We hadn't been in Thailand for 10 minutes before we got scammed.
We were in the airport and I had just gotten some money out of the ATM. We needed to get to a cheap hotel called "D&D Inn" which was recommended to me by my buddy Ben from Brisbane, Australia.
There were some guys on the floor above us looking down at us saying, "Taxi!" So we went up to follow them to their taxi.
First red flag - none of these guys had any official taxi company logos on their shirts and none of them were wearing an official badge.
But I kept following them thinking that it's just done a little differently here in Thailand.
Second red flag - we got to the car and it was unmarked.
This looks shady as heck. I told the guys, "Look, this car doesn't say 'Taxi' on it." They ensured me that it was the official airport taxi, that's why. William had already put his bag in the trunk. A little hesitant, I slid into the back of the car.
Third red flag - all three of the guys that were taking us to the car got in with us.
That was it. Something seriously wrong is going on here. The car started to pull out but I demanded that they pull over and let us out. They acted all confused but eventually let us out.
One of the guys kept hassling me all the way back inside the airport. We eventually lost him though.
William and I got a drink of water and then headed back out to see if we could get into a car that actually said, "Taxi" on it with a single taxi driver.
We were met by some other guy who tried to get us into another unmarked car. I told him that I was only going in a car that said "Taxi" on it. So he took us across the road to several marked taxis. There stood the shady guy who hassled me into the airport. It was the guy's friend I guess.
He told us it'd be $20 USD to get us in D&D Inn. All we had were baht (Thailand's currency). He said, ok, just 1,500 baht then. At the time I didn't do the math, but 1,500 baht is the equivalent of $42. Rip off.
So we get in and the hassle guy got in with us. As the driver started to drive away from the airport the hassle guy started saying, "You pay now! You pay now!" We were like, "Dude, chill!" And then he made the taxi driver pull over and demanded that we pay $1,500 apiece.
I was like, "Hail-no! You told us 1,500 baht total, not 1,500 baht apiece." He wouldn't move until we paid. So, just to get out of the situation, we agreed to pay a total of 2,000 baht ($57 USD) which is way more than you're supposed to pay for a taxi here.
I gave him 1,500 baht and told him we'd pay final 500 baht when we got to the destination. He didn't like that deal, but he took the money and got out of the cab. Then the taxi driver took us to the hotel where we paid him 500 baht.
Then the taxi driver tried to hit us up for more money saying that he paid two tolls on the way over and we owed him 70 more baht.
I obviously didn't give him anything more.
A few tips when you travel to Thailand:
Get a random taxi off the street - not one that someone suggests to you. Insist that the taxi driver use the meter. If he say's it's broken, find another cab. Some taxi and tuk-tuk drivers will tell you that some special attraction is open today only for a special holiday. They're full of crap and trying to scam you. If you want to get from the Bangkok airport to somewhere in the city, it should cost around 600 baht ($17 USD).
it happened to me the same thing in Pattaya, when we got there we were looking for a ride to our hotel Chomtiene Inn, in Chomtiene Beach. These guys were rushing us to get us a ride on the Song teawl Taxi (there is no Taxi running in Pattaya area, only charter taxi if you want to get a taxi) they told us we have to enroll our name on the sheet before we could get on the ride and one dude told us to leave our luggage there at the bus station and we should walk across the street to sign in for the ride so i told them to phuck off.
-- Edited by SJCALSBM3 on Friday 27th of March 2009 02:32:40 AM
__________________
If your left leg is Thanksgiving, and your right leg is Christmas, can I visit you between the holidays?
becarefull you are so cute from us ! my god mother from saraburi she still scare everytime she went back ,sometimes you gonna get in fake taxi some thai peoples still talk about we are (lao kar bot xart) you know ! sometimes they are just bitching of us! don't go to bangkok come visit me at santa ana california lots of fun
Yes 56m ago. That's what I am talking about. Before we go see you in Santa Ana, we have to pass this hell first. Same when we come back from, we have to pass thru this hell first.
