Phuket Tuk-Tuk Boss: Aren't You Afraid of Me?

[LivinLOS]

Phuket Tuk-Tuk Boss: Aren't You Afraid of Me? - Phuket Wan

[Benjy]

It does amaze me, why on Earth should Karon to Patong cost 400 baht.

Also I don't believe for a minute that tuk-tuks cost 1.2 million baht.

[Crazy_Matt]

I would like to know members ways of paying the least as possibl when it comes to Phuket TUk TUk.

[Benjy]

don't use them!

[Crazy_Matt]

easier said then done sometimes

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by Benjy

It does amaze me, why on Earth should Karon to Patong cost 400 baht.

Also I don't believe for a minute that tuk-tuks cost 1.2 million baht.

The missus laden down with shopping got quoted 350 Baht to go from Jungceylon to our apartment up the hill opposite Simon Caberet, the driver said it was so much because he had to climb the hill, and thats for a Thai, cnuts.

[LivinLOS]

Bee had a major set too with MB taxis on the Kathu journey recently.. In fact MB taxis now cost about what tuk tuks did back when I first came.

Theres an interesting phuketwan listing the islands complaints also.. Pull no punches style that the gazette can only dream of.

[georgehandsome]

phuket is digging its own grave I am sorry to say, outlets and malls, and no transportation to a resonable cost, the wifes from Town, thats the only reason I go to phuket, I`d rather go to vietnam, and lately the wife too...... all u divers, have u seen the shit thrown from the cliffs down in the sea??? scary, and who will take care of it??? VOLONTEERS.... shit, without volonteers tajland wouldnt work at all.....

[Benjy]

funny you should say that, I cant believe how busy Tescos, Central etc... are.

[billpay]

1.2 M??? Only a couple of years ago they were about 300K....new.

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by billpay

1.2 M??? Only a couple of years ago they were about 300K....new.

They start with a Toyota Fortuna and chop it down 5555

[Crazy_Matt]

Originally Posted by Soupdragon

They start with a Toyota Fortuna and chop it down 5555

LOL .. wonder if I could pack a couple of containers full of old Hi-Lux and send over..

[Simbo]

Reason it costs over 1 million is the bribes to the cops, 'owner's association', licencing peeps, et al 5555555555555

[Freddy Slacks]

I'll never forget my first night in Bangkok getting suckered by a tuk tuk driver.. Was leaving the Muay Thai fights with some friends and jumped in one.. Told him to take us to a nice restaurant... (wrong move)... he said YOU LIKE SEAFOOD ? hell yeah... who doesn't... He took us to some back side street where they had a restaurant set up for noobs like us. I am convinced this place was just for tourists like us. I will not tell how much the bill was.. But it was crazy...... And we paid and learned a valuable lesson early in the trip.

Never trust the tuk tuk guy.... I'd rather walk

[Robaht]

Well, since a tuk-tuk is basically a modified Daihatsu Hi-Jet, I would find it very hard to believe that a new one like this one which costs roughly $9,000 US, plus shipping and insurance of $1,020, would then require an additional $25,000 USD in modifications and import/customs duties.

1.2 million baht? Sounds like a nice profit margin for Mr. tuk tuk mafia boss!

[11]

Originally Posted by Soupdragon

They start with a Toyota Fortuna and chop it down 5555

I think they use Daihatsu Hijet as the base: ~ 150k I found on taladrod.com for a 10 year old one.

µÅҴö´Í·¤ÍÁ ªèǤس«×éÍ¢ÒÂöºéÒ¹ ÃÇ´àÃçÇ.»ÅÍ´ÀÑÂ.äÁèàËÁ×͹ã¤Ã ... àÃÒ¤×ÍÈÙ¹Âì¡ÅÒ§¡Òë×éÍ¢ÒÂöÁ×ÍÊͧ¢Í§ä·Â

Even made it to a Wiki entry:-

Daihatsu Hijet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1.2 Mil is perhaps the price from Mr Don Somchai to be allowed to operate in his patch!?

