Bangkok Reports

[NicFrenchy]

Then the last time I was there, I tried GRAB. First time I saw a lot of taxis passing by before my Grab taxi finally came. Not bad but not much cheaper. I tried it once again. Firts he couldn't find me. Then a kind of ambulance (small type) arrived. I was shocked. But well, I had been waiting 20 minutes, so I got in. I saw a lot of Bangkok. Went to the wrong hotel. I complained. Well, we will drive you to the right hotel but you got to pay extra. Why?? I declined. He drove me anyway but I will not forget about that. He broke all rules but just drove too fast to cause a serious accident. Never again.

First, if it's not Raining, I always use Grab Bike. It's cheap and gets you where you need to go quick.

Second, I never use Grab Taxi, you get the same rundown cabs with the smelly farmers driving and trying to pull one on you.

Use Grab Car, they're regular folks, men or women using their own clean car to get you right where you want to go for a fixed fee. You can choose to pay via credit card or cash. It's easy.

Only pickle is they follow the GPS religiously so if you have a preferred route, best to tell them, unlike the taxis, they listen and follow.

[NicFrenchy]

400 baht. Roughly $12.

Soi Cowboy to Khao San Rd roughly 6 miles - 20/25 minutes.

That actually seems about right in American value.

Who gives a damn about American value in Bangkok? Would you pay 7 K ST because that's ok with American standards?

That makes no sense whatseover.

[Aster14]

They are processing based on earliest flight date.

Thanks, makes sense. Not sure how lively things will be but couldn't pass up the rates at SGS and Hilton in Pattaya.

[HorseTrader]

I recall paying roughly 85 baht from thermae (same area as cowboy) to khaosan.

That was for a taxi? You did well. About 1.5 years ago my Thai non-P4P girl arranged a tuktuk from Khaosan to Terminal 21 during rush hour. If I recall, I paid 100 baht. That was one wild and crazy ride that I won't repeat!

[Banana Boi]

400 baht. Roughly $12.

Soi Cowboy to Khao San Rd roughly 6 miles - 20/25 minutes.

That actually seems about right in American value.

I recall paying roughly 85 baht from thermae (same area as cowboy) to khaosan. Obviously it's not about the money it's about a taxi driver wanting to take advantage of farang by charging 4 or 5 times more because he believes that you are a stupid unknowing farang who will pay 400 baht.

[SexInStl]

400 baht. Roughly $12.

Soi Cowboy to Khao San Rd roughly 6 miles - 20/25 minutes.

That actually seems about right in American value.

[Explorer8939]

What's your average wait time for a Bolt car in Bangkok? In Pattaya?

Are Grab cars more readily available than Bolt?

I use Bolt a lot in Pattaya. They usually come in a few minutes, unless there is flooding.

[AmPervert]

Good to know if a lot of girl do bi-sexual activities.

We expect to find a true bi-sexual girl. Not a girl who does everything for money without liking girls...

Gop / Golf at Tulip is really bisexual. She lives with a woman.

Ying is really a pervert. I don't know whether she is truly bi. She really likes to get off and in that mind-space, she likes being serviced by a woman just because it gets her off.

[RacShack]

Even in Bangkok it may not be easy getting a metered taxi leaving tourist areas like Nana, Cowboy, or even Patpong, Walk a couple blocks then catch a taxi. If Sukhumvit is jammed try a side street heading towards your location away from Sukhumvit.

Yes there is always a trade off of the quick convenient taxi or tuk tuk vs. waiting in the heat for your Grab car. Taxis also know that if you are with a girl you're likely not going to want to look like a cheap ass negotiating over 100 baht more. Try catching one of those taxis on South Pattaya Road leaving Walking Street. Total scams especially when the baht bus is right around the corner.

Welcome back b. B, time for some useful information again! I do same for taxi tip when their honest, any input on apps that give you price upfront on app, grab, Uber, bolt, is their a similar one to indriver like in Colombia & where you can offer a price?

[Banana Boi]

I use Bolt when possible.

What's your average wait time for a Bolt car in Bangkok? In Pattaya?

Are Grab cars more readily available than Bolt?

