Originally Posted by
Final 3 Greens
BA5E
Muscat's post is on the money. The airport taxis are now all Mercedes vans like the ones in this link, that seat 7.
http://www.customerservice.ae/taxi-f...t-of-taxi-vans
Unless they run out of these vans, you won't be able to take a traditional silver Toyota car.
In the bigger scheme of things, the vans are not too expensive and the extra space is very handy if you have a lot of baggage.
The whole taxi operation at the airport is managed efficiently.
BTW, I have mixed feelings about Le Meridien - it is in a good position (5 mins wall to Abu Dhabi Mall) and has nice gardens, but as older property, there is a degree of 'faded elegance' about it - if you have ever stayed in Le Meridien next to DXB airport, there is a slightly similar feel.
On the other hand, Le Royal Meridien is very nice.
Correct about the 'new' taxi service - no more danger of getting lumped with a beaten up Toyota. In fact it was noticeable that there are far fewer of the 'mad mullah' taxi drivers about i.e. most drivers are now wearing shirts and ties rather than dressed up like the Taliban as they used to be.
The Meridian has been there for years and years - we used to go there to eat in the early 80s. So at least 30 years old I'd say. Not as old as the Hilton on the Corniche (reasonable beach club) which was more or less the first decent hotel there in ~ 1973. The Al-Ain Palace (Ally Pally) is probably older. Loads of really nice hotels a bit futher out of town (St Regis, Grand Hyatt) and if you fancy a bit of bling the Emirates Palace is something else.