What about taxis?
 

How does payment for taxis work? Negotiate a fare at the outset or at the end like the States. How easy is it to get from the airport to hotels?

My experience is that British, German and Swiss cab drivers are scrupulously honest. Just get in the cab and don't worry. The one's in Paris seem to take you the long way, but unless you're really familiar with the geography, you won't know the difference. <BR>There are a lot of sharp elbowed cab drivers in large cities in Italy. More than once I have been offered a ride from train stations for 4 or more times the legitimate fare. <BR>Obviously, if you are going to negotiate, do it before you get in. It's too late at the end of the ride.

Remember also that in Paris taxi drivers add on charges for luggage. I don't know the rules but it is liable to add a few franc's to your fare.

Airport taxis in many european cities will often (but not always) overcharge visitors ,though probably not as badly as in New York! <BR>Having said that I've been treated OK at most of the airports I've taxi'd from, perhaps it depends on the airport. <BR>If you've heard bad stories, the best bet is to get a local taxi number and phone when you land, or get the first bus to anywhere & taxi from there. <BR>You'll have to be ready to take instructions as to the pick-up point as often they can't use the airport rank. <BR> <BR>I recall once not doing this, I was exhausted,my transport hadn't turned up <BR>and I was living less than 2 miles from the airport.The driver complained non-stop about having to wait for so long then getting a short trip - if I hadn't been so tired I would have got out of the cab halfway.I know someone who did after getting the same treatment! <BR>I'd never get a taxi from the rank at our local airport(Glasgow)but I've had no probs at Schiphol, Malaga, many in the US, so I'll keep using them. <BR>The worst I heard of was a friend who got in the back of a cab at Shanghai airport,his transport hadn't showed up.Just outside the airport the taxi stopped and 2 men got in, one on either side of him, and proceeded to try to wrestle his belongings from him.The driver totally ignored what was happening & just kept driving towards the destination, where which my friend got out with most his belongings intact.(Scots!) <BR>I'd think twice before getting a taxi from there! <BR>Outside airports they are fair, though asking for a quote for a long distance is quite normal - if I had to get taxi for more than a few miles I'd ask first. <BR>Most airports have good bus/train links <BR> some eg schiphol have a "hotel bus" which goes round the major hotels. <BR>I don't know why its so variable - does anyone know if it's linked to the airport or random?

Many cities have fixed fees for cab rides from the airport to downtown. Cruise the web, and see what you can come up with. It's always good to be armed with this information. <BR> <BR>I don't understand how Frank got overcharged in New York, as the fixed fee from all of the airports is listed in each cab.