Doing something new for me, travelling with my brother's family instead of on my own. Flying Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a couple of weeks, two adults, a five year old and an eighteen month old, plus a car seat we are bringing from home because my sister in law will not hear otherwise.
I always just Grab from CNX on my own. But with a car seat and two kids I am wondering whether the fixed fare taxi desk inside arrivals is less faff, since you are not standing outside staring at a little icon with a toddler. Anyone done this with kids? Do the taxis there even have seatbelts in the back that work with a seat?
The airport is so close to the old city that honestly any option is fine, it's like fifteen minutes. With kids I'd pick whichever lets you get the seat fitted without someone waiting impatiently, which is usually the desk because the driver's already been paid and isn't in a hurry.
Check the seatbelts before you load anything. Most cars have them now but on some older taxis the rear belt buckles have vanished down the back of the seat. If it's the desk, you can just ask for another car. Did that with my grandson in Bangkok in the summer.
Grab has a car size option in the app. If you pick the bigger car category you get more boot space for a car seat plus luggage plus a buggy. Small sedan with all that is a squeeze.
This is useful, thanks. So the plan is desk taxi, check the belts first, refuse the car if the belts are missing, and fit the seat at the kerb without stress. Grab big car as backup.
Second question then. On the way back to the airport, any reason not to just book Grab from the guesthouse? Or do people book the guesthouse's own driver?
Guesthouse driver if you have an early flight, they turn up because they want the next booking. Grab fine in the daytime. That has been my Chiang Mai rule for years.
Back from the north. For the record, desk taxi was easy, first car had belts that worked, seat in within five minutes while the driver loaded the bags and kept the five year old entertained with the horn. Guesthouse driver on the way out, 6am, on the dot. Kids remember the red trucks more than anything else, which is a whole other thread.
