Those who love to travel freely to Bangkok, Thailand, will inevitably have a love and hate complex for taxi and tuk-tuk services in Thailand. It is inevitable that they will always encounter unpleasant situations such as deliberate detours, packet loss in the middle of the road, and high prices. , Some people will fight for reasons, and some people will spend money to eliminate disasters.In fact, the cost is small. After all, taxi fares in Thailand are quite cheap. It is unbearable to disrupt the interest of traveling. Fortunately, with the development of smart phones, in addition to making good use of GPS positioning and navigation, reducing the detour by taxi drivers In addition to the probability, the pleasant riding experience brought by the use of APP-hailing services will make people prefer to pay more service fees in exchange for the joy of traveling.
Overview of taxi-hailing services in Bangkok
Taxi call services currently available in Bangkok, Thailand, include: GrabTaxi (Singapore), Easy Taxi (Brazil), All Thai Taxi (Thailand) and many other imported or local taxi-hailing services. All Thai Taxi launched in 2015 and Uber In 2018, it announced its withdrawal from the Southeast Asian market, mostly using the positioning and communication functions of smartphones to recruit drivers and matched passengers.
Among them, GrabTaxi, which originated in Singapore in 2012, has overlapping investment teams with Uber. It can be said to be the most popular ride-hailing service in Southeast Asia. It is currently available in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Launched in several countries, it is considered the most successful ride-hailing service developed in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand. It also helped Uber to withdraw from the market and become the leader of the ride-hailing market in Southeast Asia.
In recent years, when traveling to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, I have personally experienced many riding experiences, and I will share with you here.
Register as a member
When the GrabTaxi APP is opened for the first time, the software will ask for the permission of "Access your location" and "Send notification". At least the former access right must be approved, so that the APP can assist in searching for the pickup location.Next, you can start to fill in member information and register.
The first step: Enter the basic information of the account
The registration information is very simple, just fill in the name, E-mail and phone number.The name is recommended to be in English, which is convenient for the taxi driver to call; E-mail will mainly send information such as taxi call records and customer service reply; the telephone number is mainly used to receive the SMS at the moment, and it must be used to receive the activation SMS and facilitate subsequent taxi calls The use of contact.
After completing the registration information, you can further enter the Referral Code to get a single ride discount of 50 baht. Of course, you can leave it alone.Many GrabTaxi vehicles have an introduction code on the seat back of the meeting. I wonder if the driver can get some profit by introducing members successfully.
Step XNUMX: Receive SMS and activate account
After sending the member registration information, wait to receive the SMS providing the activation code (Activation), and enter the four-digit digital information to complete the member registration. You can also delete the member information and register again afterwards.When assisting Anya to register in Bangkok at that time, I filled in the Taiwan mobile phone number in confusion. Of course, I couldn't receive the activation code SMS. Fortunately, I could go back to the upper-level form and change it to the Thai mobile phone number used at the time.
※ If you forget your Thai phone number for a while, those using iPhone can find the data of the "local number" in the "Phone" option of the "Settings" function of the mobile phone.Of course, you can also register and receive SMS with your own phone number in your home country, but if you don’t change the phone to a local number when calling a car, the driver will not be able to contact you!
▲ Anya registered as a new member in Thailand during the 2015 New Year. The system sent a letter informing that the new member can use the promo code "WELCOME" that provides a 3 baht discount for 50 times, and the term is only on 2015.3.31.
It should be noted that the calculation method of the fare using the promotional code is: the amount of skip meter + 25 baht service charge-50 baht discount = actual payable fare.
Function operation screen
The operation screen of GrabTaxi APP is quite simple, and people who are familiar with smart phones can quickly get started.Click the "three" pattern in the upper left corner to call up the main function menu.In order, they are "Current Booking", "New Booking", "History", "Profile", "Support", Functional projects such as "About" and "Rate and Share".
Among them, the "Current Booking" will only appear when a driver agrees to take orders and come to pick up passengers. You can also click this option to track the current driver's location.When there is a barrier to language communication, it is very important to track the location of the incoming car at any time. When you see the car approaching the place where you boarded, you can call the driver to come.
