Taxis from the airport

Cost. There's frequently some form of quick public transportation (train or express bus) that will get you into the city for $5 to $10. A taxi can be over $50, depending on where the airport is located, and the airport run is often seen as an opportunity for the driver to take a costly, circuitous route. To me, a taxi to or from the airport is an expense that's usually unnecessary. I try to pack lightly enough that my luggage isn't an impediment on public transportation.

I did take some very low-cost taxis to and from city bus stations in the Balkans last year because rolling a wheeled suitcase over cobblestones for 1-1/2 miles was a pain.

Joan, you are missing the difference between North America and Europe.
In the city I live, there is a bus from the airport into the city (central station) every 7½ minutes (sometimes more often). Cost CHF 4.40 per person, including connecting tram or bus to anywhere in the city. Just walk out the front of the airport and the bus is sitting there waiting for you, with plenty of luggage space. It costs me nothing as I have a season ticket.
A taxi costs about CHF 40, more in the evening.
In many cities (London being one case), rail transport from the airport to the city centre is a lot faster than by road (taxi).
If I go to central London, I have a choice, Tube takes 40-50 minutes and costs £3 to £5, Airport Express train cost ~£22, takes 15-30 minutes (depending on where in central London). Taxi costs £50-£70 and takes 60-90 minutes. Which would you choose, even if it was on expenses?
If I land at Zürich airport, there is a station under the airport with 2 trains per hour to get me home (or to any other town in the country).
The same is true of most airports in Europe. If you are going to the city centre, taking the airport train or bus is faster, simpler and more relaxing than sitting in a traffic jam in a taxi.

Because many times it is cheaper, quicker, and more convenient than dealing with a taxi driver. You may not want to do it and that is fine. It is your time and money. But don't criticize others for choosing a different approach.

Exactly: it's about cost, efficiency and multiple options depending on preference. Public transit is a way of life in much of Europe, and can be the cheapest/fastest way, by design, to get from here to there. We've yet to take a cab to/from an airport: express trains and buses have worked very well. Besides, I'm going to have to handle my own luggage for the rest of the trip so may as well get used to it?

When accidents or striking taxi drivers cause traffic problems, having other options can be a very nice thing.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27792942

http://www.france24.com/en/20160125-air-traffic-controller-taxi-strike-halt-20-percent-france-flights

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/violence-erupts-in-france-during-taxi-driver-strike-against-uber/

Your talking about riding in a taxi with stranger on unfamiliar roads , unfamiliar cities .. IF you have never traveled overseas " my travels in London / France " then it's easy to wonder why would you not use a taxi .. Once your are there first hand to see just how easy it is to travel to and fro " like the locals " you won't even consider it. I have always taken the metro / tube to and from the airports and everyday sightseeing. If it's a short distance walking , then a few times late in the evening a taxi. Some people do not even own a car , great transportation systems.. In places like NYC they also take the subway to the airports.

Over a dozen trips, probably 2-3 times that in trips to or from an airport, and in all that only once that I can think of we used a taxi (missed a bus) and a couple of times a rental car. Other than that, Public Transport was great, efficient, easy to use, and sometimes faster than a taxi. So I always consider Public Transport first.

Recent airport to place to stay: Honolulu Airport to Waikiki = $44.60. SeattleTacoma Airport to NE 106th St in Seattle cost $66. Both charges were before any tips. If it had not been the late night on both I would have taken a shuttle in Hawaii for less than $10 and light rail in Seattle from the airport to close to home and then a taxi = total cost maybe $20. I have gone to Europe for 13 of the last 14 years for a month and have almost always used public transportation unless we get to an airport real late or have no clue where we are going except an address and confirm with the taxi driver the maximum cost of the ride. Never had a problem with either.

I weigh cost, time of departure/arrival, and ease of access. Sometimes the cost of train, or bus may be the same for two people as a taxi. If we arrive during rush hour, we take a train if possible.

