Warning!
This story will make me look a little naive, but i'm going to
share it in the interest of educating future travellers. If you want to laugh, just do it quietly, ok!!
Taking a taxi in a foreign country is always an adventure. In fact, the trip to the hotel from the airport is usually the "first taste" of the local culture. Not only do you get a sense of your surroundings, but you also get a taste of the character and methods of how the locals do business. In my case, upon arriving at Beijing Capital Airport, I got my bags and made my way out to the taxi waiting line. A bit of chaos ensued as I exited the terminal to a throng of people and cars all vying for their spots. As I strode out the exit, a man approaches me and says something in chinese along with the word "Taxi !!". I've seen these people come at you in other airports and they are usually private (more expensive) limo services, so I just looked at him, smiled and shook my head in refusal. He followed me for a few feet trying to convince me to take a "taxi" ride. I just kept shaking my head as I moved to the "official" taxi line. After a few minutes a uniformed official directs me to a waiting taxi -- and there are a LOT of taxis so its a confusing as to where to go. As I walk down the line of taxis, another man who appears to be a taxi driver, approaches me and get me to follow him to another line of parked taxis just across the road. As I follow, he asks me where I need to go, and I reply with my hotel name. He nods and shows me to the car -- at this point i'm getting a little suspicious since this other line of taxis isn't the same as the first one. We get to the car, he promptly opens my door puts my bags in, and then directs me to get in. He shows me a card that said "Beijing Capital Airport Taxi", along with some prices (ranging from 200-380 RMB for a ride to Downtown). I objected immediately because my friend had told me that the ride would cost no more than 100 RMB (~$15 CDN). I tried to explain my concern saying that it shouldn't cost that much. But I don't think he could understand. He just kept pointing me at his meter (which looked pretty authentic) saying "meter, OK? meter, oK?" Since I'm already seated in the car with my bags inside, i reluctantly accept and then we took off (i tried to reassure myself that the price he showed me was a maximum and that i'd pay no more than what the meter said......so i'm sure you all know where this is going)
My suspicion that this was not going to be a "normal" taxi ride started immediately, as we get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on this two-lane country road out of the airport -- meanwhile I look off in the distance to my right and see an express freeway running PARALLEL to the road with traffic moving pretty fast. I ask myself, why the heck aren't we taking that?!?!?! Meanwhile...the meter keeps ticking by... on some stretches we moved one city block in 45 minutes. (Don't good taxi drivers know shortcuts?) Of course the driver remains very polite, yet apologetic throughout the ride. He even offered me a cigarette, but i kindly refused. But of course, he starts smoking....albeit with the window rolled down. Once the meter had passed 100 and it didn't look like we were anywhere close to where the hotel was i knew where this was heading. (But what could i do?) So i just sat and waited, and waited... watching the meter tick by 200, 300, 400...2 hrs later.. he stops at this street corner, gets out and points out the hotel (i found it kind of peculiar how he wouldn't drop me off in FRONT of the hotel). I see the name of the hotel and figure I can just walk the rest of the way, but before I go i have to pay what's on the meter...500 RMB (~$75 CDN). (Ding ding, ding! this taxi driver just hit the jackpot! -- and I can just hear the voices..."You were ripped off!!"). It was pointless to argue, since he couldn't understand a word i was saying. So i get my bags, and checked into the hotel. Later, I met up with my friend at the hotel, and when i told her how much i paid she was in shock. She asked a hotel employee to examine my handwritten receipt. Guess what? It was a fake. (And why not! After all I was in the land of fake Gucci bags and Rolex watches) Turns out the legitimate taxis, give computer printed receipts...and they showed me a sample of one -- noting that a ride from the aiport normally costs about 80 RMB!!! [jaw on floor] I was then told that you should always take the colored striped taxis (usually yellow/green)...mine was a plain burgundy. I was also told that these unscrupulous drivers have a special switch on the side which does something to the meter (like speeding it up by 5!!!).
Sometimes you learn your lessons the hard way, eh? So if you're in Beijing (or any other foreign country) always beware!!! Do your
homework before you leave!!
I decided to stay in Beijing an extra day to finish some shopping, but by the time Saturday rolled around i was looking forward to leaving behind the pollution, traffic, and people horking (spitting) in the streets (among other things). Arriving in Singapore was a most refreshing experience. It was the first time i had asked for "Airport Pickup Service" from the Pan Pacific, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Upon disembarking the plane, I was immediately met by my own personal escort who walked me all the way through immigration, baggage claim and customs. I was then met by a limo (a Mercedes Benz E class i believe) and my own "driver" who then drove me to the hotel. Upon reaching the hotel, I was greeted by hotel rep who took me DIRECTLY to my room (didn't have to go to the front desk). Once I got to the room, she took down my credit card number, gave me my keycard and then she was off. It was the FASTEST check-in experience I've ever had...which is in contrast to the experiences i had in Beijing.
