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Using Uber in Thailand: Comfort, Reliability & Cost

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It would be fair to say that most people develop a love-hate relationship with the taxis of Thailand.

They're a blessing when you need an instant ride in the baking heat, and a curse when you get a stinky cab with a poor driver in a car that hasn't been MOT'd in three years!

It's a lottery. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and land a new taxi with a driver who takes pride in keeping the seats clean and taking a shower once a day.

Other times you hold onto the door handle for dear life as you race toward the airport thinking you'd rather be 50,000 feet in the air for 13 hours on a plane than in this deathtrap.

The one thing about Thailand is that taxis are cheap, well at least in Bangkok anyway. They are probably among the cheapest taxis in the world. So hey, what can you expect?

You hedge your bets and try and spot the good ones.

For the most part the drivers are friendly, and not all on the scam as may be perceived on the islands like Samui and Phuket.

But just lately I've had to reconsider my travel options. The arrival of my daughter means regular hospital checkups, vaccinations, etc.  It will also mean more shopping trips and holidays for three, not two.

I'm just not comfortable taking her in public taxis.

Her mum can't strap herself in to hold onto her because rarely are there belts in the back, there's no privacy to breastfeed, nor are the hygiene standards, driving standards or car maintenance up to scratch.

In short, I feel I am doing my child a disservice traveling in public taxis.

uber-black-thailand

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Why don't you just get a car?

I have been looking, and I probably will, maybe. I love cars, but have held off getting one here because I can't bear the thought of sitting in traffic in Bangkok and getting all stressed out by reckless driving.

The MRT and BTS are super efficient here, and I am cool to take a taxi and pass the stress onto someone else when not travelling with my luuk sau (daughter in Thai)

When I get a car it will be for out of town trips and emergencies rather than daily use.

So what's the solution for now?

Enter Uber!

Uber Taxi Bangkok

If I said this was the best thing since Facebook, would you believe me?

Well it's more useful, I'll tell you that much. And I don't have to look at people's selfies. Bonus!

Today I took an Uber Black taxi to the hospital – which is the premium service – and it cost me 158 Baht. I travelled in a brand new Toyota Camry, with blacked out windows and a suited n' booted driver.

The car was cleaner than my mum's house (okay, maybe not that clean :)) and the driver actually drove like a normal driver that had passed a test.

I was skeptical at first. I thought the taxi would take ages to arrive, it wouldn't be a top end car, and the price would be extortionate. But it was effortless, and I can't believe how fast the taxi arrived.

  • I downloaded the app to my iPad.
  • I registered an account.
  • I entered my credit card details.
  • I did an in-app quote first (it said between 180-225 Baht)
  • I put in my location and desired destination
  • I then watched the driver (literally) driving toward my apartment on the map software inside the app.

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The app even gave me a picture of the driver and his name before he arrived. What's more he called me when he was downstairs and opened the doors for me, my wife and the baby.

No More Fumbling Around to Pay the Driver

When we finished at the hospital, I used Uber again. In fact, I was so thrilled with the comfort and quality, paying less than double of a public taxi was an absolute non issue.

No walking in the baking heat to hail a cab. No wrong turns. No bad smells. No dodgy brake discs or suspension. Awesome, just awesome.

You don't even need to worry about fumbling about for change on the backseat because it's billed straight to your card, and as soon as you arrive you'll receive a receipt with the exact milage travelled and how much you've been billed (by email) – something else to put on the business tax allowance 🙂

Seriously, try Uber Black in Bangkok. You will be blown away by this service. It really is peanuts to pay for such luxury.

And before you say “But won't it take away customers from local taxis?” Personally I don't think it will have an impact. I just think people will use their cars less and people like me will prefer Uber to buying a car.

Moreover, Uber Black airport runs are charged at a standard 1,000 Baht, so no doubt most people will still take public taxis in that situation.

Sign Up & Get 150 Baht Off Your First Ride

If you want to get 150 Baht off your first ride, simply sign up for an Uber account by clicking here and use this exclusive TTL promo code: TTLUBER2017

You'll get 150 Baht free credit when you take your first ride.

I'd love to know what you think of Uber. So let's share experiences in the comments box below.

