Beijing airport taxi for family of four
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Sep 25, 2012 6:45 PM Last Post By: brendt
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Beijing airport taxi for family of four
I've found numerous posts here that discuss Beijing airport transport, but none of them address my specific questions:• Would most taxis be able to accommodate two adults and two children, with two large bags and a few smaller ones? (This has never been a problem in other cities, but I've read here that a taxi will definitely refuse to take five people, as well as some discussion that suggests that some of the taxis have very limited luggage space.)
• Our flight is scheduled to arrive just after 8pm on a Friday night. Is there any reason to expect a particularly long wait for a taxi at that time of day?
• Approximately what should I expect the fare to be from the airport to our hotel close to the South-East corner of the Forbidden City?
• Recent reports here seem to indicate that registered taxis are fairly well regulated, so that overcharging is unlikely as long one makes sure to avoid offers within the airport and take a taxi from the official taxi rank. Is this still the case?
2
Flew into/out of Beijing last week and the taxi fare both ways from PEK terminal 3 to a little farther south/west of the FC was 95 RMB both ways - a very fair price in my experience.. Arrived about 3 pm on a Tuesday and basically walked right up to the front of the taxi queue-no wait at all, and doubt it will be much of a problem even when a lot of flights arrive at once, as the loading process is pretty well organized.Definitely take a taxi from the offical taxi queue. Both the regulated taxi from and to the airport used their meter so no "negotiating" on price was required. Make sure you have your hotel/destination written out in Chinese and have a contact phone number should the driver need to call for directions - I've had many do this, especially in Beijing.
We had four adults and two suitcases, plus a couple of not very large carry-ons, one a computer bag, but the suitcases were of medium size and the two just fit into the taxi trunks both times, with a carry-on able to go on top. Two large suitcases with four passengers would likely be a problem in a regular taxi, mostly Hyundai Elantras. The drivers will usually have a box of their stuff in the trunk as well, further limiting how much you can put in there.. However, if the kids are small, throw one of the kids on the lap of an adult in the back and you can probably all fit in the back with a suitcase in the front seat.
3
Four people is not a problem. I think there is a rule against taking 5 adults, which they seem to follow pretty strictly.Luggage space is adequate, but some taxis have the trunk loaded with junk already. Not a problem at the airport though, since you can easily just pick another taxi with an empty trunk.
Our flight is scheduled to arrive just after 8pm on a Friday night. Is there any reason to expect a particularly long wait for a taxi at that time of day?
In my experience, the average wait time is about 10-15 minutes, usually a bit longer in T2 than in T3.
4
The 2 adults + 2 kids aren't the problem. The amount luggage will be a problem, especially if your "few small ones" are rollaboards rather than shopping bags. Most taxis have stuff in the trunk (boot), and even those that don't, don't have that much carrying capacity. A standard taxi cannot fit this much. One of the van-type taxis can, but they may not be in the queue when you need them, and it could be quite a wait for one to come around.Expect a considerable official taxi queue on Friday evening at the airport, but it moves pretty quickly. Metered fare range of RMB 100-120 total is about right: remember that in addition to what's on the meter, there will be an additional RMB 13 (10 for the expressway toll and 3 for fuel surcharge). Yes, if you take a taxi from the official queue, you shouldn't have any funny business--just make sure you have the name, address of the hotel in Chinese characters. Also their phone number.
In your position, I'd consider prearranging a private pickup with a car of suitable size to get all the family + luggage in.
5
Yes. The metered fare will, probably, be between 100 and 120RMB but I have done pretty much exactly this trip for as little as 80RMB (I really don't know how he did that but I wasn't complaining. He must've known a short cut), However, 8pm will be after dark and the meter price rises at about 6pm so I'd expect your fare to be on the higher side of these guesstimates.No problem with 4 in a taxi but, as Jiejie says, your luggage may well cause strife. Depending on how big the kids are, you could try and all sit in the back and pile excess luggage in the front passenger seat perhaps?
People WILL come up to you and wave keys in your face. These are the unlicenced cabs and they WILL rip you off. Politely tell them to go forth and multiply (Or be impolite if you like)
6
From the Jiangouman/Yong Anli area (Silk Market) where I lived I would have the taxi avoid all downtown and head straight out to Ring 5 Sanjianfanjxang and then north to Pingfanxiang and up the other airport highway coming in away from all the main city traffic, usually 10RMB more but much faster. Ring 4-3-2 are always congested to get to S32 to/from Airport is never fun thru the city...ughh, especially the south area.Have him at least take the S50 south, bypassing the heart of the city, then cut over Chang An ave to Forbidden City area...