I guest almost every countries also have this case. For me, Bangkok is not that bad even if you know how to stay there, Bangkok can be paradise.
Here help and safe tips to go to Bangkok .
1. Bangkok is quiet good systems for communications. At airport they have Taxi point. If you use this service they will record Taxi details for you. You have to pay when you already arrive the place you want to go then just pay amount on Metor and 50 for airport service. Except you trollway that customer have to pay.
2. If you want easier way then you go to Car service companies IN AIRPORT ONLY. This case will charge more expensive, you can choose others company if you feel the one you ask too expensive.
3. Laos country also have people in this case also Thailand, people try to makes trickery money. They will ask customers especial forieners that they have car for you and alot of good and easier way you will get. Just don't go with this people and don't worry that you can't get taxi by yourself. Every where in Bangkok have alot of Taxi for you.
4. The best way if you don't know what to do next just go to Information counter they they will give you all details what you need even free map and useful documents.
5. Another way you can call direct to Taxi company (You can ask from airport information or you can see the numbers on Taxi) This is most safe there because the company will record Taxi number, Driver name, all details of taxi and taxi driver. If something happen you can complain to the company direct and they will respond if bad case happen.
Bangkok is safe place if you know how to be safe. If you are on the road side you can ask Thai people to help, they will say NO if they can't speak english but some one can help you.
I guest almost every countries also have this case. For me, Bangkok is not that bad even if you know how to stay there, Bangkok can be paradise.
Here help and safe tips to go to Bangkok .
1. Bangkok is quiet good systems for communications. At airport they have Taxi point. If you use this service they will record Taxi details for you. You have to pay when you already arrive the place you want to go then just pay amount on Metor and 50 for airport service. Except you trollway that customer have to pay.
2. If you want easier way then you go to Car service companies IN AIRPORT ONLY. This case will charge more expensive, you can choose others company if you feel the one you ask too expensive.
3. Laos country also have people in this case also Thailand, people try to makes trickery money. They will ask customers especial forieners that they have car for you and alot of good and easier way you will get. Just don't go with this people and don't worry that you can't get taxi by yourself. Every where in Bangkok have alot of Taxi for you.
4. The best way if you don't know what to do next just go to Information counter they they will give you all details what you need even free map and useful documents.
5. Another way you can call direct to Taxi company (You can ask from airport information or you can see the numbers on Taxi) This is most safe there because the company will record Taxi number, Driver name, all details of taxi and taxi driver. If something happen you can complain to the company direct and they will respond if bad case happen.
Bangkok is safe place if you know how to be safe. If you are on the road side you can ask Thai people to help, they will say NO if they can't speak english but some one can help you.
Hope you all understand my english... ^_^
I think so, it's a good idea. When I go aboard I found this problem same Thailand airport, so easy way you should contact information service department or taxi service of airport or taxi point. If you directly talk to illegal taxi maybe they will charge you and nobody can guarantee for your safety. Tourist police is the best way for you to contact or people who can speak english will help you about living cost or taxi price. The last before you request taxi or car service pls. ask them first about taxi price for make your decision that it's good or not good service..
You need to plan everything in advance. Where to go and stay and how to go there?
Now, no need to take some illegal taxi or somebody that you don't know. You must walk to get the taxi or the departure floor when you see some other customer leave a taxi then you just get in. Or go down to Arrival Hall then go out to the Taxi Counter they will ask you where to go and giving you a taxi number in a recieve. I always go that. The thing is you must pay around THB 50 extra-charge from the "Meter"
I think next month, Bangkok Airport Link from Suvannabhumi Airport to Downtown of Bangkok will be available so we just take that airport rail links to the City then change to other subway MRT or BTS sky trains or taxi meter taxi out there.
JUst go and enjoy your shopping and night life, man!!
