Arriving in SJ - getting a cab

So there was this person standing outside to greet tourists. When we arrived at the San Juan airport (our first time) we were taken by this person from the airport door to the waiting taxis - a maximum of a few yards, he opened the taxi door, the driver put the luggage in the back, worth a $1 per bag then this person said quite loudly, tip tip tip. My DH gave him some dollars, I thought it was quite a rip off for escorting us a few yards from the door to the curb. Any thoughts please, were we really ripped off or is this a normal acceptable process and someone is just doing their job. Going again soon.

So there was this person standing outside to greet tourists. When we arrived at the San Juan airport (our first time) we were taken by this person from the airport door to the waiting taxis - a maximum of a few yards, he opened the taxi door, the driver put the luggage in the back, worth a $1 per bag then this person said quite loudly, tip tip tip. My DH gave him some dollars, I thought it was quite a rip off for escorting us a few yards from the door to the curb. Any thoughts please, were we really ripped off or is this a normal acceptable process and someone is just doing their job. Going again soon.

I think I would have replied, "NOPE NOPE NOPE" and hopped into the taxi.

I have flown in and out of San Juan numerous times and this has never happened to me. I suspect the person who directed you to a cab was a porter or someone other than the normal taxi person who bypassed the usual routine.

In other words, I think you were intercepted by someone who was hoping for a tip to take you directly to a cab.

Normally, you go to the taxi booth to get a ticket with the price written on the ticket, and then you are directed in turn to a waiting cab. If you bypassed this line, then the scenario you described is possible.

Normally, grabbing a cab to and from the airport is an easy and pain-free process and no tip is necessary for the person who directs you to the cab. The exception would be a porter who helped you with your bags to get to the cab.

I have flown in and out of San Juan numerous times and this has never happened to me. I suspect the person who directed you to a cab was a porter or someone other than the normal taxi person who bypassed the usual routine.

 

In other words, I think you were intercepted by someone who was hoping for a tip to take you directly to a cab.

 

Normally, you go to the taxi booth to get a ticket with the price written on the ticket, and then you are directed in turn to a waiting cab. If you bypassed this line, then the scenario you described is possible.

 

Normally, grabbing a cab to and from the airport is an easy and pain-free process and no tip is necessary for the person who directs you to the cab. The exception would be a porter who helped you with your bags to get to the cab.

No, no porter and I did not see a taxi booth, we are going again soon and would really like to know were this booth is. We flew into the new section of the airport via American Airlines.

We didnt experience this when we flew into SJU. We also didnt see a ticket booth but maybe we werent there during a peak time. We landed around 1130 walked right out and hopped in a cab

As many times as I've flown in and out, I can't remember exactly where the booth is or if you just go to the person in charge of the taxis. I can see how it would be easy to bypass the normal procedure if you weren't familiar with the process. There is someone in charge who writes up the ticket and directs you to the cabs, but there is nothing from stopping you to going to a cab on your own if you were unfamiliar with the normal process.

I strongly suspected that you were intercepted by someone who wanted a tip for taking you straight to a cab which is totally not necessary unless you allowed them to carry your bags. All I can say is to look for someone official or ask someone with a uniform where to go.

I'll be there in April and I will make a point to take some pictures of where to go and what to do.

Look for the signs as you are going through the airport, they will direct you to the taxi area. Or if you don't see that, just go outside after you collect your luggage (or leave one person inside with the bags, and the other go outside and scope it out :cool: ), and look where the taxis all are. At the front of the taxi line, you should see a very small podium type thing, with a person wearing a labeled golf-type shirt that says something like 'Puerto Rico Tourism' or 'Puerto Rico Taxi something or other'. There is usually a short line. When you are ready to get a taxi, get in the line with your luggage. When it is your turn, tell them the name of your hotel or destination. They may need to confirm the neighborhood (Condado, Old San Juan, Isla Verde). Be sure to know the full name of your hotel and street, because some hotels have similar names.

They will write the fare and give you a ticket/receipt to show the driver. There is a base fare, fuel surcharge, and $1 per luggage as extras. They will show you to the next available taxi, and in you go. It's pretty painless. But you do need to look for the signs, and if you don't need a porter or assitance just say no thank you. You DO need to go through the taxi line to get a legal taxi though.

