TAxi Mafiosos in Hua Hin

[usual suspect]

Any of you lot noticed the new 'no parking' signs outside the tailor shop
near the Tanawit as you go to Sunshine Internet?
The signs are home-made, and as I parked my bike next to the one
that is always there daily I got the "Noo-parKING,no parKING" from
a bunch of slobs laid out in deck-chairs.
Needless to say I think you know the verbal reply that duly followed...!

[nevets]

Yes and you come back and someone has run a key down the side.

[BaaBaa.]

Needless to say I think you know the verbal reply that duly followed...!

Was it "Yes sir Mr Scary Thai Man,I move my bike now,Mai ao pen rai,pom pai rayo rayo"

[usual suspect]

Come on BaaBaa...
...you and me both know the condensed version of your polite Thai
answer.
If its Thais that are tellin' me not to park then hey,They've more right over the situation than my humble self. But when its the slimey Indians tellin' me this...mmm?

[heretostay]

do as i do, and many residents do, dont ask the price first, get in the tuk tuk, when he get close to your soi, get out and give what u think is a fair price.

done this for 3 yrs only some abuse, but they get to know you going to pay normal rate only.

if we all stick togher and not pay the raised prices, they will have to give in eventually..

" I hope"

[BaaBaa.]

Or do as I do and stick with the same Tuk Tuk and ring him.

[elem]

It can be very annoying when the tuktuk drivers and taxis want to haggle about the price. My advice is to get the phone number of a few that you use regularly.
Just for your info; in Brussels the starting price is 2.40Euro, in Stockholm it's 3.90Euro - this is before the cab is taking you anywhere!

[chelsea]

In Perth it is 150baht plus another 50baht in charges for making a phone booking before you leave the drive way.

A 15-20min taxi trip into the city (appx 15kms) from my house will cost me between 1200-1500 baht dependant on state of trafic.
A 4min drive to the nearest pub will cost me 300baht in fare and charges.
They also have different charges before 6pm at night and then different ones after 6.00pm & all days on weekends.
At weekends they also have extra surcharges for cabs between 3 & 6am in the mornings

You have to expect rises in charges over in LOS as from what I can see petrol is much the same price per litre as it is here, but the wages and earnings of the drivers would be much less.
Also repairs and cost of parts for repairs will be high in relation to wages earnt in LOS

I find it very petty that both locals and holiday makers get so upset about people trying to make a living.
Try working a cab for a day and see what sort of shit that the drivers have to put up with, and you then may think twice when you haggle about a 50baht fare.

If you think about it a 5km each way fare will normally use at least 1 litre of petrol and with people there moaning about paying 40-50baht per journey, it is no wonder the drivers are picking and choosing their fares and are starting to charge more for fares.

Perhaps they read the papers and are now applying natural inflation to their fares.
I do not blame them, why should they run a business at a loss. Most also have families and children to support, so just think about that next time you try and haggle over such a small amount of money.

If you cannot afford the trip either drink one less beer & then you can afford the cab, or walk home. But do not take it out on the drivers, they are only trying to make a living.

[BaaBaa.]

Theres no such thing as a 50 Baht fair in Hua Hin though Chelsea, they wont move for less than 80 baht.

Absolutely pointless comparing prices to Australia isnt it?

Would you pay a Builder or Gardener the same wage here?

Bangkok Tuk Tuks are half the price and they have to make a living too.

[chelsea]

Baa Baa there were previous posters mentioning 40-50baht fares, not me, that was one of the main reasons for my comments.

Normally I paid between 100-150baht dependant on what time it was, and is not a problem to me as I do not have to walk home after a night out.

Baa Baa the reason I mentioned the costs here in Aus against what you pay there is because when your petrol is about the same price in LOS as it is here in Australia, plus parts for cars and repairs would probably be about the same as they are here. Then the price you are paying over there is very cheap, even at 200 baht a ride.

I often wonder how the guys that run the vans from BKK to HH ever make any money on the trips they do. At the most they can fit 15 people at a cost of 200 per person is a max of 3000 baht each way.

Those vans would probably do about 6 kms per litre, and roughly in fuel it would cost them about 1200-1500baht in fuel alone each way. When you take out wear and tear on the vehicle, running costs and the drivers wages, i bet they would be lucky to come out with making 500baht each journey.
Not every day will the vans be full, so I cannot see anyone becoming a millionaire running a van business.

Same goes for the taxis to the airports, most of my trips have been around the 2000 baht fare. If the guy cannot get a fare back, he will make a loss on that trip.

Also HH is not a 12 month a year visitors resort, so you cannot blame the guys for trying to make the most of their fares in the summer periods. There will probably be about 7 months a year when there is very little business, so at this time of year I can understand why they want to make as much as they can.

[fft100]

Chelsea,

If they were using Diesel, then your calcs might be right. But most of them use LPG, which is why they normally stop at same places every trip. Have a look at the meter next time they pay. Two weeks ago, it was about 300 baht.... I dont know how far that would take him or how full the tank was when he started filling up. I dont know even know how much LPG you need to go a KM, or even what it is measured in. I just looked at the refilling unit.


Perhaps someone has more info on this.

[chelsea]

FTT100 Never had an LPG vehicle so cannot comment on the economy of a vehicle fitted with gas.
Diesel over here is now a lot dearer than petrol (not sure about LOS), and also diesel vehicles cost a lot more to maintain.
Again cannot comment on the economy of diesel against petrol as I have never driven a diesel vehicle.

Most of the Tuk Tuk's i would imagine are petrol and because they are only small engines, would imagine not be able to run on gas.

[STEVE G]

Actually Chelsea most Tuk-Tuks in Bangkok were converted to LPG some years ago, in fact I think there may have even been some legislation to make them change. Everywhere else I imagine they still run on petrol.

[fft100]

Since Petrol is more expensive than Diesel over here, you would probably never see a petrol van. re. something else you wrote, i have always been in a full van. It may leave with a few empty seats, but will have arranged to pick up people on the way. never got past cha-am with a free seat in the van - am i unlucky ?

Can see no reaon why servicing Diesel engine would be more expensive than Petrol. In fact, Diesel engines are renowned for there long life spans - many 100,000's. One of the reaons why German Taxis like them so much.

Diesel is also more economical. look up equivalent engines for the same car in a car mag, and then look at the economy figures. Also look at the overtaking numbers - you should find that the higher torque of the diesel gives quicker overtaking.

regarding taxis in BKK. I think they are all either LPG or CNG (compressed natural gas). On reflection, the vans from HH could also be CNG as well. its about 8.5 baht per kilo. read somewhere it works out at half the price of Diesel.

[BelgianBoy]

It can be very annoying when the tuktuk drivers and taxis want to haggle about the price. My advice is to get the phone number of a few that you use regularly.
Just for your info; in Brussels the starting price is 2.40Euro, in Stockholm it's 3.90Euro - this is before the cab is taking you anywhere!

But In Bangkok the starting price is Bt 35 !
Meters in taxi anyone ?

BB