Phuck the tuk tuk as Uber launches in Phuket

One of Uber’s first riders in Phuket was champion surfer Annissa Flynn.

Getting ripped off by a tuk tuk driver or cabbie needn’t be your first experience of Thailand now that Uber, the fancy app-connected limo service, has launched in the picturesque resort of Phuket.

Uber says in a blog post today that it’s the first of a new wave of launches in exotic resort areas, in contrast to its earlier strategy of targeting major cities. The company is calling this new ploy UberDestination, allowing customers to use a familiar service even while on holiday.

But travelers to Phuket need to note that Uber is expensive – even more so than usual – in the beach-side resort. Whereas Uber’s base fare in Bangkok (where it launched in February) is 75 baht (US$2.30), in Phuket it’s a banana pancake-dropping 180 baht (US$5.50). And the cost per kilometer in Phuket is double that of Bangkok. Despite the higher fares, there are no Mercs or Audis in the Uber Phuket line-up – just Toyotas, Hondas, and Isuzus. Maybe because they’re better for carrying surfboards. (Update on October 7: Uber’s Warren Tseng points out in the comments section that the pricing is competitive by Phuket’s standards.)

See: 10 taxi apps you can use across Asia