gretah

Hi, All

Would you please help me find information on black car service? I'm not certain what this is called in Amsterdam. It's like a taxi but a better car. You usually can't pick them up - you must book them via phone or website.
I'm not talking about Uber or anything like that.

If you know the term and how to hire these cars, I would love to learn for my upcoming trip to Amsterdam.

Thanks!

MmePerdu

Google "car service amsterdam" and you'll find loads.

greg

I don't know what qualifies as a "better" car to you. Last fall when We arrived at Schiphol airport, we just walked out of the terminal and saw taxis at the taxi rank. Half of them were Teslas. So we choose one of the Teslas to our hotel on Herengracht for 48EU going through a bumper to bumper afternoon Amsterdam traffic. No reservation, no prepay, no need to coordinate arrival time, and no chance of no shows. Oh, it was a "black" Tesla.

hetismij2

Do you want to get to and from the airport, or go somewhere else?
Car services are taxis as far as the Netherlands are concerned, and are insured and licensed as such, with blue number plates. You can book a taxi easily enough.
Google will help you find different companies. If you want it for airport travel they have to be registered with Schiphol to be allowed into the terminal area. This is true of taxis and car services from further away than Amsterdam too. We occasionally use a taxi to take us to Schiphol, when it is cheaper than parking there, or at a hotel, and more convenient than the train. Pre booked it cost a little less than greg's €48, from considerably further away.
Uber is illegal in the Netherlands.

hetismij2

Oh and taxis are all Mercedes or the equivalent. Tesla are becoming popular too. There isn't the equivalent of a London black cab, or New York yellow cab here.

gretah

Thank you for your information and assurances.

Amsterdam taxis sound great.

I used to live in San Francisco there and the taxi service is terrible. After calling for a taxi, wait time could be 45 minutes, 2 hours, or the taxi would never show at all. I understand Uber is very popular there and I can see why. I'm going to SF before Amsterdam so I've been researching transportation for both.

I like trains so I'll take the train from AMS to city center. Then taxi to hotel and other places around the city.

Thanks for helping!

PatrickLondon

>> Then taxi to hotel and other places around the city.<<

Public transport is very good in Amsterdam. Getting your luggage and finding space for it on a tram can be a pain, so a taxi makes sense for that (there's a rank just outside the Central Station), but once you're settled, you'll not only be walking a lot more than you might imagine, but you'll find the trams very easy to use:

http://en.gvb.nl/ontdek-amsterdam/tourist-guide
http://en.gvb.nl/sites/default/files...highlights.pdf

spaarne

<i> Amsterdam - black car service?
Posted by: gretah on Jan 6, 16 at 11:29pm
Posted in: Europe
Tagged: Netherlands

It's like a taxi but a better car. </i>

There are plenty of taxis at Schiphol Plaza and you will probably like the cars. Most of them are Mercedes. Vans are also available. Look for the blue license plate to get an official licensed taxi.

The train to Centraal station is certainly cheaper. But these trains are infamous for pickpockets and luggage thieves. They prefer to strike just as the doors are closing so they can jump off with their new-found goods. Amsterdam Centraal Station is a beehive, and also a hangout for thieves. The taxi rank is on the south side of the station.

gretah

Thanks for the tips about the thieves. I will be extra alert!

menachem

The train to Centraal station is certainly cheaper. But these trains are infamous for pickpockets and luggage thieves. They prefer to strike just as the doors are closing so they can jump off with their new-found goods. Amsterdam Centraal Station is a beehive, and also a hangout for thieves. The taxi rank is on the south side of the station.

Before you think these trains are "pickpocket central": they aren't. Of course, be sensible and keep an eye on your luggage. If you have large bags, or a lot of them, and you think watching them is difficult, take one of the Intercity Direct trains into town: these run directly between Schiphol and CS, with no stops in between, and usually carry fewer passengers.

CS has been refurbished over the years and now has three access passages again, so there's a lot less crowding now. The least crowded passage is the middle one.

I take this route numerous times a week, and, provided you apply some common sense, you'll be ok. Don't leave your bags out of sight, but that's a good idea in any case.

spaarne

<i> Amsterdam - black car service?
Posted by: gretah on Jan 6, 16 at 11:29pm</i>

This hit my inbox. It might be what you are looking for.
https://www.mydriver.com/l/en/airpor...sfer/amsterdam

gretah

Thanks for the tips. I just viewed the hire car / airport car website and added it to my trip notes.

Since I'll be flying in direct, I'll be woozy due to jet lag. Sounds like a taxi or MyDriver will be best since I won't be on top of my game for watching out for thieves.