Travel safely.

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

    • I think not. A car generally takes 3 in the back and 1 in the front. You will have your bags too, plus there will be nowhere for the child to sit and be strapped in safely. Uber X can be a lottery too, in terms of the car you get: it could be a big or small car. Uber Black is always nice sedans, but you still won’t get 4 plus a child unless the child sits on your lap, which is not advisable.

      Reply

  2. I am 1 week old in Bangkok and will be living in Ekkamai and working in Lat Krabang. Do you think Uber will be an option to send me to work in the morning and send me back home in the evening? I am debating between driving vs. Uber/Grab/Taxi but not sure it is even an option with Uber/Grab/Taxi as Lat Krabang is far… So, any lead will be very much appreciated… Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Sky Train from Ekkamai to On Nut. Walk to the Big-C on On Nut Rd and grab a cab (or get an Uber) there. TTL is right, you don’t want to be anywhere near a 4-wheeled vehicle at rush hour. Traffic on On Nut will be going against the flow heading out to Lat Krabang (although it will be worse coming back in the afternoon). In the afternoon you can get the ride all the way to On Nut station since they’re all left turns. I’ve tried other options for heading out On Nut Rd (Soi 81 or getting a cab at Tesco) but walking to Big-C is usually the fastest. (Plus there are some good street food options along Soi 77.)

      Reply

  3. I use Uber or Uber Flash in Bangkok, and it is the only way I travel (beside the train). Even if the driver is 20 minutes away, I still take an Uber. I tried Grab yesterday and was horrified. I almost jumped out when he came to a full stop on the wrong road and was asking me in Thai for directions, even though I don’t speak it!!! Then, we got back on track and I said he could dump me off at the 7 Eleven. Whoa. Uber is safer and the drivers are more professional and you may get some who are fluent in English. Also, be careful in Chiang Mai. Although Uber is still there, with many drivers, it’s still not legal and you should jump in the front passenger seat to protect the driver. They will get fined.

    Reply

  4. Hi, is the uber app same across worldwide? I’m using uber here in singapore .. is using cash more safe than credit card when paying uber ??
    And do you know roughly the estimated cost from airport to pratunam area ?

    Reply

  5. Hi there… I wil go to Bangkok on July 9th. This is maybe a diffrent question not about uber taxi. Do you know maybe where can I rent a car without credit card in bangkok ?
    Thanks very much for your help.

    Reply

  6. Hi there, can I get an uber from port of Laem Chabang to Bangkok and return to the port the next day. Can you perhaps tell me how much this will this cost. My husband and I arrive on Monday 19th June. Your assistance would be highly appreciated. In addition can I pay cash instead of registering my credit card.

    Reply

    • That’s pretty far from both of the Bangkok airports. Uber is mainly for city drops. They will go a bit out of the city on occasion but this is a 1.5-2 hour trip; could be more in traffic. I’d arrange a taxi or a minivan.

      Reply

  7. hi there, I heard and read that Uber is banned in Thailand, so very surprised to come across this post as well as read some of the comments above. I will be travelling in Bangkok – will Uber be available from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city? Also, is uber available in Chiang Mai, Ko Samui/Ko Tao?

    Thanks! 🙂
    And great post

    Reply

    • Yes, you could. Bear in mind that there will not be child/baby car seats for the kids (I don’t know how old they are). Best to go for Uber Black as you will get a car that is big enough for the 4 of you and with a boot big enough for the luggage.

      Reply

  10. I will go to Bangkok with my husband and my 8 months old boy end of May. Considering have an Uber from Bangkok City center to Maeklong Railway Market Damnoen Sadnak Floating Market, Train Night Market Srinakarina etc… Those places far from city tho.. Does uber can reach? How much it will cost around if from city centre to Maeklong Railway Market. Thanks for advice 🙂

    Reply

    • How far it is to the Maeklong Railway Market depends on where you are in Bangkok. I’m not sure many drivers would be keen to go there as it’s amd hour away at least, depending on traffic. I have no idea how much it would cost. I don’t think they would go to Damnoen Sadnak Floating Market either; that’s around 2 hrs from the centre of town. You can get a taxi or minivan to these places, or book a private car. The Rod Fai market is accessible by the MRT, or an Uber if you like. The price depends on where you are coming from.

