Classic Taxi driver tales

wOw says on Jan 12, 2006, 06:22:

Good cabbies and bad cabbies... First of all I would like to make it clear that I am aware that just like in everything, there are good cabbies and bad ones. They are all trying to make a living. Some do it honestly and others don't. Some are truly nice and helpful with no intent other than they're nice, others are like this because they may have an agenda. My motto is DON"T TAKE A CHANCE. Some of these advices I will list may sound a bit harsh but its better to be safe than sorry.

I've been to Colombia over 20 times in my life and I hav NEVER EVER had a problem with a cabbie.....but I admit that I am very careful.

My biggest advices when riding a cab are these:

1. If you are in a public place such as a mall, shopping center, hotel, they usually have their regular cabbies there...USE THOSE. If not you can ask the hotel clerk to call one for you.

2. Always negotiate a price before jumping in the car.

3. NEVER sit in the front seat with the cabbie, sit in the back.

4. LOCK both doors.

5. Pay attention to what they are doing and where they are going. (Don't act like a freak and stare at their every move, but just be ont the look out)

6. DO NOT let other people in the cab. One time this cabbie guy said if I minded if he took his friend since he had to drop him off close to where I was going. I said "HELL NO". It might've been true, but you never know....

7. Talk little with the cabbie. Now I know it sounds unfriendly, but the thing is that the least the cab knows about you the better. I always jump and just say where I'm going and thats it. If they try and talk to me about my life I don't talk....Sometimes they're being friendly but you never know. I get alot of "so where your from?". I literally say I'm from here (Colombia) and thats it, if he keeps asking I don't answer him back stay, he'll get the point.

8. DO NOT BEFRIEND a cabbie unless he was recomended by a trustworthy person or you know him personally. Sometimes these guys act cool and friendly and try to befriend you. Don't take it there may be an agenda, maybe not. BUt why take your chance?

9. DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU TO THE BAR/RESTAURANT to hang out with you. For same reason as #8.

10. IF you have a big bill make sure you tell them and ask if they have change for it. If not when it comes time to pay they'll be like "damn, I don't have change", they'll try to get some, then they won't find it and you'll be stuck.

I'm sure there are more, feel free to add...

wow

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elmodefoque says on Jan 12, 2006, 06:26:

The best taxi driver is someone you know or is recommended by a modeoque who knows that modefoque. ???? Anyway, I have nephew in barranquilla who not only drives the taxi but is also my bodyguard (big modefouque) drinking buddy and gets me colombinitas. All I have to do is describe what I feel like eating for that day. I got this thing for those famous peroxide blondes from Barranquilla with the tiny waist and big gigantic heart shape ass.
Since I’ve not lived in curramba for many many years( I think Colombia tied Russia during some soccer game when I was there) my nephew also serves as my tour guide, but hates it when I tell him to take me back to my old neighborhood, Barrio Abajo. “nojoda tio eso es un mierdero y vamos a jode el taxi” to get to my old neighborhood, we leave the car parked in a gas station and walk 20 unpaved, vehicle unfriendly street, best way to get there is by burro, hell if I’m gonna sweat my lacoste shirt and stink up my gap cargo pants on top of a burro, we walk, and I don’t care how many menacing dogs or people we see.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Wastelandlive says on Jan 12, 2006, 06:32:

OK, OK, the advise is appreciated... But I'm looking for actual tales. Come on guys, anybody who has spent more than a few months in Colombia has some good cab driver tales!

Wasteland

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elmodefoque says on Jan 12, 2006, 06:40:

If you’re looking for real weird, harrowing taxi stories put your ass inside a NYC cab.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Jan 12, 2006, 07:35:

Because a modefoque is from a poor family, little education, the other side of town and has to drive a taxi for a living it does not make him a three headed thieving monster. most of them guys are hard working and honest, of course you’ll get a few that will get you with a mil here or mill there but I’ve personally never encounter one. I’m more wary of doing business with a modefoque in a three piece suit.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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spigrimace says on Jan 12, 2006, 07:45:

Don´t forget to search this site for good cabbies I know the Medellin contingent has posted at times on good safe hard working fair priced taxis and/or car service. Use these guys and rest assured you´ll be fine. They understand over time they build up a clientelle and will make good money by earning it.

I haven´t seen much info on good cabbies from other cities so if you know some good ones, by all means, post them.

