AnthonyGA

Taxis are expensive in Paris because they have extremely strong unions and are relatively low in number compared to the population. The flip side, though, is that there's almost never any reason to take a taxi in Paris. They are useful only for going to and from the airport, or getting across town in the middle of the night when public transportation isn't running, or when you have to move something bulky, like a computer or microwave or something.

Under all other conditions, you can take the Métro, or a bus, or just walk. Paris is not a large city in terms of distance, if you limit yourself to the actual city limits and not the metropolitan area.

Paris overall is indeed expensive, but you get what you pay for.

PalenQ

Bysshe - is Paris the first European city you have been to and taken taxis im? Seems so by your post.

And the bit about no workaholics in France is a stereotype that in my many years of living in France is simply not any more true than in any other country. May I ask you what you base that comment on - have you extensive dealings in France and with the French - obviously not or you would not have asked such a question - a question that shows you are clueless about France and the French IMO.

kerouac

I would like more information about the taxi unions, Anthony. Since France is the least unionized country of the developed world (8% union membership), I would like to know more about the power of the taxi unions since you seem to be an expert.

Gretchen

Troll troll troll your boat, gently down the stream. Mission accomplished.
Personally I still maintain that Paris is or can be a budget destination. I can eat better and cheaper in Paris than I can in my hometown.

PalenQ

kerouac - you being half American I believe obviously know that most Americans are like Anthony - clueless but sill saying things they know nothing about.

travelgourmet

<i>Since France is the least unionized country of the developed world (8% union membership), I would like to know more about the power of the taxi unions since you seem to be an expert.</i>

Cartel would probably be a better term. Most cities with regulated taxi systems limit taxi medallions. This limitation certainly does reflect in higher pricing for official taxis. Anyone that has taken a minicab in London or witnessed a Boston/Cambridge taxi stare-down can confirm this to be the case.

<i>Personally I still maintain that Paris is or can be a budget destination. I can eat better and cheaper in Paris than I can in my hometown.</i>

Then you live in an expensive city, or one with no dining options. Paris is, objectively, expensive. Again, not unaffordable, but expensive.

denisea

Thanks for the sweeping generalization about Americans, PalenQ.
I rarely agree with Anthony and am one of those clueless Americans.

Never though that a French taxi was unreasonable in price but am happy to take the Metro (or walk) while there. Very fairly priced, convenient and easy to use.

nytraveler

The OP is not american. No American would say "whilst" - in our dictionary this is considered an arcaic form of while.

And taxis in Paris aren't expensive when compared to other major first world cities. Of course taxis are much cheaper in other parts of the world - but so is everyting else.

As for drivers not wanting to work at night - who does. In NYC there are surcharges for all night fares - just to try to keep enough taxis/drivers on the street. I'm sure the same wuould work in Paris.

kenav

I don't find NYC taxis expensieve vs. ones I've taken in European Western cities.

However, since NY has an immense subway system, that's what most people take. 3 million people a day, as a matter of fact.

nytraveler

Taxis are generally cheaper in NYC for two reasons:

1) our gas costs less than half what it does in europe
2) our drivers are almost all immigrants who are willing to work for fairly low wages - this is why a 20% tip is expected

(I am in cabs all the time - at least 8 or 9 times a week - and I can;t tell you the last time I had a driver who was not an immigrant)

jaja

Americans do say "whilst" when they are trying to be thought clever or something. Probably not in ordinary conversation.

kerouac

nytraveler, a very large percentage of Paris taxi drivers are immigrants as well, but we sure as hell would never tip them more than about 0.50€.

AnthonyGA

It's not a labor union, it's more like a cartel, as travelgourmet says. The number of taxis in Paris is severely limited, and you cannot just go out and buy a car and go to work as a taxi driver. There's a shortage of taxis in the city most of the time, and they never seem to be around when you might need them most. However, one almost never needs a taxi in Paris, so it's not too much of a problem.

The strength of this cartel, or whatever you wish to call it, is the main reason why mass transportation does not take you directly to the airports. The taxi drivers lobbied long and hard to prevent that, since airport transportation is a large part of their revenue stream. They need not have bothered, though, since trips to and from the airport with luggage are some of the few occasions on which taking a taxi makes good sense.

I don't actually recall Paris taxis being more expensive than taxis elsewhere, but I've rarely used taxis. They are indisputably several times more expensive than public transportation even in the best of cases, though.

PalenQ

The strength of this cartel, or whatever you wish to call it, is the main reason why mass transportation does not take you directly to the airports. The taxi drivers lobbied long and hard to prevent that, since airport transportation is a large part of their revenue stream. They need not have bothered, though, since trips to and from the airport with luggage are some of the few occasions on which taking a taxi makes good sense>

Are you talking about Parisian airports - if so you could not be more DEAD wrong - RER trains go right to CDG Airport terminal 2 and then there is a people-mover linking that terminal to other terminals. Orly also has direct RER/Orly VAL mass transit right to the departure lounges. Have you started smoking the evil weed - seems like it since you simply do not know of what you speak - misinformation - mass transit takes you directly to the airports in Paris.

AnthonyGA

As you have just pointed out, the mass transportation does not go directly to the airports. Things like OrlyVAL and shuttles at CDG are largely consequences of lobbying by taxi drivers and their professional organizations and employers.

LSky

The driver has to live in an expensive city. I don't know why people are so bent on taking taxis in big cities. If you like taxis, pay them and be happy.

Public transportation seems faster.

Gretchen

SO build into your travel plans to take taxis to and from the airport, and use the d...d metro/bus system the rest of the time, like real travellers.

Byshhe

Some of these replies are really quite ridiculous...use the metro/bus like real travellers??.....well some real travellers like to go out to dinner most nights and are sure as h*ll are not going to get dressed up and use buses ...and some real travellers like to stay up late like grown-ups...way after the last bus/train....and I know that this may be a bit of a surprise to these real travellers of which you speak but sometimes we go to places that are not on the train/bus routes....shock horror !

daveesl

Wow, I've read some of Byshhe's other posts and this poster does seem to have an attitude problem. Yep, I know I've now invited their ire by daring to say something. Byshhe, why not just stay where you are, that way you don't have to complain about the costs of something, the lack of sunshine or the mean spiritedness of ticket agents in Nice. You can sit at home and yell at the television.

Smile, we all have our bad days. Well, maybe some more than others.

dave

ParisAmsterdam

Are Paris taxis really that pricey? Here's a link to a site that lists a hypothetical 3 km taxi ride in major cities around the world... Paris is indeed far from the cheapest but there are many cities that are more expensive:

http://www.priceoftravel.com/555/wor...-72-big-cities

In the past 5 years I've taken maybe a dozen cab rides in Paris... never a problem, a Mercedes more often than not (where I live you're more likely to get a beat up old Crown Victoria) and on 3 of the rides we ended up having interesting and informative talks with the drivers.

I'll take a Parisian cab anytime.