Hello,

We need to book a taxi for tonight, to go to a function at Stampede Park....any recommendations/do's and dont's???

Want to get there quickly, safely, and not too expensively!!!

It just took me over an hour to get from heritage square home and I'm freezing :curse:....so don't fancy doing that again tonight with my glad rags on!!

Nicky

The major taxi companies offer comparable service. The fare is metred. I believe it's set by The City of Calgary, so you really aren't going to get any bargains.

We like Associated Cabs, telephone 403-974-1111. Another alternative is Yellow Cabs, telephone 403-974-1111.

At peak times it can be very difficult to get a taxi in Calgary. This time of year, when there are a lot of office Christmas parties, counts as peak time.

I would phone and order a cab right now. It also would be a good idea to pre-book a cab for your return journey.

If you want to pay by credit card, say that in advance, and they'll be sure to send a cab that accepts credit card. You won't have any luggage for the taxi driver to help you with, but it's still nice to round up the amount a bit, and give the driver a little tip (although it's not mandatory).

Not helpful advice - but don't book a taxi

We've used Keys Please once before, and they were good though still took about an hour to arrive and you can't book them, plus it's more expensive than a taxi. The positive was that you only needed to take them one way and they answered the phone, something that just doesn't seem to happen with Taxis in Calgary.

I think a cash tip is appreciated even if you are paying by credit card.

Don't expect the taxi driver to get out of his cab to tell you that he has arrived. Last year we got a taxi back from the Octoberfest in the NE. Was told by the cab company that they would be 20 minutes. After 15 minutes when went outside and waited for a further 15 minutes (it was f!@#$% cold) without sight of a cab. Phoned to compain and was told that he had been and gone only 5 minutes after we originally phoned. We were expected to wait outside in the cold from the moment we called Had to wait another 20 minutes.

Judy, just checked the numbers as you had the same for both companies, and yellow pages online got me these....

403-299-1111 Associated Cabs

403-299-9999 Checker yellow cabs

Many thanks, Morwenna.

Tried to give you karma, but no such luck.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...96f512&k=59008
Seems it is not the cabbies.

I lived in Calgary for about a year and had no car. I took a cab a few times a month and one line from that article sums up my experience:

"There's enough taxis out there, the problem is when customers call, no one answers," said Sardar Iftkhar, who drives for Black Top. "The line is busy all the time. They have to fix that."

I would call a few companies... no answer or busy. So I'd just walk down my street and around the corner to where there was a Tim Hortons. There were always available cabs there and I'd just get my own.

Thanks for all your advice guys! Well, we did try a couple of numbers (we only needed a cab there, as the company were providing taxis home) but got no reply....or were kept on hold .

So in the end, hubby and I flipped a coin, and I was nominated to drive, and drink orange juice all night . We had a great time, and I had a lovely large glass of wine when we got home to make up for my abstinence!

We'll know next time to leave lots of time to get the c-train!

Nicky

Did I imagine it or was Calgary one of those places where you can't hail cabs on the street?

Can't as in they won't stop for you or can't as in you're not allowed to do it?

I've never heard that one is not allowed to do it.

I've had slightly mixed results -- usually successful -- when I've done it.

I have it in my head that it's not allowed but I have no idea where I got it from, it's entirely possible I'm mixing it up with somewhere else. I've never tried. The one time I wanted cabs in Calgary was during a transit strike one freezing March - it was futile even calling, no cabs, no rental cars... what a miserable trip that was!

I'm wondering if you're thinking about the bylaw against hitchhiking within Calgary's city limits.

I remember that. I managed to get by with carpools -- different arrangements with different combinations of people every day. It was not fun. But it would have been even less fun to have been without any wheels at all.

I understand it is illegal for a limousine to pick up anyone other than prearranged passengers, but I don't think their is any such restriction on cabs.