Phuket International Airport is completely controlled by the black taxi team!

We knew that there were many pitfalls in Traveling in Thailand. We had a smooth 7-day Trip from Bangkok to Pattaya to Bangkok. I didn't expect it! We were taught a lesson as soon as we arrived in Phuket. We arrived at Phuket International Airport at 9:30 pm. We booked the Tiras Hotel in Patong Beach (very cost-effective). We tried indrive, bolt and Grab in advance. The taxi cost about 500-600 baht, so we didn't book a hotel to pick us up at the airport. Later we realized that we were so naive!

After picking up the luggage, there were several counters with Chinese signs for the taxi prices of Patong, Karon and Kata Beach. Generally, there were more white faces in the queue. We opened the app and prepared to call a taxi. The platform reference price was 586 baht. In the first round, we offered 600. Except for a few drivers who offered 660, other drivers offered 860. What was shocking was that several drivers offered the same price even in the decimal place (if you have used indrive, you should know this taxi-hailing mechanism). In the second round, we offered 620, and the drivers remained consistent (we already felt something was wrong). At this time, we still wanted to wait a little longer, after all, Phuket is notorious for taxis, and we wanted to wait for this wave of people to pass.

In the third round, there were fewer people and we offered 600, but it turned out to be a bunch of the same high price, 1000 baht. We didn't have the patience to wait any longer, so we agreed to the lowest price of 820 baht, but the driver said he couldn't get in and asked us to leave. The communication was fruitless. In the 4th round, we made a bid but no driver responded (now I think they had agreed on this! I saw a driver named Dan Qun at the taxi counter). We went to the airport again. A person who looked like a service staff saw that we had been waiting for a long time and reminded us to walk outside to get a taxi. We walked out and saw a man dispatching a taxi with a walkie-talkie. We asked him the price. He said 1,000 baht and we had to wait for 20 minutes. We turned around and walked out. A few steps later, we saw a driver coming to find us. It turned out that this was the car that offered 820 in the 2nd round and let us go out!

You all understand now, whether it is a taxi at the airport counter or a hotel pick-up, it is controlled by a team. Drivers with normal prices outside cannot come in. When calling a taxi, all low-priced drivers will ask you to go out of the airport. The one who offered 660 in the first round is probably also outside the airport. I really regret not answering this car. Tourists can only be slaughtered by these black cars. This is a completely small monopoly market model. After getting in the car, we also asked the driver, how much do you need to pay if you want to pick someone up at the airport? By year, month or per order? The driver smiled awkwardly and did not answer the question directly, so here are some suggestions for everyone:

1. If you are not short of money and want to save time and effort, you can book a hotel pick-up. There will be a sign with your name at the exit. The people there will help you arrange a car. It is also a part of the airport black taxi. It is higher than the market price but acceptable.

2. If you don’t have much luggage, you can walk a few steps to the outside of the airport to call a taxi, and the price will be much more favorable.