Manila

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2104826] ...................I never see yellow taxis in town, only white ones. Why is that?[/QUOTE]Yellow Taxi drivers tell me, they are only allowed to pick up at airport, drop passenger off and return to airport, ignoring any passengers on the way back. They are only allowed to pick up passengers at airport, they tell me, hence 'not noticed' in amongst white taxis who pick up anywhere.

I purposely select Yellow Taxis for same reason as RK, honest straight forward service. Fare to Angeles is same as what white taxis expect, and Yellow cars are in better condition, and drivers of a better quality. My experience anyway.

But there might be Hi jinx with Yellow taxis at Cebu Airport. Their fare seems to be double white taxis, whereas previously they were only about 50% max of white taxis fare. Nothing stays the same. I fear Yellow taxi drivers are starting to adopt white taxi drivers m. O. 's, but only in Cebu, so far, my experience, LOL.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;2104832] I hopped in one parked in front . . . .[/QUOTE]I read this advice on the ISG some time ago: always use a taxi that is moving and not waiting for a customer otherwise you pay for his idle time. Makes complete sense.

[QUOTE=Pompetus;2104851]I read this advice on the ISG some time ago: always use a taxi that is moving and not waiting for a customer otherwise you pay for his idle time. Makes complete sense.[/QUOTE]Every 3 months or so the discussion veers back to taxis and rip offs. Like RK I've had very few experiences (tho I live in Makati and find its generally easier to walk to many places, if not too distant).

My advice would be to learn a few words of tagalog to establish that you arent a tourist. Seems to work for me. " where you go sir. Sa La Cafe, ala mo LA Cafe? (to la cafe, you know La cafe).

Or the better ones. " pare, pake hinaan radyo mo " please turn down the radio. Or " sir theres big traffic, extra fee. And the reply is " wala akong pakialam) meaning. I don't care!

These seem to work great every time.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2104826]The yellow taxis have been around for more than six years. I have been living in Thailand for 8 years and my first trip to Manila was before that.


<SNIP>

I never see yellow taxis in town, only white ones. Why is that?[/QUOTE]You're probably right Mr E. It could be 8 or even 10. I just guessed because I couldn't remember when they started up but, as we know, time flies when you're having fun.

The yellow taxis are specifically franchised to work FROM the airport. They are not permitted to take any other fares.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;2104834]I purposely select Yellow Taxis for same reason as RK, honest straight forward service.[/QUOTE]Overall they seem better than the white ones but this is Manila, so be on your guard. I caught a yellow cab from Terminal 2 last November and within 500 meters he started pulling the old batingting meter trick. Told him to stop or I'd text LTFRB (this is a good number to keep on your phone). He stopped, though in retrospect I probably should have reported him anyway.

I have gotten both white and yellow taxis from Terminal 1 in the past to Red Planet Hotel in Pasay City. Both white and yellow have tried to rip me off a few times for 500-600 pesos when it usually is under 200 with traffic. This was before the skyway was finished.

As I learned from earlier posters, I just get out of the taxi and have the hotel people get my bags out of the taxi and then hand the driver 200 pesos. When they ask for more I just laugh and walk into the hotel. Usually the driver is too lazy to get out of the car so I just shut the door on him.

There is a reason why Uber and Grab have a market! A good half if not more of Uber and Grab customers are Filipinos.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;2105104]There is a reason why Uber and Grab have a market! A good half if not more of Uber and Grab customers are Filipinos.[/QUOTE]I'm new to this scene but this statement supports what I have seen in the past week here. I was quoted a one hour wait at a Grab stand by Greenbelt Mall on Saturday night while white taxis were cruising by empty. We hailed a white taxi and got on our way, this time hassle free.

[QUOTE=FoolOnTheHill;2104429]How much should I be paying for a taxi from the airport to the main hotel area in Manila?[/QUOTE]From any of the three terminals you can find yellow airport taxis and white coupon taxis. The yellow cabs are a little cheaper and they run off a meter that starts higher and clicks faster than for average white taxis. Average white cabs that you see out around the city are cheaper than either the yellow or coupon airport taxis but are not allowed to pick up passengers from the airport.

