Tuk Tuk in Bangkok (video)
Those who visit Thailand for the first time may want to take a ride with a Tuk Tuk. It is one of the most famous icons in the country.
Before you do that, it is important that you know the rules of the game, otherwise you will pay far too much for this means of transport.
You hail a Tuk Tuk in the same way as a normal taxi, you raise your hand. You tell the driver where you want to go. Then you have to negotiate the price. A Tuk Tuk driver will always ask more than the current price. A counteroffer that is 50% lower can be a good start to the negotiations. In any case, the driver will have to drop by about a third of the price.
Remain friendly and smiling during the negotiation. Never raise your voice or show irritation, that is very rude in Thailand. If you can't get out, you can walk through there are plenty of other Tuk Tuk's. If the price is very low, then you should also be wary. He may then deviate from the route and take you to tailors and jewelry stores.
You should also take into account that a ride with the Tuk Tuk is not very comfortable. There are no seatbelts, space is rather tight and you are thrown around quite a bit. But nevertheless it is a special experience and you have the opportunity to take some nice pictures for the home front.
Video Tuk Tuk in Bangkok
Watch the video here:
[vimeo] http://vimeo.com/84458049 [/ vimeo]
Can very well remember my first trip with a Tuk Tuk.. My friend and I were looking for the MBK center, and were discussing this with each other with a map in hand (Dom! :P). We were approached by a friendly Thai, his friend could take us there! Well for 20 Baht we were willing to take a Tuk Tuk .. We were 3 meters on the road, when he already stopped with the story that if he let us have a look at a clothing maker, he would get receipts for petrol .. Well it was our 2nd day in Thailand, were not yet aware of the scams. We went to a tailor, very pushy people of course, luckily we were able to get away without buying anything.. Then he wanted to do the joke 2 more times, but we got him to just keep driving.
Point at the post, we were only 400 meters or so from the MBK center when we got on the Tuk Tuk, and this ride had cost us 45 minutes 😛
Tuk tuk is definitely a fun experience. My advice is to do it during the day. During a hard rain shower in the evening, I feared for my life. Overwhelmed driver, drove much too "fast". Must have had drugs on and at the destination he asked 2000 bath instead. Appointment 200. ended up paying too much 500, just to get rid of it. What do you care about those few rotten pennies. From now on, take a taxi in the evening (on the meter)
If you want to go somewhere with the samlor { tuk-tuk ), you have to know the way and know where your goal is. If you are not known in Bangkok or anywhere else, haggling won't help because you don't know if you're paying too much or not or if you're being scammed.
I have already said more about having a well-known Thai with you in such things.
Those who say 'I don't need that, I'll do it alone' will figure that out.
Over 40 yrs in this country.
Yes my experience with a tuk is always positive I like to go with a tuk tuk nice and fast through Bangkok especially the narrow alleys are fun to go through and you always see new restaurants where you can eat well. And yes it costs almost nothing .
Exchanged experience with Tuktuks. In Bangkok there are quite big mouths. Especially at the tourist hotspots. In general, the old bosses and ladies do a great job. No shopping, just from A to B. Still, I usually take a taxi in Bangkok. I'm quite tall and in Bangkok I have to fold myself in and out of such a thing.
Tuk tuk is fine outside of Bangkok. Dangerous in Bangkok, but mainly because of smog. You sit between the cars and. Canisters and all that puff out, you breathe! Taxi meter in Bangkok, my preference.