Global Survey Ranks Bangkok Taxis Fifth Best In The World

[Lite Beer]

Global survey ranks Bangkok taxis fifth best in the world

By Coconuts Bangkok

Photo: Coconuts Bangkok

The friendly taxis of Bangkok were ranked the fifth best in the world in a recent survey by American booking website Hotels.com.

The survey asked participants from 29 countries to rate taxis in various global cities on seven different categories: cleanliness, value, quality of driving, knowledge of the area, friendliness, safety and availability

Bangkok taxis ranked first in terms of value – no big shock there, we suppose – but we would love to see how they rated for quality of driving!

London topped the list as the best city in the world to hail a taxi followed by New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Bangkok.

Continues: http://www.coconutsb...t-in-the-world/

-- COCONUTS BANGKOK-- 2012-10-21

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[Jingthing]

I think they're great!

That's why many people dream about Bangkok style taxi meters in ... Pattaya.

That would make a huge difference moving Pattaya forward towards the world class urban beach resort that the politic leaders give lip service to wanting.

[DocN]

...the hell????

[warfie]

Miracle Thailand!!!

[keemapoot]

I agree with Bangkok being at least 5th but their list is crap. I agree with London at #1, but no way in hell is New York #2, & I'd rate Hong Kong higher than Shanghai or Tokyo.

[Xangsamhua]

We were happy with the cabs in Taipei on a recent trip there. Clean, etc. Drivers polite and well dressed, with enough English. One man went through a red light and almost ran down a pedestrian, but that was an exception.

Most cabs I've caught in Bangkok are OK, but I didn't like taking them during and after the troubles of April-May 2010. Maybe that was because my wife liked arguing with them about politics.

[lizardtongue]

Seems a fair reflection but I wonder if they had a close look at the taxi's that park up outside hotels?

They might have done a little better if the safety aspect wasn't taken into consideration!

[mamypoko]

Prices and availability are great, but why so few seat belts?

Also, I getting tired of biting my tongue every time brother driver floors it over speed bumps.

[Thai at Heart]

If you want to go 500m their great. After that they haven't got a clue where to go.

[ezflip]

I am sorry...is it April fool already?!?!? Must of had one too many last night...

[rkidlad]

Bkk taxis for the most part are what you pay for. Cheap and cheerful.

I've notice more female drives of late. I must admit that all the female drivers I've had have been excellent. I'd like to see more.

[canuckamuck]

I wonder how they would rate the tuk tuks?

[kurnell]

Must have interviewed sex tourists only

[KunMatt]

London was top?? My experience of calling taxis in London are of getting a west African driver in an old beat up motor driving African style across the city. Black cabs are another story but I don't think that's what people are referring to in the survey.

Bangkok Taxis are great cuz they are very cheap and plentiful. My only problem with them are the ones who stop and then refuse to take you when you tell them where you want to go.

The best places for me are Singapore and Australia. Both clean, excellent and very professional service all round but, as with everything in Australia these days, taxis are very very expensive in Australia so Singapore is my #1.

[culicine]

I love the juxtaposition or signage on taxis "Unseen in Thailand", below it is "Intelligent taxi"

[Crushdepth]

Quality of driving? Safety?? Clean??? Are you frigging serious?

This was an ABAC poll, right?

[OzMick]

Saw a sign on a taxi a while back - "Driver Speaks English"

I thought to myself what a great idea. They should do that in Oz, UK, USA, Canada,.........................

[noob7]

I think they're great!

That's why many people dream about Bangkok style taxi meters in ... Pattaya.

That would make a huge difference moving Pattaya forward towards the world class urban beach resort that the politic leaders give lip service to wanting.

Also:

All off the above, only erase 'attaya', write 'uket'!

[asiawatcher]

Good call but I wish they would take the olde clunkers off the road.

[Mosha]

Conversation degenerates after "You know Thaksin? Him good man same King"

[Nisa]

Re: Bangkok Taxis.

Never taken a taxi in Bangkok that wasn't inexpensive. Never taken a taxi where the driver didn't know where to go. Never taken a taxi who didn't allow me to tell them what route I wanted or how fast or slow I wanted them to drive. Never had a taxi driver not respect my wishes for music on/off or the type of station I wanted. Never entered taxi without a seat belt for the front passenger. Never felt intimidated or seen anything that would make me feel like I am dealing with the mafia as some people refer to them

I have had taxis not want to take me to where I wanted to go but there has always been another one right around the corner that did. I have no problem with a taxi driver not being forced to go where they don't want. Although 99% of the time the taxis are clean I have run across some that smell but this is a rarity because it is rare I ever feel the need or desire to get into an older taxis with both the plethora of taxis and newer taxis. Also have had taxi drivers at certain spots during certain time of the day who don't want to use the meter (though rare), again there is another taxi right around the corner if they still don't want to use the meeter after being told you want it.

