Airport taxi warning

[Mossman]

Wait a minute..... NOW that is a good idea.

Sure. Just like with other bargaining, if you don't settle on a price you like, you walk away. Just because they already made the margarita or dinner entree or whatever shouldn't affect the bargaining process. In fact, it gives you more leverage.

 

[Mike]

Why are you guys 'haggling' over a cab fair?

He says 10 you say, would you take 2, he says 9 you say how about 6?

Why is there a negotiation?

Skittles says she doesn't want to haggle just pay the price she is told, when the cab driver tells you its 10 there isn't any haggling unless you start it.

---------- Post added January 6th, 2014 at 01:14 PM ----------

Couple of things here regarding taxis. Yes, "techically" the taxis and airport shuttles are same union. A lot of shuttles are owned by taxistas. However, the airport is considered a "Federal" Zone. You need Federal permits to operate there. The taxis in Cozumel operate on "Municipal" permits. Hence they cannot pick up at the airport. It is even frowned upon picking up fares outside of the airport ( out by car rentals) but not illegal.

So you're saying that the local dark powers keep taxis in cozumel from getting a federal permit like taxis do all over the rest of mexico that pick up at airports?

 

[Mossman]

Why are you guys 'haggling' over a cab fair?

He says 10 you say, would you take 2, he says 9 you say how about 6?

Why is there a negotiation?

And if the driver says 15?

If the driver says 10 when I know it's 9?

I don't like to feel cheated by accepting the obviously inflated price, nor do I like to haggle to get a lower price. Neither cheating nor haggling are conducive to my sense of "vacation".

I prefer taking taxis with meters. Since meters apparently don't function in Mexico, I haggle and/or get cheated only when necessary, avoiding taxis wherever possible unless I'm in the mood for haggling. When I first get off a plane that's landed on a tropical isle, I'm in no mood for haggling. I just want to get to my hotel with as little unpleasantry as possible. Thankfully the airport at least does away with the haggling and cheating by charging a set fare.

It's also a great equalizer. No matter whether you're flying first class and staying at El President or stuck in a middle seat on ValuJet and headed to a roach-ridden slum downtown, we all ride the same shuttle and we all dive in the same ocean.

 

[Skittl1321]

I prefer taking taxis with meters.

I don't. Then I always wonder if a driver took me a long way, or a way that he knew would have traffic to up the fare, or if he has messed with the meter to make it run faster. I like Cozumel's system of setting a price for the destination, and I take it upon myself to be informed of the price. Meters make me nervous.

I don't ask cab drivers what the rate is- I say my destination, the price, and they say yes. Since the rates are very clearly set, I've never tried to haggle cabs.

Skittles says she doesn't want to haggle just pay the price she is told, when the cab driver tells you its 10 there isn't any haggling unless you start it.

I really just meant in general- for "stuff". If I want to buy a gourd, I'm gonna just pay what they ask me for if I think it is reasonable. If I don't think it is reasonable, I move on. It applies to cabs- because I really appreciate that there ISN'T haggling for cabs.

 

[cvchief]

And if the driver says 15?

If the driver says 10 when I know it's 9?

I had a taxi try to clip us for 300 pesos in town, until the missus gave him the crazy look and asked him again in Spanish and it went back to 30.

It's also a great equalizer. No matter whether you're flying first class and staying at El President or stuck in a middle seat on ValuJet and headed to a roach-ridden slum downtown, we all ride the same shuttle and we all dive in the same ocean.

We have no roaches in downtown, you Marxist.....

 

[dmoore19]

Ya'll still arguing about the cabs and the vans?

I kind of appreciate the vans. They are right up close, I know what the cost is, They really do seem to move quickly once you get past the time share hawks. I have never had to wait more that a few minutes.

Cabs from where I have stayed are always around $5. We usually just walk to town and back, no big deal. I am on vacation and I am not gonna argue over 1 or 2 bucks. I didn't go to Cozumel to argue with anybody. I went to relax. Over a week trip I doubt it I will spend more than 40-50 on cabs and van rides. If you want to haggle then that might come down to 30-40. Besides if a cab driver thinks he got one over on me he is mistaken it makes his day and I really don't care.

 

[cvchief]

Cabs from where I have stayed are always around $5.

Centro to Centro should be around 3 bucks.

 

[Mike]

So what you're really saying is you don't want to mess around with taxis because they make up prices, cause the vans don't do this but the taxis do.

 

[dmoore19]

I pay 5 bucks from Hotel Coz to downtown. Seems like a fair price to me. I generally walk and for the whole trip it might cost me an extra $10. Overall for me it doesn't matter.

Centro to Centro should be around 3 bucks.

 

[WoodyLompoc]

I’m 6’4” with a 36” inseam. I just got off my third flight (one being a red-eye) with my legs crammed up with my backpack under the seat in front of me, because of all those people who can’t afford $25 for a bag and insist on taking all the space above for their roller bags.

Getting squeezed into the back of that van,,, NO THANK YOU. My wife and I are fine with our backpacks on our backs and our ONE bag each to roll to the circle and enjoy the fresh warm air and stretch our legs, and not be crowded with seven or nine strangers in a hot van.

If I don’t get picked up this trip, fine, I’ll walk back to the van. At least I got a nice walk in and my legs stretched.