Re: Watch out for Brussels taxi drivers!

[Guest guest]

When I returned from Ghent, Dr. DeSmet recommended that we stay at an airport

hotel in Brussels the night before departure and take the shuttle to the

airport. He was concerned that traffic on the freeway from Ghent to Brussels

can cause great delays and possibly miss a flight.

I didn't have experience with Brussels taxi drivers (they probably aren't any

worse than any big city cabbies) but I thought the Ghent taxi drivers were

very courteous, kind, and honest.

Saeed

Madison, Wi

[Guest guest]

When I returned from Ghent, Dr. DeSmet recommended that we stay at an airport

hotel in Brussels the night before departure and take the shuttle to the

airport. He was concerned that traffic on the freeway from Ghent to Brussels

can cause great delays and possibly miss a flight.

I didn't have experience with Brussels taxi drivers (they probably aren't any

worse than any big city cabbies) but I thought the Ghent taxi drivers were

very courteous, kind, and honest.

Saeed

Madison, Wi

[Guest guest]

When I returned from Ghent, Dr. DeSmet recommended that we stay at an airport

hotel in Brussels the night before departure and take the shuttle to the

airport. He was concerned that traffic on the freeway from Ghent to Brussels

can cause great delays and possibly miss a flight.

I didn't have experience with Brussels taxi drivers (they probably aren't any

worse than any big city cabbies) but I thought the Ghent taxi drivers were

very courteous, kind, and honest.

Saeed

Madison, Wi

[Guest guest]

Mickey,

Glad your 2nd surf went well. We also experienced trouble with the

taxi drivers. Repeatedly they wouldn't show up, or were very late.

When I was released from the hospital I was waiting in the lobby for

a taxi to take me to the holiday inn. I didn't feel great at that

time. It took close to an hour and several calls to get a taxi to

show up.

I don't remember being overcharged, as you were, but it could have

happened since I wasn't paying close attention.

Just a small bug in an otherwise very smooth operation.

Schiller

BHR 3/12/02 De Smet

surfacehippy , " resedamickey <resedamickey@s...> "

<resedamickey@s...> wrote:

> I just returned from second hip resurf w/ Dr. Desmet.

> Repeats in many ways including the Brussels taxi drivers trying to

rip

> us off. Several ploys.

> 1)They turn the meter off just as they're pulling up and your're

> looking at the address. Then tell you an inflated price. Best

> announce the meter numbers out loud as you ride so he knows you're

> watching.

> Don't tip, it's included in the price.

> 2)No meter at all. Negotiate beforehand or refuse to ride.

> 3)If you want to go to a " train station " be sure to say which one or

> they will take you to the farthest - also likely to be the farthest

> from your destination. There are three stations, North, Midi,

South.

> The airport is in the north. Many backpackers use the South for

> other routes so if you are coming from Sleepwell (recommended -

check

> their website) you may get sent to South, costing you money and

losing

> much time. We missed our flite.

[Guest guest]

Mickey,

Glad your 2nd surf went well. We also experienced trouble with the

taxi drivers. Repeatedly they wouldn't show up, or were very late.

When I was released from the hospital I was waiting in the lobby for

a taxi to take me to the holiday inn. I didn't feel great at that

time. It took close to an hour and several calls to get a taxi to

show up.

I don't remember being overcharged, as you were, but it could have

happened since I wasn't paying close attention.

Just a small bug in an otherwise very smooth operation.

Schiller

BHR 3/12/02 De Smet

surfacehippy , " resedamickey <resedamickey@s...> "

<resedamickey@s...> wrote:

> I just returned from second hip resurf w/ Dr. Desmet.

> Repeats in many ways including the Brussels taxi drivers trying to

rip

> us off. Several ploys.

> 1)They turn the meter off just as they're pulling up and your're

> looking at the address. Then tell you an inflated price. Best

> announce the meter numbers out loud as you ride so he knows you're

> watching.

> Don't tip, it's included in the price.

> 2)No meter at all. Negotiate beforehand or refuse to ride.

> 3)If you want to go to a " train station " be sure to say which one or

> they will take you to the farthest - also likely to be the farthest

> from your destination. There are three stations, North, Midi,

South.

> The airport is in the north. Many backpackers use the South for

> other routes so if you are coming from Sleepwell (recommended -

check

> their website) you may get sent to South, costing you money and

losing

> much time. We missed our flite.

[Guest guest]

Mickey,

Glad your 2nd surf went well. We also experienced trouble with the

taxi drivers. Repeatedly they wouldn't show up, or were very late.

When I was released from the hospital I was waiting in the lobby for

a taxi to take me to the holiday inn. I didn't feel great at that

time. It took close to an hour and several calls to get a taxi to

show up.

I don't remember being overcharged, as you were, but it could have

happened since I wasn't paying close attention.

Just a small bug in an otherwise very smooth operation.

Schiller

BHR 3/12/02 De Smet

surfacehippy , " resedamickey <resedamickey@s...> "

<resedamickey@s...> wrote:

> I just returned from second hip resurf w/ Dr. Desmet.

> Repeats in many ways including the Brussels taxi drivers trying to

rip

> us off. Several ploys.

> 1)They turn the meter off just as they're pulling up and your're

> looking at the address. Then tell you an inflated price. Best

> announce the meter numbers out loud as you ride so he knows you're

> watching.

> Don't tip, it's included in the price.

