Hiring a songthaew for the day?

[New beginnings]

Hi - Have some friends visiting and planning to hire songthaew for the day tomorrow in Chiang Mai. Does anyone have idea of approximate prices? I know minibuses are available with air-conditioning etc. but prefer idea of songthaew.

[NancyL]

You'll have to negotiate, but in general when I've had to hire a songthaew for longer-term they seem willing to accept around 100 baht/per hour if it's for half a day or longer. It's really about the same price to hire a aircon minibus if you want one for all day.

[CMSteve]

Also will depend on how far you will be going. Add a little to Nancy's estimate if you want to go far out or will be driving quite a bit. the 100B/hr, assumes there will be some time when the driver/truck are sitting and waiting.

[New beginnings]

Many thanks for the advice. To be honest just looking to go round the city stopping of at a few places in the hills. Probably taking a cool box for a picnic on the way. Hopefully the driver will not get to bored. Maybe I better pack an extra sandwich for him. Knew about the price of minibuses, thanks Nancy, but just feel a songtheaw will be for fun.

[thrilled]

I would say for 8 hours close to 100 baht,maybe A little less.Maybe A little more.Also you will probably

Need to throw in A lunch also.Just my opinion,never done it.

[thrilled]

I typed wrong,I meant 1000 baht

[slapout]

Many of the song thaews are driven by some of the ruddest drivers on the roads, they are not properly maintained and the drivers are not being subjected to driving rule training, nor actual driving tests of the country as are the legal mini (9 passenger) vans. Most are owned and leased out by a long time business arrangement with Chiang Mai officials and the company whose logo is on mosy of the commercial vehicles that provide public transport here.

As you can see I am not a fan of theirs especially since they take up public parking for their nap time and to wash their vehicle using moat water, while parked on the roadway, double and even triple park, race to get in front of others when they see a group of tourists, honk to get attention of potential customers, etc.And to top it off they turn down many tourist customers as they do not know how to read a map, much less know the areas by street name/number.

The promise made to stop this as well as parking rental vehicles in public parking areas by Chiang Mai officials entailed a few days of police verbal warning and it was back to the old practices . Enforcement would/could relieve a lot of the traffic gridlock around the moat and within the old city center. The easiest solution would be to move all rentals out of the old city unless they had off street parking for vehicles. I feel much better after that little rant, hope i did not hurt too many feeling.

[northernjohn]

Many of the song thaews are driven by some of the ruddest drivers on the roads, they are not properly maintained and the drivers are not being subjected to driving rule training, nor actual driving tests of the country as are the legal mini (9 passenger) vans. Most are owned and leased out by a long time business arrangement with Chiang Mai officials and the company whose logo is on mosy of the commercial vehicles that provide public transport here.

As you can see I am not a fan of theirs especially since they take up public parking for their nap time and to wash their vehicle using moat water, while parked on the roadway, double and even triple park, race to get in front of others when they see a group of tourists, honk to get attention of potential customers, etc.And to top it off they turn down many tourist customers as they do not know how to read a map, much less know the areas by street name/number.

The promise made to stop this as well as parking rental vehicles in public parking areas by Chiang Mai officials entailed a few days of police verbal warning and it was back to the old practices . Enforcement would/could relieve a lot of the traffic gridlock around the moat and within the old city center. The easiest solution would be to move all rentals out of the old city unless they had off street parking for vehicles. I feel much better after that little rant, hope i did not hurt too many feeling.

No hurt feelings. Just wondering what would you suggest walking.

I personally can remember the first time I came to Thailand. Every thing was so different and exciting. I wanted to enjoy it all. I applaud the OP for thinking of his guests instead of thinking of some one who has been hear for years and has found a lot of dislikes.

The last time we did it the cost was 800 baht for about 6 hours. Most of the time the driver just parked and waited for us.

when I get visitors I try to think of them rather than me.

[NancyL]

Hope you feel better now Slapout. I suspect you drive a car and think the roads should be kept clear for you and your car. And, oh yes, you also probably think you have the right to find a parking place within 10 meters of whatever business you chose to visit. How dare those pesky songthaews take up all the parking places just so the drivers can wait for customers?

