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Using Uber in Thailand: Comfort, Reliability & Cost

Major post update: Grab Car has acquired Uber in Southeast Asia.

Due to this acquisition, the Uber app will no longer be active in the following countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Uber has combined its operations with Grab to offer ride sharing in Thailand and across most of Southeast Asia.

This change in Thailand just means that you need to use the Grab app to hail a ride. Uber owns almost 30% of Grab,  so essentially you will still be using the same service but through a different app.

If you want a ride in Thailand:

  • Download the Grab app
  • Create an account
  • For new Grab riders, apply promo code GRAB4W and take your first Grab ride free

Still Need the Uber App & a FREE Ride?

The Uber app still operates in over 80 countries around the world,   countries like Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK.

And in Asia  you can use the app  in Hong Kong, India and Taiwan.

If you have any comments about the change in service and what to do next, leave them in the comments section and all be along shortly to answer those for you.

My Uber Review

Here's my Uber review for Thailand anyway. I'm sure you'll still find it useful.

It is based on my experience in Thailand,  but it pretty much applies to Uber everywhere.

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

They are a blessing when you need an instant ride in the baking heat, and a curse when you get a stinky cab, with a bad driver, in a car that hasn't been MOT'd in 10 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 and gasp at every last minute application of the brakes, as you race toward the airport thinking you'd rather be 50,000 feet in the air for 13 hours 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 to hail the good ones.

For the most part, the drivers are friendly and they get you there in one piece: In 10 years, I've only been in one taxi that crashed into another car.

They're not all on the scam either, as may be perceived on the islands like Samui and Phuket where the rates are extortionate compared with the big mango.

But upon the birth of my daughter back in 2014, I had to reconsider my travel options. Hospital checkups, vaccinations, mall visits, airport runs, holidays, etc.; I needed a safer option.

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, when she was breastfeeding there was no privacy, and the hygiene standards, driving standards and car maintenance is not up to scratch.

In short, I feel I am taking a risk riding around in public taxis with her.

uber-black-thailand

Why don't you just get a car?

I have considered it many times, 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).

If I had a car, it would be kept for out of town trips and emergencies rather than daily use.

Enter Uber!

The arrival of Uber in Thailand was a blessing for me, and happened just at the right time, as you can see from the screenshot below, taken not long after my daughter was born.

A little over three quid and I could go from home to the hospital in a luxury sedan.

Uber Taxi Bangkok

For me, Uber is the best thing since Facebook, and it's more useful. I don't have to look at people's selfies, either.

Uber Black is the premium service, and as you can see above it cost me 158 Baht to travel 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 using Uber at first. I thought the driver 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 many cars were within a couple of kilometers when I made the request in the app.

It's super-easy to get started. Here's what I did:

  • 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 towards my apartment on the map software inside the app.

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 got out and opened the doors for me, my wife and daughter. Just like a chauffeur!

No More Fumbling Around to Pay the Driver

On this particular trip, when we finished at the hospital, I used Uber again to get home. If you're on a quick visit somewhere you often get the same driver.  I have been so impressed with the comfort and quality, paying a little 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 the cost is 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).

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

Some had predicted that Uber would take business away from local taxis, and Uber did face a temporary ban and stiff opposition. But it's still going strong.

And honestly, with an increasing amount of people moving to Bangkok and Thailand in general, I doubt the public taxis will be short of a fare. 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.

A number of expats I've spoken to are using their cars less and opting for Uber on short city trips instead. Why drive when you can be chauffeur driven.

In recent news, Uber has now partnered with Howa, the green taxi operator in Bangkok. So you can now book a Howa taxi through the Uber app by paying a surcharge. This enables Howa's drivers to connect with customers more efficiently using the app.

———

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

Travel safely.

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  1. Tristen says

    Hi TTL, I am travelling to Thailand in late May with my 2 daughters. We are flying to Phuket but are staying at Kata Beach, would you recomend using uber/grab or a taxi? Just checking if Uber is still in use. thank you :-)
    Reply

    • James E says

      Uber and Grab merged a while back in SE Asia. Grab, being basically a taxi hailing service, doesn't really get you anything in terms of pricing (but you might get a little nicer ride). The taxis from the airport to hotels/beaches were operating on a fixed price/destination. If you're staying at a hotel check with them as many can recommend a minibus/shared-ride if you need the extra space. There's also the public bus but it'll be less than a direct trip. One other thing to consider is that taxis on Phuket are not the bargain they are in most other places in Thailand. I typically end up renting a car which can be had for an extremely reasonable price if you use the Thai booking website and not the global one. For example, using Avis Thailand costs about a third of booking through Avis.com. If you're going to want to go out to dinner or sight-see around the island you'll save a lot with your own car.
      Reply

