For the millions of Britons warding off this summer to holiday destinations around the globe, or if you happen to go on regular weekend breaks to mainland Europe, taking a taxi from the airport to a city centre hotel is mostly the handiest and fastest approach to travel. But how much or little are Brits deciding to buy this convenience
New research from travel money specialist Moneycorp looks on the cost of a taxi ride – not booked beforehand – from a few of the major international airports in Europe and the remainder of the area, to the town centre. Moneycorp checked out the most well-liked destinations for British holidaymakers, and results were ranked by cost per kilometre, as some airport to city centre transfers were dearer because of the journey distance. The consequences revealed huge differences in price, even within mainland Europe, with taxi fares potentially adding hundreds of pounds onto the price of a vacation or weekend break.
European destinations fill six of the pinnacle seven places for many expensive airport to city centre taxi transfers. But top of the pile is Tokyo. A taxi ride from Tokyo Narita airport to the centre of town, 66 km away, will set tourists back almost £200, or a price per km of £2.90. That’s even with sterling strengthening against the yen since last summer by greater than 24%. Take a taxi both ways, and also you might be watching an eye fixed-watering £400 additional expense on top of all of your other holiday costs.
Ranking by £ per km, Copenhagen (Denmark) is the costliest airport-city centre taxi transfer in Europe. Although the taxi journey from Copenhagen airport to the town centre is barely 8km, the common fare is £34.08, which equates to £4.26 per km. A better costliest is Geneva (Switzerland) to centre of Geneva. Again the adventure is brief, only 6km, but will set holidaymakers back a regular of £22.63 or £3.77 per km.
On price alone, the 45km taxi ride from Oslo’s Gardermoen airport to the town centre costs an eye fixed-watering £73.45. That implies a round trip will set people back almost £150 (£146.90). Oslo is closely followed by Milan Malpensa airport to the centre of Milan, with a purpose to leave holidaymakers out of pocket by the princely sum of £70.25.
In terms of the least expensive airport-city centre taxi rides, Delhi’s Indira Ghandi International to the centre of Delhi, will set you back just £2.69 for the 16km journey, or £0.17 per km. It’s closely followed by Thailand’s Suvernabhumi airport to Bangkok central, where a 30km taxi ride costs just £5.63 or £0.19 per km.
The next three cheapest destinations are in Europe; Sofia airport to city centre (£0.22 per km), Istanbul Ataturk airport (£0.24 per km), and Ottopeni airport (£0.28 per km), that’s 17km outside Bucharest. On price alone, Sofia airport-city centre transfer works out cheapest at £2.17, followed by Bucharest (£4.79), Istanbul (£6.01) and Warsaw (£8.11).
In terms of distance, the international airports that are furthest from town centre are: Tokyo Narita (66km), Reykjavik Keflavik (48km), Milan Malpensa (46km), Oslo Gardermoen (45km), Stockholm Arlanda (43km), Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini (35km) and Hong Kong (34km). The nearest are Geneva (6km), Copenhagen (8km) and Lisbon’s Portela airport (9km).
Tracey Tivnan, head of selling for Travel Money at Moneycorp, comments: “Taking a taxi from the airport isn’t the cheapest option in comparison to taking the train or bus, however it is often the well-liked option as a result of sheer convenience of being taken from right outside the terminal to a hotel. For those arriving late at night in unfamiliar territory, the very last thing any folks wish to do is navigate foreign transport systems. We wish to get to our hotel as quickly as possible, with out a hassle.
“What our research into airport taxi costs reveals is the wide variation in taxi fares looking on which country you’re visiting. And this additional cost can make an enormous dent for your holiday budget if you’re not careful or prepared. If the airport to city centre taxi ride is especially expensive, like in Tokyo, then taking the bus or train could be the only option – so it’s worth finding out the local transport system earlier. Alternatively, you are ready to book a taxi before you travel, which can be significantly cheaper than flagging down a taxi outside the airport.
“It’s interesting that a few of the biggest variations in taxi costs are in mainland Europe. As an example, the taxi fare from Milan Malpensa airport to the town centre will cost you greater than £70. This compares to only £2.17 from Sofia airport to the centre of Sofia. And with sterling greater than 6% weaker against the euro since last July, taxi fares may be much more expensive in Europe this summer.”
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