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Private Car Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Hua Hin - is it safe? |
Travel Info Next week a friend and I (both female) are spending a week in Hua Hin. Through the internet I contacted a car transfer company and enquired about taxi rates from Bangkok Airport (BKK) to our hotel in Hua Hin. We agreed on a price via email. The odd thing is, they only accept cash upon arrival of the destination. I see alot of websites where you have to prepay when you book the service online. I am concerned about safety. Are these taxi services legitimate? And are we likely to be ripped off, mugged or kidnapped?? Maybe I am just being paranoid but I want to feel safe considering we are 2 female travellers and like to carry cash on us (versus travellers cheques which are too inconvenient to cash up). Thanks in advance for your advice. Travel Tips My wife and I just did that exact trip from Bangkok to Hua Hin. I talked to two or three taxi drivers at the airport and decided on one who would take us to the Marriott in Hua Hin for $60 US. He was polite, the car was clean and he drove safely even though we did not leave until after 9:00 in the evening and drove the entire trip in the dark. When we arrived he offered us his cell number which we used a week later and he came to pick us up. Think of Thailand as a safe place. Others Help???Plis can't I would imagine that you can get a taxi to take you to Hua Hin for about 2500 baht from the airport.. less if you go from town but 2500 baht, about $75 US would be a fair price.. I would guess that a "service" will charge you more, especially if you are booking out of the airport... It is highly unlikely that you will be physically robbed, but, hey, travel checks work and you might even get a slightly better rate than if exchange cash, providing you don't have to pay for the checks... I would wait until you got here, plenty of taxis will make a deal with you,.someone here can give you an idea for best price, I have my own car and drive there myself, it's about a 3 hour drive about 250 km. You can take a limo from the airport that will cost more, or just go where passengers arrive at the airport and when someone departs the taxi ask what they will charge for trip to hun hin make the deal before getting into the taxi. If you go to the taxi stand on the first floor they will add a 50 baht service charge. Taxis are safe for the most part. Have fun. Its not all that unusual for a Thai travel site offering transfers to prefer cash - there is so much competition that the credit card fees taken by Visa, Mastercard, etc. would wipe out all the very small profit. On the other hand, the major ones would be set up to receive credit card payments if you really wanted to pay that way. If you feel uncomfortable with what you've booked there are plenty of tour operators (regulated by TAT - Tourism Authority of Thailand) offering transfers to Hua-Hin. You might feel comfortable knowing that you are going in a car that is provided by a regulated operator. The normal price to Hua-Hin is Baht 2,600 for an economy car like Toyota Corolla or Toyota Vios and Baht3,100 for an executive car like a Toyota Camry. The same price for a large (7 seat) 4X4 (Isuzu Mu7/Grand Adventure). About getting a taxi - if it breaks down, what's going to happen? You'll be stuck - maybe in the middle of nowhere. If you go with a reputable tour/transfer operator a replacement car will be sent immediately and there will be much apologising for the inconvenience caused and probably some sort of refund. Why don't you fly local? Just hit the 3rd floor at Suvarnabhumi and check the desks for the next flight to Hua Hin. About 3700 baht. By car it's like, 3 hrs if you're lucky. Train is fun too if you have the time. It's goes right along the beach, there. But if you have your heart set on a car, limo services at the airport are super easy to arrange. You needn't pre book. Just go to the limo counter (avoid the touts lurking and accosting you as soon as you come out) and pay the listed price at the desk - around 2500. Don't let anyone charge you any more. Sit back in a nice Voilvo or Benz and enjoy your ride. There's also helicopter transfer servicefor around 150000 baht! I have lived in Bangkok for years and I have known this private taxi operator ever since I have been here. He can speak english and he is as trustworthy as any of your own relatives. Plus he knows more about Thailand than anyone you will ever meet and can tell you about anything you want to know or find, so an excellant guide to boot. He routinely drives foreign tourists and diplomats to holiday destinations and even keeps an appointment book. He will get you to Hua Hin safely and you can even schedule him to come back to pick up you up when you are ready to leave. He has a mobile phone so you can always stay in contact with him. I stake my personal reputation with Mr. Tee call him at +66815610044 You never have to worry about a thing with Mr Tee and this will be an enjoyable trip. If you need a purple elephant with pink diamonds and green eyes, Mr. Tee would know where to find it. His price is very reasonable and now his whole business revolves around repeat customers and appointments. Not a one shot to Hua Hin taxi operator. Give Mr Tee a call and you will be in the safest hands possible. I know, he was previously the driver for my only son and he is one of the few people in the whole world I would trust my sons life with. As one of Yahoo's top ten best answerers on Thailand Travel you can trust what I am telling you here. This will be great for you and you will have a great trip. |
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