GrabTaxi service available in Pattaya

[webfact]

GrabTaxi service available in Pattaya
The Nation



PATTAYA: -- GrabTaxi, a large taxi-booking mobile app in Southeast Asia, has launched its beta trial in Pattaya. Mayor of Pattaya City, Itthiphol Kunplome, chaired the launch, which was held at Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

This is the 16th city that GrabTaxi operates in Southeast Asia and the second Thai city after Bangkok.

GrabTaxi was launched in Bangkok late last year and became popular among passengers and taxi drivers.

GrabTaxi has a regional footprint across Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.

"We are extremely happy to welcome a technology platform like GrabTaxi, which will provide convenience to both locals and tourists to use public transport in Pattaya," Itthiphol said.

"Since our mobile app was first launched in 2012, the response from commuters around Southeast Asia has been amasing," said GrabTaxi Thailand Director, Juthasree Kuvinichkul.

"The ease-of-use and safety aspects made it an instant favourite among commuters with one GrabTaxi cab being booked every two seconds regionally. Now, we are bringing the convenience and reliability of the GrabTaxi mobile app to Pattaya commuters.

Drivers using GrabTaxi always charge the metered rate together with a booking fee and we feel this will greatly improve the people's perception of taxis in Pattaya".

GrabTaxi Thailand Deputy General Manager, Vee Charanunsiri said the app's popularity in Bangkok has raised its profile with local residents and tourists requesting for GrabTaxi to be introduced to the other Thai cities.

"We selected Pattaya due to its proximity to Bangkok," said Vee.

"Having provided our services in six countries, we understand the pain points that many passengers face. In Pattaya, we aim to revolutionise the taxi industry and encourage taxi drivers to use the meters. We want to provide passengers with safe and reliable taxis and to make sure that they get a taxi soonest after making a booking via the app."

Passengers in Bangkok pay the taxi driver the metered fare with an additional Baht 25 service fee, which goes directly to the driver. The same mechanism applies within the Pattaya city limit but the service fee is 40 Baht.

Additional charges will also apply for distances beyond 6 kilometers of the city center.

"We feel our fares are reflective of the local market rate, yet provide a safe and stress-free ride for passengers. This creates a win-win situation for both passengers and drivers," Vee said.

Using the mobile app, which can be downloaded for free for smartphones and tablets running on iOS Android, Blackberry or Windows, commuters can book taxis in a fast, convenient and safe manner.

When the application is launched, GrabTaxi automatically detects the commuter's current location using the smartphone's in-built GPS (Global Positioning System) and shows the number of available taxis within a certain radius.

The commuter selects the desired destinations and the booking request is then sent to taxi drivers within the said radius. The drivers bid for the job and the one nearest to the commuter is assigned the booking. The commuter receives a booking confirmation within one minute, along with the driver's contact details, name, vehicle registration number and estimated time of arrival.

The commuter can also track the real-time location of the booked taxi, watching as his driver moves towards him. GrabTaxi is also integrated with popular GPS maps application to help drivers with direction.

The app is currently available in six countries. With over 1.7 million downloads of the GrabTaxi mobile app around the region and with 300,000 users per month, GrabTaxi is the market leader in Southeast Asia.

Users can have a safe and convenient taxi experience with the same app in all the six countries that GrabTaxi is in. Using GPS to help locate taxis, the mobile app is not dependent on any local taxi network.

To celebrate the launch, GrabTaxi will offer Baht 40 discount off all taxi rides in Pattaya for two weeks, from September 17 until October 1, 2014.

Passengers need only to download the GrabTaxi app for free onto the iOS, Android, BlackBerry or Windows devices, book the taxi and key-in PTY into the promo code field.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/technology/GrabTaxi-service-available-in-Pattaya-30243810.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-22

[Chang_paarp]

Drivers using GrabTaxi always charge the metered rate together with a booking fee and we feel this will greatly improve the people's perception of taxis in Pattaya".

This will be a first. Taxis using their meter in Pattaya!!!!!

Have they held special training for the drivers so they know how to use their meters?

[ezflip]

Maybe they should make an app to teach them how to use their taxi meter instead...

[alocacoc]

I installed this app. Here, where i live in Jomtien, 2 drivers are available. A drive to Central Festival, about 4.9km should cost THB94-141.

Sometime i will order a Taxi and see how the fares are. For this route, you would pay about 250-400 Baht in a common Taxi.

[Basil B]

I suspect this will go the way of the Red/Green/Yellow bus service...

The Pattaya Meter Taxi boys will soon see them off...

[Lostpack3t]

Taxis have meters? ?

On a serious note, it will be interesting to see how well received it will be here in Patts (by the drivers that is). I just wish motorbike taxis had meters....

[veleron]

Ya, I find that motorbike taxi is quite convenient due to the bad traffic

[petercool]

A post that was derogatory was removed along with one using a crude reference

[denby45]

I don't find anything wrong with the current system. Bahtbus where applicable and if you are in a hurry motorbike taxi. Works well for me.

Den

[Basil B]

Maybe another app for "baht Bus" Taxi's, if you have to ride on the back of a pick the service is poorer than riding in a air con limo so should be a lot cheaper.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Basil B

[7Heaven]

I installed this app. Here, where i live in Jomtien, 2 drivers are available. A drive to Central Festival, about 4.9km should cost THB94-141.

Sometime i will order a Taxi and see how the fares are. For this route, you would pay about 250-400 Baht in a common Taxi.