Depending on which district your hotel is in, the yellow airport cab may be anywhere from about 200 to 500 pisos. One USD is about 50 pesos. Tip is up to you, and these drivers appreciate Western travelers because we usually tip better than Filipinos. The white coupon taxis have fixed rates depending on your destination, and they end up being more expensive than yellow cabs. You will be aggressively approached by agents for the white couipon taxis, so just keep your eyes on the lookout for the yellow cabs and politely tell the white taxi hawkers no thank you. In the past there were often long lines waiting for yellow cabs, but not in my recent trips to Manila.

Although I am not traveling in and out as often as RK, I too have never had a problem with yellow cabs. If you have any concerns, you can ask the ticket agent about the approximate fare.

I took yellow taxi last Monday from NAIA2 I guess since it was Philippine Airlines flight from Hong Kong. I ended up paying skyway 600-650 pesos to Makati very close Greenbelt to Perla Hotel. Do you think I was ripped off? The meter seemed quite fast, but I'm not sure how fast it should be then. After driving for some time the driver asked if I have the slip to give to him. I was wondering why because I think I should keep it so I can complain if the driver tries to cheat. The driver said he needed it to check the destination. I couldn't find the slip anywhere and I said to the driver that I have the destination here on another paper and map also. I don't think the destination is on the slip anyway. So maybe the driver tried to get it so I couldn't see his plate number later? Then weird thing was then that the driver took Don Bosco exit and was driving very slow and took quite a long time to get to the hotel late on Monday night, I don't think the traffic can be that bad at that time. I think the next skyway exit Amorsolo goes directly to Legaspi Village in Makati and it should be chosen. But after flights of 15 hours I didn't have the energy to start to argue with him.

At the hotel I found the slip and thought about complaining but didn't do it since it was only maybe USD 5 or something. But that's probably their goal to cheat a little bit from anyone. In the long run it could be a lot of money.

Yes, you will be aggressively approached by the white coupon taxi mafia, and they'll want 20,000 or more to take you into the city. You can get a "legitimate" white coupon taxi for about 750 or less. Time is money. I look for the white coupon taxi stand. No muss, no fuss, no waiting. Zoom and I'm on the way. It's worth the extra $7. 50 or so that I pay. Am I going to wait 2 hours to save $10.00? No thank you.

[QUOTE=Pekkakoo;2105381]I took yellow taxi last Monday from NAIA2. I ended up paying skyway 600-650 pesos to Makati very close Greenbelt to Perla Hotel. Do you think I was ripped off?[/QUOTE]Definitely. Maybe he charged you for round trip plus tip and will be waiting to take you back to the airport when it is time.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;2105104]There is a reason why Uber and Grab have a market! A good half if not more of Uber and Grab customers are Filipinos.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=Crazy4Thai;2105146]I'm new to this scene but this statement supports what I have seen in the past week here. I was quoted a one hour wait at a Grab stand by Greenbelt Mall on Saturday night while white taxis were cruising by empty. We hailed a white taxi and got on our way, this time hassle free.[/QUOTE]The problem is that Grab and Uber leave a paper trail at times when you don't one. Am still looking for a prepaid credit card that works internationally without killer fees.

[QUOTE=Bushes;2105442]The problem is that Grab and Uber leave a paper trail at times when you don't one. Am still looking for a prepaid credit card that works internationally without killer fees.[/QUOTE]My biggest fare ever is maybe $6 US and cash leaves no trail.

[QUOTE=Bushes;2105442] Am still looking for a prepaid credit card that works internationally without killer fees.[/QUOTE]Load-and-go travel cards? Prepay and different currencies. No ATM fees.

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2105306]

<SNIP> Average white cabs that you see out around the city are cheaper than either the yellow or coupon airport taxis but are not allowed to pick up passengers from the airport.

[/QUOTE]Not true any more Soapy.

There is now a rank for ordinary metered taxis at all airports. They are permitted to pick up from the designated rank. There is a security guy standing there (usually but not always).

There are now 3 choices. Yellow, coupon or regular metered cabs.