      Reply

    • You may be able to use the SUV/MPV option whereby a car may have another row of seats, but standard cars will only take 1 in the front and 3 in the back. These aren’t that common either so you’d be waiting a while for one.

      Reply

  13. I searched for uber . At first it showed 120 , When i about to book the ride after 10Minutes price showed a hike 190-260. SoI chose to travel in a local metered taxi. The ride reached my destination for 70Bhat( 63fare+7Tip) In an local taxi .

    Reply

    • Yes, when Uber is very busy they sometimes have price surges. If you take Uber X though instead of Uber Black, it is generally about the same as a local taxi. I’d rather pay that little extra to ride in a safe car though.

      Reply

  15. I’m coming Bangkok on 19 February. Will I able to use the Uber promotion code to get a free ride? How it worth? What will be the Promo Code? I’m already an Uber user in my country (Bangladesh). Would I allow to sign up again in Bangkok ?

    Reply

    • If you haven’t registered a card to your Uber account then you can pay cash. I didn’t know you could pay by cash in Bangkok but according to their site you can:

      – The cash option is only available for trips in Bangkok and only Thai Baht is accepted.
      – A valid Uber account is needed to be able to book a ride and pay in cash.
      – This is an experiment and not everyone will see the cash option right away; it will gradually be expanded to more and more riders over time.

      Reply

    • You have to install the app, then select the SUV tab once you are at the airport. You can then select which door number you want to be picked up from. You can’t pre-book an Uber. If you are 5 persons with a lot of bags, I suggest pre-booking a taxi.

      Reply

  19. Hi, thanks for sharing such an useful information. I’ll be going to Bangkok with 3 of my friends during mid of December. We plan to use Uber as our main transport. Just wonder if they accept cash payment instead of credit cards?

    Reply

  21. Great article – thank you for sharing. I too use Uber wherever I can throughout the world and its been a blessing! I am arriving at Don Muang airport – do you know if Uber picks up from this airport and if so, where would be the pick up point? I have not travelled via Don Muang for several years so can’t quite recall how its set up. Any advice is much appreciated!

    Reply

    • They do pick up from Don Muang. You can choose the pickup doorway from a dropdown menu in the Uber app. A good tip is to walk down towards the far end (going towards the traffic) to a lower doorway number. That way you can get in the car quicker, as sometimes there’s a queue and you’ll have to wait longer outside for the Uber to pull up.

      Reply

  23. @TheThailandLife
    Thanks for the detailed write-up on Uber.

    Just wanted to know how much (in BAHT) does your Uber referral code give on the first ride?

    Also, would you know any better promo code give can give a higher value discount on the first Uber Ride?

    Thanks much in advance.

    Reply

  26. Hi, can the code still be used even in July 2016? I’ll be travelling to BKK in a few days and will be arriving at DMK airport — and I’ve heard that Uber is banned or something in Thailand — so is it still applicable?

    Thank you in advance for your reply btw!

    Reply

  27. Cannot agree more. Uber is really good and they are global. Like a personal fleet of upclass taxi waiting besides you the whole time wherever you’re at places they operate around the world. Just one Uber account manages all. Absolutely trustworthy and fair services. Hope they are able to maintain as a business, keeping the std and for many many more years still to come. Support.

    Reply

  28. Hi, thanks for your great review about Uber in bangkok. I will be traveling to bangkok in August, and as mentioned in your article, I had pretty bad experiences with the local taxi back then- all the sudden brake, rude words, middle finger pointing to other drivers etc.
    I am a regular for UberX in Malaysia, but is it safe for single female traveller in Bangkok

    Reply

    • Hi Tiffany, I would say yes it is. My wife takes Ubers all the time and the drivers are usually very polite and helpful. The Uberx drivers are usually men or women doing the job as a second job; not as their main career. Because they’re doing the job out of choice, they tend to enjoy doing it, and as such I find them really friendly.