The red songthaews are a part of what makes Chiang Mai unique. They're a part of why we moved here. We knew we didn't have to purchase a car -- that we could get around using an inexpensive public transportation system. A very unique system where all we had to do was learn a little bit of Thai and we would have door-to-door transportation. How many places in the world offer this type of public transportation system? I find many of the drivers to be very polite, especially toward older women and they often invite me and my friends to sit up front with them so we don't have to climb in the back. Does this sound like the group of rude drivers you're describing?

But, I've noticed the vast majority of songthaew customers are tourists, students and older women. Hmm... I guess you just don't fit the customer demographic, do you Slapout?

[Konini]

I agree with Nancy - one or two of the drivers are grumpy or horrible, but on the whole they are really, really nice. They also often invite me to sit up front, and when stuck in traffic with my smidge of Thai and their smidge of English, we establish our ages, spouse and the age of their children. Most of them are honest people making an honest living. OK, so a lot of them are pretty rubbish at driving, Mr K sometimes gets annoyed when the one in front of us slows right down and swings towards the kerb, but I say to him why even mention it? It's been obvious for all the time we've been following him that he's going to do it sooner or later, just go with it. I use the yellow and green ones quite a bit too, the drivers of them are really nice too, and I've been surprised by how many women are driving them.

They really do put the icing on the cake to living here, they give the city character. Like the trams in Melbourne or the street cars in San Francisco or the black cabs in London..

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It varies. From recent visitors, some book one out for the entire day (arranged in advance) for as high as 1400 Baht, and were very happy with the service provided. Others just arranged one on the spot and got one for the better part of the day for 600 total.

It also depends if the driver can make some commission here and there for restaurants and shops. With the 1400 Baht one there was absolutely zero opportunity for that, as it involved a trip out to Ob Khan.

Still, for around 600-800 you're doing very well, and is a really good price I think, considering you're getting the vehicle and the driver. At 1400 I would personally prefer to just hire a car, but some people don't want to drive themselves.

[habfan]

Some of my first Thai friends when I first came to visit Chiang Mai 15 years ago where songthaews drivers. All the ones I know are top shelf human beings.

[evenstevens]

Many of the song thaews are driven by some of the ruddest drivers on the roads, they are not properly maintained and the drivers are not being subjected to driving rule training, nor actual driving tests of the country as are the legal mini (9 passenger) vans. Most are owned and leased out by a long time business arrangement with Chiang Mai officials and the company whose logo is on mosy of the commercial vehicles that provide public transport here.

As you can see I am not a fan of theirs especially since they take up public parking for their nap time and to wash their vehicle using moat water, while parked on the roadway, double and even triple park, race to get in front of others when they see a group of tourists, honk to get attention of potential customers, etc.And to top it off they turn down many tourist customers as they do not know how to read a map, much less know the areas by street name/number.

The promise made to stop this as well as parking rental vehicles in public parking areas by Chiang Mai officials entailed a few days of police verbal warning and it was back to the old practices . Enforcement would/could relieve a lot of the traffic gridlock around the moat and within the old city center. The easiest solution would be to move all rentals out of the old city unless they had off street parking for vehicles. I feel much better after that little rant, hope i did not hurt too many feeling.

a rant??? no way

a very well put together good contents post, stating the the bare facts

under the present set, up they are a menace to most chiangmians drivers for a raft of very good valid reasons, plus most importantly the safety of the passengers who use them

many years ago ,coming back from a day at the races , our red song thaew,lost its back wheel completely (axle broke),luckily he was making right hand turn from h/w 107 into the super h/way

and his veichle was moving at a small pace, otherwise??????????

only a few months back out side the pornping hotel,another one lost its front r.h.s wheel, and slid into the concrete elect pole, the result two passengers taken to hospital,

will leave out the company who runs them for very good reasons,but most wise older expats know the good oil on them

and this post is not intended to be a personal vendatta against all songteaw drivers, there is good and bad in any working profession,

but

the songteaw industry in c/mai is a wart..

