News Forum - Phuket officials comment on recent ‘taxi’ fiasco – everything except taxi meters

[Marc26]

7 hours ago, Guest1 said:

Why do you , often tourists, look with "their home country glasses" on to prices in the holiday destination?

Are they charging "special prices" in your country, in tourists destinations? That much special, that only morons can say "Oh, that is not more expensive, as it would be in my country, so it is ok"? In a country, they coming because it is sooo much cheaper? Where many people in a month not earning the money, that you spend in a week for your hotel?

Bangkok Taxi prices are kind of adopted to the average income in Bangkok/Thailand! Of course it is really cheap for us and for people with good paid jobs. But still, the majority of people can't afford to drive taxi every day!

On Phuket, on the west coast, is hardly any Thai using this "taxi services". Unless there is a foreigner on board, who will pay the price! Oh: And even Moto-Taxis are having prices for Thais and prices for Foreigners!

I will let you on a little secret......

Tourists don't think like locals

Oh and the whole island and a tourist destaination....

 

Most tourists think in terms of their home country prices because they can afford it and most, unlike many on here.........aren't whining all the time.

They aren't going to ruin their holiday stressing over $10-15usd......

When a 45min taxi ride is $75-100usd in their home country, they aren't crying about paying $25usd

 

And you seem worried for the locals, but also, like most expats, want to grind them down to the lowest price they can

 

So let's break down that 800baht, 45min taxi ride

 

Most taxi drivers at airports have to wait a long time to get a fare

The taxi companies have to pay a concession fee to work at the airport(as they do in all countries)

That 45min trip is 90min r/t if they don't get fares going back

 

So all of that costs money and time...........so if you want a taxi at the airport, it will cost more

Edited February 4, 2022 by BigHewer
Expletive removed

[Guest1]

1 hour ago, Cathat said:

the power of the phuket taxi mafia is incredible.

Oh yeah! They elected new majors, in Phuket.

The winners had almost all the biggest/most TukTuk groups supporting them.

It is family, Police, Municipality, TukTuks, ....

[Marc26]

8 minutes ago, Ksmui said:

What the relative value of something is and being ripped off are not synonymous- yes taxis are cheap compared to other countries. However when the posted rate is 800 to Patong - clearly written on a sign and the taxi “government” expeditor refuses to call a taxi for less than 1200 - I’d define that as a rip off 

I've never had that happen in 100x landing in Phuket

You land, walk to the desk and pay what is clearly advertised

 

 

[Marc26]

5 minutes ago, Guest1 said:

Lets see, the "taxi" from that driver has white plates with black letters/numbers on it?

let's see.............i am not a whining c*nt

I am on holiday and find a nice person to drive us in a nice car for a reasonable price

 

I could give zero fcuks if his license plate is black, white, orange or green   :)

 

All you people do is look for problems to whine about

[BIGGLES]

18 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

What an absurd post........

You're correct!

Fancy dragging a sprog around and looking for sympathy.

Can't be ar..d with them or their parents!

Go to Benidorm where the ankle snappers are catered for. 

[Guest1]

4 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

That 45min trip is 90min r/t if they don't get fares going back

Oh, that is another problem:

They are mostly NOT ALLOWED, to pick up people. Which is the reason for this incredible oversupply on Taxis, TukTuks, Mini busses. Which makes it necessary, that a driver can "survive" from one ride a day. And get rich, in case he is at the right taxi stand!

In your country, are taxi driver earning more as doctors? Or University professors. In Bangkok they don't. On Phuket, however, it is (was) very possible!

And the tourists, who are coming to Thailand for a cheap  holiday, they are feeding this with just paying it. What happens to the good old "thing", informing yourself about the destination you are travelling to? In times of the www it is even easier. And can at least be done on the airport, with free wifi on the phone.

 

[Marc26]

2 minutes ago, BIGGLES said:

You're correct!

Fancy dragging a sprog around and looking for sympathy.

Can't be ar..d with them or their parents!

Go to Benidorm where the ankle snappers are catered for. 

It is amazing how dumb some people are on this forum.............

