T A X I K I C K - Report Rude Or Abusive Taxi Drivers!

[volstateguy]

I've only had 1 driver try to rip me off. He was taking me from the airport to my hotel on the first trip there. At that time I didn't know where to go to get to the metered taxis. A guy in the terminal must have seen that I had no idea where I was going and asked me if I needed a taxi and said that he could take me to one. He told me something like 300 pesos, maybe 400 to go to Rajah Park where I was staying, which sounded ok to me. We get to the taxi and another guy is actually the driver. Nice guy, we had the usual chit chat into the city but I suppose since I told him it was my first time there that he could rip me off on the fair because once we got to Rajah park he told me the fair was $20. (thats 20 American dollars) I told him that his friend told me 300 pesos....he amost seemed surprised that I argued the price, but 300 pesos is all he got. Thats when I learned NEVER tell anyone its my first time there.

As Madonna says -- like a virgin, touched for the very first time.....good thing you put your foot downwhich the driver never expected. All you newbies out there, learn from the pro.Respectfully -- Jake

The main thing for a newbie to learn from this is NEVER admit its your first time in the Philippines. Also read up and leans where the metered taxis are and demand the meter is turned on. If the driver won't turn on the meter get out and find another taxi.

[i am bob]

This is gonna be interesting... Who's taxis drive faster? One from Cebu when it's busy or one from Niagara Falls at bar closing on the July 1st / 4th weekend... been there and done that for a few months... and I have a feeling it's not the NF driver!

[volstateguy]

This is gonna be interesting... Who's taxis drive faster? One from Cebu when it's busy or one from Niagara Falls at bar closing on the July 1st / 4th weekend... been there and done that for a few months... and I have a feeling it's not the NF driver!

One of my taxi rides from Cebu airport to my hotel, (not my first trip that I previously described), was pretty hair raising. I don't know if the driver was just in a hurry or if was expecting a big tip if he got me there as fast as possible. The whole trip he was hauling butt, weaving thru traffic and on a mission to pass every car ahead of him like he was racing NASCAR. At some points he was even going all the way over to the second and third oncoming lane. I'm was happy to finally make to my hotel to say the least.Still I think by far the worst cab drivers I've ever had have been in Korea. On base they go from flooring the gas to flooring the brake, by the time you get to where youre going your so motion sick you can barely get out of the cab. But the craziest rides are from downtown back to base at the end of the night. I think after 11pm all traffic rules are out the window. They haul azz all the way to base, blowing thru traffic lights, and drag racing all the other cabs....all the while blaring porn on their in car dvd players...not that you can enjoy it, because you are too busy praying you make it back to base with your life :89:

[i am bob]

This is gonna be interesting... Who's taxis drive faster? One from Cebu when it's busy or one from Niagara Falls at bar closing on the July 1st / 4th weekend... been there and done that for a few months... and I have a feeling it's not the NF driver!

One of my taxi rides from Cebu airport to my hotel, (not my first trip that I previously described), was pretty hair raising. I don't know if the driver was just in a hurry or if was expecting a big tip if he got me there as fast as possible. The whole trip he was hauling butt, weaving thru traffic and on a mission to pass every car ahead of him like he was racing NASCAR. At some points he was even going all the way over to the second and third oncoming lane. I'm was happy to finally make to my hotel to say the least.Still I think by far the worst cab drivers I've ever had have been in Korea. On base they go from flooring the gas to flooring the brake, by the time you get to where youre going your so motion sick you can barely get out of the cab. But the craziest rides are from downtown back to base at the end of the night. I think after 11pm all traffic rules are out the window. They haul azz all the way to base, blowing thru traffic lights, and drag racing all the other cabs....all the while blaring porn on their in car dvd players...not that you can enjoy it, because you are too busy praying you make it back to base with your life :89:

