Newbie Needs Help With Songthaews - Please Help :)

[NYtoThailand]

Any one know which color Songthaews goes to the Big C Supercenter (208 Moo 3, Thasala, Muang, Chiang Mai 50000)? And were I can catch them from Night Bazaar or close by.

I moved here a week ago and I'm still not familiar with all the names of the areas so it's a bit confusing. Any help, would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

[Dancealot]

Here is a hint, seriously: they change colour faster then chameleons.

Get a card from your place where you want to go or let someone write down in Thai where you want to go and keep that note on you.

[Tywais]

Might look at this topic if you haven't already to see if it can be of use.

[NYtoThailand]

Thanks for your responses and sharing the link to other forum. I'm sure with a little effort I'll get there.

[elektrified]

Thanks for your responses and sharing the link to other forum. I'm sure with a little effort I'll get there.

No problem getting a ride to the Big C closer to the city. Many red buses going there.

[NancyL]

You don't need to go all the way to Big C for grocery shopping if you live near the Night Bazaar. There is a great Rim Ping grocery store just across the river and another near Central Airport Plaza. Also, a good Tops Supermarket in the basement of Central Airport Plaza. I find Rim Ping can be a good value, if -- and this is a big if -- you don't grab the first import brand you recognize and instead check out local brands and, when you consider what you'd spend for transportation to one of the so-called "value" places like Big C.

Sure, once a month or so, we pay for transport to the Macro near Hang Dong, but the economics only made sense once we bought a larger refrigerator and could store a month's purchase of meat and had a storage closet for paper products, soft drinks, etc.

[TommoPhysicist]

Get a card from your place where you want to go or let someone write down in Thai where you want to go and keep that note on you.

Are you expecting songtaw drivers to be able to read and write?

Just a thought.

If you walk along from the Night Bazar up to the bridge, then along the river on the near side.

All the songtaws have labeled 'bus stops' in Thai.

Doi Saket - get this by the river get off at the superhighway corner and walk along to BigC

San Patong - get this on from Chaing Mai gate, drives along Hang Dong road, goes past Tesco, BigC, Makro, BigC.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It's actually easier to get to the Hang Dong Big C, or Tesco on the Hang Dong road. Because this road has frequent buses and fixed-route songthaews, whereas the Big C at Don Chan intersection (the one you mentioned) is not on a fixed route.

Some of the yellow Songthaews that go in the Hang Dong direction start at the Big Market (Kad Luang, Talad Warorot) and follow Thapae Road, making them easy to catch. Also they're cheaper than the non-fixed-route Songthaews (the red ones)

[Dancealot]

Are you expecting songtaw drivers to be able to read and write?

Just a thought.

.

Just a thought. I am expecting you to give him a sensible answer without irrelevant verbal diversions.

I wonder if you helped the OP.

[scorecard]

Here's another option.

My family use one tuk tuk guy for our extra transport needs.

He speaks good English but take it a bit slowly, pleasant guy, always keen to help. Will do a weekly / monthly rate for an agreed maximum number of trips, quite reasonable. Very safety conscious. He's never tried and games or tricks.

He has several 'permanent bookings' to take kids to school etc., but if needed somehow he fits us into his schedule.

Maybe you could use him for a month or two until you get more familiar with roads and the other transport systems.

PM to me if you want his name and number.

[NYtoThailand]

Thank you all! this all great help.

scorecard: I'll definitely message you if we decide to go that route.

WinnieTheKhwai and Troglodyte awesome info!

Everyone else, this is all very helpful info. Thanks again. I'll let you all know once I experiment.

[TommoPhysicist]

Are you expecting songtaw drivers to be able to read and write?

Just a thought.

.

Just a thought. I am expecting you to give him a sensible answer without irrelevant verbal diversions.

I wonder if you helped the OP.

I have seen many tourists accost songtaw and tuk tuk drivers with notes written in Thai.

Many of the drivers cannot read Thai. This is just the way it is in CM.

@the OP

The fixed route drivers have a maximum charge of 20bht, really good value IMHO.

[NancyL]

Actually I think most of the drivers can read Thai, but they don't have their reading glasses with them. So, it helps to ask whomever writes a note for you to write in large, clear letters like a child.

Also, someone doesn't need to actually give the driver the note if taking a fixed route songthaew. You just match up the symbols on your note with the symbols on the sign of the fixed-route song thaew. Usually one of the other passengers can speak enough English to confirm a simple question like "this song thaew go to Macro?" before the driver takes off.

[hellodolly]

I use tuk tuks and songthaews. (I copied it froim the title) There is some fixed route red and yellow songthaews on fixed routes I don't know how to tell if one is a fixed route or not. So I just stick my hand out and if they stop tell them or some how get it through to them where I want to go. If they say yes I get in and give them 20 baht when I get out. If they want more I consider the distance and how bad I want it. Some will give you a stupid price I say no offer 20 baht and once again depending on how bad I want to go. I never pay more than 40 baht.

It would help you to learn to say hello in Thai for when you first come int o contact with them and how to say 20 baht in Thai, If they give you a price say I believe it is yisip that is Thai for twenty. Hello in Thai is sawhatdeecup. I am sure that now that I have printed those words the spelling police will be along to correct me. Samsip is 30 baht if they or you want to dicker.

Yes it is a good idea to take a note and have it in large letters as Nancy has suggested.

Remember if you don't get the deal you want just walk away there will be another along that will make the deal unless it is way out of the way where they could pick up other passengers.

Ne3ver offer them a price it is an excepted price of 20 baht and if a driver wants more he will tell you before you get in otherwise it is 20 baht.

[TommoPhysicist]

I use tuk tuks and songthaews. (I copied it froim the title) There is some fixed route red and yellow songthaews on fixws routes I don't know how to tell if one is a fixed route or not.

Fixed route Songtaws have a destination address (in Thai) written at the front over the cab.

Mostly they aren't red, but I have seen a few red ones with a destination over the cab.

This one says 'Doi Saket'

Hope it's OK to post this link

http://www.openchian...r_Car_2211.html

[hellodolly]

I use tuk tuks and songthaews. (I copied it froim the title) There is some fixed route red and yellow songthaews on fixws routes I don't know how to tell if one is a fixed route or not.

Fixed route Songtaws have a destination address (in Thai) written at the front over the cab.

Mostly they aren't red, but I have seen a few red ones with a destination over the cab.

I think they run from the arcade bus station to the bus station by the North gate. I think it is Chang Phuk not sure of that. The spelling police not only know how to spell they know proper names.

[TommoPhysicist]

I think they run from the arcade bus station to the bus station by the North gate. I think it is Chang Phuk not sure of that. The spelling police not only know how to spell they know proper names.

Some run from there, a lot more run from the road along the river beside the (Worrorat) flower market,

Yet more just run up and down the Hang Dong road from CM gate to San Patong.

[Dancealot]

I use tuk tuks and songthaews. (I copied it froim the title) There is some fixed route red and yellow songthaews on fixws routes I don't know how to tell if one is a fixed route or not.

Fixed route Songtaws have a destination address (in Thai) written at the front over the cab.

Mostly they aren't red, but I have seen a few red ones with a destination over the cab.

This one says 'Doi Saket'

Hope it's OK to post this link

http://www.openchian...r_Car_2211.html

Great post +2