Hiring Unknown Taxis at Airports

[Ricardo]

I have a question for you Colombian veterans regarding the use of taxis from airports to hotels. I am leaving late next week and will be arriving in Cali at 9:00 PM local time. I have two hotels that I would like to stay at (House Suites or Travelers Suites) but would like to check the places out in person prior renting a room there. So, I will be clearing customs with my luggage around 10:00 or 11:00 PM. Is it safe in Cali to get an unknown taxi at the airport and take it into town? I guess my alternatives are to book a stay in advance at a hotel that offers airport pickup (like the Intercontinential) or hire someone to pick me up at the airport. Leaving the city is not a problem as I almost always trust the taxis that pick you up from the hotels. Also, I might leave Cali after a few days and check out Medellin and will face the same issue again. I am not paranoid about my trip to Colombia, but I feel vulnerable during this stage of travel-no one is keeping tabs of the taxis that pick you up and the taxis know you are a foreign traveler just arriving in town-an easy robbery target for the driver or someone else with whom he works. I would prefer to get a taxi from the airport (much easier) but would like some input as to weather or not experienced travelers to Colombia think this is a bad idea.

[Ciza29]

If I recall correctly, you go to a taxi stand where they ask you where you are going and then give you a receipt. The taxi number is recorded. I believe you will be safe if you go this route. In Cali, I believe it is around $35-40 from the airport. I don't recall in Medellin but it is a long ride also.

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Ciza29

If I recall correctly, you go to a taxi stand where they ask you where you are going and then give you a receipt. The taxi number is recorded. I believe you will be safe if you go this route. In Cali, I believe it is around $35-40 from the airport. I don't recall in Medellin but it is a long ride also.

Ciza is correct go straight to the taxi stand, watchout for peddlers trying to help you with oyur luggage! Medellin costs 45 mil or about 22 bucks right now to the poblado area!

[Lostagain]

Ricardo, we have used the same guy for several years for taxi service to and from the airport as well as other trips. He's very reliable. If you like, I can pm his contact info.

[Ricardo]

Ciza & Last Lion, thanks. That information puts my mind at ease. Lost Again I will probably take a taxi from the airport but would appreciate that number anyway. I might want to have some one trusted for some local transportation.

Ricardo -

My strategy is a little different. I never take a waiting Taxi.

My two paragraph answer last night was abolished due to a blackout, so here goes again.

Once I touchdown and get my bags (luggage) and as I depart the baggage area, I then open my cell and begin speaking to my imaginery buddy in either Portuguese or Spanish depending on that country. As I am speaking on my cell, all the Taxi´s waiting for that potential Gringo victim ignore me because: one; they think I´m a local and two; they think my 'buddy' is on his way to pick me up. Now here is the trick, I continue speaking in to a dead line for exactly 8 minutes all the while scanning all incoming Taxis entering the waiting area (driving thru slowly and not actually stopping). I look for newer vehicles and older drivers. When my old skool instincts, some call it wisdom; kicks in and says 'take him'! Then BAM.... I flag him down on the fly, jump in and off we go.

I have never had a problem yet (knock on wood), but I know of bus loads foreigners, mostly couples coming in from Europe to Brazil and the Bus is hijacked. Also, in Medellin, a veteran no less was kidnapped by a Rogue Taxi and halfway down the mountain, two motos stopped him - a team effort, got all his cash, credit cards but he managed to bail out at a stop light missing several rounds of bullets.

Whatever you do; never, ever get personal with a Taxi no matter how chummy he is with you. Remember, he might come across like your old buddy from the old neighborhood back home but the fact is you don´t know this guy from Adam and you are in a 3rd world country where the odds are stacked against you. Suffice to say, you want to speak clear and concise Portuguese or Spanish to get your point across where you want go and be professional with a strong voice. Be confidant like you been here before and you know the game.

[Cubafro]

I do like your cell strategy
Tried it once few times actually and it worked

CUBA

[LastLion]

Great advice Ray, I think I will remember the old cell phone thing.