Surat Town from the Airport on a Saturday?

[rockyysdt]

This year I'll be traveling to Surat by air.

Arriving usually on a Saturday afternoon, I find that there's either an airport bus with a 120baht fare or taxis/taxi vans available for the trip into town.

I'm usually fine with the bus, but this year I'll be accompanying a fellow traveler who is handicapped (one missing leg).

The bus is quite ancient with seriously huge steps for access.

Quite daunting even for those with full abilities.

The other option is a fixed price taxi fare of between 500 - 800 baht.

I don't mind helping out those in need, but to pay up to 2.5 days salary for a 30 minute ride is almost criminal.

Are there any other options on Saturdays?

Many thanks.

[laowai1960]

I’ve never heard of anyone paying B800. Five hundred baht has been a wide-spread fixed rate fare for quite some time. On Agoda’s website, you’ll see many Surat hotels and guesthouses offering an airport pickup for B500.

Anyway, Surat now has a metered taxi service and from reports I’ve heard, a metered taxi from the airport will cost B250 to B250 depending on what part of the city you’re traveling to.

The taxis are blue & yellow and can be booked by phoning 077-489288 or 0816077561.

[rockyysdt]

Thanks 1960.

Quite timely and very informative.

I'm at the departure lounge Don Meung at this very moment and headed for Surat.

I'll give the taxi company a call if there are no taxis around.

Cheers.

R

[rockyysdt]

It was exactly as you said 1960.

Vans and taxi services were asking 500b.

I asked an AirAsia assistant why the absence of meter taxis and he said no one wants to use their meters.

I called the yellow/green cab service and they sent a cab within 18 minutes.

A nice newish Corrolla Altis with leather seats and plush ride.

The cab stopped two times whilst we purchased goods at two markets and fare came to 320.

Basically fare was as quoted but is twice the meter display.

Half for cabbie and half for office. 160b x 2.

Better than 500 fixed from all the opportunists.

Edited May 30, 2015 by rockyysdt

[rockyysdt]

320 Baht is a good price, even a TukTuk charges 600 from city to airport (Kanchanadit)

I am only shocked to learn that you had to pay the double price from what the meter showed. I also heard already stories that Surat-Thani taxi's charge the meter price, a person in the cab..... Doesn't sound right to me....

Arjen.

It doesn't sound right to me also but the end result was as quoted.

Today, fare from Suan Mokkh to airport was 128b on the meter including stopping along the way to buy freshly bbq'd corn cobs. Had to pay 260b.

The cabbie confirmed all fares are twice the meter.

He said, unlike Bangkok there's no fare at the destination which doubles their journey.

I suspect they're on a gold mine.

[HollyT]

The taxis charge double the meter if they have to go out of town

[davehowden]

"He said, unlike Bangkok there's no fare at the destination which doubles their journey."

Sure, unless one of the 19 daily flight arrivals has a passenger for him!

Edited June 14, 2015 by davehowden

[rockyysdt]

"He said, unlike Bangkok there's no fare at the destination which doubles their journey."

Sure, unless one of the 19 daily flight arrivals has a passenger for him!

Well, when I was at the airport (2 occasions) I saw only a bus and a number of Mini vans with fixed 500b fares.

Not one taxi in sight.

The only two taxis present were one that I booked, and another booked by other travelers.

It seems cabs have given this airport a wide berth.

Why, I can't answer.

Edited June 14, 2015 by rockyysdt

[HollyT]

Assume most people will get the Panthip shuttle at 100 baht