Shuttle boats in Bangkok
 

Are the hotel shuttle boats available for non hotel guests? ie: Can we use the Oriental shuttle from Taskin bridge to have lunch at the hotel? If so, how do we recognize the boat, and do we give the driver $?
What about the shuttles to the ROS and the Penn?
Thanks

yes, they are available for everyone and no you don't have to give a tip. The boats have the names of their respective hotels on them.
Aloha!

If we are staying at the hotel and used the boats a lot we have tipped the boatmen before our trip ends- they appreciate that as I'm sure their salary is not big.

The walk from Taskin to the Oriental is short. While not beautiful, it is interesting. The easiest way is to walk over to the Shangri-la from Taskin up the soi to the New Road (Charon Kreung) and north to the road with the sign to the Oriental. One of the shops you pass is Lin Silver, which is much praised (deservedly). Also, you can hop on the river ferry and pay the 25 Baht if the shuttle from the Oriental is not present.

i did not read all replies....each boat has a name on it so it is easy to see....the boats are free to all but are for hotel guests....just walk on like you own the place....sheraton does not have a boat....terrible hotel....oriental's boats are not always on time....penn boats run very frequently...marriott is almost always on time...a new hotel pier was being built next to taskim in june....should be done now...the pier is below the taskim station...just follow the walk way...hotel pier is the one way to the left...

boats are free...i sometimes give the men tips but it is not necessary...they are all wonderful people who run the boats..

As Bob says there is a new pier at Taksin - It is finished but a couple of weeks ago the sign was still pointing to the old pier next to it - just to complicate matters some of the boats use the new pier at quiet times and the old pier when its peak hour and the river taxis are using both bits of the main pier! Just look out and you'll be able to see easily enough. Unfortunately you have to go back up and around if at the wrong pier but the boat will wait so don't worry - just wave to him.

Oh, Bob, you're so funny "sheraton does not have a boat....terrible hotel" The Royal Orchid has River City on one side and the water taxi dock on the other! Why would it need a boat?? Actually, it used to have a boat that ran up to the Oriental. I don't know whether it still does.

(For those that don't know, I always stay in the Towers of the Royal Orchid Sheraton, and Bob believes that the sun rises and sets at the Mariott Resort and Spa.)

PS I believe all the hotel boats run to River City as part of the circuit... oh maybe the aArriott boat doesn't... lol

kathie---success..i got your goat...hahaha..

ros has no boat anymore i am told...the pier is not as convenient as it might be...

most hotels have curbed or eliminated their boat to river city for some reason...for instance the penn only now goes once per hour...marriott not at all...oriental does still go i think...its a shame really...it was nice to go directly to the shopping center by boat thus avoiding the riff raff at ROS....

Even when the boats were going to River City many only went infrequently. The Oriental goes every 15 or 20 minutes in high season and every 30 minutes in low season.