How to Ride a Tuk Tuk in Bangkok

Read all the blogs written about Bangkok by travellers themselves, and you are sure to come across at least a slight mention of the tuk-tuk scene in Bangkok. For some, a tuk-tuk ride means pure joy and excitement while at the same can be chaotic, messy and a mental burden for some. But, when you are in Bangkok, take at least one tuk-tuk ride to know how it feels. Forget about the MRTs, luxury cars, and buses for a while and say yes to this experience- you surely be happy about your decision.


YANG HAI, Thailand Tuk Tuk in Traffic, CC BY 2.0


Why tuk-tuks are the best to explore Bangkok?

Have you ever heard about the traffic congestions in this modern metropolis, Bangkok? Even if you have heard, you will not be able to imagine how it looks like until you actually see it. It's really is crazy! To get to a close-by attraction (a market, shopping mall, or a park) from any Bangkok city hotel the likes of Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok, you will have to spend hours with these traffic jams, and tuk-tuks (with their zipping-through techniques) are a perfect model of transportation available in Bangkok to save time. If your question now popping up is 'how about motorbikes then?' It is not a great option in Bangkok because no one without a death wish will say yes to such a deadly experience.

Select the right tuk-tuk for your Bangkok ride

Do you know what's so great about picking a good tuk-tuk (the driver here) for your ride? That's because with the right one you get to save both time and money. Most of the tuk-tuk drivers (especially if you tell them that you are new to the city) will offer a city tour for you that will have many stops at barbershops, gem stalls, and art galleries in Bangkok. If you've been looking for a city tour, this will be okay, but if not- this will most likely ruin your time. So, if you are in a rush to reach a destination, tell the driver exactly about where you need to go and they will then be okay with it.

Be clear on the pricing system

The technology is now advanced and if you use Google maps to find the destinations you are going to travel, you probably must be shown the approximate distances too. Before you get into the tuk-tuk, tell the driver that you need to go to this exact place, and ask them how much the ride will cost. If the tuk-tuk is metered, ask them how much it costs for 1 km, and then based on what Google Maps shows, you can decide whether the fee the driver tells is reasonable. If not, don't hesitate to highlight your fact and make some negotiations. If the tuk-tuk driver shows no flexibility, you can always catch another, and that's not a big deal in Bangkok.

Enjoy the trip- safely!

Some tuk-tuk drivers are very friendly, and they will get quite chatty with you throughout the ride using broken English. Sometimes this is fun, but sometimes (depending on your mood also) this can be quite annoying. Have some patience till you reach the destination and this is the safest way to avoid problems. Note that, these rides are not air-conditioned and can cause some discomfort, but you will enjoy the ride if you value this experience. These tuk-tuks are open from either side, and this is why you have to keep your bags and valuables much away from these open sides. Bag snatching instances have been reported, and avoiding such risks is anyways a good thing.

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