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Saltador says on Jan 12, 2006, 07:45:

Couple of experiences My very first trip to Cartagena I got a guy who spoke a little english take me from the airport to my hotel. I asked him to stop at the ATM on the way and he did. When we got to the hotel he told me (in spanish) how much I owed him, and with my money in my hands I indicated I wasn't sure how much that was. I tried to give him 20,000 pesos and he shook his finger "no" and took another 10,000 pesos from me. (I'm pretty sure the standard rate from the airport is 12 or 13,000 and this is now, not 3 years ago when this happened.) Of course we did make the one stop and I know that would add like 4,000 pesos but still the guy got me.
I now of course never enter the aiport cabs without getting a price quote first. About a year ago I forgot and about halfway to Laguito I asked the guy the price. He told me 16,000 pesos. I told him bullshit, I was here 3 months ago and it was 12,000. He insisted it went up because of the spike in gas prices. We went back and forth a little, but I decided oh well, my fault for not asking, it's only 1.50 more, let him have it. Then he put the icing on the cake when all I had was a 20,000 peso note and he claimed to only have 2,000 in change. The balls of some of these guys when it comes to fleecing gringos...
It's also always a challenge to try and get a fair price quote with a colombiana on your arm. I've actually had to stand off at a distance and let my novia do the talking before the ride so she get's colombiana pricing for the taxi. If I'm standing there with her the price usually doubles.
Have befriended a few good ones too though. Trustworthy guys that charge fairly and are just trying to eke out a living.
Tried calling elmos nephew three months ago for a ride from CTG to BAQ and he could not do it. Did not know at the time of his ability to procure the colombinitas, but this is good info for future trips for my amigos :-)

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Wastelandlive says on Jan 12, 2006, 07:48:

Point taken I'm not trying to call them all scum. I lived there for years without a car, and if I had three or four events, that means I had hundreds of simple rides with honest cab drivers.

But I've NEVER had a problem in the states. Because I'm not a foreigner here, or because the rule of law is just a tad stronger?

I don't know. I just want to hear everybody's story. I KNOW you guys have been scammed. First time I was in Bogota, GIB, I payed that code. It seemed high, but hell... there was the number on the chart. What did I know?

We don't have meters, charts, cross referencing, or extrapolation in Cartagena. You're lucky if the window rolls down and the driver can break a 5K note.

Wasteland

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SPECTRASORT says on Jan 12, 2006, 08:25:

Taxi Drivers A Golden Rule with Taxi drivers is to allways use the Hotel /Aiport drivers , In 15 years of travelling to Colombia I have never had any real bad experiences , I have been overcharged on a few occasions but what the heck the company pays the bills anyway.!.

I will say that after the recent two month stay in the Intercontinental Hotel in Cali , I got to know one of the Taxi Drivers very well , he put me in contact with a very good dentist and run me around Cali quite a bit , he actually told me that if the drivers get caught ovecharging guests they get run off the Hotel , and as the Hotel is such good business for them its not worth the risk.

There are probably more educated Taxi Drivers in Colombia then other other country in the World , Cali for example there are lawyers , vets , dentists etc driving taxi's , and the reason why .?. Simple they cannot find work in Cali and if you work hard with the Taxis then you can make a reasonable living but you have to hussle.

Colombia I think has more Taxis on the road as a percentile then any other country in the World , personally I think the Taxi drivers in Colombia do a great job in general , like with anything you allways some small fraction of bad with the good.

Big thankyou to the Taxi Drivers at Intercontinental Cali , professioinal guys , most of whom speak english.

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toneloc24 says on Jan 12, 2006, 08:54:

In Bogota If you're staying in Bogota at the Suites Real 85, ask for Jose. Older, honest, trust-worthy, timely, family dude. Only speaks Spanish. Lives pretty close to the hotel. Available for hire by the hour to show you around. I think he works from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, no later.

Definitely does his best to portray the best of Colombia to foreigners. Wealth of knowledge regarding the sites to be seen and restaurants to check out, reasonably-priced as well as upscale. Gives an honest opinion.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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tomtom33 says on Jan 12, 2006, 09:29:

Sunday charge? Not in Cartagena. The city-set rates allow for extra at night(500 pesos), 10% for air-conditioning, and airport. There is nothing extra for Sundays or holidays.

Saltador, I never ask the rates. I know what they are and pay the correct rate. Usually I only take taxis coming back to my apartment. If the driver has a beef, he can take it up with my porteros. AND I recommend Elmo's nephew in the procurement area from personal experience. He never got any for 5K though.

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bob777 says on Jan 12, 2006, 09:53:

Some advice from friends in Cali on Taxi's My friend gave me some advice about taxis, when I needed to go to an ATM, in Cali. He went with me and said:
- Don't use the same taxi you went to the ATM with.
- And after the ATM, Don't take the first Taxi that approaches
,take like the 3rd.

Sounds like good advice.

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