First trip to Israel. We arrive on an overseas flight into Tel Aviv/Yafo about 2:00 pm on a Tuesday. Assumed we would just take a taxi to our hotel in Tel Aviv. But I noticed the below advice, in another posting, to ignore taxi drivers in the arrival hall. Is this good advice? Reminds me of Rome where we were advised the same. Do the 'official' taxis have a recognizable "look" and is the 'fixed rate' the best?

"Pick up your luggage , do into the ariival hall and walk straight through to the exit (ignore any taxi divers there). Walk to the road and you will see the signs : Taxis to the left. If you take the taxi to T-A ask the dispatcher sitting at a booth what the fare is, including extras for luggage, etc. Take the fixed rate."

The advice is correct [I think I posted it ]. The taxis are very well regulated at the airport and you are unlikely to be accosted in the arrivals hall. The 'official' taxis are simply regular taxis waiting in the line to the left of the exit. I recommend the fixed price because it is approximately what you would pay on the meter anyway and you don't have to worry about the driver taking a longer route than necessary or traffic jams. Ask the dispatcher what the TOTAL fare will be, including the luggage and the airport surcharge (which I think is 5 NIS).

Agree with mbgg. Under no circumstances should you go with one of the vultures in the arrival area. There is a line straight out the door of the arrival area to the left where the regulated taxis line up. The line moves pretty quickly since there are always a ton of taxis there. And the fixed rate is pretty much spot on.
Another nice little tip:
When you are returning to the airport, book a Taxi from Hadar. They are the official airport taxi company and they have significant discount rates on cars returning to the airport. The idea is that they are based at the airport, and would otherwise be returning empty, so they offer the best rates.

Does Hadar operate out of Jerusalem (to BG Airport) also ?

Thanks, ~MarnieWDC

Most people take the Nesher sherut (shared taxi) to and from Jerusalem.

I always use Hadar taxis going to the airport from Tel-Aviv. They are cheap and extremely reliable. You should order the taxi the day before - their phone number is (03)971-1103.

mbgg:

Thanks for your reply - but would you take the Nesher Sherut even at 3:30 or 4:00 AM to the airport from Jerusalem ? I do not mind paying a bit more for the security of a TAXI, if they are more reliable at that (unGodly) hour.

Thanks,
~M

The Nesher Sherut runs 24/7 and is very reliable. Everybody uses it(Israelis and tourists) so the minivans usually fill up quickly (a sherut leaves when it is full), even at that hour. The driver lets each passenger off at his destination and chooses the most efficient route through the city. You will have a nice tour of Jerusalem if you are the last one

The taxi stand is near the sherut stand (walk to the right) so you can change your mind and take a taxi if you see that a sherut is not about to leave.

Note that the sheruts will not go to certain parts of East Jerusalem and the Old City.

Thank you, mbgg, but I am actually going FROM Jerusalem TO the Airport at that early AM hour.

~Marnie

OOPS
You have to call Nesher Taxis and book the day before you leave. You have to budget time for the 'tour of Jerusalem' if you are the first to be picked up. Note that the busy time for departures at the airport is the morning so a lot of people go to the airport at that hour, i.e. that is also the peak time for Nesher.

Good Advice - Thank you very much.
~M

Thanks to those who responded. Very helpful advice, especially since we end our trip in Tel Aviv also. One week to go before we depart for our trip. The excitement is mounting!!!