Hi Billy 1,

Here's last years rates from the pre-paid taxi kiosk at Dabolim Airport,

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/remysh...45404635059634


Hope this helps,

Remy

The first time we went to the kiosk we paid there but the next time it had changed and we were just given a docket for the driver and we paid the driver the amount on the docket, (plus a small tip). The situation changes from one season to the next.

I always confirm the price at the kiosk and check what they tell me against the board......they do give the taxi driver the docket and he takes it from there.
I must say i have never had any problems with this system and it has always worked well for me.

Ita a hell of a lot better than venturing outside the terminal to face the gauntlet of taxi drivers and porters that are ready to pounce the second you put a toe out the door.

Regards,
Remy

PS. Its not so much a pre-paid kiosk but more of a Fixed Price Kiosk.

Thanks for that Remy

billy.

100% correct.

Also remembered why I still use our old complex taxi driver - he knows not to overtake on blind corners, drives at a sensible speed - stops and buys some goods on the way back from the airport and used to carry our bags up 4 flights of stairs (on ground floor now).
They are not all bad.

I count the driver I use as a friend. He drives carefully, he carries my bags when I go shopping, he carries my cases when I arrive and leave and is always on time and he never overcharges. He also pays my electricity bills for me and the panchayat while I am in the UK and gives me the receipts and change when I get back. Your right emsirrah, they are not all bad.

Well, I read some of the daft remarks above about this perennial issue so heres my take on it.

There are prepaid airport cabs which are definitely not up to a western standard which anyone can use if they wish and the rate is fixed. At the other end of the scale there are the 8 seater tourist vehicles (such as the Innova), most of which are very new, clean and with dual a/c and other mod-cons, which are generally operate from a resort and cost approximately Rs 14 per kilometer. It is virtually impoosible to get a fare both ways, so the operators charge for a round trip to the airport, so expect to pay around Rs 1,500 to the resorts of North Goa for example.

If you look at the economics of buying and operating a tourist vehicle such as an Innova, costing say, 9 lacs, paying a driver Rs 6,000 per month paying running costs (insurance, fuel and maintenance and repairs), Rs 12,000 for RTO permit etc, you need to "rip off"a lot of people off just to break even. And that's before you've even factored in depreciation.

So next time any moaning minnies here think that they have been overcharged by 10 rupees, spare a thought for the poor old taxi operators, who generally will never charge 1 anna over what you agreed before you started your journey.

And before anyone asks, amongst other things, we do operate a tourist vehicle.

Never have I heard of any taxi driver in Goa being paid Rps6,000 a month and I know a few. I wouldn't advertise this mate, you will have driver queueing around the block to drive your vehicles."Give us a job old pal"

Was you one of the b*ggers that was on strike last year? then stopped the tourists from using the rickshaws and threatened the rickshaw drivers with their live's if they didn't stop trading and supported your pathetic strike.Well you really did your selves a lot of good.No tourist had any sympathy for you.
I don't have any sympathy for you now.
GC

I agree with you both. I'm aware of the "correct" rates, however am I obsessed with paying exactly these rates? IF said taxi driver provides a good service, i.e. speaking Konkani - which as a tweeker, I don't -if he knows people that can get things done at prices that I as a FOREIGNER consider fair, then 'NO' I don't mind paying a touch over the odds, AS LONG AS I DON'T FEEL SAID CABBIE IS BLATANTLY HAVING MY PANTS DOWN.

I don't want to pay massively over the odds, I don't expect people to work for f**k all - I just want to pay, what in my opinion is a fair price!

Summed up with the question: What does a greedy man end up with? answer: F**K ALL!

H.

Just been quoted from the taxi driver weve used for the last 2 years 3 taxi's to Calangute 2500rps, seems with the prices quoted on here he's having us over a bit

I presume Rob 50 that you are a Goan taxi driver.
I read your thread with interest on account of you stating that "poor old taxi operators will never charge you one anna over what you agreed".
Well I feel some correction is needed here - on two occasions last year I used taxis and having agreed a price prior to the journey, had the drivers stop appprox 3/4 towards my destination and demand a higher fare from me !
The vile abuse I received for refusing this is something I would not repeat !!

Please also tell where you get this "14 rps per km" price from? I regularly see and hear accounts of Goan taxi drivers charging foreigners anything from 500 to 1000 rupees to take them between Calanguts and Baga ONE WAY . I would say that with your price of 14rps per km that journey should total 42 rupees ??

I think what you are failing to grasp is the reality that faces tourists in Goa - the fact is that your prices are what the Indians and Goans are charged but the tourists have approx 400% or more 'white tax' to pay on top !

I am aware that not every taxi driver in Goa is of this ilk, I have a couple of drivers whom I regularly deal with, who actually charge me a reasonable price, which I am more than willing to pay, but in my experience these are in the minority especially in the North of Goa.

I appreciate that you want to protect your people, and I am the first to acknowledge that I know and have met some fantastic Indians and Goans - but please avoid trying to tell us a fairy tale !
Also please refrain from insulting the majority of persons on this thread who are writing about their ACTUAL experiences !

Dreadsoc

Floorden - I hope you were kissed, when you'd just been spanked! £35 from Dabolim to Baga! The cabbie must have bin havin a tin baff!

You should've given him Rs500, 600, 700 at most & told him to 'sling his hook'

H.

Thanks H -

I rest my case Rob 50 !!!

Dread
x

Well. first of all, I am not a Goan taxi driver (do I sound like one?!) - in fact I am very much British (and, in the Anglo-Saxon sense) and have had a business in Goa for some years.

You are obviously not familiar with the fact that all tourist vehicles should have the rate printed on the dashboard or in the glove compartment By the RTO (Road Traffic Office - it's in Patto Plaza in Panjim). There is a minimum charge of Rs. 150.

I think that you have been unlucky in your experiences with cabs in Goa, but you seem to be mentally ill-equipped for dealing with these sharp operators. We all know this sort of thing happens everywhere - perhaps you should travel elsewhere in India or anywhere else on the subcontinent before you think it's any different here. As I said - you agree a fare beforehand and that's all you pay, and if there's a problem, just deal with it. It's not Blackpool, although maybe that's how you would like it to be.