  2. James E says

    Another article yesterday in the BKK Post business section reports that the Philippines and Malaysia are looking into the merger and may apply anti-competitive regulations to block or modify the terms. I guess the deal is not done quite yet.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I just updated the post regarding this.Apparently Uber owns 27% of Grab now, but the Uber app won't be functional in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. Rides must be hailed through the Grab app.One question I have is if the Uber Black cars will be an option via the Grab app (Grab Black or similar). I am yet to download it.
      Reply

      • James E says

        There were a couple of articles in the BKK Post about this this morning. Some concern over the drop in competition but it looks like the deal is done. I've noticed the taxis seem to be cleaning up a bit in the face of the new reality. I can't get the Grab app yet as my phone is not supported but from what I've looked at it seems more a true hailing app with options to pay. The GrabPay payment method seems to be tied into Alipay (but I haven't looked into that further yet). Uber looks like it's been folded into a GrabCar service with multiple tiers like Uber had.
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          Yes. It is a done deal. I think it was the best case scenario for Uber because they still maintain almost a 30% percentage and they were clearly running at a loss in Thailand and other territories in the region, and facing problems at all levels - with government, local government, local taxi drivers, et cetera.I would imagine that behind-the-scenes they were spending a lot of money paying off people to keep things running. Numerous times over the past few years we heard announcements saying that Uber had been banned in Thailand, but then it just kept running, seemingly without consequence. This always led me to believe that palms were being greased to keep the service going.It is a shame because it was a fantastic service and in my mind one of the best things that happened- to Bangkok, certainly - in the years that I've been here. I guess I am biased in this because it happened at a time when my wife just had out daughter and I was looking for a very convenient, and safe option to get to the hospital and around town. A lot of people will also have lost their jobs. I will be trying grab under the new guise and reporting on that soon hopefully.
          Reply

  4. anton ie says

    hi TTL i am planning to go for a 4 day vacation to bangkok and hua hin next week, so the easiest way to go around bangkok is to use uber black yah? how about to go to hua hin from bangkok? appreciate your helps anton
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      For me personally, Uber Black is awesome. I take it all the time in Bangkok. Not all Uber drivers will go to Hua Hin from Bangkok. They mostly keep it local, as it's a solid 3-3.5 hours to Hua Hin, and if they haven't got a return fare that could be a full tank of petrol. Some might go, or take a fixed fare.
      Reply

    • James E says

      I think this is becoming more of the norm. The "ride-sharing" services like Uber and Lyft have had to progressively raise rates as they have become more of a profession and less of a fill-an-empty seat model. They are convenient but there is a price to be paid for that convenience. And not just monetary. When you use Uber you give them permission to do all of these things: find accounts on the device add or remove accounts read your own contact card find accounts on the device read your contacts approximate location (network-based) precise location (GPS and network-based) read your text messages (SMS or MMS) receive text messages (SMS) send SMS messages directly call phone numbers read phone status and identity read the contents of your USB storage modify or delete the contents of your USB storage take pictures and videos view Wi-Fi connections read phone status and identity receive data from Internet view network connections pair with Bluetooth devices connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi full network access change your audio settings draw over other apps use accounts on the device control vibration prevent device from sleeping modify system settings read Google service configurationNow, most of those will generate a complete "Huh?" but my question to Uber (which goes unanswered) is: Why does your app need to make a phone call on my phone if all I want is a ride?The answer is that a lot of this data is sold on to data aggregators. So when you get picked up at your hotel and dropped at Soi 23(...) that information is attached to your on-line dossier to paint a more complete picture of who you are.Of course I'm paranoid. But have a look at:https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/internet-ethics/resources/ethical-implications-of-data-aggregation/For a more unbiased view.Sorry about the rant but Uber - in a field of organizations poaching my data - is among the worst.
      Reply

  6. Noel says

    I have only tried to use Uber once, in Pattaya. The fare quoted was a very reasonable maximum of 210 Bht. Once the booking was made the driver phoned to say that she would require a tip of 200 Bht on top of the fare as otherwise she would make nothing out of the job. She made it perfectly clear that I could cancel the trip, which I did. Very bad business practice and Uber will not survive if their drivers decide their own rates (as effectively, this is what this driver was doing).
    Reply

