TAXI Resources-Escazu area & some Taxi Etiquette

TAXI Resources in Escazu area & some Taxi Etiquette/Safety Hints

TAXI’S
Here’s a list of some of my key Taxi Drivers in the Escazu area – many of which speak some or a fair amount of English & to me have been trustworthy. Do you have some you’d like to share (you want to see them succeed – yes???)??

JOAQUIN – 828-5398 – Taxi #46 – Sun.-Fri. as early as you need him (by advance arrangement – otherwise 7am) till around 7pm (NOT on Sat.) – A WONDERFUL, DEAR, fairly good (especially in person) English-speaking, service-oriented, caring, Red Taxi that often hangs in Escazu-Centro area. He drives a 4×4 in case you need to go up steep hills, explore dirt roads (he just drove a tour for some clients up/down dirt/gravel roads in the Orosi Valley). Joaquin is also available for touring around (though since he’s a taxi driver for the West end of the Valley – he doesn’t necessarily know the ins/outs like of other areas like a legal Tourism/Guide/Driver (see below). Joaquin can also help you with Airport Transfers.

Jose 823-7312 – 3pm-3am Tues.-Sun. NO Mon. He speaks REALLY GOOD English

Jason Valverde 359-7263 / JeyVcr27@yahoo.com – Hangs out mainly in Multi-Plaza-Escazu (I use him for when I’m in that ara or when I’m wanting to go further [I don’t bother him with nearby jaunts]) & speaks GREAT English. Mon.-Sat. 6am-4pm.

Mario – 849-8526 – Taxi #3 – Usually 7 days a week from around 6am till 9-10pm or later (especially if pre-arranged) – GOOD person (but doesn’t speak much English [though he understands a fair amount]). Hangs out in Escazu Centro.

Henry – 307-2692 – large van – a little English. Van worn but you don’t pay tourism van rates. Hangs out mainly in Centro Escazu

Juan Carlos 827-9036 / JCGarcia-tour@yahoo.com – 6am-8-10pm – Usually 7 days a week – He speaks some English & is NICE. He’s with 5-Star at InterContental Hotel near MultiPlaza.

Jose 863-1547 – 6am-4pm – Usually 7 days a week – He speaks a tiny bit of English & is a NICE person. He’s with 5-Star at InterContental Hotel

Manuel Suarz 855-4127 – 4pm-6am – 7 days a week – He speaks GOOD English! He’s with 5-Star at InterContental Hotel near MultiPlaza & plus drives Tourism Vans for Frank Chicas’ Enjoying Costa Rica Tours (391-2030). VAN

Edwin 358-9916 – 3pm-3am. I believe he speaks English (I have him on my main call list in my cell so he must) (is he the pirate leader?)

Marco Jimenez 385-6002 – midnight-noon (varies) – Daily – Hangs out mainly in San Jose (he also speaks a little French)

Alvaro 310-3131 – 3pm-4am – Daily – Hangs out mainly in Tibas

Elias 849-9272 – 7am-9pm-ish – Daily – Hangs out mainly in Downtown San Jose asociacionlosangeles@yahoo.com.mx

Mickey 398-9340 – 4pm-6am – Usually 7 days a week – He speaks some English & is a NICE person. Based in San Jose. He also has a little red truck for hauling things (like some beds, fridge, a bunch of haliconias, etc. for me).

Manuel Acuna 388-1475 – 5am-8pm – Mon.-Fri. – Hangs out mainly in San Jose – Good English (manacuro@hotmail.com) RED/LEGAL

Erick Campos 377-4704 – 7am-8pm Mon.-Sat. – Allajuela RED/LEGAL

Berny Gomez – 847-3747 – 3am-2pm –

SPECIALTY VEHICLES
4×4 TAXI
JOAQUIN – 828-5398 – Taxi #46 (see above “Juaquin”)

SMALL TRUCK FOR HAULING
Mickey 398-9340 – 9am-3pm-ish – Usually 7 days a week – He speaks some English & is a NICE person. I’ve used him for hauling things (like some beds, fridge, a bunch of haliconias, etc. for me) at decent prices. He also drives a RED/LEGAL taxi in San Jose from 4pm-6am.

HANDICAP VAN or a bit of a bigger van (with a pop top in the back) to transport something/someone that also VERY service-oriented, compassionate & caring?
Rolando – Taxi #10 – 849-1450 RED/LEGAL

Are you seeking a WONDERFUL LEGAL TOURISM GUIDE/DRIVER/VANS/TOUR OPERATOR/AIRPORT TRANSFER company? Hands down (& I’m a MEGA hyper-picking, a travel writer & former Tour Operator myself with over 13 years in the tourism industry so I KNOW what to look for in a Tour Operator!!) – Frank Chicas with Enjoying Costa Rica Tours 506-871-2900 / FrankChicasTours@yahoo.com

