Moscow taxi

[snowm]

A friend of mine just arrived in Moscow, today he called me and said the price for the taxi from Domodedovo airport to the Kazanski train station was $200 !! was he ripped off or is it a normal price?

Last time i was in Moscow the price from Sheremetevo to Moscow centre was about $50/$70

[jb]

You can visit  http://transfer-taxi.ru  or  http://www.waytorussia.net/Services/Driver.html  and find the phone numbers there to pre-order a taxi from the airports.  Their website even has a flight schedule shown there.

Expect to pay about $30 for a ride from SVO to city central, Demodedovo will be $45 as it's a little farther out from town.

If your buddy paid $200 he was ripped off.

[Turboguy]

He was definately ripped off.  A lot of the taxi drivers start high and the more resistance you give the more they will come down.   I have always tried to pre-arrange my airport tansfers as jb suggested.   It saves all the hastle of negoting and they are usually right there when you come out of customs holding a sign with your name on it.   You can be on your way instantly.

The last time I did resort to a taxi it was around $ 60.00 or so.

[Jet]

They don't call 'em taxi prostitutes for nothing, sorry man, your buddy got robbed. 

If he arrived at Domodedovo airport, why didn't he just take the train? It's one of the great advantages of DME over SVO.

40 minutes to/from the centre of Moscow from/to Domodedovo International Airport

Travel time: 40-50 minutes
Ticket cost: 120 rubles* (That's under $5)

Tickets are sold at ticket desks at the passenger terminal of Paveletskiy station.
Ticket desks in Domodedovo International Airport are located in the right wing of the terminal.
 

[PeeWee]

A friend of mine just arrived in Moscow, today he called me and said the price for the taxi from Domodedovo airport to the Kazanski train station was $200 !! was he ripped off or is it a normal price?

Last time i was in Moscow the price from Sheremetevo to Moscow centre was about $50/$70

The most that I paid for two from Moscow to SVO was $100.00 the least was $20.00 for two. It depends on how  you negotiate it. At first I tell them the price is too high. They drop the price because, "...you are American we geev you good deal."  Now while I am talking them down from $80.00 to $60.00 my lady friend finds one that will pick us up at the entrance of the hotel and deposit us at SVO for $20.00 total. You need to bargin.

Peewee

[Turboguy]

Having a lady friend to do the negotiating is a big plus.  Of couse having a lady friend is a plus in itself, usually anyway.

[snowm]

that's what i thought, i know about there is high inflation in Russia but $200 for a taxi ride was just too much.

[PeeWee]

that's what i thought, i know about there is high inflation in Russia but $200 for a taxi ride was just too much.

Someone had told me, I do not recall where, that the airport taxi are controlled by the red mafia. I don't know but what I did observe is that only certain taxi companies are allowed onto airport property. The same I noticed happening at the large hotels. I also noticed that it is easy to stand street side, lift your hand, and someone will stop. It may not even be a taxi driver but rather a guy heading home from work. The price is what you negotiate before he drives. There is a price adjuster that you can apply to these situations. It's called a "tip." If you think you got ripped don't tip...that is the make up, to some extent. If you got a good fare then be generous with the tip.

I do agree with Turboguy, the locals can get a better break they a Yankie can. I am usally with a local and so I defer. One of my friends has a car. She picked me up and the airport on my last visit. Took me back to the airport and in city drove me around to where it was that we were going at the time. Lot's of coin saved there.

Peewee

[Elen]

One of my friends has a car. She picked me up and the airport on my last visit. Took me back to the airport and in city drove me around to where it was that we were going at the time. Lot's of coin saved there.

Peewee

I hope you guessed to pay her for petrol after all ( wich price is now about $0.60 per litre Compare this price with salaries in Russia and you will get a picture)

BTw how much such trip on taxi like from SVO to Moscow would cost in the USA?

[ConnerVT]

JFK --> Manhattan is a $45 fare (total, not per passenger).

[Elen]

JFK --> Manhattan is a $45 fare (total, not per passenger).

is there some alternative way  to get into Manhatten for ~$5?

