If you're a tourist in Bangkok, Thailand, here is some advice about taxis.

General Principles

• Once they have ascertained that you are a green tourist, some taxi drivers, no matter what sort of vehicle they drive, will increase the estimated journey cost by at least double. This is only to be expected. In relation to the taxi drivers of Bangkok, you are a millionaire. However, you are not there to become totally broke. Haggling is a national pastime in Thailand. You must become proficient at it.

• Taxis in Bangkok get petrol coupons for stopping off at 'places of interest' along the way. You may not be as interested in these places as the taxi driver. Common places may include temples, but are more usually gem shops and tailors, selling jewellery, dresses and suits at very 'special prices'. If you have to go to a specific place, and you have to go in a hurry (eg, the airport, for your flight home), make sure the taxi driver is made very aware of this.

• Before you set off, if you are (for whatever reason) unhappy with your particular taxi, simply get out. If the problem was the extortionate fare, it will rapidly decrease as you walk away. If the problem was something else, do not worry. You are in Bangkok. Every vehicle you can see is a taxi. The phrase 'there will be another one along in a minute' has never be so apt. Usually, there will be another five within seconds of you departing the previous taxi.

Different Types of Taxi

There are three different sorts of taxi, all of which have positive and negative aspects.

Hotel Taxis

These are ridiculously expensive. However, they are reliable, and you don't feel that you're going to die before reaching your final destination. A good choice for travelling to the airport.

Meter Taxis

Not too expensive if you haggle, even better if you can get them to use the meter. Most meter-taxi drivers will tell you that their meter is broken. However, it can usually be magically fixed by the simple action of you departing the vehicle. Meter taxis are not so reliable as hotel taxis - they get lost - and they weave through the traffic like a student after a good night out.

Tuk Tuks

Onomatopoeically¹ named, tuk tuks are motorised trikes with one or two padded back seats. They can be very cheap, but with cheapness comes the risk of losing a limb, or your life². However, don't be put off - they're also fun! The main problem is that while hotel and meter taxis have air-conditioning, in tuk tuks you end up breathing the delicious Thai air, which is so polluted you can cut it up into chunks, and then squeeze the humidity out of it. Tuk tuks are the best form of transport for short distances. It is essential to haggle with the tuk tuk drivers.

Haggling

When you hail a taxi in Bangkok and tell the driver where you want to go, he will a) shake his head, b) make a clicky noise with his tongue and c) say 'Oooh, that's far, verrry far'. He would say this even if you could reach your intended destination by the simple action of crossing the street. He will then suggest a very fair price. However, the price would only be very fair if you had asked him to drive you back home from your holiday, including the petrol required. This is a generalisation, but very few journeys in Bangkok should cost more than 100 baht. Most should be under 50 baht³. If you think you are being ripped off, simply walk away. The price will plummet with every step you take. Then turn around and offer even less. If he accepts, you may still have been ripped off, but at a greatly reduced price! If he declines, accept his previous lowest offer. Unsurprisingly, the taxi drivers charge more around popular tourist areas.

Courtesy

As you are reading this, it is assumed you either have enough money to purchase a personal computer, or can afford to get access to one. You are therefore astronomically better off than Bangkok taxi drivers. Tip them, even if it's just a few baht. This may be a small amount to you, but it's a lot more to them.

Enjoy Bangkok.