Bangkok Taxis

Perhaps the easiest and most comfortable way to get around, if not always the quickest, is by the aircon taxi. These come in quite a few different colours though the green-yellow and red-blue ones are the most common. Bangkok has thousands of taxis, and finding one at any time is never a problem. The occasional exception to this is during a monsoon season downpour. By international standards they're very cheap too, the flagfall rate is 35B (0.85 US$ approx) including the first 2km and it's 5B/km after that. This means that even relatively long journeys, such as from Sukhumvit to the Grand Palace often aren't above 100B (2.5 US$). A surcharge is applied in traffic jams (1.25B/m when moving under 6km/h), meaning at night when there's not much traffic they're definitely the best way of getting around.

There's no exams that have to be passed to become a taxi driver in Bangkok, and so many have a less than encyclopedic knowledge of the city. Communication can be a problem with the majority of Bangkok's taxi drivers too. It's worth bearing in mind that many taxi (and tuk tuk) drivers are from Thailand's poor Isaan (northeast) region, are likely to be fairly uneducated and many speak little English. Even the ones that can will probably not be able to read a map that's written only in English. Although there are a large number Thai words that have been taken straight from English, they often come out with a distinctly Thai pronunciation that can be markedly different from the original (see the 'Thai-English' page.

Bangkok Taxi

The two tone green and yellow taxis are generally reckoned to be the best ones. These are driven by the owner, while all others are rented out by the day. Of course, everything really depends on the driver rather than the color of the car, and there's not really any major difference between any of them. All licensed taxis have yellow and black number plates. Tipping of taxi drivers is not really a Thai practice, though rounding the fare up to the nearest 5B or 10B is fairly common. Any more is not expected and not really necessary. If you're unlucky, the driver will sometimes claim to have no change to try and force you to leave a 30% tip or thereabouts - getting out to change money at a nearby store will often lead to him remembering where his change is kept.

If you aren't near any taxis, you can phone 1661 and order one to pick you up. This costs the meter fee + 20B.

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Bangkok Taxi Fares

What do you do if you have left your luggage in a taxi , is there a lost and found for green or green and yellow taxi's? i am very desperate, please help. lisa

lisa mchale

I am farang. My thai wife and me got a green and yello taxi on sunday. The taxi has on the drivers door I LOVE FARANG. My wife fogot her bag when we got out of the taxi i chased after him bt he kept going i was on my phone calling my wifes phone in her bag we stood and called for 30 minutes and got no answer. Next call it was answered and turned off. IT has not been on since. Lucky she only had her phone and id card in the bag, These can be replaced. It is the taxi driver i want. If you see this taxi get the number and call me 0835472915, if i can locate him i will take him to police.

ray paton

yes, i found taxis fairly good in BKK, on my last visit. but some drivers didnt know where i wanted to go and refused to take me. and a small number not friendly. but overall not too bad. better than taxis in sydney australia as well . i am surprised it is still 35 b flagfall, has been that for many years. must increase soon you would think. they are cheap, unless you use for long trips in BKK or often, a 1000b note will soon dwindle to nothing .

ken hutton

I would say the opposite: avoid the green and yellow ones as they are more likely to be well-worn with shot suspensions. Just look for the latest models, whatever colour, if there are plenty of taxis around.

I've just got back from Bangkok, lot's of taxi drivers, especially those hanging around near tourist nightspots, will try and tell you that the meter isn't used late at night and it's a standard 300 or even 500 Baht. If the driver refuses to use the meter, get out and get into a different taxi, they have to use them by law and most will. One experience I had was a taxi driver insisting it was 200 Baht minimum at night, when I argued loud enough for other taxi drivers to hear, one of the others came straight over and said "I take you on meter", and was as good as his word.

My experience for tourist like me, they always offer a price by distance without meter, I don't know why. If we deny they said NO NO and then gone ????? . It's not only poor service but it's exactly barbarous . May be some of them. For me I really don't like Bad Taxi in Bangkok.

umukun

We are a family of 5 pwersons, can we get in 1 taxi at at a time? or is the limitation of 4 passengers strictly applicable?

Georges

i forgot a black bag in a yellow and green taxi where do i call to get back the black bag i forgot in the taxi?

johnny fredriksen

could you please tell us hou much from bangkok airport to white orchid hotel and retun. thanh you

sieu tran

I hope to find some info about limousineservice companies who have 24 hour service I can order for pick us up very early in the morning in Bangkok and go to Bangkok Airport from my private adress.

Arne Osterberg

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