Booking Taxis without a Local Mobile Number
Jun 26, 2014, 5:05 am
#1
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Booking Taxis without a Local Mobile Number
I don't have an Indian SIM - never particularly had the need for it - and won't be able to get one (easily) before I next need to book taxis. So I wonder if any could help me out with their experience of booking taxis.
Normally, it's been colleagues or hotels booking cabs for me (or me picking them up from a prepay stand or rank). However, my one experience with Meru went badly, as they were unable to contact me on an international number, and so cancelled the taxi a short notice, leaving me in the lurch.
All the online taxi-booking services need a local mobile number. Is there any way round this?
Normally, it's been colleagues or hotels booking cabs for me (or me picking them up from a prepay stand or rank). However, my one experience with Meru went badly, as they were unable to contact me on an international number, and so cancelled the taxi a short notice, leaving me in the lurch.
All the online taxi-booking services need a local mobile number. Is there any way round this?
Jun 27, 2014, 5:54 pm
#2
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Uber should work if you have a smartphone + wifi and already signed up before you went to India. If not, you could try signing up through their website, but you would need to be able to send a text to confirm your number. I'm not sure if you can receive/respond to texts while in India with your foreign number. If you can, then you could try signing up...
Jun 28, 2014, 1:48 am
#3
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Uber! Good call - I do have an account. And yes, I have no problem sending and receiving texts roaming inbIndia. The fare estimate is double what a normal prebooked taxi would be, though (but still affordable). My only concern is how many will be around at 4am!
Jun 28, 2014, 3:45 am
#4
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Oh, actually, ignore that, the quote search was taking me further away. Actually, the fare is *very* competitive. If I can get some confidence about the availability in the middle of the night, I think I'll probably go for it.
Jun 28, 2014, 5:32 am
#5
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Jun 28, 2014, 9:51 am
#7
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If the taxi is required for a pickup on arrival then there is a Fast Track taxi counter at the MAA International Arrivals terminal and they'll take you directly to the taxi.
For arrivals I prefer to take pre-paid taxis as my driver does not have to hang around with a sign and if the flight arrives late then they may or may not hang around.
For arrivals I prefer to take pre-paid taxis as my driver does not have to hang around with a sign and if the flight arrives late then they may or may not hang around.
Jun 28, 2014, 9:57 am
#8
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If the taxi is required for a pickup on arrival then there is a Fast Track taxi counter at the MAA International Arrivals terminal and they'll take you directly to the taxi.
For arrivals I prefer to take pre-paid taxis as my driver does not have to hang around with a sign and if the flight arrives late then they may or may not hang around.
For arrivals I prefer to take pre-paid taxis as my driver does not have to hang around with a sign and if the flight arrives late then they may or may not hang around.
In general, though, it'd be handy to have an app-based cab company I can use in the cities in India I regularly visit - it's just that most are tied to having an Indian mobile number. I'll probably get round to getting a local SIM card at some point...
Jul 28, 2014, 12:48 am
#10
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Hasn't the ease of visitors signing up for prepaid SIMs improved again? It used to be as easy as showing a passport and handing over money. Then it became more difficult. It hasn't eased up yet again?
Aug 5, 2014, 3:15 am
#12
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Well, thought I'd come back and update with my experiences...
On the outbound, used Uber both ways from the airport to the Trident and back again. Outbound wasn't great - the driver forgot to start the journey (was my first Uber experience, so I didn't know what I was looking for) until on the GST Road, and demanded Rs200 on top of the Rs150 minimum fare on arrival for "airport fees".
The way back was smooth as you like. Plenty availability on both times. Drawback, of course, is data fees - the Uber app is very data heavy, with realtime map updates - I wonder if a much lighter 'roaming' mode could be included? So the real cost was quite inflated.
On the inbound, I ended up just getting an airport prepay taxi, which to my delight was a lovely old Ambassador (a new experience for MrsStut, who enjoyed it as much as I did), and was Rs270. The hotel gave us a free ride back to the airport in the morning.
On the outbound, used Uber both ways from the airport to the Trident and back again. Outbound wasn't great - the driver forgot to start the journey (was my first Uber experience, so I didn't know what I was looking for) until on the GST Road, and demanded Rs200 on top of the Rs150 minimum fare on arrival for "airport fees".
The way back was smooth as you like. Plenty availability on both times. Drawback, of course, is data fees - the Uber app is very data heavy, with realtime map updates - I wonder if a much lighter 'roaming' mode could be included? So the real cost was quite inflated.
On the inbound, I ended up just getting an airport prepay taxi, which to my delight was a lovely old Ambassador (a new experience for MrsStut, who enjoyed it as much as I did), and was Rs270. The hotel gave us a free ride back to the airport in the morning.
Aug 7, 2014, 8:21 pm
#13
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The first uber driver was, obviously, trying to scam you. Complain.
The inbound - glad you liked those old boneshakers, which are what you will get if you request a non aircon taxi. Aircon taxis from that company (just labeled 'pre paid airport taxi') are suzuki swift dzire sedans. http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/sli...ire-030211.jpg .. there are two other outfits you can try - Fast Track and I forgot the third one .. Fast Track gives you sedans as well, while the third one uses SUVs (chevy tavera / tata innova ..).
The inbound - glad you liked those old boneshakers, which are what you will get if you request a non aircon taxi. Aircon taxis from that company (just labeled 'pre paid airport taxi') are suzuki swift dzire sedans. http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/sli...ire-030211.jpg .. there are two other outfits you can try - Fast Track and I forgot the third one .. Fast Track gives you sedans as well, while the third one uses SUVs (chevy tavera / tata innova ..).
Aug 8, 2014, 6:01 am
#14
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The first uber driver was, obviously, trying to scam you. Complain.
The inbound - glad you liked those old boneshakers, which are what you will get if you request a non aircon taxi. Aircon taxis from that company (just labeled 'pre paid airport taxi') are suzuki swift dzire sedans. http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/sli...ire-030211.jpg .. there are two other outfits you can try - Fast Track and I forgot the third one .. Fast Track gives you sedans as well, while the third one uses SUVs (chevy tavera / tata innova ..).
The inbound - glad you liked those old boneshakers, which are what you will get if you request a non aircon taxi. Aircon taxis from that company (just labeled 'pre paid airport taxi') are suzuki swift dzire sedans. http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/sli...ire-030211.jpg .. there are two other outfits you can try - Fast Track and I forgot the third one .. Fast Track gives you sedans as well, while the third one uses SUVs (chevy tavera / tata innova ..).
I do like old Ambassadors (and the old hands that tend to drive them) - I have fond memories of them from trips to India 10-15 years ago. I can see why they're becoming increasingly impractical, but there's a certain elegance to them which I still enjoy. I rarely travel by car at home, so road journeys are more a novelty than an annoyance!
Used FastTrack on my last visit to MAA last year, and they were fine, if a little on the pricey side for a trip down to Mahabalipuram in the dead of night (thanks to an Air Costa 5-hour delay...) But, well, I got the bus back so it all evens out, eh? (And eventually the train via Tirusulam, which is quite an experience to access the terminal from at the moment, but that's for another thread...)