Watch Out for Gypsy Taxis
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:37 pm
[written by Andi Scott who was really frosted ] We had arranged and prepaid for our airport transfers to Arno's Vale through our travel agent . Immediately after passing through customs we headed for the exit and spotted a lecturn/stand with some official looking TAXI signage. The young woman attendant, complete with reflective vest, looked over our voucher ( from TheTobago Taxi Owner's & Driver's Association )and referred us to an older gentleman, similarly dressed, who said he was unacquainted with the Taxi Association. He asked if we would pay the driver if the hotel would not honor the document. We had no doubt that Arno's Vale would acknowledge our receipt. We followed the man to the side exit where we were handed over to a friendly man with a shiny black sedan. As he piled our bags into his trunk he repeated the query about our willingness to pay should the hotel refuse. It must have been fatique or instant island mellowness that blunted our radar!!
When we got to Arno's Vale we learned that this "Joe" was not a legitimate taxi assn. member and we were required to pay up. "Sixty dollars,please." "US dollars?" I asked. "Yes,US." "Good God! That's more expensive than Paris!!" So $60 greenbacks are handed over and he heads back to make his getaway. Ken, Arno's Vale's manager follows him down the walk and returns $20 to us. He apologized to the bad treatment but we admit we were tricked.
The postscript is that the real driver who was waiting further outside the airport exit for us that night came to the hotel the next morning and spent hours looking for us. He finally found us on the beach and was mortified that we had been conned. So we will definitely call Reggie Cadiz (868)685-7701 on our next trip to Tobago.
When we got to Arno's Vale we learned that this "Joe" was not a legitimate taxi assn. member and we were required to pay up. "Sixty dollars,please." "US dollars?" I asked. "Yes,US." "Good God! That's more expensive than Paris!!" So $60 greenbacks are handed over and he heads back to make his getaway. Ken, Arno's Vale's manager follows him down the walk and returns $20 to us. He apologized to the bad treatment but we admit we were tricked.
The postscript is that the real driver who was waiting further outside the airport exit for us that night came to the hotel the next morning and spent hours looking for us. He finally found us on the beach and was mortified that we had been conned. So we will definitely call Reggie Cadiz (868)685-7701 on our next trip to Tobago.