J.M.O...thats all

[Konini]

This is what makes the Chiang Mai forum so different from others on Thai Visa - we can have a difference of opinion, and it would be a pretty boring old world if we all agreed with each other about everything, but it doesn't slide into the undignified name calling and general unpleasantness witnessed elsewhere in this and most other forums (or is that fora?).

Different opinions makes the world more interesting, it's just nice to have a refuge where people behave like adults. Nice, personable, pleasant adults. Good on everybody

[northernjohn]

This is what makes the Chiang Mai forum so different from others on Thai Visa - we can have a difference of opinion, and it would be a pretty boring old world if we all agreed with each other about everything, but it doesn't slide into the undignified name calling and general unpleasantness witnessed elsewhere in this and most other forums (or is that fora?).

Different opinions makes the world more interesting, it's just nice to have a refuge where people behave like adults. Nice, personable, pleasant adults. Good on everybody

Yes opinions are nice. But I am not a fan of taking things out of context to point fingers at a whole industry. Myself I use them fairly often and could post lot's of really good things about them. But why bother. Most people already know that the traffic is clogged up and the Songthaew's are part of the reason while at the same time have the potential to help solve the problem more so than the people who drive in a car all by them selves in stead of using a songthaew with other people. It is almost like a status thing to drive alone when you could use the existing transit system. Have never done a cost break down but I think in many cases it would be cheaper to use the songthaew's and tuck tuck's than own a car and all the expenses that go with it.

I like the transit system in Seattle. Not songthaew's but busses so many different routes that you can get to any part of the city. Even at that they still have the same traffic build up. I imagine most big cities have systems now. But will they be good enough for the future.

Here in Chiang Mai what they need is not a plan to solve the situation but a plan to keep the traffic manageable in the future.

[NancyL]

That would really be great is if all private vehicles were banned from the Old City and public transport, shared public transport with regulated, safe vehicles was all that was offered. No more single-person vehicles allowed in the scenic Old City. Make it safe for pedestrians, tourists and served by safe, shared vehicles.

[slapout]

I'd wager that evensteven and slapout -- who claim to be so concerned about the personal safety of those of us who rely on songthaews for our transport -- just happen to own cars. Am I right, guys? Yeah, I know I'm making this personal, but you're making it personal when you're advocating the banning of someone's primary mode of transport.

What would really be great is if all private vehicles were banned from the Old City and public transport, shared public transport with regulated, safe vehicles was all that was offered. No more single-person vehicles allowed in the scenic Old City. Make it safe for pedestrians, tourists and served by safe, shared vehicles.

I pointed out to you via pm, that 2 assumptions you made about me before were wrong, Your (offer)? to wager on my ownership of a car is also wrong as is your statement that I am concerned about your or those usng said transports, ''personal safety''. I am somewhat forgetful but do not remember proposing the ban of your primary mode of transport but rather the education/training/testing,etc of those driving in a unsafe manner./

I am sure your proposal to ban all private vehicles from the old city will be considered by those who would be required to authorize and find alternatives to this. This official consideration may even propose a carefully thought out workable solution, hopefully they will engage brain prior to making suggestions which could prove unpopular with the majority.

[harrry]

One thing with songthaews is that the better ones usually have morning and afternoon shcool or University delivery trips etc. If you hire one of these you have to fit in with their hours.

[Mapguy]

I am basically a songtaew fan, but regretably they are bad polluters. There are various electric-powered vehicles that would suit. These could be phased in, just as we have seen a new tuk tuk model. If you live within the city, you will have noticed that more than dust is raised. That dust is quite oily. That hasn't anything to do with seasonal agricultural burning.

Then, of course, there is congestion. Sometimes they do block traffic significantly, especially during heavy traffic hours, such as on Huay Kaew in front of Kad Suan Kaew. Can't imagine what sort of "arrangement" KSK management has with the favored concession which can pull up under its portico! A couple of others are west-bound on the south side of the moat and by the river markets, (which can make going to pay a traffic fine quite annoying) !

