I had called for the bellman at 1020am and he arrived 10 mins later. We walked to the lifts together and I casually mentioned that I will be taking a taxi to the airport. He didn't ask if he could call me one nor did I tell him to do so.

Check out took all of 5 mins and when I went to the entrance, my baggage had already been loaded in a taxi. There were no other people in the taxi queue. It is not considered peak hours during that time when taxis are plenty in Singapore - except when its Chinese Lunar New Year when the majority of the Chinese cabbies take morning 'leaves'.

Anyway, just as the taxi pulled out and was on the road, I noticed that there is a surcharge on his meter of $8. Now wait a minute, the Hyatt is not within the the CBD zone, which normally costs $1 extra, nor is it a peak time, which again would cost an extra $1. I didn't call for a taxi -which is a booking fee of $2.30 during off peak hours.

The cab driver said that it was an 'Advanced' booking which meant the cab had to be booked at least 30 mins - an hour in advance and that would then carry an $8 surcharge. But I didn't call it, and on the Booking on the monitor, showed the name as : "Mr Bellman".

I called the hotel and spoke to the Duty Manager and asked why is this so when I did not ask that anyone call me a taxi. If I did, I would have done so myself. The hotel said that its a "Priority" service they offer their clients. Yes, but I said, only if the guests ask for it. I did not.

The taxi driver does not know the full facts only that he received the call at 1015. Now how does the Bellman know I wanted a cab? But again, why was I put in one with a surcharge when I didn't ask for it.

So for travellers to Singapore and staying at the GH.. be aware when you hop in a taxi that seems to be waiting for you ... especially when there is no queue.