I would recommend not only that you bring your addresses on paper, but the phone number of the place you're visiting. Many addresses have no street name or number, and it'll just be "The so-and-so building near landmark X in suburb Y", so the driver may have no chance of finding it without a phone number to call and ask directions.

Also, the best thing I've found to do about transportation is to rent an actual car with driver for the period of time you'll be there. Many of the cabbies that hang outside the major hotels waiting for fares really know how to work the tourists. One of the greatest values of having a driver is their loyalty though. Our driver gave us tips on what to pay for things at different locations, let us know what places were safe and what weren't, and when we were shopping one day the beggars were so bad, we went back to the car and got the driver, and he walked with us, telling all the beggars to get lost. The driver will fight for you if you were to get attacked, and just having them there with you, I've found will deter a great amount of the riffraff. They can point out all the landmarks, without getting repeats, and know where you've been so they can suggest alternative spots. They can be your translator, can find you a place to eat that won't make you sick...

The drivers loyalty are almost legendary amongst locals, as several people told stories of drivers fighting to protect their passengers, treating them like family as well, which is exactly how i felt.

The driver's cars are going to be much nicer than even the coolcabs, and you'll have a trunk to store those 50 bags of purchases while you're out on a day of shopping.

I'd agree that the hotel drivers are going to be a premium price though, as is anything associated with the hotels. There are many non-hotel driver services though. The one I used last time in Mumbai was:

Shree Krishna Tours & Travels
[email protected] / [email protected]

The actual driver I had was named Sandeep Dhivare, who I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. I'd also recommend bargaining with them as I know my company did.

I don't know about the rates as my company paid for the car but I understand it's charged by the day or week + miles for the gas. My driver said he was making $200/month as a driver, so they probably aren't even charging $100/week to you over the cost of gas/car.

It's also worth noting that my company forbid me to take a regular taxi out of security concerns. They may be just paranoid, however the one time I walked past the taxi stand outside the hotel, one really scumbag taxi driver was pressuring me into going and seeing his friend's whorehouse, and I felt like if I had got into his cab I would have been in trouble.