Mary

Unless we're landing or leaving late at night or very early morning, we WANT to take the local transportation. And, I wouldn't call it "unfamiliar public transport" because there's so much info on the web that you can see pictures of the local trams, ticket machines, metro maps, etc. so everything seems familiar by the time you arrive. You can even virtually walk around the street outside train stations and see which direction to walk - yes, we walk a lot!

But, if starting your vacation on public transport is scary & unfamiliar, then opt for a taxi.

To a previous poster, I loved your Zurich airport with the easy train connections at the airport to end up in Wengen!

Every time I landed at FRA or Berlin-Tegel, Hannover-Langenhagen or London Gatwick or Heathrow with luggage, I always took public transportation into the city, never a taxi, either the airport bus, or train, subway, even the very first time over, I took the train from Gatwick to Victoria Station, never even occurred to me to take a taxi, let alone the expense involved. From Paris CDG a few times I was driven, but if not, then I took the RER to Gare du Nord. Only once did I take a taxi from the Paris hotel to CDG for a morning flight back to SFO, decided then to blow the 40 Euro. On getting to the airport (SFO) for the flight out, I've been driven but if not, then I take our "subway" BART out to the airport. What did I do prior to BART going to SFO, either got a ride or took the "airporter" going out to SFO.

I must admit I seldom use taxis when travelling,I travel alone most of the time and am pretty used to using public transport wherever I go, use it a lot in my home city and as I am in Prague several times a year I am very used to it there,I have successfully managed to negotiate public transport systems in many other cities.
I do however tend to use private shuttles or taxis is I am with a group or have not had a chance to really familiarise myself with the local systems.
certainly if I was travelling with kids or elderly parents with luggage etc I would always recommend using taxis and shuttle service.

In places like NYC they also take the subway to the airports.

Not to La Guardia: no rail service to that one. And JFK is a pain with no one-shot express rail service from Manhattan. NYC airports in general are a pain. No rail service to LAX either.

I almost always take a bus or train from the airport to the city, then a bus to my hotel. Sometimes in a small town there is no bus, so I take a taxi or walk.

If I've had a hard day traveling, or it's late at night, I will take a taxi.

An example: from DC via BWI. Nothing beats the efficiency of the green line metro to Greenbelt to pick up the B30 direct to BWI for $5 senior card rate, $10 full fare. Well one thing beats it: having a family member drive you. Meanwhile, shuttle is $44 for two, taxi is $80+, so it's not just in Europe. Same for flying from Dulles, National, JFK (Long Island RR to the Air thingie), Newark, Boston. Not La Guardia because it has only bus service.

We actually enjoy using the local public transit system. It's part of the total travel experience of that particular city. For example, when in London one has to experience "Mind The Gap" :D

For me it depends on the situation. I look at things like cost, ease of transportation, number of transfers (if taking public transportation), weather, time of day, how long I have been traveling, who (if anyone) I am traveling with, etc. As a result I have taken taxis, trains, buses, shuttles, undergrounds or walked. It depends (IMHO) on your comfort levels and your assessment of the situation. So regarding the OP, if you find it simpler and more relaxing to take a taxi..... sounds fine to me.

And JFK is a pain with no one-shot express rail service from Manhattan. NYC airports in general are a pain.

But it only requires a change at Howard Beach to the JFK air train which is right there. I find it really easy.

I prefer a taxi if arriving from an international flight. If there is a bus or train that goes to a stop very close to my hotel (no transfers) I might take it to save money. But I'm not interested in dealing with transfers in an unfamiliar language/city while jet lagged. Plus luggage is a pain on transit. I only have a small roller bag and a purse, but anything bigger than a day pack that goes on your lap is a hinderance on local transport. Even when flying domestically, or within Europe I'll often opt for the cab, depending on the public transit from the airport. J

It's just easier. I watch my budget, but I am lucky enough not to need to penny pinch, so I am willing to pay for the convenience. Plus, if I'm with my husband and kids, the cost savings is reduced. 4 people on a 5Euro shuttle is 20 euros. - a cab is still a lot more (say 40Euros, so a 20 difference), but the difference is much less than if it were just one person.

