How much should I be paying for a driver for a day?

[wellred]

I'm planning my itinerary for my high season trip and want to do a few day trips away from Bangkok.

 

Day 1 - Trip to Chacoengsao province to see the 2 Ganesh temples, Wat Pak Nam and have lunch at the riverside market. 

 

Day 2 - Trip to Suphanburi province to spend a good 2-3 hours at Wat Phai Rong Wua. 

 

I got a few names off Trip advisor, messaged them on whatsapp and both quoted around 2500bhat for trip there and back including fuel and tolls. Does that sound about right?

 

Also are there any advantages to maybe hiring a taxi driver? I may just end up getting a driver via the hotel but thought I'd ask here to see what the 'going rate' is. 

[steve187]

sounds good,  about 1000 baht a day plus expenses

[smutcakes]

I agree. Seems like a fair rate. Book it, look forward to it and dont bother looking for cheaper.

[wellred]

Ok great thanks for confirming.

[aussiandrew]

1000 Bh a day is OK just make sure before hand the vehicle and driver are in good condition and make sure everybody's wearing their seat belt. Have a great trip and stay safe.

[Minnehaha]

things to verify

- driver can communicate in English (if necessary)

- exactly what vehicle is used - pictures of interior and exterior

- does the air con work?

[The manic]

1500 to 3000 depending how many hours

[atyclb]

does the drive include a canal excursion?

[bazza40]

My quote for a trip to Myanmar was 1000 baht a day plus meals and gasoline. The driver slept in the van.

[eastendanto]

If the drivers have good ratings on Tripadvisor then minimises your risk of being taken for a ride (so to speak) maybe contact some of the people who have used them? Taxi drivers can negotiate with, but condition of some of the taxis leaves a lot to be desired.....I'm sure hotel will oblige ... but likely to put their own commission on top if a hotel at the higher luxury end of the scale 

[SOTIRIOS]

...2500 would be for a 12-hour day perhaps....

[smotherb]

I pay 2000/day (24 hours) plus fuel and tolls for new/er Toyota vans with driver.

[Mudcrab]

less for trolls apparently

[1FinickyOne]

Doesn't sound too bad - - I live upcountry and the drivers here w/the mini vans charge 1800 a day plus gas... so, that sounds about the same... have fun.

[chiang mai]

I'm not sure about this one. You can rent your own vehicle for around 1,000/1,200 baht a day (shop around and that price can be lowered to around 800 baht/day, not a commuter van but a decent comfortable vehicle). So that means you're paying between 800 and 1,500 baht a day for the driver, it seems high to me given that the average wage here is around 14,000 baht a month, say 500 baht a day.

 

http://www.northwheels.com/fleet-rates/

[mike324]

I pay 1800 baht / day plus fuel / tolls for toyota van leaving from Bangkok. You can go anywhere you want as far as you want, given that normal driving hour is 8 hours.  If you go over its overtime, 100 baht / hour.

Edited August 5, 2016 by mike324

[Farma]

On a recent 5 day trip we paid B1,000 per day plus fuel and tolls. That's the standard Thai price for vans in my area of the northeast.

 

The driver slept in the van, acted as a tour guide and was available from morning til after our evening meal.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Farma

[csabo]

Never get anything through the hotel unless you like paying double.  

[csabo]

7 hours ago, chiang mai said:

I'm not sure about this one. You can rent your own vehicle for around 1,000/1,200 baht a day (shop around and that price can be lowered to around 800 baht/day, not a commuter van but a decent comfortable vehicle). So that means you're paying between 800 and 1,500 baht a day for the driver, it seems high to me given that the average wage here is around 14,000 baht a month, say 500 baht a day.

 

http://www.northwheels.com/fleet-rates/

 

So if the average monthly wage is 500 a day why does 1000 for one of those days sound high?  Are you assuming there are no zero days to average things out?

[anotheruser]

1,000 a day doesn't sound like much. A taxi won't go from downtown Bangkok to Pattaya for that.

[Deepinthailand]

Yes it's a good price book it now

[mercman24]

number one. make sure the taxi does not have a "boy racer dustbin exhaust" on it, i dont know why the hell they have to do this, its a bloody taxi, not a racing car (or maybe they think it is), went on the trip recently and you could not hold a conversation in the back of the taxi, it was bloody unbearable, luckily the journey was not very far

[squid master]

you will pay close to 3000 baht per day including gas, tip, toll way etc. 

[thaihome]

On 8/5/2016 at 7:07 AM, chiang mai said:

I'm not sure about this one. You can rent your own vehicle for around 1,000/1,200 baht a day (shop around and that price can be lowered to around 800 baht/day, not a commuter van but a decent comfortable vehicle). So that means you're paying between 800 and 1,500 baht a day for the driver, it seems high to me given that the average wage here is around 14,000 baht a month, say 500 baht a day.

 

http://www.northwheels.com/fleet-rates/

500 baht a day is basically minimum wage for unskilled  manual. An on call driver with passable English is going to make significantly more.

TH 

 

[chiang mai]

3 minutes ago, thaihome said:

500 baht a day is basically minimum wage for unskilled  manual. An on call driver with passable English is going to make significantly more.

TH 

 

 

Nonsense, 500 is the average wage of the country (or close enough), not the absolute minimum. Daily manual workers in this area will work for 350/400.

[Scotwight]

16 minutes ago, thaihome said:

500 baht a day is basically minimum wage for unskilled  manual. An on call driver with passable English is going to make significantly more.

TH 

 

And I think the OP wants driver and car so 1500 +

[thaihome]

5 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

 

Nonsense, 500 is the average wage of the country (or close enough), not the absolute minimum. Daily manual workers in this area will work for 350/400.

 

You will note I did not say "absolute" minimum,  I said basicly minium. For reliable unskilled manual labor in Bangkok,  you will pay around 500 baht a day. You can get cheaper using Burmese or Cambodians, but not much. Outside  Bangkok it is indeed cheaper.

 

Besides, the discussion was about English speaking drivers on call for short term employment.  I was merely pointing out that 500 baht a day for driver with some skills is below market rate.

TH