Tuk Tuk in Pattaya, Patong Phuket or Bangkok will always scam you. You should never take a Tuk Tuk if you can avoid it.
Phuket Tuk Tuk
In Phuket, all the Tuk Tuk drivers have to pay an extortion fee to one family who owns the license to drive Tuk Tuk in Phuket. You are free to open a taxi business in Phuket if you want and get a bullet in your brain the next day. Since they are only one company they put their own prices and I am sure you have heard about Tuk Tuk beating up family with children present. The government have tried different versions to get rid of the problem but the Bangkok Government do not really have any control over Phuket. Rent your own motorbike from your hotel is your safest bet avoid renting from the beach road.
Bangkok Tuk Tuk
In Bangkok the Tuk Tuk are famous for taking you to the wrong destinations by purpose and trying to sell you free tours to collect free money from Indian Tailors. Tuk Tuk you find in tourist areas are always trying to defraud you and are never cheaper than a nice air-cooled Taxi with proper meter. Some Tuk Tuk can be cheaper then taxi in China town and other market but only if you a Thai person with you. A Taxi in Bangkok will not pass the traffic jams and you will be stuck behind the cars with the fumes straight in the face, enjoy.
Pattaya Tuk Tuk
In Pattaya, they found a very good method with the Tuk Tuk working like local busses and the price is very good as well. However, if you want to hire the Tuk Tuk to go to your destination then the price will be something very idiotic. At least you can bargain with them and take another one. The Tuk Tuk is Pattaya controlled by the Police and off course protected by them. Some Tuk Tuk drivers are famous for beating up and stealing from passengers’ but not more than Phuket. The best and fastest way to get around Pattaya is to use your own bike or rent one. A big warning for taxi meters in Pattaya they are not real meters but look like one. They will say meter but then charge you prices up to 1000 THB in Pattaya, avoid at all costs.
One Response
Tuk Tuks have been pulling these scams for years. Why haven’t the tourist police sorted them out? Or are they getting a backhander not to?