airport - prepaid taxis

Hey there

I was reading in a 2001 guidebook that the pre paid taxi booth at Kolkata airport closes at 2100. Has anyone been there recently who can confirm this? With my arrival into Kolkata next week at 0030 I'm a little anxious to know if I'll be able to use this service, or if I should pay way too much for an organised pick up.

Thanks

I can't confirm I'm afraid, but my 2004 guide book says it closes at 2200.

If you are comming by intrenational flight then don't worry about closeing time. Pre paid Taxi booth is open untill the last flight.

Thanks Indiaguide, it will be an international flight I'll arrive from. That's nice to know.

Are you enjoying Sikkim Lazygirl?

My friend and I will be visiting Kolkata in mid-May. Is there any pre-paid taxi booth at the domestic airport? Thanks.

Hi josephinec01,
Welcome to Indiamike and Kolkata.

Yes there is. But if you are going to touch down at midnight, it may not be open. So a hotel pickup will be handy.

Wish you a very happy traveling.

- Somnath

Thanks for the info. We'll be arriving around noon at the domestic airport. The guest house wants $21 for the airport pick-up and the car only seats 4. There are 5 of us in the group. We'll need 2 cars to house all of us.

The guest house is 28km south of the airport. How much will the pre-paid taxi cost? Thanks

$21 = Rs 1000/- (apprx) for airport pick-up for 4 people in day time is too much according to me. Please give the location/area of the GH then only will be able to give the apprx pre-paid taxi fare. If you want to avoid the taxi hassel & like to avail pick-up facility by the GH then ask them to send big vehilcle ( SUMO / QUALLIS / SCORPIO ) . But then also $21 is too much.

Yeah, $21 is just too much.
josephinec01, it is tough to guess the cost (only 28 KM is not enough). As Dutta da said, if you can provide the name / location of the GH it will be easier. But in any case I’ll not recommend you to go for a big car from that GH. Their price is really very high. I think the pre-paid taxi cost for around 30 KM should be between Rs.250 to Rs.300.

- Somnath

Hi

I had been to Kolkata...6 moths bck..there are pre-paid taxi at the domestic airport..and as far as the taxi is considered..they can accomidate 5 people (ambasidor cars)...and as our buddy told that for 25-35 km the cost might be around 250-350 Rs...there should not be any prob for it.

rudy

I had travelled to Kolkata recently... I landed around 10:30 PM.... went to the pre-paid booth got a coupon alright but the driver wasn't happy since I was travelling a short distance to Salt lake... it seems his last two fares had been to Salt Lake....he spoke his mind to the clerk at the booth... through out the journey he was lamenting & cribbing... I thought he would ask for baksheesh but didn't & I asked him to keep the change.

hi!

arriving on an international flight around 2 in the morning, will it be easy to get a prepaid taxi - without waiting too long?

and how much is the taxi fare to sudder street?

thanks for the information!

Kolkata is not a very busy airport, so you should not have a problem to get a prepaid taxi. I hope you do have a reservation at the hotel though, since an early morning arrival at Sudder St is probably not a good idea. Did you ask for an Airport pick-up at your hotel? That would be preferable to a prepaid taxi. Cost around 2-300 Rupees. (no exact amount remembered, I think I paid once RS 170 prepaid. Hotel pick-up a bit higher: But worth it at any price.)

thanks for your inputs, but the hotel i want to stay asks around 2.000 rupies - quite a difference.

wow, some kind of price that, are you going to stay at the Oberoi Grand?