[Banana Boi]

A taxi from Soi Cowboy back to my hotel near Khao San Road. Was quoted 400 baht. I kept asking others but couldn't find a better price than 200 baht.

Even in Bangkok it may not be easy getting a metered taxi leaving tourist areas like Nana, Cowboy, or even Patpong, Walk a couple blocks then catch a taxi. If Sukhumvit is jammed try a side street heading towards your location away from Sukhumvit.

Yes there is always a trade off of the quick convenient taxi or tuk tuk vs. waiting in the heat for your Grab car. Taxis also know that if you are with a girl you're likely not going to want to look like a cheap ass negotiating over 100 baht more. Try catching one of those taxis on South Pattaya Road leaving Walking Street. Pattaya taxis wait in line for an hour to get their ride so they want to make the most baht they can. They'd rather sit an hour for a 200-400 baht sucker instead of driving around waiting for people to wave them down for a ride. Same for Pattaya motorbikes. Pro tip - walk to the taxi at the end of the line who just dropped someone off and you will get a cheaper rate. Have your Thai girl negotiate for you. If she's hot it may lower the rate.

[BionicMan]

We used to have a Haven in Bangkok for new folks / first timers. The Livingstone's lodge (it's long gone now) but this was a great place to meet other mongers and ISG folks.

They had a small bar and the owner, the Infamous "Giotto" was always there to help you solve / guide you with any issue. I miss the Lodge. Especially the Roulade Sausage.

As long as it was the roulade, LOL.

Wondering what happened to the whole bunch, including Guido and his later German restaurant (where sausage was served) in Patpong.

[Explorer8939]

Have a 2 week trip booked for late Nov / early Dec, splitting time between BKK and Pattaya. I've submitted the required docs to the Thailand Pass system for exemption from quarantine, and received an automated email saying the result of the registration will be sent within 7 working days. Well it's been more than 7 business days now with no reply, has anyone else on the board gotten a response?

They are processing based on earliest flight date.

[Member #4733]

I took a taxi near Lumphini park. I wanted to go to my hotel near Khao San Road. He turned on the meter immediately. I saw Dusit! As I had been there the day before I recognized it. Arrived in about one hour. Cost was appr 100 baht. A taxi from Khao San Road to Soi Cowboy. I was quoted 200. Couldn't find one taxi that wanted to turn on the meter. I settled for 100 baht. The guy drove me straight and quickly to Soi Cowboy. No detours. A taxi from Soi Cowboy back to my hotel near Khao San Road. Was quoted 400 baht. I kept asking others but couldn't find a better price than 200 baht. Ok. I never had a ride like that before or after. Wow. 140 km / HR through Bangkok at night. No other cars, no danger. I had learnt my lesson.

Those three were on my first trip to Thailand. From then on I negotiate. It is quicker and more transparent. If someone wants to use the meter and give me a tour around Bangkok I simply decline. Fixed price and everybody is happy. Just learn to negotiate first. Even better than this. The hotel ordered a taxi for me. Straight to my planned point of arrival for little money. Of course you can do a detour around Bangkok and than tip him double or more. No problem. Taxi metres are a scam. In Russia it is worse than in Bangkok but in Bangkok too it remains a scam.

Then the last time I was there, I tried GRAB. First time I saw a lot of taxis passing by before my Grab taxi finally came. Not bad but not much cheaper. I tried it once again. Firts he couldn't find me. Then a kind of ambulance (small type) arrived. I was shocked. But well, I had been waiting 20 minutes, so I got in. I saw a lot of Bangkok. Went to the wrong hotel. I complained. Well, we will drive you to the right hotel but you got to pay extra. Why?? I declined. He drove me anyway but I will not forget about that. He broke all rules but just drove too fast to cause a serious accident. Never again.

[Aster14]

Have a 2 week trip booked for late Nov / early Dec, splitting time between BKK and Pattaya. I've submitted the required docs to the Thailand Pass system for exemption from quarantine, and received an automated email saying the result of the registration will be sent within 7 working days. Well it's been more than 7 business days now with no reply, has anyone else on the board gotten a response?