trains for vacation transportation

Having a taxi pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the airport means that you don't have to fuss about getting to your departure terminal on time — sit back, relax and let the experienced driver take care of everything else. If you've had positive experiences with this method of transportation in the past and are eager to use it again, you might also be keen on cutting down on the cost of the service, especially if you're traveling on a budget. The solution to saving money on your taxi trip isn't to avoid tipping the driver; instead, you can use these methods to decrease the amount that you have to pay.

Find A Travel Partner

When you're staying at a hotel near the airport, there's a good chance that many of the hotel's other guests will also be traveling to the airport around the same time as you. Descend to the lobby well in advance of your desired departure time and look for other solo travelers. Politely ask them if they're planning to take a taxi to the airport and, if so, which departure terminal they are traveling to. If the answers line up, consider asking if the person wishes to travel with you and split the taxi fare 50/50. At airport-area hotels, it's often easy to make this simple, cost-saving arrangement.

Travel Outside Of Rush Hour

Traffic around the airport can be busy at many times of the day, but the congestion is especially notable during morning and afternoon rush hour. Evaluate the time of your flight and how early you wish to get to the airport and then consider whether your taxi ride will be right in the middle of rush hour. Sitting in a traffic jam will elevate the fare and if the driver can't quickly detour out of traffic and find an alternative route, you'll be forced sit and watch the fare meter increase. A cost-saving alternative is to travel to the airport outside of rush hour. Even if this means you have to kill an extra hour at the airport, it can be worthwhile if doing so saves you money.

Ask About A Flat Rate

Many airport taxi services offer their customers flat rates to the airport as a way to give a favorable rate in the event that the traffic is congested. Do a little research online to determine the average rate between your hotel and airport; there are multiple sites that provide this information. Then, call the taxi company and ask about a flat rate. If it's less than the average fare, it's worthwhile to pursue.