Hua Hin Tuk Tuk minimum prices

[DSB]

Seems like the minimum price for a tuk tuk has gone up from 100 Baht to 150 Baht since the new year. This 50% hike is a bit extortionate especially as fuel prices have fallen!

[Nothappyjan]

This will be to the detriment of the Tuk Tuk drivers as we start to use the Songthaew's more regularly. Some of the young Tuk Tuk operators ar MV have been trying this on for afair while.
Same thing happened in Phuket where the prices doubled overnight a few years ago. That was more to do with a few owners getting together and agreeing to ramp up the prices.
Maybe it is a seasonal thing, hopefully, where supply can't meet demand with tourists everywhere and dumb enough to pay high prices.
Come the end of the high season it may self correct.

[Bluesky]

It seems it is dearer to take a Tuk Tuk in Hua Hin than to take a meter taxi in Bangkok for a similar journey. As a somewhat unregulated business market forces prevail.

[bsdk1960]

maybe tuktukmike have the answer

[centermid7]

It seems it is dearer to take a Tuk Tuk in Hua Hin than to take a meter taxi in Bangkok for a similar journey. As a somewhat unregulated business market forces prevail.

FAR MORE expensive here in HH for a tuk tuk than a taxi in BKK. I can go 20 Km in Bkk in a taxi for around 150 Bt.

It's really not a competitive situation here and it's the same for many things in Thailand. The "group" sets a price and those that don't think they wanna play along are soon out of business. I see all the Scandies coming out of the housing area around Soi 102 every night being charged 300/400 Bt to go into the town center whereas in BKK that same distance by taxi might be 80 Bt. AND they are going to pay the same amount to go home.

[daddy]

Come the end of the high season it may self correct.

No, because this would be in opposite of of Thai thinkings and Thai logic. You know that is different to our logic.
If there are less custumers they have to take higher prices, so that they generate the same income.

[Nothappyjan]

Not what happened last year. Tuk Tuk prices in January/February were much the same as is happening now, prices corrected in the low season when the Scandies went home. They pay whatever is demanded of them.
Tuk Tuk drivers love the Scandies, they have told me so and treat them as fair game.

[Big Boy]

While people pay the extortionate prices, they will stay high. We still use our pet Tuk Tuk driver occasionally, and he rarely charges more than 100 Baht. Likewise, if he send one of his mates because he's busy, he instructs them to charge 100 Baht.

So in response to the OP, yes, you're being ripped off, but what is the alternative?

[Bristolian]

While people pay the extortionate prices, they will stay high. We still use our pet Tuk Tuk driver occasionally, and he rarely charges more than 100 Baht. Likewise, if he send one of his mates because he's busy, he instructs them to charge 100 Baht.

So in response to the OP, yes, you're being ripped off, but what is the alternative?

I think you hit the nail on the head. I only use tuk tuks when we go out for drinks as I will not drink even a little and then drive (too many idiots about even when my reactions are 100%).

We have used the same service for years and soi 6 to anywhere in the town is 200 Baht and there are usually 6-8 of us (usually weekends when traffic is at its worse).Money is only collected on the return journey. We have called this service sometimes at ridiculous hours and the owner turns out in his PJs. Same price 200 baht. Great sevice £4.00 and no hassle.

[tuktukmike]

Can't really see the problem here,

Just getting into a taxi back home will cost £3-5 that before the driver turns a wheel.
They also provide a service nearly 24 hours a day and in fairness some customers are not in the best condition at 2 am in the morning.
As another poster mentioned they often have a party of 6,

So 150baht does not seem overpriced to me.

Ttm

[bsdk1960]

Can't really see the problem here,

Just getting into a taxi back home will cost £3-5 that before the driver turns a wheel.
They also provide a service nearly 24 hours a day and in fairness some customers are not in the best condition at 2 am in the morning.
As another poster mentioned they often have a party of 6,

So 150baht does not seem overpriced to me.

Ttm

agre 100 % with you,some people think everything has to be cheap, food, beer, girls , taxis ,accomendation and at other time say its a 3 world country,one of the best way to move forward is if people earn a decent salery.If you can afford to it, or use a sevice, dont buy it.
Do you realise that they have to rent or buy the tuk tuk,taxis or motorbike them self, and many times with money they have borrow.

My first time to Thailand was in 1983 so I know the prices have change alot and we could only afford eating fried rice 3 times a day, because we choose that we should have money to beer to,our money our choice,but we didnt complain about it.

[Big Boy]

I think the problem is inconsistency. A Tuk Tuk in Hua Hin costs a hell of a lot more than many other places in Thailand. I posted recently about a taxi from Don Mueng to Suvarnabuhmi. The cost was well under 400 Baht, and we were in the cab about 40 minutes. How far would 400 Baht get you in a Hua Hin Tuk Tuk?

Personally, I never see it as a problem. If it's no more than sheer profiteering, I'm always happy to put Mrs BB on the back of a motorcycle taxi, I will walk - a much healthier option, but personal choice.

[Bristolian]

The problem or cause of higher prices is also availability and metering. It appears that every other vehicle in BKK is a taxi and they are metered to contol pricing. In HH there are far fewer tuk tuks etc for the demand. By comparison to Phuket and some other resorts HH is still not expensive

[SydneyGuy]

Agree with the above post

in BKK there a million taxis and they are cheap, in HH there are not many taxis and the tuk tuk drivers can charge whatever they think is a fair price, especially if its high season and late at night/early morning, its up to us to negotiate and if you think its too much, politely refuse and walk away. Just a quick note that for first or second time holiday visitors in Hua Hin, they don't have any problem paying a little more, as the service would be substantially more in their home countries. Bottom line is i think we all have it pretty good here in terms of the cost of living:)

[Pleng]

I think the problem is inconsistency. A Tuk Tuk in Hua Hin costs a hell of a lot more than many other places in Thailand.

And also a lot less than some other places (Phuket and Samui come to mind for starters). A beer on the beach will cost you more than one in town. A meal in town will cost more than one on the side of the street.

Hua Hin has a very good and cheap Saangtheaw service. I don't recall seeing anything like that in BKK.... unless you fancy being couped sweating away in an enclosed city bus, or course.

I posted recently about a taxi from Don Mueng to Suvarnabuhmi. The cost was well under 400 Baht, and we were in the cab about 40 minutes. How far would 400 Baht get you in a Hua Hin Tuk Tuk?

400bt would get me from where I live in HH to anywhere I might want to go for a day or night out and have enough change (in most cases, exactly the right change...) to get back again. If I take the Sangtheaw on the way there, I've as good as halved the price of the journey.