Taxi drivers

Can't live with them, can't live without them... well, sure you could but the alternative (tuk-tuks) ain't great either. For your information, all taxis are equipped with meters, however there are many taxis that are normally parked outside tourist locations that do not use them. Avoid those taxis, as the normally do not want to use the meters and will charge between twice to three times the normal fare, depending on how rich you appear to them. Flag down a moving taxi instead, especially when you are outside areas such as Patpong. All that said, 100 B is only about US$ 2.63 which is probably less than the flag down fare in your own country.

A sample brochure from the taxi touts

"You want massageee???..."

Additionally, the parked taxi (and tuk-tuk) drivers are normally looking for an extra buck (baht) by recommending you to some massage parlor. The common ones are Atami, Angara, Cupidy, Halem or Mona Lisa (which are located along Petchaburi Road). If you go with them, you will undoubtedly end up paying an extra 500B for the massage which goes to the taxi drivers. These taxi drivers will not want to take you to Darling (on Sukhumvit Soi 12) or Annie's Sauna & Massage (Sukhumvit Soi 4) as they don't get their commissions from these establishments.

Fares: 35B (92 cents) flag down. Additional charge for Radio taxi : 20B

Tip: If you really want to visit these places, tell the taxi driver to take to some place close by to the massage parlors, and then walk there. For example: Mona Lisa. Tell, the taxi driver you want to go to Siam Hotel (Rong Raem Sayam), get off in front of the hotel, and then walk to Mona Lisa which is just next door.

When you're trying to get a cab, especially when you're getting out of the nightlife areas such as Patpong, Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy, do try to avoid getting the parked taxis, as those buggers will seldom use the meter. They will normally quote you some exorbitant price, normally no less than double the regular metered rate. However, there is an exception to this, and that's when it's late at night, and you're still planning to party and your intended destinations are the following: Mixx, Insanity, Bossy, or Spicy. These late night places, normally give the taxi drivers a referral fee for bringing you to those places, and normally part of the entrance fee goes to paying them. So, in those instances, you tell them to take you there for free, and they will gladly do that. So far, none has ever refused.