[Jet]

Bus or Train 
Actually Elen, at Christmas, I rented a stretch limo to take the family to/from Miami airport which is about 50 miles (80 km) for $70 each way

[Turboguy]

If you want to see what the options are here is the list.   In a nutshell there is a Airtrain for $ 5.00, there is a subway (metro) option for 2.00   There are buss options for 15 and the taxi is $ 45.00 

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm

[Elen]

Bus or Train 

well if you are familar with such ways to travell as well then why don;t use them in Russia if you are so stingy to pay what taxi drivers ask 

[groovlstk]

is there some alternative way  to get into Manhatten for ~$5?

The least expensive way to get to Manhattan from JFK is to take the AirTrain + subway, $7 total, and about 45 mins. to either midtown or the World Trade Center. It's not an attractive option since switching from the AirTrain to the subway isn't very comfy if you have a lot of luggage. The best analogy I can think of is that it's similar to switching from the elektrichka to the metro in Moscow. There's a plan to build a direct subway line from lower Manhattan to JFK as well as plans to build a 4th international airport in the NYC area (since JFK, LGA, & EWR are at maximum capacity).

[jb]

Elen,

There are several reasons why a person visiting a new, (unfamiliar city) will opt for a taxi instead of a bus or train/Metro.  First off, the foreigners don't know their way around, unless a person has a GPS implanted in his head, it's easy to become hopelessly lost.  Then compound the problem with little or no knowledge of the local language and see how quickly blind panic sets in.  He can't even ask directions from a passerby to get his bearings back.  It's just easier to find a taxi driver who knows the city like he knows the back of his hand, hopefully the driver speaks enough English, or the traveler has had the good sense to write down his destination on a piece of paper in the local language which he can show the driver. 

Ripping off the "out of towner's" is a gleefully practiced art in all countries by taxi drivers.  It can happen anywhere. 

There are a few things a traveler can do to minimize his frustration if he has an ounce of common sense.  First thing to do, especially if going to Russia or a Russian speaking country, is to learn the alphabet, and I mean, learn the alphabet really well, learn to phonetically pronounce each sound perfectly.  Second, get a street map of the city to be visited, study the major streets, learn to pronounce correctly the major street names, both the N/S and the E/W streets and how they relate to where you are staying.  Third, study the map area of the neighborhood where you will be living, I mean commit it to memory and mentally practice getting around within a 10 Km circle.  Learn the visual landmarks of your neighborhood on the first day when you get there. 

Those of us who are experienced international travelers are frequently amazed by how stupidly many American tourist will blithely get on a plane and go to an unknown destination with absolutely zero knowledge of where they are going or what they will be doing once they get there.  These are the people who need constant hand holding by someone a lot smarter than they are.  It's just not safe to turn these people loose on the streets of the city without a guardian.

Can you guess which of these people are going to get ripped off by the taxi drivers?  Also, which ones are going to complain loudly about the price of a ride around the block?

[Elen]

I can 
Also we here were learned very fast by "capitalists reality" dropped on our heards that either you do it by yourself or you pay what others who can do it for you ask for that. Is not it the same in America? 

[jb]

Exactly right, Elen. 

[PeeWee]

I found the metro in both London (the underground) and Moscow to be among the best in the world. Include the MTR in Hong Kong. The systems are so simple to use that even not knowing the Russian alphabet I did well just by looking at the map and then counting my stops. London and Hong Kong are English, of course, but all three are quick, cheap, and efficient. With that said it is very inexpensive to use the taxi service in Hong Kong so one has to decide destination and time of day when choosing one over the other. It may be the same in Moscow during the rush hour? I don't know.

Tip: many of us visit Las Vegus each year. There is a very inexpensive transportation available at the airport. Rather than take the time to stand in the taxi lines and then pay the hefty fare you can walk, I think it is right when  you exit the doors. Along the way you will see a que of strech limos. $5.00 for everyone. Try it. It has been my secret method of travel when in Vegus for years.

