Bangkok Reports

[Beagleface]

Wow, you really don't need much do you? LOL.

Don't take things too seriously, just smile, refuse and leave, you can't blame the girl for trying.

I'm embarrassed by my weakness! I guess it depends on who is 'begging' for more. At fkk club a cuban girl (my only cuban ever) with great tits told me she was expecting a tip of 50 euro (on top of the 50 I'd just given her). But tips in fkk clubs are pretty strictly verboten--you pay for exactly what you get (50 straight screw, 100 CIM, 150 anal). So I was actually a bit angry at that girl for even asking for a tip.

But the thai girls, it is different--they are so poor and the extra 200 baht is hard to get excited about. What I really didn't like was her insistence--she just kept at it, wore me down. What can I say? Sucker farang.

[Bounce Around]

Hi guys,

Last time i was in BKK i noticed a exclusive looking (monger oriented club) at the start of Soi 51, i drove by it didn't catch the name, white building a bouncer and two greeters standing outside... anyone know of this one?

[Amjeck]

If you just accept the flat rate, then it drives up the taxi fares. It's the principle - never tip them unless they go beyond the call of service.

There is no need to accept a flat rate taxi fare traveling inside of bkk, unless you want to. There are plenty of moving taxis who will turn on the meter. Just be patient.

No need to tip them either, but rounding up to the nearest 5 baht is no big deal. Thais do this.

[Retired Army]

RA you sound like a bigger curmedgeon even than me.

I probably am.

However, when it comes to people trying to take advantage of me I can be quite an A-hole.

[NicFrenchy]

One thing I didn't like on the tipping front was at Annie's (which I do NOT recommend--girls are butt ugly). I gave girl 300 tip and she begged me in an unpleasant way for more, more, more. 500 at least she said. She wasn't even that good, kind of surly. Almost ruined my day.

Wow, you really don't need much do you? LOL
don't take things too seriously, just smile, refuse and leave, you can't blame the girl for trying.

[Beagleface]

It's more pricey every time you return because dumbs*^t tourists don't know any better and overpay for everything.

I figure what the Thai's pay and add about 10% Farang tax.

Add ons in taxis to/from airports are common throughout the world. Car rentals from airports (as opposed to a downtown location) almost always have an additional tax or two. I think in paris there's fees for putting luggage in the trunk, fees for departing even from railway stations (not sure about that one). But definitely from airports. If I remember, in vegas the fare starts at something like $3. 00 if you start from airport. So when the guy said 500, I just assumed it was the minimum. RA you sound like a bigger curmedgeon even than me. I told every cab driver to turn on the meter. They wanted 100 baht to go from soi cowboy to NP, I said turn on the meter, it was 40 baht or so, I gave the guy 60.

One thing I didn't like on the tipping front was at Annie's (which I do NOT recommend--girls are butt ugly). I gave girl 300 tip and she begged me in an unpleasant way for more, more, more. 500 at least she said. She wasn't even that good, kind of surly. Almost ruined my day.

[Fox Two]

Does it sound like these girls were playing me all along? OR did one of them actually intend to go with me and I just fat$ked-up by being indecisive? (And who knows what else I did or said to turn them off)

Your thoughts please.

Thanks

Monopoly,

Sounds like either of the two girls would have gone with you if you had made it clear early which one you were interested in. It's okay to take your time, but as you obviously witnessed, taking your time also means giving another guy a chance to make a bid. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. As for the 27 yr old, I bet she would have been happy to go with you if you had offered more, but negotiated for a longer stay, better service, msog or something else. Lowest price shouldn't be the only defining point of your negotiations. At least the cost of this lesson was just the price of a meal and a few hours of your time.

Cheers,

F2

[Mangofan]

It's more pricey every time you return because dumbs*^t tourists don't know any better and overpay for everything.

I figure what the Thai's pay and add about 10% Farang tax.

Exactly. Guys, do NOT fall for the taxi scams! Don't be afraid to argue with these scum. If you just accept the flat rate, then it drives up the taxi fares. It's the principle - never tip them unless they go beyond the call of service. I never tip the taxi driver - especially when I take one from one of the tourist areas. I always carry about 15 baht in 1 baht coins around with me. If I give him a large bill and he refuses to change it, then out come the 1 baht coins and I pay the exact amount, rather than rounding up to the nearest 5 or 10 baht.

[Easy2007]

Lol

Thats kind of like the camels at the Pyramids. The owners tell all the tourists "sit on camel free, take picture free". And when the mugs are sat on the camel and 2 metres in the air they get told "now you pay to come down. Up free, to come down you pay".

