In our last post, we covered the basics, like how to hail a
taxi cab and what to expect in terms of rates, but there are a few other things
that a tourist should know about before his or her first trip to New York City.
If you're planning on using a cab while you're in the Big Apple, make sure you
read over these important details.
Avoiding Taxi Cab Scams
First of all, it's important to recognize that there are
some taxi cab scams out there. It's unfortunate but true. If you see Lincoln
Town Cars, other sedans, or limousine drivers soliciting passengers, stay away
- especially if you're at the airport terminal. It's illegal for livery cars,
town cars and limousines to solicit passengers in these places, plus, should
you take one of these cars, you'll often end up paying far more than the fair
rate. Scammers usually try to rope you into paying for usage of the trunk or
for luggage. Official NYC taxi cabs DO NOT charge for luggage or usage of the
trunk.
ONLY take Official NYC yellow taxis or pre-arranged car
services, like those available through NYCTrip.com. We can easily add on NYC transportation to
your trip or tour. Just ask us and we'll be happy to work with you on making
sure that you can get around on your New York City trip.
JFK or LGA Airport Transportation
Need transportation from the airport? Taxi cabs can be an
expensive choice. Official NYC taxis charge a standard flat rate of $45.00 for
any trip between JFK airport and any point in Manhattan in either direction.
This does not include tip or any applicable tolls, so plan accordingly. As of
right now, there's not a standard flat-rate between LGA and Manhattan, so be
prepared to pay what is on the meter, plus tip and tolls.
New York City Tolls
Speaking of tolls, NYC taxi cab passengers can expect to
have to pay tolls for most NYC crossings. Don't worry though - it's a
discounted rate. The only free crossings in NYC are:
- Queensborough-59th
Street Bridge
- Williamsburg
Bridge
- Manhattan
Bridge
- Brooklyn
Bridge
Your driver will use EZ-Pass to pay tolls and you'll be
charged in with the rest of your fare.
Tipping Your Taxi Cab Driver
Finally, tips. Tipping your taxi cab driver is an important
courtesy and in many cases, tourists aren't sure what the appropriate amount
would be. We suggest tipping 20% as a base rate. However, if you use a credit
card to pay, you may see suggested tip amounts appear on the screen where you
swipe your card. You can also choose to enter your own tip amount; it's up to
you. Be aware that some cabs only take cash and if you do use a credit card,
keep a pen handy to sign if needed.
Have questions about using taxi cabs on your NYC trip? Leave a
comment!