Did you pay extra 1000thb?

It is usually better to go to one of the taxi counters just outside the doors.

Thailand is a wonderful place to visit and travel around. As a UK citizen, finding a cheap flight to Bangkok (this is possible if willing to spend time looking) makes a holiday to Thailand not far off the cost of a trip somewhere in my own country. Mid range hotels are of very good standards (choose one of the excellent boutique hotels providing home from home comfort) and are ever so affordable. Tour companies are all competing with each other meaning a great day out can be had to some majestic sights for very little. Food is available for all budgets and is generally excellent. What does bother me about my several trips to Thailand however is what I would describe as the increasingly exorbitant (in relative terms) taxi/tuk tuk costs. I recently figured that a large proportion of my budget was being used on transport, usually only small distances from hotels to particular areas of the city/island. It appears, from speaking with locals, that the "taxi mafia" are not promoting a particularly positive image for the Thai tourist industry and it would be in the Thai governments interests to deal with the problem. My advice is to bargain hard, do not accept the first price quoted, and remember, for a driver a tuk tuk with people in it is better than an empty tuk tuk so this should mean you have more bargaining power. As for taxis from the airport, budget for 400 baht to the city and anything less is a bonus.

Taxi to and from airport to the Center of the city is exactly 290bht.

Taxi fares will be raised in BKK this week. Apparantly, it will be an extra 50 satang per KM and maybe the price will rise from 35 to 40 baht when you start the trip (I've heard different stories about the latter). Not a scam, I know, but just so people know.