The software’s ride-hailing record function has the advantage of not using it. In the event of a dispute with the driver, or if your belongings are suspected of being left in the car, you can contact GrabTaxi for assistance. E-mail or telephone can be used. If necessary, it may be possible to ask a friend or hotel service staff who understands Thai for assistance.
Use ride-hailing services
The steps to call a taxi using the GrabTaxi APP are quite simple. The most important step is to set the pickup location and destination. After the software successfully matches the driver's order, it will provide important information such as the driver's photo, vehicle number and estimated fare. Real-time tracking of the location of the vehicle in the APP, and grasp the arrival time and whereabouts of the vehicle.According to my own experience, the driver's photo and vehicle number are very important information. In case of language failure, passengers can easily find the driver and vehicle.
The first step: set the pickup location and destination
After clicking the "New Booking" option, you can start to set the "From" and "Destination (To)" data.The software provides a map positioning function. After moving the pointer to the correct position, the main landmark data will automatically appear, which is quite simple and convenient.
In addition, the software also provides location query functions such as Places, Foursquare, Google, etc. You can enter English or even Chinese to find a location. If the location is not too unpopular, you can find it quickly. The "My Favorites" option will also record the frequently used ones. Pick up location.
The second step: select the type of vehicle and call the vehicle
After completing the "Boarding Location" and "Destination" settings, you can choose from "Taxi", "GrabCar" and "GrabXL (van)" three types of vehicles. The software defaults to taxi options, which are usually used That is to choose a taxi, after all, there are a lot of taxi vehicles and the fare is cheap.
Taxi is a cooperative taxi that joins GrabTaxi. There are a large number of vehicles. According to the taxi fee standard, the vehicle is also an ordinary taxi model; GrabCar is like Uber, recruiting licensed private vehicles to provide services. The quality of the vehicles is better, and the charges are of course higher. ; GrabXL is a van that can carry more than 6 people. The number of vehicles is quite small. It is suitable for a group of friends.
After setting the location information and selecting the car model, click "Next" to provide an estimate of the distance and fare. At the same time, it will be charged an additional 20 baht and a 5 baht service fee for a total of 25 baht according to the skip meter amount. cost of.At this point, if you have a "Promo Code" on hand, you can usually get a 50 baht discount by entering the promo code, which is equivalent to paying 25 baht less according to the skip meter amount. It is really a good deal. Websites, LINE official accounts or various other partners have the opportunity to get promotional codes.
After clicking "Confirm Booking", the software will start to search for (Scanning) and match drivers who are willing to take orders near the pick-up location. The nearby drivers will receive the order message, and the willing drivers will You can take orders directly on your mobile phone.I heard that drivers who use iPhone to take orders are easier to grab orders. I don’t know if it’s true or not, haha!
The third step: track the incoming car and get on the car and give an evaluation
After completing the driver matching, the software will provide the driver’s name, photo and vehicle number. At this time, the driver’s location can be tracked in the software. There are two options below: "Contact Driver" and "End Trip" .Sometimes, the driver will take the initiative to call to confirm the passenger's boarding location.
It can be said that the steps of tracking the location of the vehicle on the software are very important. It is mainly to grasp the location and whereabouts of the vehicle. When the vehicle is about to arrive, you can call the driver over in time.After all, when using GrabTaxi, there is a high probability of language barriers. It is very important to make good use of mobile phone positioning to find the driver.
After successfully boarding the bus and arriving at the destination, if you do not enter the promotional code, remember to pay an extra 25 baht for the fare according to the skip meter amount.After getting off the bus, you can click "End Trip". After selecting "I have arrived", you can also get a five-star rating for the ride experience.
Sharing of actual car-hailing experience
The biggest advantage of GrabTaxi is the number of vehicles and the meter fee. If you call a regular taxi, there are usually hundreds of vehicles available for matching in the center of Bangkok.Even for short-distance use, there is a great opportunity to match the driver to take the order, but if there is a traffic jam or the driver can't find the location, the driver may also take the initiative to cancel the order.
When traveling in Bangkok, simply test and search for available vehicles in downtown Bangkok, and you can see that there are hundreds of Taxi available for matching at any time, and you can also choose GrabCar's private car option.In addition, Grab has also launched the JustBrab function, that is, at the same rate, users can allow the system to automatically match GrabTaxi or GrabCar, giving priority to the nearest matching vehicle, which can increase the success rate of car-hailing and reduce waiting time.