My Thai wife told me about a taxi scam where travel agencies will advertise a really low price to take tourists to an out of the way tourist trap, e.g., Tiger Temple, Elephant farm, etc. Once you arrive they want ten times the amount to bring you back to the city. You are stuck in the middle of nowhere and don't speak Thai. What do you do?

[Retired Army]

My Thai wife told me about a taxi scam where travel agencies will advertise a really low price to take tourists to an out of the way tourist trap, e.g., Tiger Temple, Elephant farm, etc. Once you arrive they want ten times the amount to bring you back to the city. You are stuck in the middle of nowhere and don't speak Thai. What do you do?

[Retired Army]

Does it sound like these girls were playing me all along? OR did one of them actually intend to go with me and I just fat$ked-up by being indecisive? (And who knows what else I did or said to turn them off)

You had a "learning experience" and it only cost 800 THB. Next time you will know better.

[Retired Army]

I had the taxi driver turn on the meter going from NP to the airport. The meter said something like 300, but he asked for 500 in a way that made it seem like there was some kind of 500 minimum. It is hard to get worked up what amounts to 4 pounds difference--means almost nothing to me but a lot to him. I didn't see the benefit in arguing, especially since I would have tipped him at least another 100 on top of the 300.

Having said that, the bills do add up. I tended to do Nataree or Angel massage at 2500 baht in the afternoon, and then some more girls at night, another 2000 or 4000 baht. Are prices coming down with the recent troubles? I'm returning mid Fed for more fun, wondering if maybe it will be a little less pricey.

It's more pricey every time you return because dumbs*^t tourists don't know any better and overpay for everything.

I figure what the Thai's pay and add about 10% Farang tax.

[Retired Army]

Remember that I have been going to BKK since 1972 when only Tuk-Tuks or Trishaws were available.

If a taxi driver does not know where Sogo (now closed) or ZEN is he better change his job

You made some good points about taxis in BKK

However, taxis were readily available in BKK in 1972. Toyota Corollas mostly and you had to bargain and establish a price before getting in the car. Bicycle samlars were on their way out, but could still be found in some parts of town for local transportation only. Now replaced by motorcycle taxis.

In 1972 tuk-tuks were mostly modified motorcycles mated with the back of a samlar.

If one wanted to go to Sogo's or Zen at the World Trade center all one would have to say was see yak Erawan. Which is the four way intersection at the Erawan Shrine. A poor taxi driver who picks rice in Korat and drives a taxi in BKK during the dry season wouldn't have a clue about Sogo's or Zen.

[Retired Army]

Under no circumstances should you pay an un-metered fare without haggling. TOPS, maybe 250 bht from MoChit to KaoSan or Nana. I will tip generously if this guy is in backed up traffic

Normal fare on a meter would be about 100 THB.

[Bounce Around]

Your thoughts please.

I'm sorry to be the calous one here, but I think you got taken advantage off by yourself and not necessarily the girls.

I mean (by your writing) you meet a pair of potentially non-pros on the street who want to get a drink with you (they take you to BG, which puts them in the FL category potentially, but did you agree to take them or did they drag you kicking and screaming? ) then it took you 4 hours to either close a deal or get wise while they ordered more food. I once (early in my monger career) followed a tout to a sham KTV in shanghai and knowingly got what I deserved. That was a scam and I can't complain as I thought I could beat the system; Similarly your case just reads as if you willingly let them order food and drink without discussing business. I mean what does one talk about with two strangers of all places at BG with two thai girls with so-so english?

All in all the bill was not bad (I mean sham wise, if you want to call it that), they just had a meal that you implicitly agreed to buy them. Like buying any lady drink in a bar. Doesn't guarantee you action, and your education cost a lot less than those so called gentlemens clubs and you enjoyed the company of at least one very hot looking girl for 4 hours. Sounds like you just have rejection remorse from a potential freebie threesome which you thought you had coming. IMHO

Never had much of a problem with taxis in BKK (had more problems in DXB), especially since I read one of the members here say he pays the tolls from his pocket and gets back the change from the driver, rather than later having the driver claim 'x' amount of money from a newbie. Once from the hotel to the airport I had the bell boy call me a cab, this was one sitting outside the hotel, I didn't realize it would be an off-duty cab with no meter. Once my bags were in the back and we were on our way I realized that the meter was off, and the guy wanted 500 for the ride. Then I noticed that the cab license picture was not even the same guy, got me worried, but I didn't want to get out in the middle of the streets with my bags, further the dilemma was even if he stops the cab, he could make away with my bag, my backpack I always keep with me and it has the important stuff, but I made the decesion to stick with it as long as we were headed in the right direction. Eventually talked him down to 300 and no toll road (I know I probably paid more than I should have) but got to the airport in plenty of time safe and sound. Chalked it up to lesson learned. Now no meter, no me and always get the toll reciept or pay cash myself.

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