      Reply

  29. Hi,

    First of all, thank you for the great review. I am going to Bangkok this month and was looking for a transportation option that would be both convenient and affordable for my wife and I, with one small carry on and a medium luggage. Because we are staying at the Hilton in Klongsan, which is a little away from the city center, would taking the Airport link and then taking a taxi be a better option, or should we just do UberX from the the airport?

    Thanks in advance for your recommendation!

    Reply

    • If you’re staying at the Hilton I’d be inclined to splash out for Uber Black 🙂 Why not rise in style to your hotel. The airport link is great, but I’m not a fan of public taxis anymore.

      Reply

  30. Hello
    i can tell my uber experience in Bangkok. Myself i drive part time uber in my country and i wanted to use uber as customer when i need transport. As tourist we know it can be hassle to deal with taxi drivers in Bangkok. With uber you eliminate this part because you know already how much it will cost before you get in vehicle.
    what i have experienced is, sometimes it may be delaying because of traffic jam in Bangkok, so make sure to order car good time before you ready to go. And the second drivers can not speak much english but you don’t need to talk too much either.Otherwise cars was clean and drivers was very polite.i suggest special for tourists use uber for cheap reliable transport in Bangkok.

    Reply

  32. I was wonder via Uber, will they take you on long journeys for example from Bangkok to Phuket or similar? I love uber, used in USA last year.

    We are planning to come to Thailand for our Honeymoon next October (2017). So any ease of travelling around will be great.

    If I could only settle on which island will be nice for 5nights of our two weeks, I would be getting somewhere! Lol 🙂

    Jay.

    Reply

    • Hi Jay, Uber won’t go that far I’m afraid. It’s only around the local area. Uber is in Bangkok, and Phuket now (I think). You might choose to go to Koh Samui. From there you can do a day trip (and stay a night if you like) to Koh Phanghan. You can also take a trip to Koh Som, which is a lovely, small island. There’s a bunch of great hotel deals on at the moment. I saw a 5* for $70 a night yesterday. Have a look here.

      Reply

      • Do you think October is a good time to go to those islands, I was thinking Ko kradan or ko mook, by someone on forum mentioned it would be mostly rainy days. That I should go to one of the Trat islands instead, but I see they have a lot of sandflies.

        So now I just don’t know where to go. I just want it to be perfect and sunny. 🙂

        Reply

        • Not really, no. It’s quite rainy in Samui and Phuket in October. It’s best to be in the North at that time of year, not the Southern islands. Though you could take a risk. I took a risk on Krabi last September. The forecast was rain and storms but I had a week of perfect weather.

          Reply

  33. Hi. Thanks for all the info. I am travelling to BKK at the end of this month. I will arrive on BKK at 1 AM in the night. I have an Air Asia flight to Phnom Penh from DMK at 7 in the morning. The only option that remains for transfer is the Taxi as shuttle bus timing doesn’t suit me. I have a few queries and will be happy if you can solve them

    1. Is it safe to travel in a Taxi in the middle of the night in Bangkok

    2. Which is more safe, Taxi services like oriental escapes or Uber

    3. Is a communication with driver required as i won’t be purchasing a sim card

    4. What is the expected fare for Uber as well as regular Taxi.

    Sorry if i come across as too cynical about safety issues

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Hey Bhavesh,

      1. Yes, it’s safe.
      2. Uber will be fine.
      3. Yes, often they will call to get your exact location. At an airport they need to know which exit you are at. Communication is important. I speak to every Uber driver just to make sure they know exactly where to pick me up.
      4. Uber Black to or from an airport is a standard 1,000Baht. Elsewhere around the city it is very reasonable. A standard taxi will run you approximately 300 Baht from the airport to the centre of town.

      No worries. Better safe than sorry 🙂
      Have a great trip!

      Reply

    • It’s usually very quick to get one at the airport (Uber Black that is) because they tend to be just around the corner. Don’t forget it is a flat rate of 1,000 Baht for Uber Black from the airport, and 500 for Uber x

      Reply

        • No, it should be fine because you can type in the location in English and the driver will be able to see on the map. You may need to speak to the driver regarding your exact pick-up location, but usually this is fine. If not, simply pass the phone to one of the hotel staff 🙂

          Reply

  36. We just used uberX allot durning our trip on BKK and it was fantastic plus we ordered an uber suv once. The cars were very nice and tidy.