Absolutely the best, cheapest and easiest place to get a taxi (they are all over and pick-up and drop over anywhere) and by experienced drivers who know Bangkok including the outskirts. Just must my person experience and imagine I have taken over 3,000 taxi rides in and around and to and from Bangkok. The biggest negative is they won't always take you somewhere they don't want to go but I have no problem with this and being there is so many and I prefer dealing with people who are happy for the business and not feeling forced to do something.

[Troll]

Most of them refuse to take you to your desired destination. Most off their taxis are wrecks. Most of them do not have seat belts. Yes shure they are great. My guess: They are no. 5 in the 3rd. world.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Troll

[Huayrat]

Even the surveys are corrupt here in Thailand

[Beng]

I have to say, I was always satisfied with their services in general.

Just one thing, why don't they do a call service ?

Edited October 21, 2012 by Beng

[edwardandtubs]

Never taken a taxi where the driver didn't know where to go.

Then you must go from the airport to Patpong and back to the airport. Bangkok taxi drivers are to a man absolutely useless when it comes to local knowledge. Even if it's somewhere you would expect a taxi driver to know like a large company HQ or a leading university, you're delusional if you think a taxi driver is going to know the way there. This isn't surprising when some guy from Isaan can just show up with 700 baht and be a taxi driver for 12 hours. Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

[Greer]

The survey specifically says "Bangkok", and it was done worldwide by an independent travel bookings group - not Thai or ASEAN. So for the nay-sayers who whinge that everything is corrupt in Asia, it wasnt an Asian survey, so : WRONG!

I have had taxis say they dont want to go to a particular place, and usually I do understand, especially as some folk may not realise that these guys do have to have the cars back at the depot by a certain time or get fined/have to pay extra time.

Most of them DO know where I want to go, and even if they dont know building names, most know the correct road anyway - and that applies all over the world - taxi drivers anywhere should not be expected to know building names as well, unless they happen to be well known landmarks of course.

The majority of taxis are in decent condition and clean, and they do have seatbelts - its the law to wear them too.

@Beng you may not have noticed, but there are a few taxi companies that have phone numbers for a central call service advertised on the car - you could try them, but I am not sure if they all have operators that speak English. If you speak even fairly basic Thai though you should be able to get a car I would think.

As for value - its excellent. Try places like Australia, where a taxi ride say from Sydney Airport just south of the city to say North Ryde (a few kilometers north of the city - lets say the whole ride is maybe 25Km at most) and it will cost you very close to A$100... so lets see, from Bangkok Silom/Sathorn area to Suvarnabhumi Airport via Rama 9 is similar distance : Thailand its going to cost maybe 350 baht in a taxi (not an airport limo), and in Australia, roughly ten times that... and if you are lucky enough to get an Australian driver in Sydney, you are doing extremely well and should probably buy a lottery ticket on the strength of it!

[driedmango]

I have had many good rides in a Taxi in Bangkok, very very cheap !

I learned to avoid the ones that linger around, and wave down an old guy or a lady, and it has never been a problem.

Sure some people don't want to use the meter, but then i just keep trying until i get one, it isn't instant.

I agree, you want a bad taxi ? Try Vancouver, waiting for 45 min and paying about 20x the price.

[driedmango]

ps... I am always impressed by the Toyota taxi in Bangkok, many are flex fuel thingy and they show the MPG you are getting and that entertains me.

[kimamey]

Saw a sign on a taxi a while back - "Driver Speaks English"

I thought to myself what a great idea. They should do that in Oz, UK, USA, Canada,.........................

I could be wrong but I think someone did that in the UK. It caused a few arguments and I think it was dropped although it probably made the point it was trying to get across.

[JimShortz]

We were happy with the cabs in Taipei on a recent trip there. Clean, etc. Drivers polite and well dressed, with enough English. One man went through a red light and almost ran down a pedestrian, but that was an exception.

Well that sounds fine then... Just the one red light running and almost pedestrian death!

My vote goes for Taipei too. Sounds fine to me...