In the tourist area of Niagara Falls, it is just that - hotels, restaurants and other places to spend money... In the summer it can be so busy it's not unusual to be stuck in traffic and only move a couple short blocks in 20 to 30 minutes... sometimes even more! So, as a cab driver, if you are willing to go into the area at all, you learn all about which hotels have parking lots with access to back alleys, service roads for the park and such... I once bypassed a 45 minute traffic jam at the edge of the falls and to the hospital with a heart attack patient by taking these shortcuts - all in under 10 minutes... My police escort caught up to me almost 30 minutes later... And all they wanted to know was how did I do it...! Ok, getting off topic again! But my question is still - are taxis like this when they are busy or ?

[JJReyes]

The yellow colored taxis at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrival area are for the tourist trade. It is the same for NAIA II, which is the Philippine Airlines terminal. These taxis are permitted to charge higher rates It's a meter rate system. You can also hire a private car, which are mostly SUVs. The fixed rates are based on your destination. The dispatcher will tell you how much and then hint for a tip. He hands a piece of paper to the driver and that's all they are allowed to charge, plus tip.Strategy - If you have lots of bags or there are two or three of you, look for a dispatcher or they will find you. They have small cubicles on the other side of the driveway with the rates posted on the wall. The SUVs are bigger. The same suggestion if you are tall because the SUVs are more comfortable. I also like the fix rate during traffic hours because the meter is not running. If you destination is far, have them take you somewhere near the airport. You can get a white taxi from there. A few experienced foreigners go one floor up to the departure level. They get a white cab that has just dropped off a departing passenger. Technically, this is not permitted and airport security guards are suppose to stop you. But this is the Philippines. I saw a European lady at the departure level hand a security guard P20 and asked him for a cab. He assisted her, including loading her bags!

[volstateguy]

This is gonna be interesting... Who's taxis drive faster? One from Cebu when it's busy or one from Niagara Falls at bar closing on the July 1st / 4th weekend... been there and done that for a few months... and I have a feeling it's not the NF driver!

One of my taxi rides from Cebu airport to my hotel, (not my first trip that I previously described), was pretty hair raising. I don't know if the driver was just in a hurry or if was expecting a big tip if he got me there as fast as possible. The whole trip he was hauling butt, weaving thru traffic and on a mission to pass every car ahead of him like he was racing NASCAR. At some points he was even going all the way over to the second and third oncoming lane. I'm was happy to finally make to my hotel to say the least.Still I think by far the worst cab drivers I've ever had have been in Korea. On base they go from flooring the gas to flooring the brake, by the time you get to where youre going your so motion sick you can barely get out of the cab. But the craziest rides are from downtown back to base at the end of the night. I think after 11pm all traffic rules are out the window. They haul azz all the way to base, blowing thru traffic lights, and drag racing all the other cabs....all the while blaring porn on their in car dvd players...not that you can enjoy it, because you are too busy praying you make it back to base with your life :89:

In the tourist area of Niagara Falls, it is just that - hotels, restaurants and other places to spend money... In the summer it can be so busy it's not unusual to be stuck in traffic and only move a couple short blocks in 20 to 30 minutes... sometimes even more! So, as a cab driver, if you are willing to go into the area at all, you learn all about which hotels have parking lots with access to back alleys, service roads for the park and such... I once bypassed a 45 minute traffic jam at the edge of the falls and to the hospital with a heart attack patient by taking these shortcuts - all in under 10 minutes... My police escort caught up to me almost 30 minutes later... And all they wanted to know was how did I do it...! Ok, getting off topic again! But my question is still - are taxis like this when they are busy or ?

Yes for the most part, they will try to get you where you are going as quickly as possible so they can pick up another fare. Many, or most, taxi drivers do not own their own cabs. Drivers rent cabs for 24 hours and take as many customers as they can.

[i am bob]

Ah! So they would be as crazy as I thought! Thanks!Oh, the info above? That was over 30 years ago when I was a teen and a lot more crazy than I am now!