But I totally get taking transit - it saves money and is more "real". I love public transit - as soon as my luggage is in my room and I'm not fresh off a trans-atlantic flight!

I take the subway from Manhattan to JFK when I'm in NY. It works fine, but takes FOREVER and the transfer between the subway to the airport train (the airport train doesn't connect to the subway, you get off the subway and walk a small bit to the airport train) is unclear. I will still do this in NYC, but I'm picturing doing it with jet lag and without the local language...no thanks.

My own experiences with getting to/from airports....

I've seldom if ever taken a taxi from the airport to the hotel at my destination. In fact (and some of you might consider this to be worse than a taxi), I've often booked private transportation through the hotel and had a driver waiting at the departures hall holding a sign with my name on it. This, of course, is probably THE most expensive option. I've typically done this in places that I'm completely unfamiliar with, for example, on a trip to Africa, arriving at Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) airport at 10PM at night. I'm not going to try and figure out that one out. Other instances where I've done this is if I've had a lot of luggage and don't want to navigate crowds/transit with it.

Arguments for public transit over taxi/private car mentioned here I all agree with too. For example, on a trip to New York, arriving JFK, we took a cab and the traffic getting into the City (we were staying in Times Square) ended up taking longer than the metro/public transit. The worst part is, you're stuck in this dirty/smelly cab the whole time. In many of the big European cities/transit hubs, public transit from the airport is too easy not to use. In fact, you're probably going to be running into a lot of other tourists attempting to do the same thing at which point you can exchange tips and help each other out. Public transit from the airport to the city center in one of my favorite cities (Amsterdam), is just too short and too easy not to use.

As for departing home and getting to the airport from your house, living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I do not live near a transit station and so my options are:

1. Call a cab to take me to the nearest transit station (about a $10 cab ride)
2. Walk to the end of the street and take the bus to the transit station (the most time consuming option)
3. Hire a private car to take me to the airport, i.e., those black Lincoln Town Cars (most expensive option and is only slightly more than having a taxi do the same)
4. Hire airport shuttle van/bus to take me to the airport (the kind that picks up multiple people at their pick up locations/homes)
5. Drive to the airport myself and park in long term parking. Airport has a free shuttle bus that takes you to/from the terminals from the garage (long term parking is roughly $16/day). To me this is the most comfortable option as I enjoy driving myself places.

I travel solo and for me it all depends on the ease of using public transportation, and cost factors in as well if the distance from the airport is long enough to incur a significant expense. I won't deal with luggage on a bus, so if a metro goes to within a couple of blocks I'll use it, but in all honesty, I do prefer a taxi.

London - 20 minute ride on the tube that let me out right across the street from my hotel.
Victoria, BC - $20 shuttle trip
Tallinn - 5 minutes from airport, taxi was about 10 euro
Vienna - CAT to Wien Mitte (will use cheaper S-bahn next time), U-bahn to stop 2 blocks from hotel, 16 euro
Budapest - at 4 am a taxi was the only option, maybe $30 US
Krakow & Warsaw - taxi, maybe $30 US
Prague - taxi, some distance from city center, also at 4 am, $30 US

I'm heading to Paris in May and plan on taking a taxi, very pleased it's now capped at 55 euro.

Because that's the way it's done in Europe... What are you missing? The whole 'live like a European' thing.

I only drive myself to the airport in the USA because we don't have reliable and convenient (or any?) public transit to get me there. Do you think I enjoy paying upwards of $10 a day to park my car out in the elements where it's subjected to damage by careless people ($1000 its last trip to long-term parking) or severe weather?

Taking a taxi now from the airport (in Europe) into town is only justified (as a big expense) if the it's almost an emergency. You see the locals land, they take public transportation, so why can't I do likewise. My first time landing in Paris-Orly in 1973 was in a way bewildering, daunting, and intimidating after the 11 hour direct flight on TWA from SFO. I had no idea how to get into Paris or the distance of the airport relative to the city, etc. I thought there must be an airport bus. There was. Finding out information on the airport bus / negotiating was a problem for two of us backpackers. Still, it never occurred to call for a taxi, even if I had been able to afford it then.

