Manila

[Mr Enternational]

I can understand why you are using the coupon taxis but OTOH: isn't it odd that you have to pay almost double prices just to avoid being hassled?
I mean, it's almost like saying to a driver beforehand: I pay you double because if I don't you will try to rip me off for the same amount anyway.

I am not as picky as some of the other guys. I would just assume riding to the hotel in a wooden cart pulled by a donkey.

Out of all the times I have been to PI only twice has a taxi tried to rip me off. Both were yellow taxis leaving the airport. Thanks to RTFF as well as being on that route before, I knew what the price should be. And I don't mind arguing with them. It actually spices up my day.

[WestCoast1]

I can understand why you are using the coupon taxis but OTOH: isn't it odd that you have to pay almost double prices just to avoid being hassled?
I mean, it's almost like saying to a driver beforehand: I pay you double because if I don't you will try to rip me off for the same amount anyway.

That's close, but not always correct. Sometimes I take the coupon taxi because its closer, I don't have to bother checking if there are white or yellow taxis in queue, and its usually a larger SUV-type vehicle that I have to myself. Usually: recently at NAIA just as I emerged into the taxi area, a tout hollered a price for the higher-priced coupon taxi and I bit. He led me to a nice-looking large sedan and opened the back door, but there were already 2 other gents in the car waiting (it appeared to be a car-pool). I said no thanks. The tout led me back to an empty SUV, I confirmed the same price for the SUV and away I went. You see it, right? You can even get ripped off by the coupon touts. Its a ripoff because who would car-pool for $15 when you can have your own for $15? I pay the higher price for the coupon SUV because I don't want any of the hassles. Yes its nice to be able to say my white taxi cost only p180 to my hotel, but paying $15 to get me to my hotel quickly, quietly, and safely (and knowing exact price in advance) in the SUV is spit after a 15-hour nonstop.

Paying more for better service (or less-hassled service) is not new.

[Wicked Roger]

I can understand why you are using the coupon taxis but OTOH: isn't it odd that you have to pay almost double prices just to avoid being hassled?
I mean, it's almost like saying to a driver beforehand: I pay you double because if I don't you will try to rip me off for the same amount anyway.

I never see it that way. For me is cheap so why quibble over say $5? Seems an odd approach given many pay a lot to get to the country and then boast about saving less than $5.

[Mogwai]

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis: never a hassle over rates or meters as they're all posted. In my 17 years of taking these taxis I've never had a problem.

I can understand why you are using the coupon taxis but OTOH: isn't it odd that you have to pay almost double prices just to avoid being hassled?
I mean, it's almost like saying to a driver beforehand: I pay you double because if I don't you will try to rip me off for the same amount anyway.

[CasperStake]

Hanging out around Makati, decided the bars were a waste of money. I remember there being several semi-decent "fishbowl" type massage places in Manila. Are there any close to Makati P. Burgos region?

[GoodEnough]

I thought you were a die-hard Uber fan GE judging by your posts last year. I am pleased to learn that you do actually tolerate the other taxi services.

As I have said several times here on ISG, I prefer to keep an open mind until I emerge from the terminal to see what the lines are like.

In 5 arrivals in 2017 at NAIA T1 I had instant connection with the Yellow cabs (no one ahead of me), so why would I choose to pay an extra 200 to 300 php to a coupon taxi when the yellow cab is sitting there.

Similarly for 3 arrivals at T3 in 2018, I have used the yellow taxis twice and the coupon taxis once (because the yellow cab lines were long).

As I said, play it by ear. If both coupon and yellow lines are long, then go to Grab or Uber as 3rd option.

There are no hard and fast rules.

I'm an Uber fan when in the city. But from the airport to the hotel, I use the coupon taxis because there's no waiting, and no ambiguity about the fare.

[Red Kilt]

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis: never a hassle over rates or meters as they're all posted. In my 17 years of taking these taxis I've never had a problem.

I thought you were a die-hard Uber fan GE judging by your posts last year. I am pleased to learn that you do actually tolerate the other taxi services.

As I have said several times here on ISG, I prefer to keep an open mind until I emerge from the terminal to see what the lines are like.