Yes 56m ago. That's what I am talking about. Before we go see you in Santa Ana, we have to pass this hell first. Same when we come back from, we have to pass thru this hell first.
If you think you don't want to pass through the place you call HELL before you go some other part of the world, why don't you change direction to port in Vietnam instead? You have choices!!!
Or you prefered to pass through that HELL lather than Vietnam?
Vietnam airline is the best service to go to Lao ! I hate Thai airway i have very bad experienced whit them and also bad air port service! when they know i am Laotian they looked down at me very badly! even thought we're keep thinking Lao and Thai we're the same family brother & sister but Thai they're not thinking that ways so sad!
Vietnam airline is the best service to go to Lao ! I hate Thai airway i have very bad experienced whit them and also bad air port service! when they know i am Laotian they looked down at me very badly! even thought we're keep thinking Lao and Thai we're the same family brother & sister but Thai they're not thinking that ways so sad!
^^ because nothing about thailand interest me, ie...people, culture, food, language, customs....nothing of it. 70% of their people are high class wannabes.
Vietnam airline is the best service to go to Lao ! I hate Thai airway i have very bad experienced whit them and also bad air port service! when they know i am Laotian they looked down at me very badly! even thought we're keep thinking Lao and Thai we're the same family brother & sister but Thai they're not thinking that ways so sad!
Same as eles where in the world. Even in Hongkong, UK or USA. They always first look at the people in what outside you're wearing?
If you dress like those poor people and non-fashionable clothes, they will look at you..scaning you from your toe --> head--->toe again and just walk away.
I just want to ask you what they have look down on you? Any prove? Explain please.....
If they are airport officer saying something that lookdown on you. Why you make noise and complain? Get the name as showing on their name badge, Which department he/she work? location of the issue, date, time.
If you act stupid in front of them ofcos they might act cold heart to you. I don't believe you that you ask them something and they act in negative way and saying something to lookdown in front of you.
When I go Bangkok, I seldom go and ask for help unless I really need it then I will go and ask them at customer service counter. Bangkok Airport is so big, if you asking some airport staff, they may not know.
Don't forget that Thailand is well known for highly in hospitality services and I believed that those airport staffs are highly in education and have trained as professional in public relation.
As I always travel, Vietnam airline is one of the worse in flight service and old air fleet. That's why they never receive any world's air awards. But Thai Airways is the World's Top 5 Best Airliners. I always choose to travel with Thai Airways first to leave from Laos ( Eventhough I am Lao but I don't take our own National Airline but doesn't mean that I don't love Laos) I just want to stand in the middle and be fair
^^ because nothing about thailand interest me, ie...people, culture, food, language, customs....nothing of it. 70% of their people are high class wannabes.
^^ because nothing about thailand interest me, ie...people, culture, food, language, customs....nothing of it. 70% of their people are high class wannabes.
You know your comment is not constructive so rewrite it when you open your eyes.
I have been to Australia to study a few times, and every time i got there, i flew with "Thai Airways International" - from Vietiane to Bangkok, and bangkok to Melbourne (ALL the way there and back, i took the Thai Airways Intl"). So far i haven't found anything wrong with it! -the air hostesses/flight attendants were very nice to me and other passengers who were in the same flights. As someone said earlier, sometimes something wrong can happen, but we shouldn't take this too seriously! A Lao boy!
Wherever you go... even in your own country you need to be streetsmart. The anonymous is a victim of his own stupidity. He already notice red flags but still went for it. Remember, common sense makes wonder and always comes in handy to avoid trouble.
Vietnam airline is the best service to go to Lao ! I hate Thai airway i have very bad experienced whit them and also bad air port service! when they know i am Laotian they looked down at me very badly! even thought we're keep thinking Lao and Thai we're the same family brother & sister but Thai they're not thinking that ways so sad!
They might look down at only with you but I don't think they will look down at the whole country of Lao
don't go to bangkok 
