P.T. Taxi (and other great tips!)

[PigDogg]

I recently booked a buddy with PT Taxi from the airport to Pattaya for 1000 baht including parking and tolls. Good service. Friendly driver and he drove slowly as requested.

www.pttaxiservice.com

Their price to the airport is 900 baht which is OK but not the cheapest.

They have an office on 3rd Road where you can pop in and meet them. I was going to book my friend with Mr T but their office is a guy hanging out in an alleyway off Soi Diana and I felt better with what seemed to be a friendlier and more efficient operation.

Mr T is OK though, I've rode with them before.

But for afternoon arrivals, the Bell Bus works for me and drops you off right at your hotel.

http://www.belltravelservice.com/

[spare wheel]

I used www.pattayataxi.info this time and they were also 1000b incl tolls, and 900b incl pattaya--bkk
nice new car and clean and driver obeyed orders of drive as fast as you can amigo


SW

[azza33]

Bell is an underappreciated service - very efficient and convenient!

Give them a go instead of taxis!! And at the airport there is a good cheap eatery to relax and pass the time while waiting for the bus.

[katoeylover]

(spare wheel @ Feb. 24 2010,08:44) I used www.pattayataxi.info   this time and they were also 1000b  incl tolls,  and 900b incl  pattaya--bkk
nice new car and clean and driver obeyed orders of drive as fast as you can amigo  


SW  

Did you actually call him "amigo"

[manarak]

(azza33 @ Feb. 24 2010,14:57) Bell is an underappreciated service - very efficient and convenient!

Give them a go instead of taxis!! And at the airport there is a good cheap eatery to relax and pass the time while waiting for the bus.

where would that eatery be?

[PigDogg]

Azza is probably referring to the food court on the ground floor.

But there's also some low cost eateries on the mezzanine. While most of those eateries against the wall charge tourist prices, there's a bunch of places towards the railing where you can get 10 baht pork on a stick or 10 baht rice.

[farangbah]

(PigDogg @ Feb. 24 2010,16:07) there's a bunch of places towards the *railing* where you can get 10 baht pork on a stick or 10 baht rice.

(Admittedly) I'm often half asleep when I arrive (as with the ridiculous Japanese flight schedules), PD, could you explain in more detail . . . ?

[PigDogg]

I was struggling with a good way to expalin it. I'll try again.

There's a level in between Arrivals and Departures. On that level almost all
the shops are on one side with the other side overlooking a railing.

The side with lots of shops include a 7/11 or Family Mart, a Boots, a massage parlor, and various eateries. However, at one point, there's a bunch of stalls, overlooking the railing that are reasonably priced.

Or there's the food court on the lower level, but I've always found that unappealing.

[mardhi]

I fine it quite amazing how guys nickle and dime a taxi driver - yet back home pay probably 5 or 10 times the Thai price for a taxi ride of half or one third the distance - kind alike the guys who go to the departure level to save 50 baht fee. To drive 150 KM from BKK to Pattaya costs all of like $40 - i used to pay that to go from Manhattan to JFK. Wierd approach IMHO.

Cheers
mardhi

[PigDogg]

I never thought trying to save the 50 baht was a good idea.   It's not nickel and diming the driver who picks you up but rather cheating the drivers who are waiting in the queue.  The driver that picks up a passenger without having to wait hours in the lot is cleaning up.

I used to be a taxi driver in New York.  Was lots of fun.  Except waiting for hours at JFK or LaGuardia on a hot summer days in lots that reeked of urine.  my career change was an upgrade.    

I always tip well but try to keep costs down so even with my good tip I'm paying less than the guy who pays top dollar but is an average tipper.

Russians go into Noi's place for a foot masage and tip 20 baht on a 250 foot massage while I'll tip 50 baht for the same same foot massage on Soi Buakhaou that costs 100 baht.

[paulj92]

you are so right all that way for 20 quid never had a cheaper cab

[TTChang]

I have long been a recommender of Mr T Taxis. And don't mind calling in to their little office in Soi Diana to book my taxi (I could easily phone).  From BKK I usually book by email.

Their price of 1000 baht (all-in, for airport or BKK city centre trips) suits me as it's door to door.  On Motorway.  All tolls covered.  Reliable. Good drivers & clean comfortable cars.  They can do the price because they usually get booked in both directions.  Expensive compared to buses, but a bargain by UK standards (where I'd pay at least 5 times more for that trip)

BUT, the quality of service has deteriorated over the last 3 months. Last two trips from BKK my driver turned up late (in one case an hour late, although he kept me informed!)  And I've had to chase up for email responses on 3 occasions now.

Time for a change maybe? EDIT: I've just noticed that there is a tie-up between PT Taxis & Mr T Taxis. One of the guys pictured on the PT website is the guy I see at Mr T. Or a brother lookalike, and I'm sure I saw an advert for PT in one of the MrT cars ... I will check it out next month!

[stonefre]

My last use of Mr. T the driver was also late but he drove extra fast to the airport to ensure I did not miss my flight. Not sure I'd use them again. I'm not fond of the fast driving on this bumpy roads. My worst taxi experience was with one of the generics I hired at one of the many booths in Pattaya. My flight was at 6 am and my driver apparently had been up all night and was sleepy. He fell asleep at the wheel and nearly slammed into the back of a stopped truck. I normally like to sleep on the way to the airport but on that trip I was afraid to. If I had not awoken him I don't think I'd be here today. That was some scary shit.

[Guest]

Yep..been there stonefre

The taxi driver who fell asleep on me was one of those ancient characters stationed at the front door of the Nana Hotel, you know wearing navy blue short sleeve Dr No suits and looking like they had just been dug up

He was yawning his head off before we even got to the express way and then crash bang wallop he slams the old volvo into the central barrier

[kahuna]

(TTChang @ Feb. 25 2010,03:56) I have long been a recommender of Mr T Taxis. And don't mind calling in to their little office in Soi Diana to book my taxi (I could easily phone).  

I just used Mr. T for the third or fourth time for an airport run...Reliable and didn't drive too damn fast...

And I don't mind the little alley office either...

Although on the way in November I couldn't get a reply using his email address...