Peewee

[Jet]

well if you are familar with such ways to travell as well then why don;t use them in Russia if you are so stingy to pay what taxi drivers ask 

THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING!
I have used just about every method of transit available while in Russia, I have taken the city bus from SVO-2 to Rechnoy Vokzal dragging 2 heavy bags and a carry-on to traverse the city by metro down to Chertanovskaya. I've taken trucks, trams, trains, taxis and even an iron rowboat across the Volga once, but I'm not the one bitchin' about cab fare 

[Wild Orchid*]

if you are so stingy to pay what taxi drivers ask 

I paid for exactly the same trip from SVO to Kazanskij vokzal between $20 and $30. Taxi drivers always are asking $100 in the beginning. Would it be wise of me to pay what they asked for? Even if it is $200? Last time in Moscow we had to go from SVO2 to SVO1, there was no shuttle for some reason, everywhere I’ve been before shuttle buses were for free. Taxi driver asked $30 for the 10 minutes bus ride. How long would it take in taxi? 5 minutes? I refuses to pay and said  that the price is way too high. He started explaining that he has to pay for parking at SVO and something else and something else. Do I care?  When we had to hire a taxi in Rome it never crossed my mind that I probably should question the price and try to low it as we do in Moscow.  Last time when I said No, thank you to $100 taxi raid, I’ve got “Then f^ck off, bitch!” at my back. 

[PeeWee]

I paid for exactly the same trip from SVO to Kazanskij vokzal between $20 and $30. Taxi drivers always are asking $100 in the beginning. Would it be wise of me to pay what they asked for? Even if it is $200? Last time in Moscow we had to go from SVO2 to SVO1, there was no shuttle for some reason, everywhere I’ve been before shuttle buses were for free. Taxi driver asked $30 for the 10 minutes bus ride. How long would it take in taxi? 5 minutes? I refuses to pay and said  that the price is way too high. He started explaining that he has to pay for parking at SVO and something else and something else. Do I care?  When we had to hire a taxi in Rome it never crossed my mind that I probably should question the price and try to low it as we do in Moscow.  Last time when I said No, thank you to $100 taxi raid, I’ve got “Then f^ck off, bitch!” at my back. 

You are Russian, WO? And they are even now asking this money of Russians?

Peewee

[Wild Orchid*]

Yes, I am Russian, and all our conversations were in Russian. When they say $100 to me, I reply with $20 to them or saying that the bus and metro can be even cheaper. We find an agreement around $30 mark. Once we had to go other way around - to SVO. The guy asked us if we could hop off on the high way because he didn't want to pay airport entrance fee. He charged me $30 for the 30 minutes car ride, and didn’t want to pay 5-10 rubles and expected me to walk all the way with my suitcases and all.  ::)Am I suppose to feel sorry for him? Do I have to mention that they never ever help with the luggage?

[PeeWee]

Yes, I am Russian, and all our conversations were in Russian. When they say $100 to me, I reply with $20 to them or saying that the bus and metro can be even cheaper. We find an agreement around $30 mark. Once we had to go other way around - to SVO. The guy asked us if we could hop off on the high way because he didn't want to pay airport entrance fee. He charged me $30 for the 30 minutes car ride, and didn’t want to pay 5-10 rubles and expected me to walk all the way with my suitcases and all.  ::)Am I suppose to feel sorry for him? Do I have to mention that they never ever help with the luggage?

I asked because the best I was able to negotiate was a $60.00 fare from SVO to the Kremlin. One person. On the return from the same location to SVO I was with a friend, Russian, who arranged for the taxi. $20.00 for two passengers. I learned then and there to defer the negotiations to the Russian. When I cost averaged the round trip at $40.00 each way I did not feel bad about paying the $60.00 for the trip from SVO.

Peewee

[Todd]

Be thankful that all you had was a high fare.  I arranged a taxi from my hotel a couple of blocks from Red Sq to SVO with a drop off of my fiance at her uncle's house enroute.  Being the good fiance, I walked her to her uncle's door.  I was up for about 5 minutes as the uncle wanted to meet me.  When I returned, we drove the rest of the way to the airport.  I got out and he demanded another $50 dollars for the stop.  I showed him the remaining $10 dollars in my wallet; he got upset and took it.  I was so rattled (partly because I hadn't slept much that week) I didn't check my bags.  After the taxi driver left, I realized that he had found his own tip...he stole my brand new, top of the line, IPOD.  I had forgotten that I had left it in my backpack.  I had, of course, taken all my other valuables with me when I walked Kate up to her door, but I clearly blundered here.   Ahh well, live and learn.