Be The Change You Want To See

A few famous scams in Bangkok, Thailand are the taxis and Tuk Tuk's. 

TAXI SCAMS

PROBLEM:

Taxis from the certified airport taxi service will try to not use the meter.

SOLUTION:

The taxis at the airport require that you pay 50 baht for the service, plus tollways (which you can say "no tollway" to avoid), plus whatever the meter reads. The taxi will try to say the meter is broken and upon arrival will try to charge you upwards of 400 baht for a 250 baht ride. For the taxi to operate at the airport it's meter must be working. Simply take a picture of the drivers name card located in the lower left corner of the windshield or on the back of the seat in front of you. Tell him you will call the airport taxi service to report him. If he tries to still cheat you upon arrival to your destination, ask the desk of your hostel or hotel what the usual fair is ( usually about 250-300 max since the airport is a bit out there) and offer it to the taxi.

Another solution now is to use the train straight from the airport. This is the most simple and best way to see the city from above right away. 

PROBLEM:

The taxis that sit parked on the side of the road next to tourist hot spots will always try to bargain with you and NOT use the meter. Trust me that no driver will ever bargain below what the actual meter would charge.

SOLUTION:

Simply step past them and flag down a taxi driving by on the lane net to the parked taxis. They will use the meter. Ask the driver if they will take you to your location, and if he says yes, simply get in and say meter if they don't press it right away.

PROBLEM:

Taxis sit outside late night entertainment places such as Patpong or RCA and try to charge you huge prices to get home. 

SOLUTION:

If you MUST use one because of lack of other taxis driving by then walk to the very front of the line of parked taxis. This may mean walking one block away from the hot spot for nightlife. The taxis at the very front of the line (often one block away) are more willing to be fair with a price, if not even using the meter or asking for a "tip" instead of using the meter. Example: A meter fair may be 80 baht, the normal negotiation will often be 200 baht. A taxi a block away may charge only a 100 baht "tip". So you spend 20 baht more than meter but 100 baht less for walking a block.

PROBLEM:

Tuk Tuk drivers tell you the temples are closed, or it is prayer time for locals therefore you can't get in as a tourist. This is simply not true. 

SOLUTION:

Check the gates and ask a few others where the entrance is. Unless it is way to late in the day, most likely the temples are still open.

PROBLEM:

Tuk Tuk drivers will take you to jewelry shops, suit shops, or any other shops before you get to your desired location because by doing so they get gas tickets from each of the places. So not only are they overcharging you, they are also getting even more from the shop owners.

SOLUTION:

If you have time on your hands negotiate a price with the Tuk Tuk driver that includes one stop along the way. 15 minutes of your time could save you 40 baht (what they get from the shops). 

PROBLEM:

Motorcycles although the fastest transportation and cheapest on gas often charge the most. Tuk Tuk drivers also charge high prices.

SOLUTION: 

Motorcycle taxis and Tuk Tuk drivers are a novel thing to try at least once while you're here, but for the budget traveler traveling alone, using the BTS sky train or the MRT train first, and taxi's second is probably the cheapest option. If you are traveling with 2-4 people then a metered taxi is by far the cheapest. You can get almost anywhere in Bangkok, even in traffic which is 24 hours a day it seems, for about 150-200 baht.