Bangkok cabbie

Took cabs three times during my recent Asian trip. This is one of my cabbies. Friendly guy as you can see. We negotiated a price for a lengthy ride in Bangkok over a short distance. (Traffic in Bangkok is awful). Saved me from lugging my scuba dive equipment-stuffed suitcase up and down an overpass.

Other taxi trips left me feeling ripped off. Here’s what I learned:

* The internet has websites that estimate the cost of taxi fare in many cities. Check one out.

* Contact your hotel or destination and ask for a taxi fare estimate. They should be able to give you a ballpark amount from the airport, bus or train station to the destination. Ask the driver the estimated fare before you get in the cab.

* Consider taking transit. Research routes and fares in advance. I love using transit. This is easier if you arrive during daylight hours. Several Thai bus drivers helped me get my bag on/off their bus. With a smile.

Travel + Escape’s 10 Most Common Travel Scams

* Research taxi scams in your destination city. Sometimes meters are rigged or the base fare is being overcharged.

I tend to avoid cabs whenever possible. I always look for hotels with shuttles or easy connections with transit.

Don’t get me started on the Tuk Tuks.

Traffic in Bangkok is CRAZY.