Taxis at train station
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taxis at train station
We will be arriving to Amsterdam by train from Paris on May 15th. It's a little over half a mile to our hotel, but weather forecast is predicting rain. Are taxis usually available at the train station?
#2
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is always a line waiting. You find the stand at your right hand side after leaving the main exit.
In the past they were known for not taking passengers for rides they found too short. It seems their behaviour has improved somewhat.
In the past they were known for not taking passengers for rides they found too short. It seems their behaviour has improved somewhat.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There will be plenty of taxis. Whether or not they will take you a mere half-mile is another question; they may charge you a minimum fee of something like 7 euros. The trams are easy, cheap, and convenient.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taxis at train station
Posted by: topeater on May 8, 16 at 12:10pm
As stated, there are taxis but probably not for your trip. The driver would lose his position in the rank for a pittance. A half mile would be a 15 minute walk.
As for rain, this site https://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:00000.2.06247 is calling for no rain on the 15th and a smidgen on the 16th for Haarlem, 10 miles away. Nevertheless, an umbrella is handy in Amsterdam.
Posted by: topeater on May 8, 16 at 12:10pm
As stated, there are taxis but probably not for your trip. The driver would lose his position in the rank for a pittance. A half mile would be a 15 minute walk.
As for rain, this site https://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:00000.2.06247 is calling for no rain on the 15th and a smidgen on the 16th for Haarlem, 10 miles away. Nevertheless, an umbrella is handy in Amsterdam.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is a problem when you book a hotel too close to your arrival point, I try to avoid that. If it's that close, I only book it if I can get there by metro or something from the train station. It's just a bit too far for me to want to do it with luggage, although you could if you were just packing for a weekend or something or were the super light packers that we see on Fodors sometimes. I'm not so no can do (or wouldn't want to, anyway). It may take longer than a half mile depending on the route they have to take, also, in that area.
A taxi cannot legally arbitrarily charge you some minimum fee other than the meter drop nor refuse you. That fare should be around 6-7 euro anyway, though, if it is that distance (3 euro minimum to start and 2 euro per km plus some waiting time in traffic).
In reality, I've had taxis in Paris refuse to drive me short distances that were a lot longer than that from a train station (more like several km). It's illegal there, also, but you can't really do anything about it. I see their issue but have needed them at times.
A taxi cannot legally arbitrarily charge you some minimum fee other than the meter drop nor refuse you. That fare should be around 6-7 euro anyway, though, if it is that distance (3 euro minimum to start and 2 euro per km plus some waiting time in traffic).
In reality, I've had taxis in Paris refuse to drive me short distances that were a lot longer than that from a train station (more like several km). It's illegal there, also, but you can't really do anything about it. I see their issue but have needed them at times.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 17,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For the weather have a look at http://buienradar.nl/weer/amsterdam/nl/2759794/#nu. It will tell you current and 5 and 14 day forecasts. It will be cold this coming weekend unfortunately, and could be wet, it is too soon to say.
For information on Taxis in Amsterdam: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visitin...g-around/taxis Taxis must accept you even for a short trip.
Make sure the taxi is an official one, with blue licence plates.
For information on Taxis in Amsterdam: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visitin...g-around/taxis Taxis must accept you even for a short trip.
Make sure the taxi is an official one, with blue licence plates.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You could put your luggage in a station luggage locker and waltz to your hotel with a day bag and return leisurely for the others.
What hotel is it - may be an easy walk, especially if you have wheelies on your bags.
And there is always Uber:
https://www.uber.com/cities/amsterdam/
What hotel is it - may be an easy walk, especially if you have wheelies on your bags.
And there is always Uber:
https://www.uber.com/cities/amsterdam/
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What does your hotel recommend?
It would be dumb to take a taxi if the tram went a block or two away.
The area around the Central Station is extremely congested, and a taxi is not very efficient.
It would be dumb to take a taxi if the tram went a block or two away.
The area around the Central Station is extremely congested, and a taxi is not very efficient.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are short-cuts out of Central Station so you do not need to navigate the extremely crowded at many times the main concourses - head to platform 1 and walk west on it until you see the IBIS Hotel, adjacent to platform 1 with a staircase down to it and the street that you may well want to end up on for your hotel - an easy way out perhaps rather than fumbling thru the main exit - I have not been to Central Station however since it was renovated but assume this platform 1 escape is still there.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A tram is a street car - which runs on regular streets albeit in special lanes - not a metro though there is one of those in Amsterdam too.
http://en.gvb.nl/
If taking tram first thing I'd do is to hoof over to the GVB or Amsterdam public transport office smack opposite the exit from Central Station (right next to the VVV or Amsterdam Tourist Office which can provide you a map to help going to your hotel) and ask them about tickets - may be cheaper to buy a group of tickets or a day pass or whatever they have now than buying a single ticket on the tram if possible anymore.
Your hotel is a good 15-minute walk I'd say and no tram I believe takes you right to it - take any tram up the Damrak - the main street leading out of the station to the place on the map that follows and walk two short blocks to the hotel. Again print off a map before going. Pretty simple - by foot walk down the Danrak's east side till you're a few blocks from the hotel and hang a left.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ho...84!4d4.8956324
http://en.gvb.nl/
If taking tram first thing I'd do is to hoof over to the GVB or Amsterdam public transport office smack opposite the exit from Central Station (right next to the VVV or Amsterdam Tourist Office which can provide you a map to help going to your hotel) and ask them about tickets - may be cheaper to buy a group of tickets or a day pass or whatever they have now than buying a single ticket on the tram if possible anymore.
Your hotel is a good 15-minute walk I'd say and no tram I believe takes you right to it - take any tram up the Damrak - the main street leading out of the station to the place on the map that follows and walk two short blocks to the hotel. Again print off a map before going. Pretty simple - by foot walk down the Danrak's east side till you're a few blocks from the hotel and hang a left.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ho...84!4d4.8956324
#14
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Any tram to Dam, follow Damstraat, cros the first canal you see, turn right along it and the Grand is about 300 meters.
It's pretty difficult for a taxi to get there, because there are only two narrow access streets to OZ Achterburgwal. So you could be circling round for quite a long time, should you go by taxi.
It's pretty difficult for a taxi to get there, because there are only two narrow access streets to OZ Achterburgwal. So you could be circling round for quite a long time, should you go by taxi.
#16
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few blocks north, PalenQ. And I want to remar that Damstraat is a clear demarcation line. North from that is RLD, south is quite genteel and artistic bohemian. It's as if it they are two versions of Amsterdam. Amsterdam university has a huge presence on the southern end of OZ Achterburgwal, and the hotel used to be City Hall.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really wish somebody FROM A-dam would appear on this thread>
Though I do not think menachem, hetismij2 or tonfromleiden are actually from Amsterdam - menachem I believe grew up there and goes there regularly if not daily and the other two often as well and know of what they are talking IME. What more do you want - hetismij says taxis must accept everyone in line.
Though I do not think menachem, hetismij2 or tonfromleiden are actually from Amsterdam - menachem I believe grew up there and goes there regularly if not daily and the other two often as well and know of what they are talking IME. What more do you want - hetismij says taxis must accept everyone in line.
#19
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The regulations are clear: »Taxi drivers must always accept short trips« (see: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visitin...g-around/taxis).