Taxi Strike?

[mediumone]

Actually - there is a surcharge after 9pm - that was true - it used to be 10 pesos - not sure if it increased - I don't use taxi's

Huh? Never heard of this before now.
Can anyone direct me to a corroborating source, please?

 

[Christi]

Huh? Never heard of this before now.
Can anyone direct me to a corroborating source, please?

I was slightly off:

 

[mediumone]

Sorry, having spent a lot more nights on the mainland, I don't know who Adrianna Hernandez is. (Not suggesting that she's not the ultimate authority....)

 

[ggunn]

My recent taxi story:

After our last dives yesterday, I took my phone out of my waterproof bag. I don't know why I did it, as I have it on airplane mode and there was no wifi around.

We (dive buddy - "DB" and dive buddy's daughter "DBD") get back to the condo, and I showered and rinsed my gear. As we're getting ready to head out for lunch, I can't find my phone. Six searches later and still no phone. DBD remembered that I had it out at the marina which means I probably left it in the cab. DB suggested we get the condo office to call the taxi company. With the help of the security company at the condo, we were able to identify the type of car it was and the exact time it dropped us off (security camera), but not the taxi number (too far away). The condo rental folks spent 30 minutes on the phone with the taxi folks. DBD was even able to remember the color of the lady driver's hair and within an hour and a half of being dropped off, I had my phone back in my hands. It's not an expensive phone, but it did make getting home just a little easier. I was fortunate to have my friends with me, a very helpful security and condo company and an honest cab driver (she got another, bigger tip).

A few years ago my mom and I flagged a taxi to go to visit a very old friend who lived on the island. We had his address written down, but when we got there we couldn't find him. The driver got out and asked where he was (my mom and I speak very little Spanish and this was way back in the residential part of San Miguel), and after talking to several people, he had another address. We went there and still couldn't find him. The driver got out again, and with more exchanges in rapid Spanish, had a third address, which was a good ways away, The third place we went, we found him. We got out and had a nice visit with him; the driver waited for us because flagging a cab where we were would have been impossible and there was no telephone. It was the last time my mom saw our friend of 30 years; he was in failing health and died soon after we saw him.

When the driver got us back to the hotel, we asked what we owed him. He asked for about US$10. I couldn't believe it. I gave him an extra US$20.

 

[Snoweman]

A few years ago my mom and I flagged a taxi to go to visit a very old friend who lived on the island. We had his address written down, but when we got there we couldn't find him. The driver got out and asked where he was (my mom and I speak very little Spanish and this was way back in the residential part of San Miguel), and after talking to several people, he had another address. We went there and still couldn't find him. The driver got out again, and with more exchanges in rapid Spanish, had a third address, which was a good ways away, The third place we went, we found him. We got out and had a nice visit with him; the driver waited for us because flagging a cab where we were would have been impossible and there was no telephone. It was the last time my mom saw our friend of 30 years; he was in failing health and died soon after we saw him.

When the driver got us back to the hotel, we asked what we owed him. He asked for about US$10. I couldn't believe it. I gave him an extra US$20.

That's a great story. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Christi]

Sorry, having spent a lot more nights on the mainland, I don't know who Adrianna Hernandez is. (Not suggesting that she's not the ultimate authority....)

Well, as her post indicates, She lives here - full time - not a tourist - and uses a taxi to get around - she’s an admin on Cozumel4You. I posted the question for clarification on taxi fares after you asked for corroborating information. I’d say that a local who uses taxis everyday is an authority

 

[JamesBon92007]

A few years ago my mom and I flagged a taxi to go to visit a very old friend who lived on the island. We had his address written down, but when we got there we couldn't find him. The driver got out and asked where he was (my mom and I speak very little Spanish and this was way back in the residential part of San Miguel), and after talking to several people, he had another address. We went there and still couldn't find him. The driver got out again, and with more exchanges in rapid Spanish, had a third address, which was a good ways away, The third place we went, we found him. We got out and had a nice visit with him; the driver waited for us because flagging a cab where we were would have been impossible and there was no telephone. It was the last time my mom saw our friend of 30 years; he was in failing health and died soon after we saw him.

When the driver got us back to the hotel, we asked what we owed him. He asked for about US$10. I couldn't believe it. I gave him an extra US$20.

Was his name Rafael?

My girlfriend was having ear trouble and went to the doctor on Calle 6 Norte (where the hyperbaric chamber is). We got out of there around 9 PM and hailed a taxi to take us to Ahorra! He took us to the drug store and even went inside with us to make sure we got all of the right medicines and the best prices. When he dropped us off where we were staying I don't remember the exact amount but I recall it was less than two one-way trips. A day or two later we found him near the ferry dock and hired him to take us to Punta Sur which also included a tour of the island which he did for less than it would have cost to rent a car for a day.

The only time on Cozumel where I have been over-charged by a taxi driver was when we could not find our VRBO because Google Earth was way off. His price was completely justified.

 

[kelemvor]

I wouldn't call it an "aversion" but I find many negative things about the shuttle vans. And it's not really the cost.
1) Often you are crammed in a van with 10 other strangers, with less room than on the airplane.
2) It is often hot and humid in the van because, even though the AC is blowing cold, no AC can overcome the doors and hatches being open.
3) You may have to wait 10-15 minutes til they have enough to fill the van. (which induces you to buy a few overpriced margaritas at the airport bar)
4) Your luggage is out of sight in the back, mixed in with luggage from 10 other people.
5) You can't see if your luggage is (accidentally) unloaded at the stops before yours.
6) The van cannot stop at an Oxxo and wait 5 minutes while you pick up some beer.

I'm not sure what is so hard to understand about the above negatives. I would love to be able to walk outside and get into a regular cab or uber.

This this this.

I wouldn't say the van situation is horrible. It's just not as good as having your own cab/uber.

 

[mediumone]

Well, as her post indicates, She lives here - full time - not a tourist - and uses a taxi to get around - she’s an admin on Cozumel4You. I posted the question for clarification on taxi fares after you asked for corroborating information. I’d say that a local who uses taxis everyday is an authority

Thanks. More info than we had before, but I was hoping for some info generated from a taxi representative. We'll be down on the 19th, staying close to the taxi office; I'll stop in then.

 

[Christi]

Thanks. More info than we had before, but I was hoping for some info generated from a taxi representative. We'll be down on the 19th, staying close to the taxi office; I'll stop in then.

Hah good luck with that - getting a straight and consistent answer from a taxi representative - that's funny!