Another suggestion to save a few dollars is to look for another couple with the ship's luggage tags and ask if they would like to share a ride.

Last month upon arriving in San Juan we had no problem finding the taxi booth...however, the line was LONG (and barely moving). We ended up catching a ride to the port with an unofficial not even close to a taxi when we were approached in the line by a local. Had we waited for a taxi, we would have been in that line for at least an hour - possibly longer! Now, that was probably at one of their busiest times - around 4pm on a Saturday, but figured it was worth mentioning to others. Upon seeing the line of people waiting for a taxi, I had wished I booked the cruiseline shuttle!

Last month upon arriving in San Juan we had no problem finding the taxi booth...however, the line was LONG (and barely moving). We ended up catching a ride to the port with an unofficial not even close to a taxi when we were approached in the line by a local. Had we waited for a taxi, we would have been in that line for at least an hour - possibly longer! Now, that was probably at one of their busiest times - around 4pm on a Saturday, but figured it was worth mentioning to others. Upon seeing the line of people waiting for a taxi, I had wished I booked the cruiseline shuttle!

I'm really surprised you encountered a line. I find getting in and out of the San Juan airport about the easiest I've ever dealt with. There is a steady stream of taxis coming and going and the line moves super fast. I've never had more than a handful of people in front of me.

I absolutely hate dealing with the cruiseline shuttles (if they even have one from San Juan). I've used them on occasion and it's never been a good experience. You have to haul any carry-on stuff into a crowded bus and then wait for it to fill up before you can leave. I had my camera and laptop and other valuables that I didn't want thrown into the luggage section under the bus, and I almost fell trying to haul the stuff up the stairs into the bus. My sister did fall and got a nasty bruise. One time, there was no one to load the luggage so everyone had to wait forever in the rain to load into the bus. In my opinion, it is so much easier and considerably cheaper to just hop into a cab and be on my way. In a cab, I know my luggage is safe and the drivers help to load it.

When we arrived last year there was no line in the taxi area, nor did we see a booth. Two different taxi drivers started fighting over us. One grabbed my luggage and began to walk towards his cab, as my husband was trying to get a price from the taxi that appeared to be first in line, We knew what to expect to be paying for a ride into OSJ and both drivers quoted us a higher fare. We agreed on a price with one and headed to the city, no further problems.

On our cruise, we met a couple who told us a similar story. They had agreed on a price but the driver doubled it when they got to the hotel. They refused to pay and the hoel management intervened on their behalf.

So it appears that the presence of someone who organizes the taxis at the airport is not constant. Perhaps the area is staffed during peak times or cruise change-over days. Be aware of the fares and be prepared to stand your ground. From the hotel to the port we arranged a taxi through the front desk, they told us the fare and called the taxi.

The line can be long but they both (the line for the ticket booth and the line for the actual taxi) have gone very, very quickly when I've flown there.

Looks can be deceiving. Not every long line mean a long wait.

The ticket booths are right outside the main exits from the baggage claim areas. Don't know how anyone could miss them. Someone there even when I last arrived around midnight and the airport was pretty much vacant.

I'm really surprised you encountered a line. I find getting in and out of the San Juan airport about the easiest I've ever dealt with. There is a steady stream of taxis coming and going and the line moves super fast. I've never had more than a handful of people in front of me.

 

I absolutely hate dealing with the cruiseline shuttles (if they even have one from San Juan). I've used them on occasion and it's never been a good experience. You have to haul any carry-on stuff into a crowded bus and then wait for it to fill up before you can leave. I had my camera and laptop and other valuables that I didn't want thrown into the luggage section under the bus, and I almost fell trying to haul the stuff up the stairs into the bus. My sister did fall and got a nasty bruise. One time, there was no one to load the luggage so everyone had to wait forever in the rain to load into the bus. In my opinion, it is so much easier and considerably cheaper to just hop into a cab and be on my way. In a cab, I know my luggage is safe and the drivers help to load it.

