www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Yeah......I've had a lot of problems with taxis. I walk as much as I can to avoid dealing with them. It's best to always have enough small bills and coins to pay them the exact amount [to avoid the..."I don't have change routine" ], confirm before you get into the taxi that his maria is working and he will use it and when you arrive at the destination, exit the taxi first, and then hand him the exact amount due....any discrepancy....drop the money on the passenger seat and walk away [if you know about what the correct fare should be].

One fine evening a nice girl showed up downstairs . The taxi meter read 3900 so I gave the guy a 5000 colon note, expecting 1100 in change. He said he didn't have change. I remembered my anger management class and started taking deep breaths and took my mind to my 'happy place'. Note: My 'happy place' is shooting automatic weapons at old abandoned cars in the North Georgia Mountains.

So, .... I took my 5000 colon note back , went upstairs and got my change bucket (coins collected over 5.5 years). Buy the time I counted out 3900 in 5, 10, 25 and 50 coins, the meter read 7000. I told the guy, "Now ,you have change".

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

But what do you want to bet he will not when he picks up the next fare

To graduate taxi school in San Jose, they have to practice saying that they don't have change - its an annoyance, but almost always I make sure I have change before I leave the hotel, especially as I've gotten pretty good at estimating what the fare is going to be around SJ. Still, there are plenty of times I've forgotten over the years.

Now that is something I would do. They wanna play games then I can play too. I got a much needed laugh off of your comment...LOL

I always walk around with a fat wad of uno mil colones notes and a bulging pocket full of coins. That way I can avoid getting cheated by taxi drivers. Lots of them play the "no change" game.

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Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

So I just picked up my, slightly drunk, Nica girlfriend from Parque La Merced and we go around the block to Taco Bell on Paseo Colon in a taxi. As we are approaching the meter starts going bizerk from 1100 to 3300. I guess he figured we were both drunk but ,,, not.

So I order her out of the car and once we are both out of the car, and I lay 1200 colon on the passenger seat. Nothing said , no problem, try again, thanks for playing.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

The bad ....very bad apple that I had was a red headed ugly mother nudged...would have shot him if I had a gun...sort of the way we handle thangs in Texas.

exactly. i never take taxis in front of hotels period. too easy to wave one down at the closest main drag.
once had a guy from in front of SL try to charge me 3000 for a ride to wongs! he backed off to 1000 instantly when i looked him in the eye with a como? tu eres loco? but it is easier to just side step it.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Yep, me too

Last week in front of the Sportsmans, one of the guys wanted 2k to go to the Morazan, which is a 560 c fare - not the money, but the principal; I just hate to be cheated, regardless of the amount - there was at least 1 dark blue "taxi" outside - I offered him 1000 but he refused; I went to the corner and caught a cab and paid 560.

This has been an ongoing situation at the Sportsmans, and little Bill/Management can do as these guys are not employed by the Sportmans - they are ametuers vs the guys in front of the DelRey

I think you are giving the guys in front of the del rey WAY too much credit....

the DR

<-------OG'n the taxi stand....again....

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“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

Was thinking about this thread as I walked pass the SL this morning and wondered if there is some factor that makes a person more susceptible to being ripped off by taxis. Knock on wood! Everytime I get in a taxi, they turn on the meter and I find it to be a fair price where I am going. I am not fluent in Spanish, but passable enough to give directions to where I want to go and bullshit with the driver a bit. Maybe my time is coming but I have not had a bad taxi experience other than a driver or two that hardly knew how to get anywhere. No offense to anyone, but saw a guy getting in a taxi outside the SL yesterday and he really just looked like a mark. Not nice to do it to people, but when a driver, chica, whoever smells easy money they are probably gonna give it a shot.

No question about it........it's 'first impressions' that make you appear to be an 'easy mark newbie' or an 'old hand' at the game. Certainly, the drivers take their cues from the way you are dressed, your body language, your Spanish abilities and your self confidence [or lack thereof].

Hard to not wonder why SL let's their doorman cater to and for these goofs. The time I dealt with this blue cab guy, the dooman asked me if I wanted a taxi and was leading me to him. Get rid of him, them, whatever. It ain't like there a shortage of cabs. And did I read a post a few threads ago where the SL desk called a cab and the same jerk came?

Anyway, I always take a walk away from any hotel taxi, they don't want to use the Maria, at the DR for eg, Gran Hotel, all of them where they are lined up. At the DR, nice guys, I know alot of them, Ronnie and his brother; Earl Montoya (not working for them anymore), a few more by face only. But they act like you're insulting if you tell them put the meter on.

At the Sleep Inn I asked to call a cab, you know it's gated both streets, no problem we have our van, only going to LaSabana Budget rent a car on Paseo Colon so no charge. Ordinarily, $2 on the meter? I waited for this jerk 10 minutes and then wants $7. I gave him a duece and he moaned so I told him to give it back, they said it was free. Don't fall for the use our free van routine at SL other than the airport. they are good about that if the times are right. No pick up for me on the way in? they paid the cabbie..

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"If you dont think women are explosive,....drop one."

Sweet, It is worth the time to Phuck 'em back

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"If you dont think women are explosive,....drop one."