Experience sharing on actual boarding
Based on the GrabTaxi car-hailing experience that went to Bangkok in early 2015, several ride experiences are shared as follows:
- The boarding location should be clear: I have encountered two taxi drivers calling to confirm. I don't know whether it is because of my poor English or poor hearing. The communication is not very smooth. It is recommended that the boarding location be set as a clear landmark as much as possible.In addition, the APP provides the vehicle number and real-time location. If you make good use of it, you can usually find the car smoothly if the language is blocked.
- Promo codes can be used a lot: GrabTaxi offers many Promo Code offers, such as during the Spring Festival, LINE official account, driver introduction or partners, etc. Entering the promo code can immediately save 50 baht on boarding fees.Even if there is no promo code, it is quite cost-effective to pay an extra 25 baht service fee in exchange for a good rider experience and a good mood.
- You can track the driving path by yourself: When taking GrabTaxi, you can use your mobile phone to track the driving path of the vehicle in the car. According to how many times you track the driving path, the training of the GrabTaxi driver seems to be good. When taking a long distance, the driver will choose a slightly curved road, which is believed to be the main reason for the smooth driving.
On the whole, the biggest threshold for using GrabTaxi is probably how to let the driver find you and you can find the driver.If you start from a hotel, it is probably not a problem. Set the place of departure to be the name of the hotel. Sit in the lobby of the hotel and pay attention to the movement of the door. You can easily meet the driver.
As for the return journey, if there are few people at the entrance of the attraction, choose directly as the starting point. Of course, the most obvious, the driver is best to find, and the most obvious. If there are many people in the attraction, it is recommended to walk slowly to the area around the attraction to see the Thai life In daily life, wait for the opportunity to choose a landmark/store that is equally obvious but has fewer people to call for a car. If you are shopping at the store, you may be able to ask the store to help communicate with the driver.
▲ GrabTaxi will also contact the taxi near the pick-up location at the same time, depending on which driver is willing and quicker to pick up one hand and foot, the match can be completed.
▲ It is recommended to pay attention to the location and whereabouts of the taxi immediately after the taxi is requested, especially when the boarding location is relatively unpopular.
When I asked for a taxi at the Dalinjiang Floating Market, I watched the taxi pass by. Fortunately, there was satellite positioning and vehicle number information, and the driver was hired back smoothly and immediately.
▲ GrabTaxi VIP-level cooperative vehicle.
▲ Not all GrabTaxi cooperative vehicles are green, but there will be stickers on the windows, plus the vehicle number data, which is quite easy to identify.
▲ All GrabTaxi drivers have received training, and the service level and attitude are quite neat. The software will also provide driver photos for identification.
▲ GrabTaxi drivers must have a smartphone, which is the main tool for receiving orders and making money.
▲ I heard that drivers who use iPhones have fast orders and a high success rate. I don't know if it is true or not.
Some drivers will also use the navigation tool of the smart phone by the way, which can be used in one machine.
▲ GrabTaxi promotional materials are usually placed on the driver's seat, along with the driver's own promotional code.
New registered passengers can use the promo code to get a discount of 50 THB for the first time.
▲ There are many channels and opportunities to obtain promotional codes, so please pay more attention to it.In fact, it is quite cost-effective to pay more for good service.
▲Thailand promotional materials are always made very cute and interesting.
▲ After successfully matching a taxi through GrabTaxi, if a promo code is entered, the system will send a message to inform the taxi that the taxi is coming to pick up and drop off.
It is usually sufficient to inform the driver of the use of the promotional code verbally, and perhaps a letter to prove it if necessary.
▲ After completing the boarding and payment, the system will also send an electronic bill to inform the boarding information and fare.
However, I don't know whether it is a system or other setting problem. After several rides, it seems that only two electronic bills have been received.
▲ After the ride, you can evaluate and put forward customer service needs.
At that time, I wrote a compliment to the driver in the Feedback column, and the customer service staff responded with due diligence.
GrabTaxi's advantages analysis and precautions for use
GrabTaxi is currently the most well-known and rapidly developing taxi-hailing service in Bangkok. It is also the taxi-hailing service that I deeply like after actual use. I think it can really solve many unpleasant scenes of taking a taxi.The main advantages and precautions are roughly explained as follows:
The main advantage:
- Jump meter charges are always used: drivers are trained, and the meter jump charges are used wherever they go, including airport shuttles.
