Delhi: going to the airport

piri piri · May 14th, 2006, 17:11

Upon leaving Delhi, I arranged a taxi with the receptionist at the Hotel Relax in Paharganj, paid 250 rupees; and set off for the airport. As we were approaching the airport, the driver said he couldn't drive as far as the entrance. So, the taxi driver found himself a parking space, told me to alight in the parking lot; and there was me dragging my luggage, along the main road, in the dark, with cars roaring past, towards the terminal entrance... with the taxi driver following close behind demanding more rupees.

Does everyone have to go through this when they leave Delhi?

rab · May 14th, 2006, 17:20

Yes plus departure tax!!!!

passingby · May 14th, 2006, 18:32

Quote:

Does everyone have to go through this when they leave Delhi?

not really. that was an unusual case. but it does happen. I heard a story from a canadanian girl I met in India, who upon arrival in delhi, she took a taxi to the bus station to go to dharamsala. the taxi driver drove her in the middle of nowhere and then asked a lot more money for him to bring her to destination. She was very firm to him and talk to him like a little kid, 'You don't want to do that' and finally he brought her to the bus station for an extra small ammount.

I think in Bubanswevar we had a problem with rickshaw drivers and in Vizag too. We would settle for an ammount upon we got on it and then half-way through the destination, they will ask more money. we had to argue with them or get out of the car.

piri piri · May 14th, 2006, 19:19

Thanks for your replies. Some travellers have reported they were driven up to the entrance gate. Apparently not everyone is left in the parking lot, then.

Departure tax? Yes, it is also required in other countries.

passingby · May 14th, 2006, 20:38

we didn't pay any departure tax a month and ahalf ago. we flew out of Delhi. they said there is no more departure tax.

Casey · May 14th, 2006, 21:48

Were were driven right up to the mob waiting to get into the airport at the front gate. The taxi we used was booked from our guesthouse and they always used the same service. The driver has you sign a paper that the then he gets paid from the guesthouse after delivery. Sorry to hear about your difficulty at the end.

sego · May 15th, 2006, 00:58

Hi Piri,
Just curious about the ride from Hotel Relax, was Sharma the name of the Taxi driver? We had a lot of problem with Mr. Sharma, he was the driver employed with the hotel, he is a mega crook.

shrirahul · May 15th, 2006, 01:07

there is no departure tax as such, everything is included in the drop charges.

piri piri · May 15th, 2006, 01:33

[color="Green"]Hi Sego, I can't remember the driver's name, it happened last year. What I remember is that I had paid 250 rupees to the hotel, I asked them 'Will I have to pay anything else'? They said 'No, Madam', so I thought that was that. On the way to the airport, the driver kept referring to how he would often drive rich customers from the posh hotels, the tips he used to receive, and so on. As I explained, he left me in the parking lot and then followed me into the terminal, still demanding more money whilst my bags were being security-wrapped. I gave my last rupees to pay for the cling film, so I told him I had no more rupees, and he then asked for Euros. He left angrily as an officer approached to dispel the argument.

I didn't bother tell the hotel as I shan't go back to the Relax anyway because I paid for an AC room and whenever I'd return to my room, I had to go back all the way downstairs as they had turned the electricity off from the main switch-board, so that I'd go back into a hot room with no electricity whatsoever. Next time I'll stay at my first hotel, not so posh, but at least they allowed me to keep the air cooler on whilst I was out in the bazaar.

I decided to post the question so that I know what to expect when I'm back in Delhi this year. I'll buy a set of wheels for my backpack, just in case they leave me in the parking lot again!

[/COLOR]

shrirahul · May 16th, 2006, 00:40

I would always suggest that if you faced any problem you should always raise voice against it so that it doesn't gets repeated. That driver should be taught a lesson so that either he stops driving or stops asking for money.

Jorge Reverter · May 16th, 2006, 05:39

Best thing you can do is to email the hotel explaining what happent. I've got taxis from hotel relax and never got any problem with the driver, may be because a woman solo traveling.....

JMurray · May 16th, 2006, 08:46

When I left India last November, I got a rickshaw from Paharganj to the airport entrance for 150rp (which is another story). I don't remember paying any departure tax. Where and to whom is it supposed to be paid?

piri piri · May 16th, 2006, 14:43

The object for my starting this thread was to find out whether people are driven to the door, which they clearly are, which means I won't have to go through the same palava again.

[quote=(...) may be because a woman solo traveling.....[/QUOTE]

Being a woman proved to be a great asset in India, I must confess I had some prejudice after what I had read in the forums. That was amply disproved as I found men to be were extremely kind in a wide range of situations; friendly, polite, welcoming, helpful, wonderful, conversational, insightful, engaging, charming, candid... anyway that would be another thread! That driver might have behaved in the same way with a man.

Thanks for your replies.

Casey · May 16th, 2006, 17:15

I met an Indian man from the US who was back in India visiting his parents who was taken to a parking lot outside the airport and asked for an outrageous sum of money. His baggage was in the trunk so he did some negotiating and got the price down a bit. This was after agreeing on a price. I did have a problem in Mumbai, the old I am just taking my brother with me, despite my protests, and then demanding 900r. As I had been to Mumbai just 6 weeks previous, I argued with them and then began to get out. They turned around and dropped me back at the airport, even after I told them I would pay them 400r, way too much but I was tired. Rather than make twice the actual fare, they would rather get nothing and take their chances on the next tourist who may pay 4 times the amount. Again, I luckily had no trouble in Delhi, but this time wasn't travelling solo and pre-arranged with the reputable hotel. We did get taken for a ride by a rickshaw driver, but again, another thread!