The effort to restrict other than red trucks to new transit transfer points, such as Chang Puac bus station, within the city seems doomed. There must be a great howl from the river markets. I haven't heard anyone else favor that system other than the new "powers that be" mainly since it requires an increased number of transfers, additional time and cost, and probably some dent in driver income (to hear them tell it). Part of the squawking is still probably just due to changing peoples' comfortable habits. We'll see.

A few basic suggestions (which certainly can be tweaked) would include, Inside the old city, regular electric-powered service with suitably-sized smaller vehicles for the sois with the larger vehicles restricted to the surrounding moat roads. The internal routes could intersect by roughly quartering the city using the main roads. Additionally, a permit system for residents and/or time-restricted access could be used for some other traffic, especially for business deliveries.

By the way, has anyone else noticed the classy special electric tourist buses on the CMU campus? The university seems to have its act pretty much together.

There is no attempt here to be comprehensive. What other ideas might there be to improve Chiang Mai's traffic problems that involve public transit other than the rather strained mega-buck, mega-projects that are trotted out from time to time that have various special interests licking their chops in anticipation.

[northernjohn]

I'd wager that evensteven and slapout -- who claim to be so concerned about the personal safety of those of us who rely on songthaews for our transport -- just happen to own cars. Am I right, guys? Yeah, I know I'm making this personal, but you're making it personal when you're advocating the banning of someone's primary mode of transport.

What would really be great is if all private vehicles were banned from the Old City and public transport, shared public transport with regulated, safe vehicles was all that was offered. No more single-person vehicles allowed in the scenic Old City. Make it safe for pedestrians, tourists and served by safe, shared vehicles.

I pointed out to you via pm, that 2 assumptions you made about me before were wrong, Your (offer)? to wager on my ownership of a car is also wrong as is your statement that I am concerned about your or those usng said transports, ''personal safety''. I am somewhat forgetful but do not remember proposing the ban of your primary mode of transport but rather the education/training/testing,etc of those driving in a unsafe manner./

I am sure your proposal to ban all private vehicles from the old city will be considered by those who would be required to authorize and find alternatives to this. This official consideration may even propose a carefully thought out workable solution, hopefully they will engage brain prior to making suggestions which could prove unpopular with the majority.

You are joking I presume

the education/training/testing,etc of those driving in a unsafe manner./

Surely you jest.

Seems like people like to pretend that it is the Songthaew's fault for all the traffic problems. I don't mind bursting your bubble but there are a lot more bad drivers out on the road that are driving their private car's than Songthaew drivers.. Not to mention the motor bike riders. Where would Thailand get the money and the personal to do all that work and would it make that big of a difference any how? Many of those drivers have been driving for years and still make a right turn from the inside lane and a left turn from the out side lane. Do you really think any amount of training is going to stop that? The motor bikes are no better than the car drivers.

[mikey88]

I took red taxis for a long time but after a few years.....and after finding myself waiting sometimes for a very long time in the sun without a ride....decided I would have to add to the traffic congestion and get my own transport..

I think the red taxi system is bizarre and pretty much useless for me. If I wanted to just go around the moat maybe ok....but for anywhere outside....no way.

I remember one time I took one to Big C on the superhighway ....and just couldn't get home....honestly I waited over an hour and eventually got a motorbike taxi....luckily (or I'd still be there).

[northernjohn]

I took red taxis for a long time but after a few years.....and after finding myself waiting sometimes for a very long time in the sun without a ride....decided I would have to add to the traffic congestion and get my own transport..

I think the red taxi system is bizarre and pretty much useless for me. If I wanted to just go around the moat maybe ok....but for anywhere outside....no way.

I remember one time I took one to Big C on the superhighway ....and just couldn't get home....honestly I waited over an hour and eventually got a motorbike taxi....luckily (or I'd still be there).

I disagree that they are useless. How ever I find itt hard to believe you used them for two years if they were useless. I would make other arrangements right quick if I thought that.

[onthedarkside]

a post baiting another member has been removed.

// on reflection - removed the previous 2 posts that led up to this situation