them for the morning.

[Cleveland]

Thanks,have a car arranged for B400 which is still taking the piss considering how short the journey is!

By comparison in Hong Kong where we live, which has some of the most expensive property and living expenses in the world, a taxi flag fall is equ. B75, and the trip to the airport would be a maximum of around B130.

Absolutely ridiculous pricing when you consider that Samui is third world at worst, and developing country at best.

Please do not take that last sentence as "Thai bashing". Come down to where we are staying, close to Coyote, and simply smell the place. Every day it stinks of sewage, and that is what makes it so insulting to be charged 2 to 300% more for a basic taxi service than we would in our home country.

[phetphet]

The taxi system in Samui works on private car charter bases. It is up to the passenger and taxi driver to negotiate the price. If the price offered is covering taxi's costs and driver's wages no taxi will refuse it because of competition.

I suspect we are going to go around in circles here .... BUT, I do not know of a single person on this island who has paid less than THB 300 no matter what the distance. That strikes me as odd. Well, not odd if you think that the minimum price is set by some 'higher authority' than the driver himself. The same 'authority' that dictates that the meters are not to be used and the daily rental rate needed is THB 1,000 and all the shirts are blue, and all the cars are polished, and etc. Negotiation MAY work to get the price down to that minimum level - whatever it might be for each journey, but I would still say it is too high!!

What works for me:

I got around the exorbitant fares by only ever using one driver whenever in Samui. I have his number, and I call him whenever I want a taxi. I call him from BKK to pick me up from the airport, or if I want to do a big "shop" at Tesco or Makro. I also put work his way if I can from friends. If he can't make it, he will send someone he trusts. Works well for both of us.

[Virt]

Been on vacation to Samui two times this year and the prices seem to wary a bit depending which driver you talk to, but here are some of the prices we paid.

When we took a cab from or to Chaweng it was close to the section where the Chaweng roads turn into one way and also turns up towards chaweng lake road.

Airport to Chaweng 400.

Big C to Chaweng 300.

Samui Rock cafe to Tesco Lotus 200.

Chaweng to Premium sport bar 400.

Chaweng to Nathon 600.

Chaweng Noi to north end of chaweng 200.

Chaweng to Airport 400.

We tried to stop two song taews when we wanted to go to Nathon and both of them wanted 500 baht for two persons from Chaweng to Nathon, and we were like <deleted>?!?!?

None of them wanted to settle for a price for 250 for both of us like i suggested.

So we took a cab instead for 600. Way faster that way and only 100 more than they originally wanted.

No idea if we got ripped off by the prices we paid, but atleast we didn't have any troubles with any of the cabdrives at all.

[itishothere]

Interesting ... all the prices are in THB 100's.

300 here ... 400 there .... everywhere else it would be 320, 295, 130, 85 ..... but no, here it is the nearest 100. Kind of sums it all up really.

[doingok]

Interesting ... all the prices are in THB 100's.

300 here ... 400 there .... everywhere else it would be 320, 295, 130, 85 ..... but no, here it is the nearest 100. Kind of sums it all up really.

Good point

[maccaroni man]

Been on vacation to Samui two times this year and the prices seem to wary a bit depending which driver you talk to, but here are some of the prices we paid.

When we took a cab from or to Chaweng it was close to the section where the Chaweng roads turn into one way and also turns up towards chaweng lake road.

Airport to Chaweng 400.

Big C to Chaweng 300.

Samui Rock cafe to Tesco Lotus 200.

Chaweng to Premium sport bar 400.

Chaweng to Nathon 600.

Chaweng Noi to north end of chaweng 200.

Chaweng to Airport 400.

We tried to stop two song taews when we wanted to go to Nathon and both of them wanted 500 baht for two persons from Chaweng to Nathon, and we were like <deleted>?!?!?

None of them wanted to settle for a price for 250 for both of us like i suggested.

So we took a cab instead for 600. Way faster that way and only 100 more than they originally wanted.

No idea if we got ripped off by the prices we paid, but atleast we didn't have any troubles with any of the cabdrives at all.

for the same amount you paid for taxies you could have a had jeep for 3 days.

[Virt]

Been on vacation to Samui two times this year and the prices seem to wary a bit depending which driver you talk to, but here are some of the prices we paid.

When we took a cab from or to Chaweng it was close to the section where the Chaweng roads turn into one way and also turns up towards chaweng lake road.

Airport to Chaweng 400.

Big C to Chaweng 300.

Samui Rock cafe to Tesco Lotus 200.

Chaweng to Premium sport bar 400.

Chaweng to Nathon 600.

Chaweng Noi to north end of chaweng 200.

Chaweng to Airport 400.

We tried to stop two song taews when we wanted to go to Nathon and both of them wanted 500 baht for two persons from Chaweng to Nathon, and we were like <deleted>?!?!?

None of them wanted to settle for a price for 250 for both of us like i suggested.

So we took a cab instead for 600. Way faster that way and only 100 more than they originally wanted.

No idea if we got ripped off by the prices we paid, but atleast we didn't have any troubles with any of the cabdrives at all.

for the same amount you paid for taxies you could have a had jeep for 3 days.

True but i decided not to get a drivers license more than 25 years ago because i think i would abuse it when drunk, so no need to get myself and others into trouble.

My GF has a drivers license but has not used it for quite some time, so driving on Samui in the other lane would be a bit to much.

Plus who has the balls to drive on Samui.

Everyone drives like crazy