[Marc26]

1 minute ago, Guest1 said:

Oh, that is another problem:

They are mostly NOT ALLOWED, to pick up people. Which is the reason for this incredible oversupply on Taxis, TukTuks, Mini busses. Which makes it necessary, that a driver can "survive" from one ride a day. And get rich, in case he is at the right taxi stand!

In your country, are taxi driver earning more as doctors? Or University professors. In Bangkok they don't. On Phuket, however, it is (was) very possible!

And the tourists, who are coming to Thailand for a cheap  holiday, they are feeding this with just paying it. What happens to the good old "thing", informing yourself about the destination you are travelling to? In times of the www it is even easier. And can at least be done on the airport, with free wifi on the phone.

But airports are more expensive all over the world

They have to pay concessions to the airport to operate there

 

I think taxis on Phuket are way too expensive, but I just don't see $25usd for 45min ride from the airport as anything I am going to stress over

[Guest1]

12 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

let's see.............i am not a whining c*nt

I am on holiday and find a nice person to drive us in a nice car for a reasonable price

I could give zero fcuks if his license plate is black, white, orange or green   :)

All you people do is look for problems to whine about

Not a whining c*nt but part of the problem, mate.

There are about 3-4k licensed taxis on the Island. Plus about the same amount of "nice person to drive someone in a nice car". Which often ARE Tuk Tuk/"Limo" drivers, renting out their yellow plated, legal "taxi". That actually is the reason, they not getting in trouble with other drivers!

[BIGGLES]

30 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

It is amazing how dumb some people are on this forum.............

I know, after 36 years of coming to  Thailand and  a stint living here I am constantly amazed at the numbn nuts. Oh for the days of: I love you long time, you are handsome man!

I still got change out of 1000 baht. All before the numbn nuts found the place.

[oldschooler]

Phuket Airport Taxi Prices, there and back are Fair, Fixed, Competitive, Posted & CHEAP. No Need for Meter.

After a 16 hour air trip, 1000 baht for personal taxi airport to Kata home used to be blessed relief…..

 the “tuk tuk “ in -town taxis which are or were unofficially 200baht for in town trips so quite cheap & convenient when moving small groups around.

problems arise when tuk tuks start aggressively overpricing in town & for inter town travel……..this was the biggest single factor in non- driving tourists not returning to Phuket. 

[Marc26]

2 hours ago, oldschooler said:

Phuket Airport Taxi Prices, there and back are Fair, Fixed, Competitive, Posted & CHEAP. No Need for Meter.

After a 16 hour air trip, 1000 baht for personal taxi airport to Kata home used to be blessed relief…..

 the “tuk tuk “ in -town taxis which are or were unofficially 200baht for in town trips so quite cheap & convenient when moving small groups around.

problems arise when tuk tuks start aggressively overpricing in town & for inter town travel……..this was the biggest single factor in non- driving tourists not returning to Phuket. 

I agree 100% on this

 

Well said.......

[MikeV]

Given that Phuket is full of the people posting this drivel  along with a taxi mafia I can't see any reason to visit. There are so many wonderful places without either here. 

[Faraday]

6 hours ago, BIGGLES said:

No sympathy for you, leave the ankle snapper at home. Thailand/Phuket is big boys playground!

It's not very nice to refer to another person's child in this way.

You should apologise.

[BIGGLES]

17 minutes ago, Faraday said:

It's not very nice to refer to another person's child in this way.

You should apologise.

Ankle snapper/ sprog,  what's to apologise for?

I'm not  modern man or woke!

[Fundok]

8 hours ago, Michael0510 said:

On my last trips to Phuket the transportation from the airport was included in the hotel rate.

The way back it was exactly the „maximum price“, which seems to be the standard price as well. It was about USD 25 for a 50 minute/20 miles trip.

For a shorter trip from Manhattan to Newark airport I pay about USD 100.

So for me it‘s hard to see the big rip off in Phuket. 

Because you weren't ripped off, you lucky one. The fare to/from the airport is known and public/published. The rip-off happens when you grab a taxi and ask for a drive, say, from Patong to Rawai. Would you know what a fair price would be w/o a meter? No. And that's what many drivers know too.