[muddyhoop]

What a lovely smile he has, I would love to knock it off!!!!

[MassMoose]

I prefer Baht bus. Too bad it will probably never happen in Phuket.

[bassass]

thanks for that bit of info,i find it quite interesting

[georgehandsome]

Originally Posted by Benjy

funny you should say that, I cant believe how busy Tescos, Central etc... are.

yeah, central is full of rich thai businessmens wifes shopping til they drop.... and the tourists are just everywhere.... you`ve must have been there at get a free tv day!

[Dupree00]

Politeness courses are now planned for KT members, along with more emphasis on service and the safety of passengers.

[t0rn]

I think I've said before on here but it's all the hassle about transport that's stopped me returning to Phuket.
Cheap taxis, tuk tuks, etc is a feature of travel throughout SE Asia with the exception of Phuket (and probably Samui) - even taxis in Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago felt like a bargain compared to the cr4p you get from tuk tuk drivers in Phuket.

[Hobbsy]

Originally Posted by georgehandsome

yeah, central is full of rich thai businessmens wifes shopping til they drop.... and the tourists are just everywhere.... you`ve must have been there at get a free tv day!

you don't know what you're talking about. How can you even see from Stockholm?!

Tescos/Central is virtually off limits on a weekend as you can't park.

[Sir Burr]

This guy isn't a Phuket tuk-tuk boss.

He's a puppet of the real tuk-tuk boss who happens to own a large hotel next to the Karon Beach road.

[billpay]

Originally Posted by Hobbsy

you don't know what you're talking about. How can you even see from Stockholm?!

Tescos/Central is virtually off limits on a weekend as you can't park.

You are right......I won't go to Central on a weekend unless it's before noon. After that, forget it.

[billpay]

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

This guy isn't a Phuket tuk-tuk boss.

He's a puppet of the real tuk-tuk boss who happens to own a large hotel next to the Karon Beach road.

You mean to say he isn't telling the truth??

[Mai Chob]

For a bit over 400 baht you can get an a/c taxi , with seat belts (!) from the airport to Kamala.....that must be 10 times the distance between Karon and Patong.I hate it when an investigative report doesnt challenge the interviewee with facts like that....

[Dodger]

Ooops gonna buck the trend here, I've taken tuk tuk from Patong to Kamala a few times recently and the last few times they have dropped their asking price to 300, used to always be 400 with a load of arguing. Maybe things are on the mend????

[steve w]

but your the mayor,you should get a discount!
or maybe its just your kind face

[les1999]

This is why I go to Pattaya, or should I say Jomtien because from Jomtien to Patts by Baht taxi is about 15 mins and 10baht - thank you very much.
Why go all the way to Patong to get ripped off ......!!!!!!!

[africanw]

you can go from central bkk to the airport for 350 which is around 30 to 40 minutes travel. 400 is a rip off.

The taxis in bkk are also taking alot of chances now with trying to not use the meter. I know it always happened but seems to be more of it happening now. The wife does not take any crap from them through.

[MassMoose]

Originally Posted by les1999

This is why I go to Pattaya, or should I say Jomtien because from Jomtien to Patts by Baht taxi is about 15 mins and 10baht - thank you very much.
Why go all the way to Patong to get ripped off ......!!!!!!!

I agree with that. A major plus for Pattaya.

When in Patong I really don't explore the island much at least partly because I know I will most like get ripped off on transportation.

[Charger770]

Originally Posted by MassMoose

I prefer Baht bus. Too bad it will probably never happen in Phuket.

I like baht bus too.

[Dupree00]

It's a tourist trap beach area. And with anything else in a tourist TRAP area you pay more for everything because they have you on their terms. Mc Donalds, Starbucks, Stunners, whatever. That's life, that's business, that's Pooket.

[Benjy]

Well its a bit more than that, Mcdonalds is like 30% more expensive or whatever, I can get a Tuk-Tuk in Phuket Town at a cost more like 1/4 what the Patong buzzards charge.