Dear all,
as we heard there are sometimes problems with "corrupt" taxi drivers from the airport to the center in Lisbon. I found out that there is the option to buy prepaid taxi vouchers in the arrival hall of the airport:
http://www.askmelisboa.com/pt/catalog/39/taxi_voucher
Any experience or recommendation with this option? Do you think, it is necessary to buy such a voucher?
Thanks a lot for your answers.
Martin
I can only say that when in Lisbon in June we went to the kiosk which sells vouchers. The lady behind the counter asked us where we were going and when we said "central Lisbon" she replied that while she could sell us a voucher it would be €25 while paying the driver would almost certainly be less than that.
We took her advice and took a taxi outside the main terminal and paid, if my memory serves me right, about €17 (dropped on Restaurades).
Just get the taxi from the official pick-up point and make sure (without making too big a deal about it) that the meter is on.
I don't know about vouchers but you just need to watch the meter! I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel and was told to expect the fare to be about 20 euros. On arriving at the hotel I was told it was 40!I refused and fortunately only had a carry on bag so I opened the door,handed him 20 and told him to follow me into the hotel to discuss it-he took off cursing!
On the way back the bellman got me a cab and we were at the airport in about 10 minutes and the fare on the meter was exactly 14 euros-I gave him 20 and said thanks and keep the change!
Do not take a taxi take the areobus goes to baixa and is much cheaper, buses go every 20 min through the day last bus at 10:30. If taking a taxi use the meter!
Thank you very much for all your replies which are really very helpful. I forgot to mention in my thread that we definitely have to use a taxi this time. I have been to Lisbon before for a short business trip and used the bus which was really fine and very cheap.
Best regards from Vienna
Martin
Hello,
Since I have taxis, I'll try to clarify a bit this community about taxis in Lisbon.
There are about 3500 taxis in Lisbon, and at the airport normally there are about 150. There are no special taxis for airport, anyone can pickup there.
Cheating taxi drivers- yes there are, specially at the airport, but they are not more or less unprofessional than in other major cities, or even in other activities, so we must use some cautions as we use in other places/activities.
Fares- All regular taxis have meters, should be on all the time, and all extras(except tolls) should be there, such as luggage (1.60€ for all the luggage that can fit in the trunk, not for piece) or surcharge for "called by phone"(0.80€).
If you pick up a taxi at the arrivals, just be sure to ask the driver if he knows the place, and aprox. how much in total, including luggage and tolls.
To give you som ideas of prices, from Airport to a hotel in city centre the total cost is between 10€ and 15€, depending on time of day and day of week (at night, and during all day at weekends the prices are 20% higher, but already reflected on meter)
Please note that the big majority of taxi drivers are honest, professional, and good drivers.
Hope this helps!
I used to travel a lot to Lisbon for work and it had by far the highest number of cheating taxi drivers in Europe. This was a few years ago and a ride between airport and the city would cost between 8 and 10 EUR. Even if drivers did use the meter they would use the night rate during the day, have a flag fall that was twice as high as it should be, every trick in the book. At a 4* hotel i stayed i got ripped off as well- and the concierge was in on it ( I am sure he made sure only his 'friends' who would tip him would be allowed to pick up hotel guests- and he expected the hotel guests to tip him for getting them a taxi as well!)
Anyway, as #6 says, the rate these days should be 10-15 EUR. The cheapest voucher appears to be 16 EUR. so although your fare is guaranteed, the rip-off is too- the voucher costs more then a ride by the meter...
Well #7, if by few years you are talking at least 10 years, then it can be correct, because at least from 10 years to now, the fares are not switchable between day and night , the meter (an electronic device verified an sealed by city authorities) is programmed with the time and calendar, so the driver just have to switch on the meter and automatically the correct fare for that time and day is displayed, NO CHANCE to change it.
Also, the cheapest taxi voucher as you said costs 16€, but is for airport surroundings (regular taxi around 7€-8€) and day time (if at night or weekends is 19.20€); for the city centre, taxi voucher is 20.40€(day) or 24,50€(night or weekends) when in regular taxi is 10 to 15€. Do you happen to know anyone who has been charged more than this amounts by a cheating driver??
In one thing we agree, an official entity is earning a lot of money with the fact that people think (like you, unfortunatelly) that Lisbon taxi drivers are among the most cheating taxi drivers in Europe.
Don´t forget the next time you came to Lisbon to tell me, and I will be glad to transport you and try to get you a different image of taxi drivers in Lisbon.
Hope this help someone