Taxis vs Private Transfers in Europe

[more adventurous]

When in Europe, do you arrange for private transfers, hail a cab, or take public transit to/from the airport (or train station)?

Specifically, we will be in Prague, Salzburg, and Munich. In discussing with a travel agent she said they always recommend private transfers (to the tune of $75-85 ) for American tourists in Europe simply for safety (basically they don't want you wandering around with your luggage). When I mentioned hailing a cab she replied that "sometimes" taxi drivers will take advantage of Americans, so they don't suggest it. I'm pretty sure she's just trying to upsell us here.

I did plan on doing a private transfer in our first destination (Prague) since our accommodations are about 20-25 minutes from the airport, and it seemed like it would simplify things. We are renting an apartment there through Airbnb and the host suggested he could arrange for one for about $33 (still a little high, I think, but worth the peace of mind). But in Salzburg, if we booked the hotel that she is suggesting we would be 5 minutes from the train station, and her price breakdown includes a $75 transfer. Even if we should do a private transfer, I'm not paying $75 for 5 minutes. That's just ridiculous. Maybe it was a typo.

Either way, just trying to decide if it's worth it to pre-plan transfers and also, how far is too far to have to walk around with our luggage in tow.

[dana2006]

We've always used public transit wherever possible, and taxi when PT is not feasible. The only place that's given us any problem is Prague. We took the subway from the bus stop to a station about 5 minutes from our hotel, then got lost in the maddening maze of streets in old town Prague. I guess I was overconfident with my navigational skills, lol. So at least for Prague, your plan for a private transfer is very reasonable. For the other cities, I'd contact the hotel and ask about PT options and rough cost for taxi rides.

[Cicero]

Where are you staying in Prague? It's really easy and cheap to take public transport there. Busses will take you right to multiple metro lines.

[Cicero]

ETA: this is why I wouldn't stay in Prague's Old Town. It's the least accessible part of the city in terms of public transportation.

Prague is one city I'd be weary of hailing a cab in as a tourist.  There are three legitimate, rule following cab companies.  Then there are a couple companies who advertise on the side of their cabs with the same name, but a different logo as the legitimate companies.  If you don't know what AAA taxi's logo looks like you could end up getting into the wrong cab and be faced with a crazy bill.

[more adventurous]

Mar 20, 2014 14:57:07 GMT -5 Cicero said:

ETA: this is why I wouldn't stay in Prague's Old Town. It's the least accessible part of the city in terms of public transportation.

Prague is one city I'd be weary of hailing a cab in as a tourist.  There are three legitimate, rule following cab companies.  Then there are a couple companies who advertise on the side of their cabs with the same name, but a different logo as the legitimate companies.  If you don't know what AAA taxi's logo looks like you could end up getting into the wrong cab and be faced with a crazy bill.

Ha, well, we were actually planning on staying in Old Town. Technically, we haven't booked it yet though. We just found an apartment that we really liked, and the price was right. It seemed to be a really convenient location, too.

I did read about the illegitimate cab companies though, which was another reason why I thought a private transfer might be reasonable there.

Do you think there will be a lot of things that we'll want to do outside of that area? It does look like there's a bus stop less than half a mile away, and a metro stop about a half a mile away...

[Cicero]

What hotel are you looking to book?

[more adventurous]

Mar 20, 2014 15:18:01 GMT -5 Cicero said:

What hotel are you looking to book?

We were planning on booking an apartment through Airbnb, not a hotel. Our TA recommended Hotel Saint George but the apartments that I've found cost less and seem nicer.

[Cicero]

Have you checked tram lines? There are a few that go around the Old Town. As far as private cars go, some of our friends who still live there use these people: praguetransport.com. It doesn't appear to be all that more expensive than a taxi.

[more adventurous]

Mar 20, 2014 15:30:35 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Have you checked tram lines? There are a few that go around the Old Town. As far as private cars go, some of our friends who still live there use these people: praguetransport.com. It doesn't appear to be all that more expensive than a taxi.

It looks like about a 3 minute walk will get us to a tram. Thanks for the link! That definitely seems reasonable, considering they'll take you anywhere in Prague.

[orval]

The apartment we rented in Prague provided transfer for us. It was worth to have them waiting for us at the airport and take us exactly where we needed to go. We had 5 people and they made two trips for us as we were on different flights.
We also used a service to drive us from Prague to Munich. This was some of the best money we spent on any vacation ever. The driver drove all five of us to Cesky Krumlov to spend a few hours to sight see. He then took us right to our hotel in Munich. By the time we would have purchased train tickets for all of us,, the price was about the same. And we had door to door service.

