www.CostaRicaTicas.com

At night, I negociate a fare. If I know it's usually 2.000, then I go with the cabbie who gives me the figure. Same during the day, even if using the maria. The cabbie should be able to estimate the fare. So far, no problems. And no need to argue.

Just another taxi story that I almost forgot to share

On my most recent "umpteenth" trip to San Jose about 3 weeks ago I had one of my periodic cab driver rip-off attempts which just at times come out of nowhere regardless of your experience level … it serves to keep us on our toes

After arriving in SJO and walking over to Departures to pay my departure tax for my exit 6 days later (This is always the first thing I do when I arrive to SJO to just get it out of the way as typically there is no line), I typically just go out front and grab or await a taxi dropping off someone at departures. Typically these cabs are of the metered variety and the driver is happy as hell that he found a slight gold mine of a pick-up on his drop off.

I've done it a million times ... a metered ride to the gulch area from the airport and vice versa, depending on conversion rate can be between $15 and $18 tops depending on which hotel and what time of the day, taxi route, traffic, etc. In matter of fact many a time I have held up 10K in colones (which up until recently was about $17) and said ... this is it ... total ... yes or no .... and gladly they jumped on it

Well the story begins rather the same way as always, cab driver pulls up with departing passenger ... I await the passenger to make his payment and grab his luggage and then I put forth my 3 second offer and then I am off ... well for some reason, this passenger was seemingly taking forever to settle up his things and his payment ... so as luck would have it, another cab driver pulls up, but with no passenger ... ahhh ...my ride to the Gulch.

Here is where the tale begins. As usual, I make my colones offer to the driver, but he refuses saying that he has to use the meter ... hmmm ... not a problem ... I know what it cost on a meter. I somewhat reluctantly put my carryon bag in the trunk and then I go to sit in the back. (dont like my only piece of luggage away from me ... sometimes thinking of being stopped at a red light and bandidos opening the trunk and off with my possessions without any recourse of defense)...I'm not a nervous Nelly, but always "try" to be cautious/aware.

Anyway...

The drive was without issue for about 2/3 of the way until all of a sudden the driver starts small talk and of course the infamous question comes out ... "this your first time in San Jose?" ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS BEWARE OF THIS QUESTION ... especially from anyone who has a vested interest in separating you from your money.

Well, all of a sudden he pulls into a gas station on Paseo Colon and apologizes for the stop and appears to have to run in and taken a whizzer or worse ... I'm like no problem ... handle your business, but my eye is on the meter.

I notice that the meter is still running while he is doing whatever, so I take note of where it was when we stopped and was poised and ready to back off the sufficient amount on the total if he did not do it himself. But after a while starting to put my head on a swivel as I am sitting alone in a cab off to the side at a gas station. Can you say ... sitting duck!

Well the driver got back in and profusely apologized for the stoppage thanking me for being patient, but never mentioning the running meter ... so we continue on ... the meter was about 1.5K ahead of where it should have been ... so I carefully do the math ... hmmm ... so we travel on for a few blocks and I again take note of the meter .... Miraculously, the meter had gone backwards ... LOL!!!! Yes, it was now showing the amount that it was at when we initially stopped at the gas station. Amazing!!!! Now not really thinking about how this happened, but more in lines with now my total amount should be pretty much accurate to the meter…putting on the back burner the more blatant issue of a potentially manually controlled meter.

We continue on to my hotel and from that point on there was nothing out of the ordinary with the meter.

But now the finale...

My hotel was the Dunn Inn and typically during the day there is a door man out front ... and thus was the case this day.

As the driver made the left turn and the Dunn Inn is immediately on your left ... he passed the hotel by about 150ft which is almost nearly impossible to do. I had to tell him Whaoooooooo the hotel is here. As he stopped, I looked at the meter and the meter was exactly at 8000 Colones. Ray Charles could see this. In matter of fact, I was laughing at the fact that the extra 150ft took it to 8000.

Well, because I am a big guy and was wedge up in the back seat of a taxi for 30 minutes, I couldnt wait to get the hell out collect my belongings and truly commence my trip. So I get out the cab and driver gets out coming around the other side to open the trunk so I could get my carry on bag.

The driver walks around to me to collect payment and I hand him 10K in colones (in which I more then likely was going to let him have the extra if he made apologies for the stop)... well he frantically says not enough and points to the meter. The meter now says 18000 ... 18K colones which approx at the current conversion rate was almost $36.

