Beware of the taxis!

This is one of those blogs that I already don't like and I am only writing the first sentence! But please keep reading on, it is quite important.

This last weekend two different sets of clients arrived to our house from the airport with a taxi. In both cases the driver tried to ask for nearly twice the amount that is normal rate. Please be aware that the fare you should pay is 30-35 euros (depending on amount of luggage and time of day).

Here is some information you should be aware of:
The distance between the airport and Casa do Valle is 28 kms. The straightest road for this trip is using the road IC19. During the day, it takes about 3o minutes to drive that - in the peak hours up to 1 hour. There are no tolls to pay on IC19. The driver has the tariff '1' on until the end of 2nd circular road where he switches on tariff '3' = about 7 kms from the airport.

So what can go wrong:
The driver switches on tariff '3' too early or chooses another road, with tolls, instead of IC19.
Or he plain cheats and has his meter worked on. In any case, do not pay more than 35 euros!!!!

What to do if they say to you at our gate 'That will be 55 euros, please'?
1) Do not pay. Ring our door bell and ask me to check the price.
2) Ask for an invoice (= factura). Ask them to write the route, 'Airport - Casa do Valle - via IC19'.
3) Take note of the make and license plate of the car.
4) Take note of the name of the driver (on the dashboard) and the number of the taxi license (on the window).

And before you even take off, still at the airport, say where you want to go and by which road (IC19), show the driver the address and map from our site - and do say that you are aware that the price is about 30-35 euros. DO NOT AGREE ON A SET PRICE LIKE 50 EUROS PRIOR TO LEAVING THE AIRPORT!!!!

As I said, I hate having to write about this. For the longest time this has not been a problem, until recently again. On our site there is a tab 'How to Arrive' with a simplified map of the route and a map within Sintra. Please print these and show them to your driver. Keep our phone number available as well (also on the site). There are only a few drivers that cannot be trusted, but, as often happens, they ruin it for everyone. Taxis are more inexpensive in Portugal than in many other countries and the drivers try to use the ignorance of the tourists to cash on.

In Sintra we only use trusted and known drivers, so you do not have to worry about these situations on the way to the airport.

Also, do not forget that if previously agreed, we can come and pick you up from the airport for 35 euros.

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