Taxi

Taxi is a quick and comfortable way to get around town, at least if the traffic is flowing your way. All taxis are now metered and air-conditioned. The minimum fare is 35 baht for the first kilometre. Then the rates are as follow :

Fares (Baht / Km.)		Distance
5.00		2nd - 12th Km.
5.50		12th - 20th Km.
6.00		20th - 40th Km.
6.50		40th - 60th Km.
7.50		60th - 80th Km.
8.50		> 80th Km.

Surcharge of 1.25 Baht per minute for traffic congestion when taxi run slower than 6 Km/Hr.The rates also apply to trips to the provinces. A toll of 40 - 60 baht for expressway or tollway must be paid by the passenger.

Normally, most trips within major traveling destinations cost less than 100 baht. There are no surcharges (except 50 Baht from the airport), even at night; don't believe drivers who try to tell you otherwise. A red LED sign on the front window means that the taxi is available.

WARNING : When the meter is switched on you will see a red '35' somewhere on the dashboard or between the driver and you. Be sure to check for this at the start of the ride, as many drivers will "forget" to start the meter in order to overcharge you at the end of your trip. Most will start the meter when asked politely to do so (Meter please); if the driver refuses to use the meter after a couple of attempts, simply exit the taxi.

In some cases, late at night and especially near major tourist districts like Khao San or Patpong, you will need to walk a block away to catch a meter cab. The effort can save you as much as 150 baht. This is often also the case for taxis that park all day in front of your hotel. The only two reasons that they are there:

1) To take you places where they can get their commissions (Jewelry stores, massage parlors, etc) and

2) To overcharge you by not using the meter. Your best bet is to walk to the road and catch an unoccupied metered taxi in motion (easier than it sounds, as Bangkok traffic tends to crawl the majority of the time, and one car out of four is a taxi).

Avoid parked taxis altogether, and if a taxi driver refuses to turn the meter on, simply close the door and find one who will. If they say the meter is broken, a good tactic is to turn it on for them. Keep in mind that it is illegal for them to have unmetered fares. Be smart and give your money to honest drivers, not touts. The only reason they get away with this so frequently is because foreign tourists let them.

Be sure to either know the correct pronunciation of your destination, or have it written in Thai, as taxi drivers in Bangkok are notoriously bad at reading maps. Most hotels and guesthouses will happily write out addresses in Thai for you. While most drivers will recognize the names of tourist hot spots, even if grossly mispronounced, it is often difficult to properly pronounce addresses in Thai, a tonal language. If your mobile phone works in Thailand, it is sometimes useful to phone your hotel and ask the staff to speak to your driver in Thai.

If you're pinching pennies or fussy about your means of transportation, you may wish to think twice before getting into one of the (very common) yellow-green taxis. They are owner-operated and of highly variable quality, and occasionally they have rigged meters. All other colors belong to large taxi companies, which usually enforce their standards better.

On some routes, the driver will ask if he should use the Tollway - this will usually save a lot of time. You have to pay him the cost at the toll booth (not in advance, and not at the end of the journey). Watch the tollway fare at the price post and also watch how much the driver really pays, he may try to keep the change.

When getting out, try to have small bills (100 baht or less) or expect problems with change. Tips are not necessary, but are certainly welcome; most local passengers will round up, or leave any coin change as tip.

Tuk Tuk

This is a three-wheeled taxi without a meter or air-conditioning. Fares must be negotiated beforehand. They are normally a little cheaper than ordinary taxis and are suitable for short trips only.

WARNING : : These three-wheeled contraptions blaze around Bangkok leaving a black cloud of smog in their way. For anything more than a 5-10 minute jaunt or just the experience, they really are not worth the price.

On the other hand, you can sometimes ride for free if you agree to visit touristy clothing or jewelry shops (which give the tuk-tuk driver gas coupons and commissions for bringing customers). The shops' salesmen are pushy, but you are free to leave after five to ten minutes of browsing.

Visitors should beware though, sometimes one stop can turn in to three, and your tuk-tuk driver may not be interested in taking you where you need to go once he has his gas coupons. Also, with Bangkok's densly congested traffic it is sure to spend hours of your time.

In case you actually want to get somewhere, and you're an all-male party, be careful with the tuk-tuk drivers, they will usually just ignore your destination and start driving you to some bordello ("beautiful girls"). Insist continually and forcefully on going only to your destination.

Mortocycle Taxi

When traffic slows to a crawl and there are no mass-transit alternatives for your destination, by far the fastest mode of transport is a motorcycle taxi. Due to heavy traffic in rush hours in Bangkok,nowadays motorcycle taxis are abundant. Normally, a motorcycle station can be found at the entrance to a soi (alley). They typically wear colorful fluorescent vests. Fares are about the same as Tuk Tuks except during rush hours when they may cost a bit more. Some motorcycle taxi stations have their standard price to carry passengers to various places. If not, negotiate before you ride.

If you are not really in a hurry, you'd better avoid using them because they are not safe.

WARNING : Motorcycle accidents are brutally common, and many (tourists and Thai alike) consider transportation of this sort to be inherently hazardous. Motorcycle taxis in Bangkok should generally be avoided except as a last resort.

For the adrenaline junkie, a wild motorcycle taxi ride can provide a fantastic rush. Imagine weaving through rows of stopped vehicles at 50km/h with mere centimetres to spare on each side, dodging pedestrians, other motorbikes, tuk-tuks, stray dogs and the occasional elephant while the driver blithely ignores all traffic laws and even some laws of physics. Now do the same while facing backwards on the bike and balancing a large television on your lap, and then you can qualify as a local - though you might die in the process. Imagine your loved ones arranging to ship your dead body home from Bangkok because you took a dangerous risk you were warned not to.

The overwhelming majority of motorcycle taxis do not travel long distances, but simply shuttle up and down long sois (alleys) not serviced by other transport for a fixed 5-20 baht fare. These are marginally less dangerous, especially if you happen to travel with the flow on a one-way street.

The law requires that both driver and passenger must wear a helmet. It is the driver's responsibility to provide you with one, so if you are stopped by police, any fine is also the driver's responsibility. This is worth bearing in mind when you hire a motorcycle taxi. Make sure that if there are two of you, the hirer provides two helmets not one. When riding, keep a firm grasp on the seat handle and watch out for your knees.