  7. Martin says

    Hey TTL,Über is actually not the only taxi alternative in BKK. There's Grab as well.Article suggestion: You might want to compare their services?My personal experience is (I live in the Lat Prao area) that taxis there will always turn on the meter, starting at 35 THB. I have never had a bad experience there. Unlike in the Sukhumvit (Wattana) area: Tuk Tuk scam, and taxis that charge 200+ THB for a few hundred meters, because the taxi's meter is not working. Haha.So they want to fool me? I will fool them!! I have developed a trick there: I let my Thai wife go to the street and do the negotiation with the driver (same drivers have no English knowledge), and stay for myself in the back. When everything is fine she waves me, and I enter the taxi. Sometimes I have seen a :-( on the driver's face, but I don't care. I would recommend this trick also for men who have Thai "wifes" on a daily/weekly basis (unlike me who is happily married since two years).
    Reply

  8. kkmb says

    Thanks for the post! My husband and I are on a SE Asia trip and we’re in Bangkok for a few days.After reading your post, we went ahead and used Uber to get around when we weren’t with our tour guide.As you said, it’s DEFINITELY the way to travel when visiting Bangkok!! No need to worry about taking a card from your hotel to give to the returning taxi driver to tell him in Thai what hotel you’re at, no fumbling with Thai baht at the end of the taxi ride, and best of all no concerns if the taxi takes unorthodox routes to increase fare rates because with Uber it’s already paid for before you step into the car!Uber is cheap (relatively, that is, to catching one in Manhattan for example), easy and super convenient.Our tour guide did caution us that she wasn’t sure if Uber was legal in Thailand, but we saw Uber stickers/ads next to Grab stickers/ads on the day we visited the mall, so it seems okay.Take the river boats and sky train as a way to experience and appreciate getting around like a local. But after doing that once, just Uber it everywhere else.Thanks again!
    Reply

  9. Alicia says

    We had a bad experience with Uber in Bangkok on 14.10.17. We used Uber to travel to Big C in Bangkok. The fare reflected on my mobile is 52+baht. Upon arrival at Big C the driver requested us to pay him 121+baht as the fare reflected on his mobile. He didn't drove on the main road instead took the narrow lanes and he wasn't sure of the way to Big C. We refused & paid him 53 baht. 2 days later (16.10.17) when we used Uber to travel from Chinatown back to your hotel, the Uber driver cancelled our request & a message was sent to my mobile informing us that we had short paid the previous driver (to Bigh C) & wanted us to pay the difference to the next driver.Uber wanted us to make the balance payment in order to continue using it. We are tourists and we did pay the driver as per the fare when we confirmed the ride. It is unfair for Uber to blacklistedWould like to share this unpleasant experience with those who used Uber in Bangkok
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      This is unusual but when dealing with technology things like this can happen. It was not the driver's fault. You should have paid the driver the full amount he had on his phone and then phoned Uber for a refund. It was only 71 Baht difference. You could have taken a picture of the fare on his phone vs. yours. Uber would have happily given you a refund. Phone Uber and explain what happened and they will no doubt unblock your account.
      Reply

    • Anne says

      I don't understand how that could happen- the driver shouldn't say anything to you about the fare- it's billed and charged automatically. It's based on the GPS in the driver's phone.How did he ask for the fare? Does Uber allow cash payments instead of credit cards in Thailand?
      Reply

  11. Mel says

    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

    • James says

      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

  12. Roletta Adams says

    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

  13. Catherine says

    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

  14. Yunita Dekker says

    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

  15. Rochelle says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  16. missy says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  19. Yolanda Llopis says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  22. Raju says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  24. Fazle Elahi Khan says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  28. Iris Choong says

    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

  30. BC Q says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  32. Abhijit says

    @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

  35. Izzie says

    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

  36. Dennis Cheung says

    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

  37. Tiffany says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  38. Zitu says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  39. Leo says

    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

  41. Jay says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

      • Jay says

        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

        • TheThailandLife says

          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

  42. Bhavesh says

    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 them1. Is it safe to travel in a Taxi in the middle of the night in Bangkok2. Which is more safe, Taxi services like oriental escapes or Uber3. Is a communication with driver required as i won't be purchasing a sim card4. What is the expected fare for Uber as well as regular Taxi.Sorry if i come across as too cynical about safety issuesThanks
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

        • TheThailandLife says

          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

  45. B says

    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

  47. Peter Edgar says

    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

  48. Khaniya says

    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

  51. KC Tong says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  53. Htunlin says

    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

  55. JL says

    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

  56. jane santos says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  58. Benny Fuchs says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

        • TheThailandLife says

          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

        • Cincau says

          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

    • Rosalie says

      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 MERosalie
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        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

  59. LA-Trader says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  60. Jay says

    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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

  63. RobotFX says

    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 :D
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      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.
      Reply

      • Cheryl says

        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

        • TheThailandLife says

          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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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

    • TheThailandLife says

      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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