[AussieBob]

8 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Good reasonable post

Although I don't know how people think paying $24usd for a 40-45min taxi ride from the airport is anywhere close to being ripped off

Because maybe they are not in USA??? 

[Sandbar]

I met this beautiful taxi driver in Phuket. Lovely lady. We established a mutual ' no strings attached' relationship. We enjoyed many enjoyable times over the years. She never over charged me for a comute in her taxi. We had some wonderful dinners together, and after the dinner she would drive me home always at the same fare. Ah the memories!!

[Marc26]

27 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Because maybe they are not in USA??? 

I wonder how most BM's ever have a good holiday

 

They are so stressed out over the most minor details......

[HiuMak]

3 minutes ago, Sandbar said:

I met this beautiful taxi driver in Phuket. Lovely lady. We established a mutual ' no strings attached' relationship. We enjoyed many enjoyable times over the years. She never over charged me for a comute in her taxi. We had some wonderful dinners together, and after the dinner she would drive me home always at the same fare. Ah the memories!!

nice dream

[AussieBob]

25 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

I wonder how most BM's ever have a good holiday

They are so stressed out over the most minor details......

I once met a happy American with lots of money - totally oblivious to the real world of ordinary people:

But then I showed him this and he began to wake up:

https://www.farandwide.com/s/worst-ways-to-waste-money-traveling-1adec7ecd2524cc2

 

 

[Soidog]

10 hours ago, Michael0510 said:

For a shorter trip from Manhattan to Newark airport I pay about USD 100.

That really isn’t the point at all is it. The $100 is the going rate based on running the business in NYC including salaries, servicing costs, taxation and other corporate overheads. The $100 isn’t a false price made up to exploit you as a tourist. It maybe high compared to Phuket but that isn’t the point. 

[Marc26]

20 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

I once met a happy American with lots of money - totally oblivious to the real world of ordinary people:

But then I showed him this and he began to wake up:

https://www.farandwide.com/s/worst-ways-to-waste-money-traveling-1adec7ecd2524cc2

Don't mistake me for someone who doesn't care if he gets ripped off, I have had many a confrontation(although try and be pleasant) over being overcharged

And I question and look at prices, just as anyone should......

 

But I also travel with some perspective 

And you get that perspective by comparing what you pay at home

 

If I landed in Phuket and they wanted $50-75usd for a 40min taxi ride, I would question it or find other alternatives

I am just not getting stressed over, what? $10usd because I think the 40min fare should be $15usd and not $25usd

 

And by the way, none of this is an actual "scam"

They advertise their pricing, if I felt it was too expensive I could take the shared mini-bus

 

I've lived in Patong and been coming for 18 years

I do think taxis are an issue on the island.

But I don't think the price for airport ride. although expensive to other places in Thailand, is that expensive.................

 

 

 

[Soidog]

10 hours ago, Marc26 said:

My point about BKK is that I feel it is too cheap

Too cheap based on what? Surely market forces dictate prices? If they are too cheap people don’t make profit and they don’t establish taxi companies. It’s how free markets work isn’t it. It’s not too cheap based on all the other economic factors within the country. It’s cheap compared to many other places, but Bangkok isn't many other places.

[Marc26]

6 minutes ago, Soidog said:

That really isn’t the point at all is it. The $100 is the going rate based on running the business in NYC including salaries, servicing costs, taxation and other corporate overheads. The $100 isn’t a false price made up to exploit you as a tourist. It maybe high compared to Phuket but that isn’t the point. 

So isn't the 800 baht a rate based on running the business?

 

People compared it to BKK airport taxi metre

Correct me if I am wrong but a BKK taxi can pick up anywhere in Bangkok? So that taxi that brings you to lower Suk can immediately look for new fares

 

Taking a Phuket taxi/limo, that car is most likely out of commission for the r/t 90mins to go back to the airport. They likely can't just pick up another fare in Patong

 

That time has to be accounted for

Then you have airport fees and other expenses