I arrived in Bangkok and there were about 50 cab drivers fighting for my business.....right up untill I told them that my hostel was 10 minutes from the airport.The one dude eventually gave me a lift,but he claimed that he could not find the hostel and twisted my arm to go to another one in the city.I should have realised that things seemed a bit strange,but I thought nothing of it and carried on thinking the guy had the best intentions.We got to the new hotel and the manager said that all the rooms were taken and only the Macdaddy suite was available - I started thinking I was being taken for a ride,but I agreed to it cos I was so tired and I thought that I might as well have a cool hotel room.The next day another cab driver drove me to a tailor and I was pressurised into buying suits.I managed to stand firm on no........but walked outta there with 2 tailor-made shirts!
Man alive I was grumpy!
I am actually waering one of the shirts right now and still chuckling about the scenario!
2006-10-04 00:13:09 · 18 answers · asked by Benno 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Thailand
Ah, welcome to the world of being a sore thumb surrounded by leeches.
I'm not referring to the culture in any way so back off vultures!!!
However, having been to asia as a kid with my family and seeing my dad literally held at gun point till he agreed to buy a video camera he didn't really want, I know what you're talking about.
And yes, the taxi drivers will do that - it's their way to make a living and you're a big old unaware cash-cow and they're the starving farmers waiting for some milk...
After our experience (we had the same taxi scam pulled on us as well), we made sure that whenever we went to asia, that we had chauffers waiting - it sounds exotic I know but we knew that way we had a driver for whilst we were there and someone who was local that knew we'd tip very well (the currency exchange means you really get huge value for money) meant we never got scammed again!!! My dad was so grateful the next time he even got a room in the same hotel and paid for the petrol for the chauffer (it was a poor guy with a car that we were recommended to use).
2006-10-04 00:28:02 · answer #1 · answered by ausbabe29_megan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that the taxi - "gave you a lift" should have been a tip off.. you know - no free lunches here either - - and go shopping on your own - it is cheaper.. and make sure they always use the meter.. i had a taxi the other day and he told me the meter was broken.. I thanked him and got out of the taxi.. but I almost never have a bad taxi experience - I also speak Thai, carry lots of small bills and if i give a larger bill and want change, I include a tip when I ask for the change- they always have the change..
2006-10-04 02:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds all too familar, a tuk tuk driver told us in Koh samui that CHARLIES HUTS had been knocked down and it was no longer there. So he took us to the next best thing, which just so happened to be his Brother-in-laws hotel. Woke up in the room next morning and there were maggots crawling all over the bathroom. Left there and then and went for a long walk only to find CHARLIES HUTS was still there. Stayed in hut B3 for about 3.00 a night. And no maggots!!
I found VIKING HUTS cooked better food though, which was fine cos it's right next door.
2006-10-04 00:36:35 · answer #3 · answered by brown eyes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wherever you travel in Asia always take a licensed taxi (at airports these will be the ones in the designated taxi rank) and be firm in stating where you want to go. By the way , my boyfriend here in London has given me the same advice about taxis here. If a man is driving an unlicensed taxi he is not to be trusted.
2006-10-04 01:33:17 · answer #4 · answered by XiaoMei 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have had something similar happen in india. we arrived at mumbai airport tired, and pissed off cos my friends bag didn't turn up. we then couldn't find anywhere to change our money, so a 'friendly' taxi driver said he would drive us to a hotel that would change our money - and the lift would be free of charge! how friendly we thought! when we got to the hotel it was sooo expensive - as in about 10 times our budget. but not knowing where we were, and unable to find anywhere else to change our money we ended up staying.
however i think it was a good lesson on our first day. from then on we toughened up - learn fast my friend otherwise you will lose so much money.
i am going to thailand in 3 weeks so nice to hear from someone thats already there!
2006-10-04 00:17:13 · answer #5 · answered by Empress 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question and interesting answers above.
I have never had any similar experience. Been living here almost 15 years now! Oh, but I speak Thai perfectly. Maybe that's why!
2006-10-04 02:12:22 · answer #6 · answered by Kanda 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear about your "adventure" , unfortunately this is a scam which is rife in BKK, but as you state at the end its something to laugh about as long as your ok.
Next time though check tihe tourism boards website, who usually keep abrest of travellers concerns etc
2006-10-04 00:16:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something similar in Amsterdam, the taxi driver took us miles around the city, tried to sell us cocaine, got threatening when we refused, he dumped us miles away from our hotel, it was freezing and dark and took us almost 2 hours to find our way back. I was gutted.
2006-10-04 00:18:17 · answer #8 · answered by sparkleythings_4you 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This always happen in Thailand, just smile and deny, but beware of the GEM SCAM
2006-10-04 00:49:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You literally got taken for a ride!
2006-10-04 00:15:14 · answer #10 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