Needless to say, things got interesting. I took the money from his hand and told him there was NO way I was going to pay you $36 for a ride from the airport to the Gulch ... one that I have made often and each time much less then $20. He starts yelling in spanish and before I could even tell him I was going to get the police ... up comes the doorman who interceded ... asked what was wrong ... I simply pointed to the meter and said this guy wants me to give him $36 for a ride from the airport.

It was now officially On!!!! LOL!!! What commenced was a huge arguement in spanish between the doormen and the cab driver ... and now i became the spectator ... lol ... after much back and forth the doorman very pissed came to me saw me holding the 10K in colones asked me for it and shoved it in the guys hand and told him in spanish in no uncertain terms get your crooked ass out of here before I get the police or whip your ass (atleast that what it sounded like to me...lol). the doorman made note of his cab number and apologized to me for that incident.

What a way to start a trip.



In retrospect, things that I may possibly do differently or have thought about…


• Carry On bag in the trunk. I wont do this unless I have to for space because … what if the doormen didn’t intercede and I refused payment … or if this whole thing happened before I actually got out of the cab … off he could have went with my possessions … that would of sucked!!!

• I knew something was up when he drove past the hotel away from where there was a doorman who would call his fraudulent ass out.

• In my haste, getting into a cab pulling up at Departures with no departing passenger. It was probably a situation where this cab driver saw me from below (arrivals) awaiting a cab at departures and sped/drove around to find a “potential victim”.

• I probably could have questioned the driver after the gas station stop and when I saw the meter “Miraculously” go back in time, but for me, its better to have a fight to the finish at the finish and not mid-way through your ride where you could be driven to anywhere or tossed out anywhere with your luggage in the trunk

• I should have still gotten the police involved or atleast went further with his cab number to teach this idiot a lesson

• Not settling up immediately when we stopped and the meter truly had 8000 on it. By me getting out and having to procure my bag from the trunk … he had an opportunity to flip a switch or push a button to change the price on the meter. The challenge is I always make payment the very last thing as it gives me time to assure nothing has fallen out of my pockets or bags in the cab. Many years ago, one time my passport slid out my pocket, and I only noticed it because I did the once over before paying and this guy taking off.

• HELP ME WITH THIS. AS I WAS IN THE CAB THE LITTLE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE METER WAS FLASHING. I THOUGHT I REMEMBERED READING SOME PLACE THAT IF THIS IS THE CASE … THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY WITH THE METER OR IT IS IN A MANUAL TYPE MODE …. IS THIS FACT OR FICTION?

I can't help you with the meter question, but I can say that the daytime doorman at the Dunn Inn is one outstanding guy. He always looked out for me when I stayed there. Even if I'm not staying there, I make it a point to go by and say hello to him.

Oh, they exist alright and I can't believe you haven't experienced it. They must be all over because even though I am an infrequent visitor as of late, I have had it happen to me once.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Only once have I ever taken a cab from the airport to the hotel in a regular "red cab." It was a negative experience.

I know, I know.....the official orange airport cabs will usually cost a little more than a lower negotiated price with a red cab or the Interbus service......but I have never had a bad experience with the official orange airport cabs. It may [or may not ] cost a little more, but by and large, it seems to be the fastest, safest and easiest way to get to the hotel from the airport.

I have had so many bad experiences with the red cab drivers downtown, that I usually walk everywhere [I'm never out late at night]. It also helps keep the weight off. I always lose several pounds when visiting San Jose.

My feeling is this is where you got into the problem, because although the airport managed taxi force is tightly controlled, the regular red cabs are not, so its the luck of the draw getting one dropping someone off. It would be better to go downstairs and check one at departures or have the DI driver pick you up. All and all though, you played it well and the use of the doorman at the DI was a stroke of genius.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Over all my trips I have come to one conclusion about taxistas. They lie more than the chicas. You can't believe anything they say.

From the airport, if you want to take a red taxi up from the departures area, you tell him what you are willing to pay and let him decide to take it or leave it. He doesn't HAVE TO use the meter, that's bullshit. The reason the guy wanted to use the meter was because his meter was tricked out to do whatever he wanted. Some dumb tourist would just pay it. I have taken a red taxi only twice so far, but both times I told the driver that I'd give him X colones to take me to my hotel in San Jose. I would never offer more than 10K, 7-8 is a fair offer IMO since he gets nothing going back alone. That's 7-8k will help pay for his gas for the day.