Which is better option money and safety wise for departure from PTY to downtown.Thanks!
Hello, both are safe unless someone on this forum had a bad experience ?
Taxis have set fares from Tocumen to various points in the city. To El Cangrejo, Paitilla and the central areas, it's $30, including tips and toll, for two passengers with luggage. To Casco Viejo, Albrook and Amador, it's $35.
There have been very mixed comments about Uber. For the most part, Panamanians, except for the taxi drivers, seem to like Uber. However, there are times when Uber charges more than a taxi. "Gringos" have had some bad experiences -- Uber not showing up, arriving 2 hours late, driver not knowing where to go, etc. Another issue is that there is a $16 airport fee that is applied to every Uber fare to or from the airport. This fee does not show up when you get your quote from an Uber driver. It only shows up after you have been charged for the ride.
I only use Uber now and have for almost 2 years.
I travel to/from Tocumen at least once a month and the average fee is $25-27. On one of my last receipts I get this breakdown:
Trip Fare: 8.53
Booking Fee: 0.20
Tolls, Surcharges and Fees: $15.40
Total: $24.13
It's still $6 cheaper than the airport taxi, and I find the drivers are usually nicer, the vehicles newer and cleaner and I can listen to what I want to on the radio.
You pay a surcharge for using an airport taxi so I don't see what the complaint is about the surcharge - I double checked my cc statements and there certainly aren't any extra charges after the fact. The receipt I get after the ride (as per above) is exactly what I am charged.
{start rant} Those of us that live in Panama and have had to put up with such lousy taxi service for years make use of Uber. The taxi unions have had two years to improve their service, the cars that are used, the attitude of the drivers and nothing has changed, so I have no sympathy for them. {end rant}
If you don't have data roaming, you can order Uber while on the free wifi at the airport but then you will lose signal when you walk out to the parking lot where they pick you up (end of aisle 15/16).
both cost me $20. Uber adds on a high fee for the tolls.
I would say taxi from the Airport to the City and once you are in the city use Uber. In the city Uber might charge 1 or 2 bucks more that a regular taxi but its worth it. Taxi drivers do not have good reputation in Panama and some will charge more just because you are a tourist.
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