Getting the Most from Your Private Taxi Hire
Sometimes you don’t need a big vehicle for your journey to or around Valencia – just a private car with an experienced driver for a small group or even for one person traveling for business purposes, and this way, the need for hiring a private taxi arises. It’s important to pick a professional and reliable company offering this service in order to avoid any troubles later.
The following guide contains information on the characteristics of a really professional and reputable private taxi operator, as well as on the private taxi vehicles offered in Valencia and on the most common destination points.
Distinctive Features of a Private Taxi
There are a number of features that distinguish private taxis from those found in most cities. First, this is the fact that both the car and the driver are booked only for one traveler (group) and not for anyone else. Moreover, the price of the trip is usually set in advance (in contrast to the meter price charged by ordinary cabs), which is particularly important when traveling by taxi in case of departure from or to the airport, as well as at the time of the morning check-out or business travel.
In the latter case, a fixed price with an exact time of arrival allows you to avoid any additional costs related to traffic jams and surge prices. In addition, a taxi driver hired for private use already has enough experience of transporting passengers along the roads of the city and will always be able to get through any road block or find the fastest way out in case of unexpected circumstances – such as the closing of one road due to the organization of some festival or other event in the streets of Valencia.
It should be noted that it's always good to clarify whether there is any special license for private taxis in a particular region, including Valencia, in this case – VTC (Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor).
Selection of Appropriate Taxi Car
When booking private taxi cars, you have several options to choose from, depending on the number of passengers, their age (there are some rules according to which you need to provide transportation for kids under five years), as well as the amount of luggage (for business travelers in most cases, it is not a problem). The main categories are:
- standard saloon cars for one to four passengers. These include family cars for solo travelers, young couples (especially in the case of their wedding celebration) or business travelers who do not carry a lot of things;
- estate or station wagons for one to four passengers, but this category includes cars with additional spaciousness, which makes them perfect for transportation with additional luggage (such as sports gear for beach or lagoon games) and trips from or to the airport;
- For larger groups, including up to seven or eight passengers (this category suits well for small families with children, wedding guests etc.), there is a choice between MPs and large vans.
If the number of passengers is more than eight, most operators would recommend choosing a minibus instead. In most cases, operators would ask how many passengers will use the vehicle in combination with information about the quantity of luggage.
Popular Trips and Destinations of Private Taxis
Firstly, trips to/from the nearest airport are in the top three of the most frequent private taxi requests. There are several popular combinations, among which is the transfer between Valencia (VLC) and any hotels in the city center. It takes from 20 to 30 minutes. Another popular destination is cruises – between the nearest port and either VLC or hotels located in the center.
In addition to the airport, the port can be used by travelers coming to Valencia and then going to nearby destinations. Among such destinations are Cullera, located 40 minutes south of Valencia, with its beautiful beaches and castles, and the natural park of Albufera – the place where you can enjoy boat trips to a lagoon and visits to the rice-growing villages situated near. Finally, business travelers sometimes need transport to Sagunto or Xàtiva, where they usually have business meetings.
Checking Some Details
While choosing a provider of services, it is always better to clarify such details of transportation in advance as fixed price or meter price (in some cases you will need to wait after your plane lands), flight tracking for the punctual meeting at the airport or the confirmation of driver and vehicle. If the company is good, it would also give you the possibility to contact it directly if you change your plans on the day of the trip.
Moreover, it is always good to clarify licensing, insurance and the identification of the driver, as well as other conditions for providing taxi services.