    Plus being able to put in your destination meant we did not have any language barriers. We even found uberx cheaper than the moto taxies.

    We have been recomending uber every where we go

    Reply

  38. am a uber driver and user in oz and i love to use uber over taxis
    and as a driver all i can say i have the best time with my riders
    will be in bangkok in may and so looking forward to using uber there and to talk to the drivers find out what its like to driver uber in bangkok
    pete

    Reply

  39. Thanks for such a great information 🙂
    Can you give me a suggestion, which one is better if I wanna go to Don Mueang airport at 6am, by BTS skytrain and continue with A1 bus or by Uber? because 6am is peak hour isn’t it?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  42. Will I be able to get a Uber taxi on New Year’s Eve to get us from Shangrila Hotel to restaurant at Wangburapa and thereafter for the return trip? In the past years we have problem getting a taxi during New Years Eve evenings.

    Reply

    • I’m not entirely sure, since Uber Black are always sedans, and sometimes bigger. The sedan option may refer to cars that can take more than 4 people. But I’ve also had these at times on Uber Black, like those Toyota people carriers.

      Reply

  44. My home country has no uber service.Is it easy to access uber service when i arrive
    bangkok.I have no experience using this service.I have experienced many frauds
    using ordinary taxis previously in Bangkok.So i want to try this service.

    Reply

  46. Stumbled across your post while traveling in Bangkok. I took Uber from my hotel to Don Mueang airport, and the experience was great. The fare was quite reasonable, the driver was polite, and the car was with AC and in good condition. I can completely understand why you are using it so much! The only thing I noticed is that the ETA for the driver is not very reliable (probably due to the ridiculous traffic in Bangkok).

    Reply

  47. I was thinking of taking UBER in Thailand and stumble upon this blog. I am such a big fan of UBER in Phils and glad it’s also available in Thailand. Is the 1,000THB applicable from Airport to Sukhumvit? Thanks.

    Reply

    • All taxis have aircon. Most are in decent enough condition, but I don’t take them with my daughter. If I’m travelling alone and the Uber option, or other, is available, I’ll do that instead. Sometimes you do get lucky and get a new, clean taxi.

      Reply

  49. I ordered today an Uber X from Bangkok to Hua Hin. Everything was confirmed and the driver arrived quickly. But then the problems started: First of all, the driver refused to drive out of Bangkok. He argued that only Uber Black can go outside Bangkok. Thats of course rubbish. Otherwise, the app wouldn’t confirm the booking! Second, there is no support. No phone number to which you can call and complaint.

    Well then, I ordered a new car. The same driver came to me. Needless to say that he denied once more to drive to Hua Hin.

    After that, I ordered a new car to the bus station because I wanted to take the bus from Bangkok to Hua Hin. The app confirmed and showed that the driver would arrive within ten minutes. Uuuuuuh, there was a call drom the driver that he would need about 45 minutes….

    At the end, I took a taxi in order to arrive on time at the bus station…

    To make things even worse: I got three charges of 45 THB each (cancellation fees) for something that Uber did wrong. After contacting the support via email, I was offered to get a “credit in the amount of 3 x 45 THB to my Uber account”. I declined and insisted to have the money refunded to my credit card. Since then is no more answer from Uber. I will have to decline the charges with my credit card company.

    I also asked the support about the reason why the driver refused to drive outside Bangkok and why that journey was confirmed. Of course, no answer from Uber.

    My experience is extremely frustrating and I can only advice NOT TO USE UBER at all!

    Reply

    • Benny, Uber X cars are driven by everyday drivers, usually doing a second job.They get paid so little for journeys. Of course they won’t go to Hua Hin; it’s 3+ hours away! They are an inner city service. Journeys such as these incur standard rates and are only applicable to Uber Black drivers. For example, going to a Bangkok airport is a flat rate of 1,000 Baht with Uber Black. Uber X will go but I think it’s 500 with them. All the information is available on the website.

      Also remember that they don’t know your destination until they pick you up and you tell them.

