tuk tuk / taxi

[cotambear]

Transport options in Patong are limited. There is no bus service that goes around patong, or links patong with kata/kamala, or links patong with the airport.

Transport is dominated by the ubiquitous `tuk tuk`. However there is an alternative, and I`ll show you how.

There are two reasons why you should avoid tuk tuks.

1. Your Health.

A significant number of tuk tuk drivers drink on the job. Combined with the fact that there is little or no protection in the vehicle for the passenger, accidents are more common and more injurious.

A significant number also try and charge more than the price you had agreed. This can lead to arguments, threats and violence.

2. Your Wealth

The tuk tuk cartel has taken advantage of their near monopoly to charge extortionate prices. A trip in a tuk tuk in patong would cost you FIVE times the amount for the same distance in pattaya.

However, there is an alternative, the private meter taxi.
Perhaps paying regard for their own health there are no private meter taxi stands in patong. So how do you use them?

The Cunning Plan.

1. When you exit the doors of phuket airport, take a deep breath and walk straight ahead through the throngs of touts trying to get you in the expensive limos. Walk for about 120 yards and you will come to a line of meter taxis.
Walk up and down the taxis and get the contact cards from the drivers. 4 or 5 should suffice. Get a taxi to your guesthouse.

2. You can use these contact phone numbers to get a taxi when you go to and fro to nightspots. You can ring the taxi from your guesthouse lobby, but it poses the problem of how to get back - are you forced to use a tuk tuk?

3. You could make an arrangement with the driver to pick you up somewhere at a certain time, but thats cramping. Heres a more elegant solution.

Bring your mobile phone and buy a local sim card (cost about £5). Top it up with a local pay as you go scratchcard, enter the taxi drivers numbers, and you`re in business, and can ring anytime you need wheels. The phone also doubles as a good way to keep in contact with any ladies you might meet.

It is also worth remembering that taxis provide excellent rates for all day hire.

Well there you go. A simple solution, but they are the best. I humbly submit this to be considered as a `sticky` to help future travellers.

[faultytowers]

Can see one drawback , when the meter taxi is spotted repeatedly picking up customers from guesthouses/hotel he is likely to get a 'visit' from the tuk tuk boys , pointing out the error of his ways.

[Captain]

Think a lot of tuktuk drivers don't drink as they are muslim and some even have their wife with them in the car.
Outside my hotel there are always "taxidrivers" waiting, same at other hotels and places in Patong. I got their mobile number and get transport that way.