4 passengers each round trip. Our villa is the first right turn after Bannieres just over the top of the hill. One trip to Mamo, two to St Jean ( Le Piement and Pappillon Ivre) and one to Sereno. I thought it odd that the three 5 minute trips cost the same as the long one.
Taxi prices
- Thread starter ccg
- Start date
I exclusively use taxis at night, & the fares you describe sound correct. First of all, some, but not all, drivers will charge a nighttime surcharge (allowed, as I understand, by the approved Collectivité fare structure) . . . & #2 — fares are based on a “zone” system so that a short or long distance in the same zone will have the same price.
ccg
Senior Insider
Update - we had a terrible time finding a taxi, even with this new list. I sent multiple messages (whats app and email) with no response or a weird answer. So we used the rental company again for last night.
When we left St Jean Tuesday, there was a taxi in the parking lot and I knocked on the window and now I have a taxi ride for tonight for L’Esprit and tomorrow for L’Sola for the kids. 90€ for tonight and 80 for tomorrow. We are staying at La Baleine. I will update on our services. His English was very good.
C
When we left St Jean Tuesday, there was a taxi in the parking lot and I knocked on the window and now I have a taxi ride for tonight for L’Esprit and tomorrow for L’Sola for the kids. 90€ for tonight and 80 for tomorrow. We are staying at La Baleine. I will update on our services. His English was very good.
C
This week has been terrible in terms of getting taxis. It seems to be a turnover period — high season to low season. So many drivers are exhausted from the busy “season” & are taking time off (especially to spend time with families as children are out of school for “Pentecost Week”). Drivers I know for many years are declining me, with profuse apologies! I get it. Fortunately, my consistently loyal & “forever” driver arranged a back-up as he & his wife went on a vacation to Las Vegas!!!
In terms of the taxi driver that you encountered & with whom you made arrangements . . . he probably was part of a “Transportation Company,” about which I’ve written. The rates he quoted to you were not crazy . . . higher than standard taxi rates, but he clearly is a decent person — not ripping you off. You made a smart move there! (BTW . . . he deserves a tip! if service is good, 10%.)
Because I generally go out to dinner 5-6 nights a week . . . and am on the island close to six months/year . . . I have the great loyalty of a taxi driver. He has become a very dear friend & watches out for me — very personally — as a (much younger!) family member, which has become quite important to me (& Wendy, when she’s not with me). I’m blessed, for sure. Each evening, a 6:45 pick-up (consistency is part of the success in our business friendship).
The lesson in this message is that if one is visiting the island for a week or so & “connects“ early in the visit with a taxi driver . . . & expects to use taxis for duration of the visit . . . tell him! (there’s occasionally a female driver). So much about SBH is relationships, many of which are formed spontaneously, as I’ve described. (I’ll note, however, that success in such arrangements depends very heavily on being front-&-center at the committed time — taxi drivers line-up their engagements in pretty tight schedules & DO NOT respond well to people who are not ready at their reservation times.)
ccg
Senior Insider
Good morning. It’s another beautiful day! Our ride last night was excellent! DJ (590 690 26 38 48) was delightful. I would highly recommend him.
Dennis, we did tip him, and he told me it was too much and tried to give it back. I told him to keep it. Hopefully he will remember us when we return in December. He is confirmed for tonight as well.
C
Dennis, we did tip him, and he told me it was too much and tried to give it back. I told him to keep it. Hopefully he will remember us when we return in December. He is confirmed for tonight as well.
C
amyb
Senior Insider
La Baleine was our first villa experience. Rosita was a sensational asset and a big reason we fell in love with SBH.
ccg
Senior Insider
We have enjoyed the villa. Our kids are blown away! This is their 1st time here. We set the bar pretty high
I don't know how old your kids are, but we first brought them to SBH when they were 5 and 10 years old. Completely ruined them for going to any other islands! And they're now 42 and 47 (!) and the older grandkids are also ruined. (The twins are only a year old and haven't been there yet.)We have enjoyed the villa. Our kids are blown away! This is their 1st time here. We set the bar pretty high
I understand that there are interesting discussions occurring this week between representatives of taxi drivers & the Collectivité. Among topics . . . proposals of drivers (a) to have additional taxi licenses issued and (b) to modify the fare schedule so as to incentivize drivers to better serve areas that they don’t like to go to (certain destinations, that is, are in remote areas of zones &, therefore, more expensive to serve — the Christopher Hotel, e.g.).