      Of course during rush hour times when traffic is bad a driver can take a long time to pick you up in traffic. This is the case in a city such as Bangkok. If you are in a desperate hurry at a peak traffic time , take a standard taxi or the MRT or BTS.

      Uber is absolutely awesome inside Bangkok, but if you want to go to Hua Hin you need to hire a minivan or car at a fixed rate.

      Reply

        • You only type in your pick up destination. You can easily call the driver using the details from the app and let him know where you are going. Every time I take an Uber the driver calls me to confirm where I want to be picked up and to let me know if there will be a delay due to traffic. You then have the opportunity to cancel the trip if you like. Cancelling the trip only incurs a charge if it is done after 5 minutes of ordering. So my advice is order your Uber, call the driver and let him know where you are going, exactly where you are (GPS phone maps can be slightly out) and ask how long he is going to be (ETA is exactly that, estimated). Uber is awesome. Sure, everything in life has a problem now and again, but taking a chauffeur driven car around Bangkok for such little money is super value.

          Reply

        • Fyi, I am an Uber driver, when the driver pick you up, they do not know where is your destination until you hop into their car.

          It’s Uber policies that do not let driver know where is the passenger heading to, otherwise they will choose to reject the ride.

          I am also Uber passenger, I understand this is one of the problem with Uber, which their system cannot reject the destinations which are too far away.
          Usually Uber ride is in the city, I would said in the radius of 20-30km is fine. Going to HuaHin is way too far, it’s best to book a van to bring you there.

          Reply

    • Benny, I totally agree with you, do not use Uber again. I am going right now through a negative experience with Uber.
      Returning from the same destination home last week, I was charged 75Thb…great, that was reasonable.
      Yesterday I returned from the same destination and was charged 310Thb.
      I complained right away………..still complaining but am not getting anywhere.
      Some “idiot” keeps replying to me “that your issue has been resolved we did not get your complaint”…….give me a break, does not Uber have people in their office who understand English.
      I am still complaining, but cannot get anywhere. Mainly because there is no tel. number to reach them, there is no e-mail address to reach them directly. Pretty sneaky…..
      NO MORE UBER FOR ME

      Rosalie

      Reply

      • Rosalie, I have never experienced this. Their email support is great too. I once wasn’t charged for a journey and felt bad for the driver, so I called up and had them charge my card. Just go to the website and email your complaint. Uber journey’s depend on the time taken. it is an automatic system that calculates miles and traffic waiting time. It would be impossible for the driver to scam you because you can see from your journey receipt where the journey started and ended. I am sure there is a simple explanation for this.

        Reply

  50. Peter: I actually think the best thing for Bangkok urban living is to not have your own car . . you said you are thinking about it . . with how super efficient and cost effective public transport is. . and the dirt cheap or close to it virtually immediate availability of Taxis and now Uber .. there really is no reason to purchase a car in Bangkok . .especially if you are an Expat . . you will need high quality insurance .. you will have maintenance . . and you will not be able to do work in the backseat on an I-Pad / I-Phone or whatever when you are locked down hard in traffic on a 38 degree afternoon (i.e., you will lose out on worktime) . . plus, whether you are married to a Thai or not . . as an Expat . .if you EVER get into an accident . . you are going to pay up hard . . if you have enough money to purchase a new or relatively newish used car . .then you have the money to rent a nice high quality car for out of town trips . . my personal opinion only, but, I don’t think a car in the urban center of Bangkok is necessary . . too many other efficient and affordable options at hand to take on the expense and inherent risk of driving in TL. As always .. good luck with all things in your life.

    Reply

    • Hi LA-Trader, how have you been? I absolutely agree and gave up on that idea a while back. As you say, the transport in Bangkok is very efficient, and what with Uber and a bunch of other car services available, having a car is a hassle. And then there’s the traffic…
      I cast my mind back to when I had a car in the UK. There was always something; MOT, insurance renewal, tax, servicing, tyre changes, some little noise that needed looking at by a mechanic. It’s not only an extra expense but a time-consumer too.

      Reply

  51. Stop calling it a taxi it, it is not a taxi it is a car service, uber provides a taxi booking service in some cities, this would be confusing to your readers, it us UberBlack call it Uber black … As opposed to uberX which is something different.