In 5 arrivals in 2017 at NAIA T1 I had instant connection with the Yellow cabs (no one ahead of me), so why would I choose to pay an extra 200 to 300 php to a coupon taxi when the yellow cab is sitting there.

Similarly for 3 arrivals at T3 in 2018, I have used the yellow taxis twice and the coupon taxis once (because the yellow cab lines were long).

As I said, play it by ear. If both coupon and yellow lines are long, then go to Grab or Uber as 3rd option.

There are no hard and fast rules.

[Betong]

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis

I'm finally coming round to this myself. I've always liked getting into a regular cab and finding that the guy is honest. And in a funny way I even enjoy it in the rare case (maybe once every 20 or 30 rides these days) when the guy tries something, whether subtle or obvious. Especially now with the LTFRB, you're not going to end up paying more than you should, and you may even get a free ride. I've had a couple. But all in all, it's time and energy better devoted to other things. So yes, I say get the coupon cab, pay the price, and enjoy the guarantee of absolutely no bullshit.

[Wicked Roger]

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis: never a hassle over rates or meters as they're all posted. In my 17 years of taking these taxis I've never had a problem.

I do the same never take yellow from T3 only white and the rate is fixed to Makati plus I pay Skyway and never a hassle. I know the route also. In Cebu at Mactan the same.

[Bushes]

For various reasons, I usually use contract services through travel agencies or hotel transport arrangements. It is more expensive but it is not always on my dime.

I will add some of the taxis drivers are actually smart in that they suggest a route. It might be the long route but a newbie tourist would not know. Their defense will be the passenger agreed to the route.

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis: never a hassle over rates or meters as they're all posted. In my 17 years of taking these taxis I've never had a problem.

[GoodEnough]

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis: never a hassle over rates or meters as they're all posted. In my 17 years of taking these taxis I've never had a problem.

[Dg8787]

I text the oversight agency on the back of the slip of paper you get when you get the yellow taxi. To my surprise they responded within a few minutes. They asked for the receipt slip number and license plate of the taxi. I had texted earlier the date, time and details of the incident. I also reported the other incident months earlier but did not have the slip number nor the license plate.

Please keep the details, license plate number and other facts to make your reports.

BTW, I used the rates on the slip 70 drop charge and 4 pesos per 300 meters and calculated my rate would have been less than 200 pesos.

[Bushes]

RK, try this on the yellow and street taxis, just for your amusement. Or take a taxi right outside a bar / disco.

Next time you take a taxi, pretend to be in an intense phone call in English and just give the cabbie a building or street address. See what the cabbie does. Make the corrections when he deviates but you will find that pretending to be a newbie tourist does tempt a lot of cabbies.

I must say in all my years of using the yellow cabs I have NEVER had one try to rip me off (and I live here), either through fast meter or any other scam. It is high risk because you can call up the number on your receipt and speak to an operator. I had one driver ask me if I would call up the number and tell them how good his service had been, so someone must be taking notes at the other end.

[WestCoast1]

Unlike some on this forum, I like repeats.

I have my share.

Some drivers will not let you put a large suitcase or box in the back seat.

Nnnnnneeeeexxxxxttttt taxi!

[Red Kilt]

Like the OFW, many who have nothing or little also get ripped off. The OFWs are prime targets at the airports. Some get in late at night and have to wait to get to a bus or ferry terminal in the morning.

That's the reason why the yellow airport cabs were introduced some years ago and the regular white metered cabs were banned from the airports. There was a spate of organized robberies of returning OFWs and visiting Koreans with lots of bags. The driver would take a "wrong" turn into a deserted area where his accomplices were waiting to offload all the spoils and terrorize the arrivals. I recall that on one occasion they torched the cab to make it look like the driver was a victim too.

It occurred so often that the regular cabs were banned and the yellow cabs were introduced so that theoretically, the authorities had a record of every departure.

I must say in all my years of using the yellow cabs I have NEVER had one try to rip me off (and I live here), either through fast meter or any other scam. It is high risk because you can call up the number on your receipt and speak to an operator. I had one driver ask me if I would call up the number and tell them how good his service had been, so someone must be taking notes at the other end.