The two times I took a taxi to the hotel were from Gare du Nord after arriving at rush hour on a Friday evening in the summer. I wasn't alone then but with family. . Waiting in that taxi line took over 40 minutes since everyone else is thinking the same as you...get a cab. Lots of Americans were in line too.

"Public transportation is second nature even if you aren't a local and are traveling to a locale for the first time."
I am afraid that you are forgetting that there are millions of people in this country who live where there is no public transportation.
People like me.
Previously I have lived in Chicago, NYC suburbs and Philadelphia and thus am very familiar with public transportation.
However, where I live now, one cannot get along without a car and therefore many people living in rural or semi-rural areas are not at all familiar with modes of public transportation, be it rail, bus, tram, or subway and may be intimidated , especially in a country where they don't know the language.

I've often booked private transportation through the hotel and had a
driver waiting at the departures hall holding a sign with my name on
it.

KC, I'll cheerfully admit that this is how we get to the airport and back for long (3 week) trips. It's too expensive to park at the airport; we aren't on a transit line; local cabs are pretty nasty. It doesn't cost enough more to have a spotless, comfortable town car with a crack chauffeur versus a hot, beat-up cab with a lousy driver to justify the pain. Otherwise we park at a park-and-fly lot that shuttles us there as it's less pricey than at the airport itself.

The Husband drives to a park-and-ride terminal and takes an express bus downtown to work.

I will echo a concern raised on an earlier post that when you get into someone's car upon arrival, be it a cab or private driver, that you don't know where they'll end up taking you. This use to be in the back of my mind in the old days but with GPS on my phone I can follow along on my phone as the car is moving and see exactly where I am, where I'm headed and how far I am in relation to the hotel/destination.

I think car/taxi vs. public transit will always depend on where you're going. Obviously in some less developed parts of the world with little or no public transit you're not going to have much of a choice. The same is true here in the States as most places outside of a major metro area is not going to have easy access to frequent public transit. This is true even here in the SF Bay Area. The majority of people around here do not live walking distance to transit. Seeing that you'd have to first get transportation to the transit station, you can appreciate why, especially for an early flight, it's just not worth the savings to attempt public transit or sometimes not even possible.

Boston , for sure is one of the easiest places to get to the airport by rail. Love Boston , don't need a car and that makes up for paying more for a hotel. A great place to visit , whale watching , food in the north end , "Mike's " , and Old Iron Sides. She is being refitted now though I believe .

Joan:

I live in the SF bay area and I am very lucky in that I can walk to public transportation that will take me to the airport, and I do. But I have to say that the last two times I flew to Paris I hired a car to meet me at the airport and take me my hotel. Why? Because for me, after flying for 11.5 hours the very last thing I want to do is haul myself and my one light suitcase to another terminal, buy a ticket and deal with trains and the metro. Yes, I know that everyone here states it is easy to do and I believe them, but I am not wrong, violating a travel taboo, or committing a travel sin to want to hire a car. We all travel differently, and just because we are different does not make us wrong or a travel pariah.

I am familiar with the metro but you know sometimes it is nice to start a vacation relaxed not dealing with trains. What may not stress some may stress others. And yes, I take public transport to work so it is not strange to me. I feel that the car is also a part of my vacation and a part I enjoy. I generally hire the car through the hotel. Both times they were there, on time and took me to my hotel and I felt the cost was not wasted.

As a wise person once said, "There is no right way to travel." Do whatever works for you.

That question didn't go so well, did it??

Barbara's point is well taken -- I find CDG to be a pain in the b*** for getting into and out of town. I long for the places like Basel, Zurich, or Amsterdam, where one is whisked into the city on a fast, efficient and pleasant train or tram line. And I'm an insider and know the routine here - and leave only a couple of hundred meters from a bus that will take me DIRECTLY to the airport -- but it is a regular commuter bus and takes you in and out of a couple of banlieue. Not that it's dangerous, but it's just a pain. However, I always tell myself that the long time I spend sitting on that bus is probably roughly equivalent to getting myself into the RERA and back out to the airport, so I'm better off since I don't have to haul my luggage up and down stairs (if I'm going to the States, I have a LOT of luggage because I'm either taking presents home to family or bringing good old American products back). So yes even I end up taking a taxi when I can. The other options (except for the local bus) are all already expensive enough. So the stretch to the taxi often isn't that much more.

