Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pablo]

Hi-

I will need to take a taxi from the opposiste side of BUSAN to Gimhae Airport. My Korean contact told me that if I phone a taxi to come to the apartment (because I have luggage- normal two checked and one carryon), then I will have to agree to the price beforehand, that I can't use the meter.

Is this true? Everywhere outside Korea I always insist on using the meter. I don't want to get ripped off by agreeing to a high price beforehand. Is this some local convention, if they pick you up at your place, or if you're going to the airport, or if you're on the other side of town? Or is my contact mistaken?

Thanks for any firsthand experience in Busan.

Pablo

[cheolsu]

Since no one else has responded, I'll take a shot:

1) I called a taxi, a taxi van actually, to my house when I moved last March. The price was agreed upon in advance and I thought it was reasonable (a Korean confirmed it).

2) I've taken a taxi to the airport, albeit Gimpo airport from the east end of Seoul. I hailed the cab on the street and the driver used the meter.

3) I don't know what the 'opposite' side of Busan is, but according to Naver, a taxi from Haeundae or Songjeong beaches should be 23,000 or 26,000 respectively. You should add 20% to that estimate based on my experience, unless you're traveling in the middle night when there's no traffic. So, paying roughly 30,000 for a taxi to the airport from the areas I mentioned would be reasonable in my book.

4) I've called taxis several times, but aside from moving, I've never had to agree to the price in advance.

Of course, I'm willing to be corrected by anyone who has actually done this.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

You could just hail a taxi like usual.

[cheolsu]

That's what I would suggest, but it seems horribly inconvenient, if not impossible, with three pieces of luggage.

[Lazio]

I have used call taxis and call vans countless times. Their basic price is a tad bit higher than when just simply hailing down one but all of them went by the meter.

[Pablo]

Thanks, All.

[sluggo832004]

I took a cab from busan station to the airport.

It was about 15,000 won.

But he got me there in like 20 minutes.

[CentralCali]

Why do you need to take a taxi? If you're traveling light, you should take the subway to a transfer point and then take the light rail transit line to Gimhae Airport. Alternatively, you could take a bus. Both choices are far cheaper than a cab.

[Destroyer]

I live in Haeundae. I have called taxi vans (big family, lots of luggage) to my house for Gimhae airport multiple times. 40,000 or 50,000 is normal. Agreeing in advance is normal for this. You could easily just get a taxi on the street next to your house, driver will be stoked to have a fare all the way out there. The bus idea is key. If you live near the beach or Jangsan station there is a shuttle bus to the airport for under 10 bucks!

[PatrickGHBusan]