Very hard to find a cab that agrees to turn on the meter

[richard_smith237]

tried to find a cap to airport around 3 am from a major hotel on sukhumvit. not even the doorman could get one to agree on the meter.

finally found one who agreed on a low set price, still no meter though.

Try the Grab Taxi app next time. Today a friend was going to the airport from Glow Hotel near Chong Nonsi BTS and no taxi would use the meter. Even the hotel staff were in on the scam by trying to get my friend to pay 500 baht to use a taxi that was waiting near the hotel. When we couldn't find a taxi that would use the meter we used the Grab Taxi app and we had a taxi in about 5 minutes who used the meter. With Grab Taxi you pay the meter plus 25 baht booking fee.

I thought it was disgraceful that the hotel staff were contributing to the scam. My friend enjoyed the hotel, but based on this he said he will not be staying there again in the future.

For all the right reasons the GrabTaxi App is excellent - You will have a record of the car (licence) and driver (If it is actually the licensed / registered driver driving).

You can give direct feedback in the App as to whether or not the taxi / driver was good or not...

With this path to possible recourse there is incentive for the driver to do his job professionally.

That said: There is an 'in App' option to offer a Tip - At some point the GrabTaxi drivers may not start accepting jobs unless a Tip has been pre-negotiated.

Still - its much better than using those stagnating cabs outside hotels etc...

I used Uber last night - About 130 baht for what would otherwise be an 80 baht journey in a normal taxi.. The Car was clean, had seat belts, the driver was professional... We didn't have any of the annoying or moronic conversations... You know the type...

.... 'you have Thai Wife, she from Issan?', 'how much money you make?', 'you want Thai girl?' etc etc...

The driver simply took me home with limited need for directions.... exactly what a taxi trip should be....

These services are excellent - I don't see any reason to bother with conventional taxis when in Bangkok (unless the GrabTaxi or Uber are not available - which does happen on occasion).

[Thian]

The reason why they won't turn on the metre in touristic spots is very simple. Because tourists don't care to pay extra and also like to tell how cheap it is in BKK.

Tourists have ruined the taxifares and now the drivers want double money from all farangs.

Now Thailand has to deal with Chinese tourists, i bet they won't pay double prices albeit they only travel in groups by coaches.

If a taxidriver speaks english and gives me a pleasant ride i will tip him. Also i don't want to sit in a crappy smelly taxi with my suitcase on my lap.