May 14th, 2006, 17:11	#1
piri piri Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 31	Delhi: going to the airport Upon leaving Delhi, I arranged a taxi with the receptionist at the Hotel Relax in Paharganj, paid 250 rupees; and set off for the airport. As we were approaching the airport, the driver said he couldn't drive as far as the entrance. So, the taxi driver found himself a parking space, told me to alight in the parking lot; and there was me dragging my luggage, along the main road, in the dark, with cars roaring past, towards the terminal entrance... with the taxi driver following close behind demanding more rupees. Does everyone have to go through this when they leave Delhi?

May 15th, 2006, 01:07	#8
shrirahul Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 20	there is no departure tax as such, everything is included in the drop charges. __________________ Thanks & Regards Rahul Sharma

May 16th, 2006, 00:40	#10
shrirahul Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 20	I would always suggest that if you faced any problem you should always raise voice against it so that it doesn't gets repeated. That driver should be taught a lesson so that either he stops driving or stops asking for money. Last edited by shrirahul : May 16th, 2006 at 00:41. Reason: No signature came

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May 14th, 2006, 17:20	#2
rab Honorary Mod Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: McLaren Vale, South Australia Posts: 1,217	Yes plus departure tax!!!!

May 14th, 2006, 19:19	#4
piri piri Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 31	Thanks for your replies. Some travellers have reported they were driven up to the entrance gate. Apparently not everyone is left in the parking lot, then. Departure tax? Yes, it is also required in other countries.

May 14th, 2006, 20:38	#5
passingby Account Closed Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 436	we didn't pay any departure tax a month and ahalf ago. we flew out of Delhi. they said there is no more departure tax.

May 14th, 2006, 21:48	#6
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	Were were driven right up to the mob waiting to get into the airport at the front gate. The taxi we used was booked from our guesthouse and they always used the same service. The driver has you sign a paper that the then he gets paid from the guesthouse after delivery. Sorry to hear about your difficulty at the end.

May 15th, 2006, 00:58	#7
sego Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 92	Hi Piri, Just curious about the ride from Hotel Relax, was Sharma the name of the Taxi driver? We had a lot of problem with Mr. Sharma, he was the driver employed with the hotel, he is a mega crook.

May 15th, 2006, 01:33	#9
piri piri Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 31	[color="Green"]Hi Sego, I can't remember the driver's name, it happened last year. What I remember is that I had paid 250 rupees to the hotel, I asked them 'Will I have to pay anything else'? They said 'No, Madam', so I thought that was that. On the way to the airport, the driver kept referring to how he would often drive rich customers from the posh hotels, the tips he used to receive, and so on. As I explained, he left me in the parking lot and then followed me into the terminal, still demanding more money whilst my bags were being security-wrapped. I gave my last rupees to pay for the cling film, so I told him I had no more rupees, and he then asked for Euros. He left angrily as an officer approached to dispel the argument. I didn't bother tell the hotel as I shan't go back to the Relax anyway because I paid for an AC room and whenever I'd return to my room, I had to go back all the way downstairs as they had turned the electricity off from the main switch-board, so that I'd go back into a hot room with no electricity whatsoever. Next time I'll stay at my first hotel, not so posh, but at least they allowed me to keep the air cooler on whilst I was out in the bazaar. I decided to post the question so that I know what to expect when I'm back in Delhi this year. I'll buy a set of wheels for my backpack, just in case they leave me in the parking lot again! [/COLOR]

May 16th, 2006, 05:39	#11
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,251	Best thing you can do is to email the hotel explaining what happent. I've got taxis from hotel relax and never got any problem with the driver, may be because a woman solo traveling.....

May 16th, 2006, 08:46	#12
JMurray Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 55	When I left India last November, I got a rickshaw from Paharganj to the airport entrance for 150rp (which is another story). I don't remember paying any departure tax. Where and to whom is it supposed to be paid?

May 16th, 2006, 14:43	#13
piri piri Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 31	The object for my starting this thread was to find out whether people are driven to the door, which they clearly are, which means I won't have to go through the same palava again. [quote=(...) may be because a woman solo traveling.....[/QUOTE] Being a woman proved to be a great asset in India, I must confess I had some prejudice after what I had read in the forums. That was amply disproved as I found men to be were extremely kind in a wide range of situations; friendly, polite, welcoming, helpful, wonderful, conversational, insightful, engaging, charming, candid... anyway that would be another thread! That driver might have behaved in the same way with a man. Thanks for your replies.

May 16th, 2006, 17:15	#14
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	I met an Indian man from the US who was back in India visiting his parents who was taken to a parking lot outside the airport and asked for an outrageous sum of money. His baggage was in the trunk so he did some negotiating and got the price down a bit. This was after agreeing on a price. I did have a problem in Mumbai, the old I am just taking my brother with me, despite my protests, and then demanding 900r. As I had been to Mumbai just 6 weeks previous, I argued with them and then began to get out. They turned around and dropped me back at the airport, even after I told them I would pay them 400r, way too much but I was tired. Rather than make twice the actual fare, they would rather get nothing and take their chances on the next tourist who may pay 4 times the amount. Again, I luckily had no trouble in Delhi, but this time wasn't travelling solo and pre-arranged with the reputable hotel. We did get taken for a ride by a rickshaw driver, but again, another thread!

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