> 2)No meter at all. Negotiate beforehand or refuse to ride.

> 3)If you want to go to a " train station " be sure to say which one or

> they will take you to the farthest - also likely to be the farthest

> from your destination. There are three stations, North, Midi,

South.

> The airport is in the north. Many backpackers use the South for

> other routes so if you are coming from Sleepwell (recommended -

check

> their website) you may get sent to South, costing you money and

losing

> much time. We missed our flite.

[Guest guest]

Echo the thoughts on the Gent drivers - they were wonderful and so

were the soft Mercedes seats on the scars!!!

We too took the train from the airport to Ghent and on the way home

took the train back to Brussels, stayed at the airport Holiday Inn.

there is shuttle service regularly to and from the airport and to go

into Brussels we just took the train again. It was very easy and no

need to ever rely on the taxis at all. We found it easy walking

around Brussels to see all that we wanted to see in the short time we

spent in that City.

Pamela and Cliff

LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct 23/02

> When I returned from Ghent, Dr. DeSmet recommended that we stay at

an airport

> hotel in Brussels the night before departure and take the shuttle to

the

> airport. He was concerned that traffic on the freeway from Ghent to

Brussels

> can cause great delays and possibly miss a flight.

> I didn't have experience with Brussels taxi drivers (they probably

aren't any

> worse than any big city cabbies) but I thought the Ghent taxi

drivers were

> very courteous, kind, and honest.

> Saeed

> Madison, Wi

[Guest guest]

Ditto on the Ghent taxis. We made good friends with all of the Ghent

Taxi drivers! They were VERY helpful helping me in and out of the car

with my crutches. They went out of their way to drop us off at

restaurants not in the center so I wouldn't have to walk too far. We

took a taxi from the Ghent Holiday Inn directly to the airport; it

was a lovely, relaxing ride and cost $80.00, the best part was we

didn't have to fuss with the suitcases.

Lynda

r-BHR - 11/12/02 - Dr. De Smet

[Guest guest]

I'm replying to myself because I wanted to agree - the Ghent taxi

drivers were wonderful!!! But this is the Flemish side of Belgium,

Brussels is on the French side. I repeat: Watch out for the

Brussels taxi drivers!!

But the train was great - and it would be easy to get to the airport

from Ghent on the train - just go early in case of delays.

> I just returned from second hip resurf w/ Dr. Desmet.

> Repeats in many ways including the Brussels taxi drivers trying

to rip

> us off. Several ploys.

> 1)They turn the meter off just as they're pulling up and your're

> looking at the address. Then tell you an inflated price. Best

> announce the meter numbers out loud as you ride so he

knows you're

> watching.

> Don't tip, it's included in the price.

> 2)No meter at all. Negotiate beforehand or refuse to ride.

> 3)If you want to go to a " train station " be sure to say which one

or

> they will take you to the farthest - also likely to be the farthest

> from your destination. There are three stations, North, Midi,

South.

> The airport is in the north. Many backpackers use the South

for

> other routes so if you are coming from Sleepwell

(recommended - check

> their website) you may get sent to South, costing you money

and losing

> much time. We missed our flite.

[Guest guest]

I'm replying to myself because I wanted to agree - the Ghent taxi

drivers were wonderful!!! But this is the Flemish side of Belgium,

Brussels is on the French side. I repeat: Watch out for the

Brussels taxi drivers!!

But the train was great - and it would be easy to get to the airport

from Ghent on the train - just go early in case of delays.

> I just returned from second hip resurf w/ Dr. Desmet.

> Repeats in many ways including the Brussels taxi drivers trying

to rip

> us off. Several ploys.

> 1)They turn the meter off just as they're pulling up and your're

> looking at the address. Then tell you an inflated price. Best

> announce the meter numbers out loud as you ride so he

knows you're

> watching.

> Don't tip, it's included in the price.

> 2)No meter at all. Negotiate beforehand or refuse to ride.

> 3)If you want to go to a " train station " be sure to say which one

or

> they will take you to the farthest - also likely to be the farthest

> from your destination. There are three stations, North, Midi,

South.

> The airport is in the north. Many backpackers use the South

for

> other routes so if you are coming from Sleepwell

(recommended - check

> their website) you may get sent to South, costing you money

and losing

> much time. We missed our flite.

[Guest guest]

I'm replying to myself because I wanted to agree - the Ghent taxi

drivers were wonderful!!! But this is the Flemish side of Belgium,

Brussels is on the French side. I repeat: Watch out for the

Brussels taxi drivers!!

But the train was great - and it would be easy to get to the airport

from Ghent on the train - just go early in case of delays.

> I just returned from second hip resurf w/ Dr. Desmet.

> Repeats in many ways including the Brussels taxi drivers trying

to rip

> us off. Several ploys.

> 1)They turn the meter off just as they're pulling up and your're

> looking at the address. Then tell you an inflated price. Best

> announce the meter numbers out loud as you ride so he

knows you're

> watching.

> Don't tip, it's included in the price.

> 2)No meter at all. Negotiate beforehand or refuse to ride.

> 3)If you want to go to a " train station " be sure to say which one

or

> they will take you to the farthest - also likely to be the farthest

> from your destination. There are three stations, North, Midi,

South.

> The airport is in the north. Many backpackers use the South

for

> other routes so if you are coming from Sleepwell

(recommended - check

> their website) you may get sent to South, costing you money

and losing

> much time. We missed our flite.