Taxi from new airport

[haze69uk]

Hi I'm finally getting into LOS again after missing it so badly for two years, on the 25th. I was just wondering about the new airport and getting from there into town.
I plan to stay at the Majestic on the Sukhumvit and wondered how much a taxi from the new airport there should cost, with tolls etc. I used to get some vastly varying offers from out the front of Don Muang but 500thb used to be about fair.
Can anyone help with what i should be paying these days?

Many thanks

Haze

[rxpharm]

Cost should be around 300 Baht (taking a public taxi - not a private limo/taxi), which would include a 50 Baht airport surchange on top of the metered rate. No need to ask for the expressway as it doesn't make as much difference coming from the new airport as it did from the old one, so you save another 40-60 Baht there.

Keep your eyes open for where the public taxis are located - as of my last trip (Aug), they were down 1 level from arrivals. There was some talk of relocating them to the main arrivals level, but I think the private taxi mafia touts won out for the time being.

[stogie bear]

If the driver is using his meter it will be the same for both Thais and Westerners. If you have to haggle for a fare there is every chance the Thai will get the better price, but not always.

As for the price itself, it can depend on various factors such as where in Bangkok you are going to, whether you use the expressway, the time of day you go at, etc. During rush hour it can be a long drag even on the expressway and work out quite pricey. At night it can be a very clear run and turn out to be very cheap.

By the meter it's about 300 Baht and by negotiation probably more like 400 to 600 and you pay tolls! I've never had problems catching a taxi on the departures level drop off area and almost all are willing to use the meter.

[Road Runner]

500 Baht form Don Muang!...... they saw you coming  
Don Muang to Nana was about 225-240 Baht + 50 for the airport tax + 80 for the expressway = 335-350.
They were collecting 150 Baht off you each time for nothing!

As the replies say above it should now be about 300 Baht and I agree forget the expressway as it will only make about 10 minutes difference on a bad day and probably nothing on a good one.

If you want to save the 50 Baht airport tax go to the departures on the top floor and hop in a taxi that's just dropped off.

RR.

[Stewart]

290 Baht on the meter 2 nights ago, and that was with big jam at Sukhumvit.
Normally 220-230 on the meter, 50 Baht airport surcharge, 65 Baht expressway tolls
This is the official public taxi rank 1 level down from arrivals

You will get dozens of private limo/taxi touts trying to divert you away from getting to that public rank, including "no, public taxi rank this way...blah blah".

If a tout is particularly irritable, and I am not in a hurry, I will chat and haggle for a few minutes so he loses other time looking for other victims, tell him it my first time in Thailand and need to go to a place called, I think, Bangkok or something like that....watch him lick his lips....then ignore him and take the public taxi!!!

[bangkoksins]

Just go up to arrivals and get a taxi from there. Avoid the queues and get a no probs taxi. Just pretend to know what you are doing,

[stogie bear]

Just pretend to know what you are doing...

Words to live by!

[rxpharm]

I think bangkoksins meant go up to "Departures" not arrivals, as the private taxis are camped out on the arrivals level and the public taxi queue is one level down.

In this case just flag a taxi that just dropped off a fare at the airport and avoid the 50 Baht airport surcharge. Insist on the meter rate, and as mentioned there is no need to take the tollways from the new airport.

[Guest]

Excuse me, but you fly to Bangkok from another country, perhaps $1K USD or more, stay at a 4 star hotel, plan to spend about $50/girl each night or so, so what exactly is this question about $9 for a taxi for? You want to be sure you don't pay $10 for a $8 - $9 fair?

[stogie bear]

Well, that's a fair point I suppose, but no-one wants to feel as though they are being taken advantage of whether it's for a dollar or ten! It makes sense to know roughly what you should be expected to pay because it makes negotiating a lot easier.

But in the end, like you say, what's a couple of bucks. By the time you've stressed yourself over the cab fare it'll be time to spend 135 Baht for a bottle of cheap beer in Obsessions!

[Night Stalker]

On my next visit i wont be staying in bangkok, but straight off to pattaya. Can i book a taxi in advance or will i be able to find a driver that wants to do the journey at a reasonable rate

[rxpharm]

Squirly, there is a post that covers most of this right here:

Taxi to Pattaya

In addition there are some bus services you can take as well. It seems Mr. Toom's offers a reliable service for around 1200 Baht.

If you are staying at Pattaya Bay Resort, they also offer an airport pickup for around 1200 Baht as well.

Hope this helps!

[bangkoksins]

I think bangkoksins meant go up to "Departures" not arrivals,

Yup. Departures is what I meant.

I always go up there as you never have to wait and can even choose who you go with (taxi I mean).

Never ask for the meter (unless he starts off and does not turn it on after a couple of minutes), and just ignore any driver that gives you a price.

The 50 Baht I saved from going downstairs to arrivals is given as a tip to the taxi.

[stogie bear]

Never ask for the meter (unless he starts off and does not turn it on after a couple of minutes), and just ignore any driver that gives you a price...

I'm not so sure about this. It makes for a more comfortable ride if you establish the rate and method of fare before you get in.

[haze69uk]

It might seem like a tight question Ziggy but i'm just covering my bases. And glad i did.
I had no idea that i would have to go down one level to departures and would've no doubt been ripped off by a private taxi. I'm quite gullible after a plane journey, just wanting to get to the hotel and then out for goodies!
I was considering the Majestic's limo service but as a metered taxi is apparently much cheaper i will just use one of those.
Many thanks for the useful advice gents.