Thread: Travel by Minibus taxi?

**ffourie** · 29th August 2012 15:46

Hi all I need to go see a friend of mine at future park tomorrow morning before she starts work. She says I can take a minibus taxi to Nakon Nayok to meet her but she is unsure of where they start from I stay near the Huai Kwang MRT station. Could anyone offer any advice about this?

**theSmiler** · 29th August 2012 16:50

^ many minibuses leave from victory monument... They would probably pass through chatachak so that would be the most convenient place for you to pick one up.

BUT unless you can speak some Thai and know what's going on then it'll be tough for you.

Just get a taxi, probably be less than 200 baht. Taking a minibus back would be easier as most of them will be heading back to Bangkok.

**tonyharlo** · 30th August 2012 16:11

how safe are the taxis, i heard kidnapping sof foreigners was a problem?

**keekwai** · 30th August 2012 16:31

It sure is! I was kidnapped last week! I was locked in the boot of the cab! Luckily ... I had my Swiss Army Knife handy and was able to jimmy it open. I got a bit of a scrapped knee as I had to jump from the boot at 60 kph though.

Tony ... I would suggest a Tuk Tuk. You can't be locked in anywhere and are much easier to jump from.
Alternatively you could get a set of roller blades. Much safer ... and Bangkok footpaths are ideal for them.

** Note: Everyone else ... please ignore this post.

---Update---

Originally Posted by ffourie

future park ....... I stay near the Huai Kwang MRT

Get the MRT to Mo Chit ... that's most of the way. Then get a Taxi.

I think you can get the Mini Vans from Mo Chit - Future Park too (not sure) ... but like someone else said ... might be a bit hard without Thai skills.

Be careful you're not kidnapped though ...

**theSmiler** · 30th August 2012 16:33

Taxis in Bangkok are not perfect but don't over dramatise the danger. The licensed taxis are everywhere and one of the great bargains on the city. Moving about Bangkok would get very difficult without them.

Try to always flag down a moving taxi and always insist on them using the meter ("meter ka/krap" - same word in Thai). Avoid the ones that are parked outside tourist spots.

**Don** · 31st August 2012 00:52

From huai kwang there's nothing to be gained by taking the MRT, just jump in a taxi.

**keekwai** · 31st August 2012 06:32

Originally Posted by Don

nothing to be gained by taking the MRT

Experience? You can't be a slave to Taxis forever. Sooner or later you have to switch out of tourist mode.

**Chang** · 31st August 2012 08:05

I agree with the advice of MRT to Mo Chit and then minivan to Rangsit. They stop opposite Future Park and are considerably cheaper than taxis.

You need to know the Thai script for Rangsit as they all have their destinations on the front of the vehicle.

Just jump in one and say "Footoooore" and they will know. if that doesn't work then "Langsit" will do. Probably costs around ThB 40 by now I guess and you won't get kidnapped.

**Don** · 31st August 2012 08:43

Originally Posted by keekwai

Originally Posted by Don
nothing to be gained by taking the MRT
Experience? You can't be a slave to Taxis forever. Sooner or later you have to switch out of tourist mode.

Fair enough, you can gain the experience of going by minivan. But you'd be best to take one from Rachidapisek, the thai for Rangsit is รังสิต.
To clarifiy there is no advantage in taking the MRT to Mo Chit to take a taxi, you would be wasting your time and money. A taxi from
Huai Kwang will be quicker and won't cost any more.

I take taxis all the time, it's convenient and saves me time. I'm not a backpacker with acres of freetime any more and don't want to spend an hour in a minivan
when I could do the same journey in 20 minutes by a taxi.

**ffourie** · 3rd September 2012 15:00

Thank you all for your help. I actually prefer travel in the mini bus as in SA we have many of those. I have been ripped off very badly by taxi's so far and am plain and simpley just sick of it. And normal busses take way too long. I have managed to get to rangsit from mo chit thanks to the advice here. Also so far the mini vans have been almost as fast as the taxi's so I'm not minding the travel time. If I do end up working in that area permanently I will probably get a small apartment to stay during the week.

**Fleabag** · 3rd September 2012 15:07

Originally Posted by ffourie

I have been ripped off very badly by taxi's so far and am plain and simpley just sick of it.

You're doing something wrong, or not doing something right.

**keekwai** · 3rd September 2012 16:07

Originally Posted by ffourie

been ripped off very badly by taxi's

I can honestly say I've never been ripped off by a taxi ... or even a Tuk Tuk in 20 odd years in and out of LOS.

A mystery.

**Chang** · 3rd September 2012 17:19

Originally Posted by ffourie

so far the mini vans have been almost as fast as the taxi's

That is my recollection of that route too. The minibuses used to really barrel along the Vipawadii-Rangsit road. Two tips if you are going to use this route regularly:

A) avoid the ones that go to Saphan Mai first;

B) sometimes drivers will try to fill the minibus with people going to Rangsit so they don't have to stop anywhere in between. This is usually in the rush hour. That way they can get a fast turn-around and make more money. These ones beat the taxis hands down although they can be a bit scary.

How much is the fare now? I think it was ThB 30 when I did this route.