CAIRO taxis
Jun 8, 2005 | 5:14 am
#1
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CAIRO taxis
Anyone any idea of a base price for transport between CAI and the Ghiza/Pyramids hotel area ??
I'd be grateful for assistance - knowledge is a great asset in confronting the taxi mafia !
I'd be grateful for assistance - knowledge is a great asset in confronting the taxi mafia !
Jun 8, 2005 | 7:21 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Programs: ME, TK, IC
Posts: 2,423
It is very common in this part of the world to agree on a price before you actually step into the taxi (i.e haggle). Of course, if your hotel arranges a taxi for you, then the price is most likely already set (?). I am not really sure what the "base" price is, but when I took a taxi from CAI airport to my hotel back in January, I made sure I "negotiated" a price with the cab driver before I got in.
Jun 8, 2005 | 8:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Circle City
Posts: 3,568
Most likely you will have someone at your hotel selling taxi services. It really depends a lot on whether you want luxury or tourist class, how much you want to bargain, and where you want to go. It's been a year and change since I went, but I *think* it was about US$20 plus tip for about 6 or 7 hours going to Giza, Memphis, and Saqqara. That was in a normal car, nothing fancy. I am sure that if youre at a nice hotel that they will have a more professional driver, but you will also pay for it.
Jun 9, 2005 | 1:30 am
#4
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Thanks Darren. I'm staying the weekend, resort-style, near the pyramids - a bit of R&R before moving into town on Monday.
Downtown from the airport Ive done a number of times and know what to expect: for the longer journey I was looking for an idea of a target fare. Not much fun in "blind" haggling - you need something to aim for
Downtown from the airport Ive done a number of times and know what to expect: for the longer journey I was looking for an idea of a target fare. Not much fun in "blind" haggling - you need something to aim for
Jun 9, 2005 | 1:33 am
#5
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errr, that was the point, Mr BEY 
I was looking for an idea of a target fare. Not much fun in "blind" haggling - you need something to aim for Downtown from the airport I've done a number of times and know what to expect.
Thanks Darren. I'm staying the weekend, resort-style, near the pyramids - a bit of R&R before moving into town on Monday.
I was looking for an idea of a target fare. Not much fun in "blind" haggling - you need something to aim for
Downtown from the airport I've done a number of times and know what to expect.Thanks Darren. I'm staying the weekend, resort-style, near the pyramids - a bit of R&R before moving into town on Monday.
Jun 9, 2005 | 5:07 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
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BTW, according to the Cairo International Airport website, "The airport is located in Heliopolis, 22km (13.7 miles) northeast of central Cairo and 40km (24.9 miles) from the Giza Pyramids." Would it be safe to assume that a taxi ride to Giza; therefore, is roughly double that of a ride to downtown Cairo??? Sorry, just felt guilty about that initial post and am trying to help anyway I can. Regards...
Last edited by BEYFlyer; Jun 9, 2005 at 5:10 am
Jun 9, 2005 | 6:19 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Circle City
Posts: 3,568
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
Thanks Darren. I'm staying the weekend, resort-style, near the pyramids - a bit of R&R before moving into town on Monday.
Last edited by Darren; Jun 9, 2005 at 6:38 am
Jun 9, 2005 | 5:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 259
I'd be surprised if you got anyone to do it for under 50. My guess is they'll start by demanding 100 EGP, so you're going to have to be firm. I'd probably cave at 60, but if it's slow-ish, you can probably get them to go lower, particularly if you're traveling alone and/or know some Arabic.
Jun 10, 2005 | 1:20 am
#10
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Thanks a lot guys. Not so much a seasoned Cairo hand - I still get a big kick out of visiting. Just those first minutes after you get thrown out of the order and comfort of an airline cabin into the bank/visa/taxi chaos can be a bit fraught...
Anyway, as the hotel (IC) wants EGP155, and I seem to remember EGP40 gets me downtown from the airport with no great effort, so EGP 80 fits in with your ideas. I'll report back!
In all my visits this will be the first time I've seen a pyramid
Anyway, as the hotel (IC) wants EGP155, and I seem to remember EGP40 gets me downtown from the airport with no great effort, so EGP 80 fits in with your ideas. I'll report back!
In all my visits this will be the first time I've seen a pyramid
Jun 16, 2005 | 7:20 am
#12
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For what it's worth - and for future reference - I paid EGP80 for a taxi to the Intercontinental Pyramid Park. As only 70 of those pounds went to the driver (10 to a fixer), I probably overpaid by local standards. But I'm not local, and everyone seemed happy with the deal.
I noted that IC and some other "top" properties are using security issues to restrict black-and-white taxi access, and virtually insisting guests use their limo services (usually Herz or Avis).
I noted that IC and some other "top" properties are using security issues to restrict black-and-white taxi access, and virtually insisting guests use their limo services (usually Herz or Avis).
Jun 17, 2005 | 6:14 am
#13
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We stayed at Le Pyramid (Meridian?), and they would not let B&W's in the drop off area. No private cars either. They did allow our driver and van(had a company name painted on the side). On a couple of occasions, the van would pick us up, drive us a few blocks to a side street to deposit us in a private car.
If you did a drop off close to the hotel, some uniformed men took down the vehicle tag number, and I think a fine was somehow charged.
About a block down, taxi was readily available at the restaurant filled with taxi drivers.
The hotel had a metal detector, which went off every time any individual passed through it. No one was ever stopped.
If you did a drop off close to the hotel, some uniformed men took down the vehicle tag number, and I think a fine was somehow charged.
About a block down, taxi was readily available at the restaurant filled with taxi drivers.
The hotel had a metal detector, which went off every time any individual passed through it. No one was ever stopped.
Jun 17, 2005 | 4:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
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Originally Posted by slawecki
...The hotel had a metal detector, which went off every time any individual passed through it. No one was ever stopped.
... Don't know why they have them there in the first place 
.
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
...I noted that IC and some other "top" properties are using security issues to restrict black-and-white taxi access, and virtually insisting guests use their limo services (usually Herz or Avis).