In my case, getting from the airport when I arrive in Germany to my hotel has never been a "taxi option". In every case, I've always traveled several hours by train after arriving, leaving from the convenient rail station right at the airport. How much would a taxi cost from FRA to Karlsruhe or Cochem, or from MUC to Oberammergau or Salzburg. It might be a different story if it just took a few minutes to get from the airport to my final destination, but that's not the case. Public transportation in Europe is just too good to pass up.

As for home, in less than a month RTD-Denver will start running a train from downtown Denver to the airport. I can park at the light rail station 2 miles from home, or get a friend to take me, or take the bus that stops three blocks from home. From there, it's less than an hour and a half trip by streetcar and train to DIA. Cost: $4,50/P ($9 if you're not a senior). A taxi makes the trip in a half hour less and costs over $100, before tip. It's a no-brainer. I've used the bus and light rail to get to the airport a dozen times since 2007.

Comparing 3 airports to navigate getting out of FRA, London LHR and Paris CDG, I'll say admittedly LHR and FRA are easier for the newbie. CDG is a bit more taxing since it has been refurbished recently. Although I'm used to CDG, it still took longer than I had planned last year exiting CDG because of this, somehow missed the turn, exit or something that should have put me on the correct path towards walking by the Sheraton on the way to RER, crossing that "bridge". CDG does take more times getting used to than FRA or LHR. That's the downside, still you're in Paris! C'est ca Paris.

Yes, I have spent probably a lot to get to the country I am visiting -- but I did not spend the MOST I could to get there. :-)

I shop around for my flights to get an affordable fare, so why shouldn't I shop around once I get to the country I am visiting when choosing transit, food, hotels, and so on. I actually enjoy being on public transit, it gives you a great way to get a feel for the non-touristy part of the destination. Also, I never travel with more than a carry on which fits my lap so I am not dragging tons of luggage around and if I have to stand because the tube or bus is full, it is no issue. And I simply feel safer on mass transit than in a cab since the tube or bus is going a fixed route and the driver isn't going to try and go the long way to pad the fare or actually rob me (which happened to me in Jamaica because I got into a taxi that was not officially licensed, but being a visitor how was I to know?).

When visiting London, I always take the Tube. It is cheep, easy, and faster than any taxi or bus I have ridden there. My very first visit to London I took a shared ride van. It took 3 hours to get from Heathrow to the Victoria Station area due to some special event causing most of the roads in London to be at a complete standstill. The tube has never taken more than one hour for the same trip, not to mention being much more affordable. I have nothing against London cabs and do take them when it makes sense.

Last time in Paris I did take a taxi from the airport because it was pouring rain, cold, and overall miserable outside. So I really didn't feel like standing out in the weather waiting for a bus or fighting through the process of taking the train. But this is an unusual choice for me. The cab ride was very entertaining because I had never experienced the motorcycles zipping between lanes of traffic before.

It just comes down to choice. We all have a choice in what we like and/or want. Having a choice makes for more flexibility and, at least for me, a more enjoyable trip.

Lee,

"As for home, in less than a month RTD-Denver will start running a train from downtown Denver to the airport."

It's great to hear that people in your area will soon have that option available. I've found that the SkyTrain link from YVR to downtown Vancouver is a most convenient and relatively inexpensive way to travel. That was opened for the Winter Olympics in 2010, and it seems to work well for the most part (Skytrain seems to have recurrent "technical" problems at times).

Unfortunately my home airport doesn't have a similar option. There was a rail line from here that passed by the airport and the University, but the short-sighted locals voted to turn it into a hiking trail so it's currently being removed. That means I'll have to continue using the local Airport Shuttle (fortunately it's only about a 30 minute trip).