Can you please compare it with Uber here https://www.uber.com/cities/bangkok and see what price are cheapest?

[phetchy]

Might have been a better idea to introduce it in Patong. Despite all the promises of reforming the restrictive and extortionate practices of the red taxis, it wouldn't stand a chance.

[Jingthing]

I don't find anything wrong with the current system. Bahtbus where applicable and if you are in a hurry motorbike taxi. Works well for me.

Den

Many of us have no interest in riding on motorbike taxis though.

Baht buses have poor coverage in many areas (such as 3rd road ... no service / crosstown Pattaya Klang ... poor service, etc.).

Pattaya is a city now.

Cities have REAL taxis.

As in CARS.

[DrTuner]

Pattaya doesn't need a taxi mafia, go back to BKK.

[Gunna]

Pattaya doesn't need a taxi mafia, go back to BKK.

Pattaya already has a Taxi Mafia who won't use meters and charge extortionate amounts and most would rather sit around or drive empty rather than lower their price when you try and bargain with them.

These new guys are saying it will be meter plus fee/tip so that should be much better. Hopefully if you book the service and then the driver won't use the meter, then there will be a complaints number at head office.

Definitely safer to use a taxi than a motorcy taxi and more comfortable than sharing a baht bus

[khunjamesjohnson]

Pattaya doesn't need a taxi mafia, go back to BKK.

Pattaya already has a Taxi Mafia who won't use meters and charge extortionate amounts and most would rather sit around or drive empty rather than lower their price when you try and bargain with them.

These new guys are saying it will be meter plus fee/tip so that should be much better. Hopefully if you book the service and then the driver won't use the meter, then there will be a complaints number at head office.

Definitely safer to use a taxi than a motorcy taxi and more comfortable than sharing a baht bus

Complaints number?

I mentioned on the Mayors Facebook page about the scamming taxis not using the meter and the deleted my post, then blocked me.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Rimmer
Flame

[jacko45k]

I installed this app. Here, where i live in Jomtien, 2 drivers are available. A drive to Central Festival, about 4.9km should cost THB94-141.

Sometime i will order a Taxi and see how the fares are. For this route, you would pay about 250-400 Baht in a common Taxi.

Well that sounds very reasonable.

I wonder if this would be a useful aid to getting me home from a night out on Walking St?

I live about 9-10km out of town northwards, and I am sure the Mrs wouldn't mind someone else getting the call at 2-3am.

Whether I could handle the App on a smartphone is debatable, I often struggle with her on speeddial.

[morrobay]

I don't find anything wrong with the current system. Bahtbus where applicable and if you are in a hurry motorbike taxi. Works well for me.

Den

Many of us have no interest in riding on motorbike taxis though.

Baht buses have poor coverage in many areas (such as 3rd road ... no service / crosstown Pattaya Klang ... poor service, etc.).

Pattaya is a city now.

Cities have REAL taxis.

As in CARS.

Cities have real buses. Would trade all of these so called transportation services for 60 full size city buses. As far as I can see these taxi meters are in trouble. When they are not double parked they are driving around empty. Just waiting to cross beach road had at least six stop in front of me. Never seen that before. And now there is another service ?

Edited September 23, 2014 by morrobay

[KittenKong]

Cities have real buses. Would trade all of these so called transportation services for 60 full size city buses.

Why wait ages for a bus when there is a bahtbus passing every few seconds?

[Cake Monster]

The participating drivers of " Grab Taxi " service will of course all have full Insurance Policies in place for passenger protection, have road worthy vehicles, and will be fully metered.

Dream on.

[KittenKong]

I installed this app. Here, where i live in Jomtien, 2 drivers are available. A drive to Central Festival, about 4.9km should cost THB94-141.

Sometime i will order a Taxi and see how the fares are. For this route, you would pay about 250-400 Baht in a common Taxi.

People actually pay 250-400B to go from Jomtien to Central? Wow. I would just pay 10B on the bahtbus. Or if I was absolutely desperate to have a vehicle entirely to myself (why?) I would just charter a bahtbus for 100B or less.

[KittenKong]

What I still don't understand about these services is whether the "taxi" you get is a real, proper, licensed, insured, metered vehicle and driver from your area or just some unknown bloke with a car and a smartphone.

[veleron]

You can download the app and try it, a few users tried it and post good feedback.

[inzman]

I would love to read about some peoples experience in pattaya using this app! Share please.

[veleron]

Check this tread

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/760478-grabtaxis-pattaya-launch-ocean-marina-yacht-club-wednesday-17th-september-2014/page-2#entry8413546

[chatette]

I use GrabTaxi and GrabCar ( the limo service) every day in Bangkok. It's excellent and very reasonably priced so I don't see why it won't shake up Pattaya's taxi mafia also.

[petercool]

A post discussing moderator actions was removed

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[DrTuner]

I'm sure the female passengers can appreciate the Grab part of the Taxi, given the frequent news about that issue.

[vickersvc10]

I agree that baht buses are great, but their coverage of Pattaya is very limited. I live on Third Road, which is not a minor soi, and I very rarely see a baht bus going in either direction. When I do see one and hail it the chances are (empty though it is) that it won't stop. TIT!

[Jingthing]

There is no 10 baht baht bus service on 3rd road. If you see a bus there, generally it's on a charter or just going somewhere and not working. I suppose if you got one to stop (difficult on that road) you might be able to ask for a charter ride.