14 replies to this topic

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

Anyone know the going rate for a taxi to pick two people from Gatwick quite late in the evening and return to Amersham?

Any recommendations of taxi firms would be welcome.

[Angel]

I have booked taxi's with http://www.where2guv.com/ when needing transport to and back from Gatwick. They do not necessarily allocate a local taxi firm, since last time I was allocated a taxi from a London firm. They were a cost effective solution though.

My parents have used Linfields (01494 766228) whilst travelling from Heathrow, and they were very pleased with the service.

[ubu]

- I've used local taxi firm A2Z in the past, for Heathrow & Luton airport transfers to/from Amersham. I found them punctual and competitive, quoting their flat rate in advance + any airport car park charges incurred. Don't know their current rates.
A2Z (Hill Avenue) email: bookings@a-ztaxis.co.uk landline: 01494 722722.
- Note that the Gatwick-Farringdon-Baker St/M'bone-Amersham route is a f. painless rail alternative for Gatwick to-ing & fro-ing, avoiding the West End.

[struthie]

A2Z without doubt!

[Fran]

I've used Gilbert's locally a few times, including once or twice for my son and been happy with them.

Then last week I had to go to Edinburgh and pre booked Gilberts to take me to and from Heathrow T5 via a colleague's house in Croxley Green. Punctual, very friendly and on our return, the driver was waiting exactly where they said. (It was £50 each way, plus £2.50 for car park on our return and I believe it's ~£35 if you don't go via Croxley. I've no idea of the cost to Gatwick.) It was far quicker, cheaper and more relaxing than parking/valet parking near the airport.

See Gilberts of Chesham or call 01494 771000. Just ring them up and ask for a quote, which is what I did initially.

The number of people won't affect the cost (as long as you're going direct from A to B and can fit in a car, rather than minibus), but as for "quite late in the evening", you'd have to ask. We were picked up ~9.30pm and that was no more expensive than the outward leg at lunchtime.

[struthie]

My ex work colleague mans the phones at A2Z

I just asked him for a price.

"£73 plus car park if journey is completed by 11pm, £95 + car park after 11pm"

[David P]

I've found A2B (rather than A2Z) to be consistently a couple of pounds cheaper than the others and always reliable.

[ubu]

My ex work colleague mans the phones at A2Z
I just asked him for a price.
"£73 plus car park if journey is completed by 11pm, £95 + car park after 11pm"

Amersham Budget Taxis meanwhile quotes £60 for a Gatwick pick-up and back to Amersham.
Their current leaflet-drop (Oct 2008) also lists: Heathrow £28, Luton £33, Gatwick £60, Stansted £60 (I tried this last week, fine), City Airport £68, Central London £45, Watford £18, Hemel Hempstead £16, central Slough £22, Reading £44, Windsor £26, Maidenhead £23 and Aylesbury £22.
Receipts provided and no extra charge after midnight or at weekends.
(Aylesbury may be of interest to anyone who has ever overshot Amersham going home on the last Marylebone train!)
The firm is a start-up splinter group of ex-A2Z Taxis drivers, bent on appreciably undercutting other Chiltern district operators.
Budget Taxis tel : (01494) 77 35 77- booking@abudgettaxi.co.uk - www.abudgettaxi.co.uk
Verdict - Worth a try.

[Eaton]

We've used Crown Taxis in Chesham consistently for airport drops and have been exceptionally happy with them.

In Feb 08 it was £70 each way if you booked a return to Gatwick, plus you can ask them not to park (thus not having to pay for the car park) - generally we ask them to arrive 30 mins after the plane lands. Last month we used them for a return to Heathrow which was £30 each way, on our return to Heathrow I picked up my answerphone messages and they'd left a message a few days before letting me know that as our date of return was the Muslim's Christmas Day they'd made arrangements with another taxi firm, who had a non-muslim driver, to pick us up which was exactly the same price and completely painless.

On our departure they have always arrived at least five minutes early but have been quite happy to wait while we lock up, plus on your arrival into the UK they call when they arrive at the airport to ascertain where you are in the airport and if you have still to collect your bags then you give them a call when you are on your way out.

[Fran]

I don't know if all taxi firms do this, but with Gilbert's, if you pay by credit card, they charge 17.5% VAT, but if you pay by cash, you don't. (I'm not sure if cheque or debit cards are an option and if so, whether they charge VAT then.) So if you're planning a longish journey, it's worth ensuring you have enough cash.

[David P]

I don't know if all taxi firms do this, but with Gilbert's, if you pay by credit card, they charge 17.5% VAT, but if you pay by cash, you don't. (I'm not sure if cheque or debit cards are an option and if so, whether they charge VAT then.) So if you're planning a longish journey, it's worth ensuring you have enough cash.

I suspect that makes you an accessory to tax evasion.

[Fran]

I suspect that makes you an accessory to tax evasion.

Now I think about it, perhaps you're right. I did think it odd, but it's a long established company and they were very certain the tax man had told them that's what to do.

BUT, they only mentioned credit cards. I don't know if they charge VAT for cheques or debit cards, their cars are all licensed and metered and you can get a receipt, so maybe there is enough of an audit trail to keep things above board?

[jai]

Now I think about it, perhaps you're right. I did think it odd, but it's a long established company and they were very certain the tax man had told them that's what to do.

BUT, they only mentioned credit cards. I don't know if they charge VAT for cheques or debit cards, their cars are all licensed and metered and you can get a receipt, so maybe there is enough of an audit trail to keep things above board?

London Airport Taxi Cab Transfer Service

hi,

I would like to recommend Hummingbird Cars Their Link http://www.airportransfers.net/
they also provide 5 % discount on all return journeys

Thanks

[Eaton]

London Airport Taxi Cab Transfer Service

hi,

I would like to recommend Hummingbird Cars Their Link http://www.airportransfers.net/
they also provide 5 % discount on all return journeys

Thanks

Can't see that this would be much use. They haven't even got our local HP postcodes listed when you try to get a quote.

[Anderson]

i use budget cars all the time. its 1 of the most reliable and compatative company in our area.

01495 773577