It all depends on who(m) I travel with and the city I'm traveling to. If I'm traveling solo, it's public transportation. I find that if I've done my homework ahead of time, public transportation is a piece of cake.

If it's with the Mrs, it's generally a taxi because of the luggage situation. I travel light, (not as light as Lee, but pretty light) but not the Mrs..

Sometimes economics plays into. On our upcoming trip to the UK we will be a party of 4, with 4 pieces of luggage and carry-on. Just Airports is charging us £46 to take us to our hotel. According to the fare table on the TFL website. The fare from Heathrow to our hotel is £11.80 on the tube. That works out to a total of £47.20.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there are a lot of factors that play into transportation and we all have a different opinion.

I can only assume that you were driven to your departure flight, perhaps drove yourselves and parked at the airport.

Wrong assumption (you have to consider folks who have easy access to transit who are also part of this forum). I live in an urban area and take public transit all the time (I bought my condo 5 minutes walking distance from a metro stop so I can take advantage of it). Due to that experience and familiarity, I am comfortable taking public transit whether I land in Istanbul or Munich or San Francisco - it doesn't really matter where...the unfamiliarity doesn't bother me much because I can figure it out either beforehand or on the spot. Taxi drivers are often rip-off artists and I'd rather spend that cash for a good meal instead.

Are you missing something?
"simpler and more relaxing"

hmmm...

Relaxing... to be driven by a driver who has images of himself winning the Monaco Gran Prix in Paris rush hour.
Relaxing... to have the Taxi driver get into a cursing fight with another driver over the right of way
Relaxing... to have a driver who apparently last bathed in 2014
Relaxing... to swelter in traffic because the a/c is broken (Or he just won't turn it on)
Relaxing... to have a taxi driver attempt to convince me to go out on a date with him the entire drive
Relaxing... to have a taxi driver "sell" all his other side businesses (This guy would make a great time share salesman!)

There's a reason Uber and other services are expanding. I didn't make any of the above up. They have all happened to me. sadly in most places taxis aren't that great (London is an exception, never had an issue there)

I use public transportation to get to and from U.S. airports whenever possible. But arriving in a European airport after an overnight flight is a completely different experience, at least to me. I know that my husband and I will be tired, stressed and disoriented when we get off the plane. That's why we arrange for a car service to take us from the airport to our hotel. All we have to do is look for someone holding a little sign with our name on it - not much thinking required. I admire the folks who can negotiate public transportation after an overnight flight - I'm just not one of them.

So far, I have been lucky to book direct flights to Europe from SFO or LAX. With that I can count on 10 plus hours, so that upon landing at FRA London, Paris CDG or even Munich, which is the easiest to reach Munich Hbf., I take public transportation. If I am solo, I take public transport, but with family members along, I have to be considerate of them.

We seem to run on our own version of Murphy's Law. The "Let's get a taxi because we've been traveling for lots of hours and we can barely remember our names" morphed into being dropped off at the wrong hotel..at midnight in London, overpaying so much in Lisbon that the doorman was upset, and being told we should walk because the hotel was "so close" (Paddington Station and Edgeware Rd.are not that close when your're dragging maximum luggage). That doesn't mean we never use a taxi, we just know their not infallible.

Definitely pros/cons to both ways, and I'm sure collectively we can come up with a huge list. Like travel and all the decisions that go into it (where to go, how long, tour vs. independent, with whom, etc.), ultimately we have to go with what feels right for us. There were times when I just felt better having the hotel send a car for me, even though I knew it was $$$. At the time, the money was worth my peace of mind even though I knew I could have saved a small fortune by taking public transit. If we don't feel good about doing something but do it anyway, that's not going to be the start of a good trip.

I laughed when I read Patty's notes. While I have had my own "experiences" with taxis, I must admit, my "unexpected journeys" with public transportation were: a) more epic and b) took more time to fix. That being said, it is usually the unplanned events which make the best memories and stories.