Normally I would totally agree with you about the cruiseline shuttle- which is why this round in San Juan we planned on just hopping into a taxi. Normally we have no problem or wait when doing this in other ports. When we verified that the line was for taxis, that's when the thought crossed my mind I should have booked the shuttle! We waiting in the line for about 10 minutes (which barely moved) before the unofficial local asked us if we needed a ride. I have no doubt we would have been in that line for at least an hour had we waited. The line was at least 50-75 people deep!

In a few months, we'll be arriving a day early and staying at a hotel, therefore we'll be forced into the taxi. I just hope the line isn't nearly as long as it was this time. Like I said, it was during turnaround Saturday at 4pm which no doubt has to do with the line. I just thought it was worth mentioning that there was a substantial line on my last visit.

The ticket booths are right outside the main exits from the baggage claim areas. Don't know how anyone could miss them. Someone there even when I last arrived around midnight and the airport was pretty much vacant.

Perhaps the booths were there.

Perhaps someone could miss them if they have two drivers grabbing thier luggage and shouting at each other, as they exited the terminal. That was a bit of a distraction.

No line anywhere, no one who looked as if they were "in charge" and issuing tickets.

Certainly hope our experience is different in a few weeks! :D

About how much would it be for a cab from the airport to to cruise terminal?

About how much would it be for a cab from the airport to to cruise terminal?

Here is a copy of the form you get for the taxi rides.

To pile on to the discussion. We arrived in PR on 2/22 and found a taxi cab area with a small podium right outside baggage claim. HOWEVER, there were porters looking to grab bags, and if you used them, they were allowing them to bypass the line and take you directly to the dispatcher. We were in a cab in under five minutes for an extra $10.

SJPR Taxi Rates.pdf

Thanks for the taxi price list.

So, do I understand the cost of a cab from the pier - Adventure of the Seas Pier - would be $19 plus $1 a bag for the two of us to the airport for a flight to New York JFK?

If that's the case it will be MUCH cheaper than a ships transfer!

Thanks for the taxi price list.

 

So, do I understand the cost of a cab from the pier - Adventure of the Seas Pier - would be $19 plus $1 a bag for the two of us to the airport for a flight to New York JFK?

 

If that's the case it will be MUCH cheaper than a ships transfer!

Don't forget the $2.00 fuel surcharge and a tip! Probably around $30-32 by the time you are done.

Does anybody know how much Royal Caribbean charge for a ship transfer from dock to airport?

Does anybody know how much Royal Caribbean charge for a ship transfer from dock to airport?

$18.00 each way

$18.00 each way

That's per person?

That's per person?

Yes, Round trip pp is 36.00

Here is a copy of the form you get for the taxi rides.

 

To pile on to the discussion. We arrived in PR on 2/22 and found a taxi cab area with a small podium right outside baggage claim. HOWEVER, there were porters looking to grab bags, and if you used them, they were allowing them to bypass the line and take you directly to the dispatcher. We were in a cab in under five minutes for an extra $10.

Okay, so I'm still not crystal clear on this! Sorry :o . So, is the total price on the ticket the total cost for the ride, regardless of whether it's one person or 5 (over 5 incurs additional cost)? So, if 2 people share then they split that total cost for their share; or split it among however many people are riding? Or does each person riding have to pay that same total on the ticket?

This may seem straightforward to most people, but I've seen it different in different ports. Just want to know before I get there! Thanks!

Here is a copy of the form you get for the taxi rides.

 

 

To pile on to the discussion. We arrived in PR on 2/22 and found a taxi cab area with a small podium right outside baggage claim. HOWEVER, there were porters looking to grab bags, and if you used them, they were allowing them to bypass the line and take you directly to the dispatcher. We were in a cab in under five minutes for an extra $10.

Thanks so much for posted this info---really helps to know what to expect :)

Okay, so I'm still not crystal clear on this! Sorry :o . So, is the total price on the ticket the total cost for the ride, regardless of whether it's one person or 5 (over 5 incurs additional cost)? So, if 2 people share then they split that total cost for their share; or split it among however many people are riding? Or does each person riding have to pay that same total on the ticket?

 

This may seem straightforward to most people, but I've seen it different in different ports. Just want to know before I get there! Thanks!

This was the total cost for the four of us with all of ouor bags. All that was added was a tip.