- The number of vehicles is quite large: almost every Bangkok city has more than 100 vehicles available for matching. In actual use, it is really fast and convenient.
- Provide rich ride-hailing information: Provide driver's photo, vehicle number, fare estimate, vehicle location and other information to improve the combined power of the media.
Precautions:
- Additional service fee: according to the amount of the skip meter, an additional 25 baht will be charged, in exchange for a good riding experience, personally feel that it is quite cost-effective.
- Communication skills need to be strengthened: the driver's language skills are only acceptable when the taxi franchise method is adopted, and the positioning function must be used to improve the success rate.
- The type of car is only ordinary: unless you choose GrabCar, you will take a regular taxi, don’t ask for Uber standards.
- No driving path record: The software does not currently record the driving path function. I personally feel that the probability of encountering a detour is currently very low.
- The driver can refuse to take the order: the driver decides whether to take the order or not, and it may not be possible to call the car for a short distance.In a traffic jam, the driver may also cancel the order.
- Open credit card payment: Credit card and Alipay payment functions have been provided, and payment is more convenient. You must use the online registration in Thailand.
Based on the actual experience and comparing the differences between Uber and GrabTaxi, I have experienced Uber at the same time this time. Of course, Uber’s driver’s English proficiency and vehicle level are nothing to say. The main disadvantage is the number of vehicles and legal compliance issues. Most of them can only be found on Sukhumvit Road and Siam. I found a single-digit car in the city center, and this time I tried to call a car at the Dalinjiang Floating Market, I could also use GrabTaxi to call the car immediately, so that people can truly experience the universality and convenience of GrabTaxi.
Related Reading ▶️"Bangkok Free Tour" Uber and Uber Chartered Car Free Tour: 2018 Bangkok ride-hailing service ends
Conclusion
GrabTaxi continues to improve the ride-hailing function and application range. The advantages of GrabTaxi, such as the meter charging and the large number of vehicles, make people like this ride-hailing service. I think it can reduce a lot of negative riding experience.After all, the starting price of the 35 baht taxi in Bangkok has not been increased for 20 years. Although the Thai government continues to promote the gradual adjustment of the price of skip meters and the promotion of non-refusal short-distance rides and other improvements, this kind of smartphone taxi-hailing service that is increasingly popular in the world, I believe Can bring more wonderful travel experience.
In fact, many taxi drivers come to Bangkok, a metropolis from other places, to ask for their livelihood. Many chaos can be improved in many ways. On the one hand, it can increase the starting price or skip the meter price, so that the driver can get the income he deserves. On the other hand, it can be improved. Strengthen publicity and management to improve the quality of taxi services.I believe that most tourists will be willing to pay more, feel less gassy and avoid disputes in order to obtain a good ride-hailing service. Before the current situation improves, it is probably a good choice to choose a ride-hailing app.
◎ Software introduction and download link
Download page:App Store | Google Play
Official website: http://grabtaxi.com/bangkok-thailand/
Software introduction:
The leading taxi-booking app in Southeast Asia that makes it easy to hail a cab with just a few simple taps. The same app can be used in Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Reasons to use GrabTaxi:
• Safe: Licensed drivers and trackable taxi rides. No more touts!
• Certain: Know your estimated metered fare before you book a taxi.
• Fast: Find out your booking status within a minute.
• Get your driver's details (name, mobile number, vehicle registration number and photo) once your booking is confirmed.
• Book immediately or up to seven (7) days in advance.
• Book a taxi using the same app in 6 countries in Southeast Asia.
How to use:
• Download and activate the app.
• The app auto detects your location and sets it as your Pick-Up.
• Key in your Drop-Off point.
• Select your car type as “Budget”, “Standard”, “GrabCar” or “GrabBike”.
• Hit'Next'. Add extra information such as house number in the'Notes to driver' field.
• Get a booking confirmation within a minute. You'll get the driver's details soon after.
• Watch as your driver moves towards you. Enjoy your ride!
Note: In certain countries, government-regulated surcharge may be applicable for every successful booking made.