    Reply

    • Hi Jay, thanks for your input, but at the time of writing this everyone here was calling this service Uber Taxi, and that was the main term people were searching for about this service – so it made logical sense to use this term. People still call it that here, because essentially it replaces a traditional taxi service. I do refer to ‘black’ in this post, but for a deeper breakdown and a review of Uber X, I wrote this post: https://www.thethailandlife.com/uberx-bangkok-review

      Reply

    • I don’t think Uber impacts the taxis much at all. Moreover, it is creating domestic jobs/salaries. Most people I know who used to take taxis still do and love the convenience. I switched to Uber for safety reasons because I have a young daughter. Standard taxi safety is not regulated at all. 90% of the cars would fail a European standard MOT test, and most of the drivers would fail an international driving test. The cars are usually unhygienic because they are never properly cleaned. Many often smell of bad body odour because the drivers sleep in them, and they rarely have safety belts in the back.

      While you’d never take an Uber, I would never eat from a Mcdonalds or a KFC; but most Thais are happy to adopt more of these American fast food restaurants. I don’t see many people here resisting the American style capitalism. All I see is Starbucks t-shirts and shopping malls being built faster than I can count them.

      Reply

    • You can only choose from Uber X or Uber black. When choosing Uber Black there are three options; Uber Black, usually a Camry or Nissan Teana, Sedan and SUV/MPV option, but it seems the SUV/MPV option never has cars available – though I did get one by surprise once when I ordered Uber X. You can’t pre-book either. You just have to take what car is nearest to your pick-up point at the time. The biggest car I’ve had on Uber Black is a Toyota Fortuner. If you need to go to the airport with 6 people I strongly suggest pre-booking a private taxi rather than taking a chance for an MPV with Uber.

      Reply

  54. UBER: or suspension. Awesome, just awesome.

    TheThailandLife:
    Most taxis will charge you a fixed rate straight from the airport. I’ve only ever been there once, many years ago for one day, and if I remember it cost about 2,000 baht. Not sure if Uber goes there, but if they do I’d imagine it’s about 2-3,000 Baht. They’ll be loads of touts hassling to take you, but go with a licensed taxi, licensed private hire, or an Uber if you have the app.

    2000thb from airport to the city, many years ago?? That’s huge money. I imagine the driver took the rest of the day off after ripping you… sorry, driving you 🙂
    I remember 500thb from the airport to Khaosan Road, 5 years ago.
    I usually sit next to the driver, in front, and maybe because of this they don’t dare to rob me. Actually I remember one time the driver gave me back 20thb because he took another (no traffic, he said) soi and I asked him why didn’t he stay on the main road. I must have a very scary expression when I’m annoyed or angry since the driver made that discount 😀

    Reply

    • Not to the city, to Pattaya. As I said, I’ve only been there once and that was many moons ago. I wouldn’t again, unless my life depended on it:) A taxi to the city from Don Muang shouldn’t set you back more than a couple of hundred Baht.

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      • Hey! Could you Please give me some advises on the route from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya and we will arrive at 6pm. BTW, i want go to Pattaya after i arrived. Is there any possible and cheap way to go to Pattaya in that evening?
        Thank you soooooo much!

        Reply

        • Most taxis will charge you a fixed rate straight from the airport. I’ve only ever been there once, many years ago for one day, and if I remember it cost about 2,000 baht. Not sure if Uber goes there, but if they do I’d imagine it’s about 2-3,000 Baht. They’ll be loads of touts hassling to take you, but go with a licensed taxi, licensed private hire, or an Uber if you have the app.

          Reply

    • Yes, they took it down to 200 recently. I’ve sent in an email to get an exclusive 300 or more Baht code so check back for that from time to time. Don’t forget you have Uber X inside your app now too. This is about half the price, so your credit should get you a good 3 trips.

      Reply

    • Hi Sushi, I’ve never had a car more than 3-4 years old. Sometimes I get awesome cars, like the other day I had a brand new Mercedes, and I pretty much always get top spec Toyota Camrys.

      As you said, the drivers are polite, but more than that the cars are immaculately clean – and you get free water.

      Uber rocks!

      Reply

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