Hyderabad airport: prepaid (not radio) taxis?

Because the Hyderabad airport is so new, I can't find much info on ground transport.

a) We don't want to take the bus, but we'd like to take a regular taxi rather than a fancy AC 'radio' taxi (these are the only options listed on the airport's web page, and the taxis apparently cost Rs 15/km). Are there regular prepaid taxis at the airport like at other airports in India, and should I look for the 'Traffic Police' prepaid booth as elsewhere in India?

b) It looks like the route into town from the airport may pass fairly close to Golconda. Is this correct or is it difficult to combine these two things in practice?

Is it reasonable to try to negotiate a side trip to Golconda and the tombs combined with a trip from the airport into town, or do the taxis charge unusually high waiting fees or maybe just don't like to wait for people visiting tourist spots? (We have luggage so we'd need the taxi to wait for us.)

Many thanks!

I haven't noticed a prepaid taxi booth there. There are a few independents hanging around looking for fares, but they quoted me double the meter rate - go figure.

If you take an A/C radiocab it will be about Rs 450 to the centre of town. I prefer Mehru over the other company. But I take the bus when I can. It's new and very comfortable and only costs Rs 95.

You need a good couple of hours to explore Golconda, maybe more, and it's quite a ways to the west off the main road into town. I'd recommend an autorickshaw to tour around later.

There are no prepaid booths in the new hyderabad airport(as of three months ago.... when I left hyderabad).

you have to take the bus(its a good option if you dont have to wait for long) or the easycab/merucab.

Golkonda is not on the way, it will be a detour through some pretty crowded narrow streets. I Dont know if the taxi will aloow for such a long wait/detour.

I dont think its practical to combine the Golkonda visit with the airport transfer. As Hal says Golkonda deserves its own tour. you will need a lot of time to climb up the stair right to the top. Its better to book an autorickshaw at a set price for the golkonda outing for 3-4 hours and include qutub shahi tombs too. The qutub shahi tombs are often ignored but i find them a very nice, restful and atmospheric place.

Very nice post Nayan. I also appreciate the tombs especially for a picnic..

There are these new YellowCab services which seem to be offering 12/KM.

Thanks to everyone for the information! We'll use the bus and then take an auto to the hotel.

What would be a typical set price?

Is it feasible, as an alternative, to hire three separate autorickshaws for the three point-to-point trips?

typical set price depends on where your hotel is. For seeing golkonda(including the light and sound - its very good, definitely worth seeing) and qutub shahi you will need a 3-4 hours at least. you can start from your hotel at 3pm..... reach qutub shahi .... stroll for 30-45 mins... come to golkonda climb up(looking at all the structures along the way)... watch sunset from the top courtyard(I think it was called baradari). then watch the light and sound and leave.

Depending on where your hotel is(ex- masab tank is close.... begampet, nampally or secundrabad is far) and your negotiating skills , the price for a half day auto booking will be around Rs 300.

Three separate auto rickshaws is perfectly feasible... but it will be a hassle everytime you try to catch one. The city autos will be reluctant to come towards Golkonda and the autos waiting outside golkonda are as devious as in any tourist place.

Makes complete sense. Thanks again!

Gopal
thanks for the info. I will check this out on my return .

12 rupees per kilometer, minimum 25 or 30 rupees for 2 kilometers.

Almost certainly cheaper and less hassle than autos, with whom my interaction has been getting increasingly violent recently.

However, I haven't tried them, so dunno if they will arrive promptly when called for short distances. Autos are everywhere.

Telephone number (Yellow taxi) 44004400


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/3561248.cms

They aren't much use as "on-demand" cabs. I phoned them to take me across town and they told me that I had to book at least 4 hours in advance since they were all assigned to airport trips.

Thats the problem. Till you have cruising metered taxis aka Mumbai...

After-return report:

There ARE prepaid taxis at the airport now (as of late Dec 2008). The cars are labeled 'prepaid taxi' on the back window (and possibly elsewhere) and you have to take the free shuttle bus a couple of km to the transportation center, i.e. they are not available from the terminals. But there was a little booth on the sidewalk outside the domestic terminal which said 'prepaid taxi'.

Incidentally, we pre-reserved a Meru cab for a ride within town to the Kacheguda station. It was an amazing experience. Phone operators spoke English fluently, idiomatically and without those incomprehensible southern accents we encountered with Chennai taxi bookings (I spoke to two Meru people, one to ask questions and one to book the cab). They detected my mobile number and (with my permission) sent an SMS to confirm the reservation, and another later giving the mobile number and name of the driver and the license number of the cab. The cab arrived precisely on time (no small feat in the Nampally area...the traffic is awful) and had a fancy modern meter that printed out a receipt. The driver was courteous and helpful, asking permission before taking a longer less-trafficked route to the station. The cost was significantly less than what the rapacious autorickshaw drivers were asking.

So this is the new cyberIndia I've been hearing about. We still can't feed and clothe our poor but the taxi meters have LCD screens. That's something, I suppose.

Dear hal2004:

Are the reasonably decent budget hotels in Hyderabad? Or are the prices higher due to it high tech business city? I remember arriving some years ago to Bangalore and being shocked by the hotel rates (I hopped on the train to Mysore to escape). I would appreciate your help.

Thank you.Tina

I've found Yatri Nivas to be good - about Rs 1200 a night - not sure if that's your idea of budget? I know there are others to be had for less.

I've stayed in some of the cheaper "Western Hotels" for about Rs 3000-4000 and they are not worth it.