[orval]

This is the service we used from Prague to Munich.

mike-chauffeur.cz/

[mrsukyankee]

We used Mike's service as well. He was great.

[shel]

 AAA taxi for Prague had come recommended in a few guidebooks. I had booked with them at the airport and had researched the approximate cost, given my hotel location, in advance.  It was within the range given, reliable, booked them (via hotel) for the return trip as well.


I do try to use public transportation whenever I travel, basically because I'm cheap and usually it's just me and a carry on.  RER B in Paris + metro has been one of the easiest.  Jet lagged, early flight, I usually spring for the taxi.  

[anna7602]

I went to Prague years and years ago, but I took public transportation into the city from the airport.

In Europe, I generally take public transportation from the airports. I think the only place I've arranged for a private transfer ahead of time was Managua because people said the airport road can be really dangerous at nighttime and I was arriving at 5am or so, before daylight.

[travelingturtle]

How much luggage do you think you'll bring with you?

I think public transport is just so easy in the cities you mentioned. Except for Prague, which we drove to and stayed in a central location so we walked everywhere, we just relied on public transport for the other places you mentioned when we traveled - and that includes having a big stroller with us. Even though we didn't take the public transport in Prague, we saw a lot of it and it seemed easy enough.

As for private transfer v. taxi, I'd probably just take private transfer or taxi on the day I arrived and the day I left. Just so I don't have to deal with luggage/jet lag/and making sure I caught flights on time. If you're leaving out of munich public transport is really simple for the airport, but if you want another option you can always ask your hotel once you get there. In Salzburg - are you getting there via a flight or something else? If that transfer is from the Salzburg train station to hotel - way too expensive. Just book something when you get there. Public transport is super-simple there, it's not a big city, but some people don't like lugging luggage.

I've never worried about being targeted as an American in the cities you mentioned.

[pittpurple]

We take public transport pretty exclusively. We rented a car in Ireland once and in Portugal a couple times but that was because we were going out of the city, I can't think of a time we had a driver for city transport. I've been to Prague twice and stayed in the centre of the historical area, took the bus from the airport and walked from there. We've always travelled with just carry-ons though so we can manage.

[Whitecaps]

Of the cities you mentioned, I only have experience with Prague:

Getting to/from the airport was a challenge, as the airport doesn't seem to be very close to anything. When I arrived, my sister who lived there "picked me up" and the process was a long bus ride to a metro stop with tons of stairs (not great with luggage) to a train to where she lived. It took forever.

Getting around the city via transit while I was there was easy, though. She lived outside center city so we'd take the commuter train in to the city and then mostly walk places from there. 

When I left, I hired a private transfer to take me to the airport because my sister couldn't accompany me, and I wasn't familiar enough with all the routes to tackle it alone. The ride still took forever due to traffic, but at least I knew I would arrive at my destination. I get antsy about airport arrival times.

[GilliC]

I almost always use public transportation or something like an airport train/bus or shared van. In the cases where I can't due to logistics (lack of options, too much luggage, etc) I just take a taxi.

Typically I'll just read up about the taxi situation before I go to know whether I need to book it through a service or hail one on the street, and most airports these days have policies in place to help tourists avoid illegal taxis. Headed back to the airport, I'll just ask the hotel/guesthouse to call one for me.

[sillygoosegirl]

We always use public transit in Europe, including in the cities you mentioned. One time in Rome our train was very late and the bus we needed wasn't running anymore, so we took a taxi, but that was the only time.

I would not be surprised if the prices are correct. Gas and labor are both very expensive in Europe. And there is always a markup on things specifically for tourists.

We've been known to walk several kilometers with our luggage, but we travel light and we're always looking for adventure.  We once got off the last train of the day in a little town in the Czech country side, only to discover the town was so small that it didn't have any sort of hotel.  It was a little frightening at first, since we were a little worried we'd have to camp out at the castle ruin we were there to see, but instead we followed signs to a B&B in the next town, 4 km away.  It was so pretty.


It would be easy to avoid that sort of situation and still take public transit in those cities though.

I especially liked the subway in Prague.


Check out the icons on this sign.  Notice the accessories and skirt lengths.

[aurora]

We've always used public transportation in Europe - generally buses or subways or whatever is available, with cabs occasionally supplementing those. I've never had a problem. I do read up on the specific location ahead of time to make sure I know if there are any specific local issues.

In Prague, we took the bus from the airport and then walked to our hotel, which was maybe ~15 min from where the bus dropped us (we didn't stay in Old Town but within walking distance). We did arrive in mid-day so it's not like we were walking the streets all confused after dark.