TAXI DISPATCHING SERVICES:
If none of the above are available – the LEGAL Taxi Company in Centro-Escazu is “Taxi’s/Aso Escazu”. 289-0826 / 289-0026
Hours: 6am-10pm-ish. Roberto works most days & speaks English. HINT – the busiest days of the week according to many taxi’s I’ve spoken with are Saturday & Sunday (Sun. because not many drivers work). RED/LEGAL

Need a Taxi at ALL Hours?
Cinco Estrellas (5-Star Group) 228-3159 is at the InterContinental Hotel – 24/7. BIG HINT here – since most of their clients are tourists – some drivers can be less than honorable & unless you ask them to turn off the “Maria”/meter – they’ll give you a set “tourist” rate which of course is higher (this has happened to me a couple of times) so make sure to ask!!! BY LAW they are NOT supposed to do that so if theydo, call the group/office & report the taxi # & he could be suspended for up to 3 days. They can often get a van for last minute as well.

With that said – if you’re REALLY desperate for a taxi – any taxi 24/7 – ANCA Taxis (piratas) at 228-9354 / 288-2920 / 288-2918 / 228-6525 – They usually can find you someone (though if it’s REALLY OFF hours – you’ll most likely get charged for it as well as have to wait!!!).

Central.com 288-5781 http://www.escazu.or.cr

PIRATAS
MY most recent experience with legal red taxi’s vs. piratas these days has been the Piratas charging LOTS MORE often (though not always. Luckily this may not be YOUR truth!). This is ESPECIALLY true for short distances like from Mas x Menos to my house (700 meters) – the piratas have a minimum of like 700 or so colons where as the LEGAL taxi charged me under 400-c.

Central.com 288-5781 http://www.escazu.or.cr

TAXI (Frustration Saving) HINTS
#1 – MAKE SURE THE TAXI TURNS ON THEIR “MARIA”/METER WHEN YOU GET IN!! (I’ve had some “forget” to reset it from their last person that just got out).

Especially in the Centro Escazu area – MANY of the taxi drivers cell phones go in/out of service so if you get a busy or recording – give it a few minutes.

Another BIG HINT I’ve learned (after creating tension with a driver that didn’t speak a lot of English & I don’t speak lots of Spanish). Don’t need anything special – perhaps just wanting a taxi to take you from your home to the market or something close, consider calling the Taxi Office to have whomever is available at that moment. Otherwise, if you’re asking your regular driver to be there specifically at a certain time, chances are good he’s going to say “Yes” – even if he’s on another job & EVENTUALLY will come pick you up & often not call to tell you he’s not going to be on time. I’m learning, unless it’s important – to tell my driver to feel free to send another driver if it’s that important. Better yet – if you don’t have a rush/something important &/or are going close-by? I welcome you to just call Dispatch to send whomever is available!! WOW the peace it’s giving me now (vs. the HUGE frustration I had before including having a falling out with a favorite driver).

TAXI SAFETY HINT
As always there are some basic/logical steps that people can take to protect THEMSELVES hence don’t create/invite situations into their lives (some people blatantly bring things on in their lives & then LOVE to cry “victim!!”).

EVERY TIME – BEFORE I get into a strangers taxi at night – I get the taxi #. I then call my home number (I live solo – for those with a roommate, partner, hubby or just a friend that worries about you) & leave a message on the machine saying “Hey hunny, I’m on my way home. It’s 11:30 pm (CRUCIAL to say night or day – JUST in case) & I’m getting into taxi number ______ at ________ (wherever I’m at). I’ll see you as soon as I get there.”

This way they KNOW they can be identified & they know someone will be waiting for you so they can’t try to force themselves into your house (for that I also usually put an outdoor Plus at least one inside light on before I go out &/or put a timer on).

Don’t have an answering machine or cell – why the heck NOT??? These are SMART PROTECTION points – ESPECIALLY for women!!! As a friend to bring one of those $15 answering machines back from the States & get yourself a cell!! In 6 months my cell phone bill has NEVER run me more than $8 a month (I use it mainly for emergencies &/or getting taxis – ESPECIALLY good for if/when you get lost [a COMMON thing around here!!]).

If you’re visiting I HIGHLY suggest you rent one – ESPECIALLY if YOU’RE driving yourself around (of course if you’re hiring a driver/guide – ANY guide worth their weight has a cell so look at that when calculating the value of hiring a driver as cell phone rentals aren’t always cheap!!)

In the above answering machine message idea – it’s a good time to get the taxi driver (if it’s a parata) saying in his own words the fare he’s charging you – that way there’s NO dispute (“Oh & the taxi said it’s going to cost me $_____ from here to _____” with the driver filling in the $_____ price with HIS voice!)

Of COURSE – ALWAYS ask the taxi price BEFORE you get in (this of course is for piratas)!!

Please tell them all that Vicki in Casa Naranja/The Fountains Guesthouse referred ya!

Do you have any Taxi Safety/Sanity Saving Hints?

Who’s YOUR FAVORITE driver?