5 things you should know before getting a taxi quote in Sri Lanka
- Tips for keeping travel expenses down
Tip 1. For one-way transfers, use a taxi near the starting or ending point.
This is the basic rule when using a taxi for a one-way transfer.
For example, Bandaranayake International Airport (Colombo International Airport) is approximately 145 km from Sigiriya Rock.
If you simply want to take a one-way taxi from the airport to Sigiriya, it is better to either hail a taxi at the tour counter in the airport lobby, or hail a taxi from the hotel in Sigiriya where you are staying.
The trick to saving money on one-way transfers is to use a taxi that is closer to the starting or ending point.
If we were to request transportation along the same route as above, how would the mileage be calculated?
Our garage is located in Kottawa, a town on the outskirts of Colombo.
From here the taxi will depart, pick you up at Bandaranayake International Airport and take you to Sigiriya before returning to Kottawa.
This distance is actually 370km.
To give an example in Japan, it would be like going from Haneda Airport to Hitachi City in Ibaraki, but having to go in the opposite direction and hail a taxi from Yokohama Station.
This is quite expensive.
Tip 3. If you want to stay at the hotel you want for a few days...
I want to visit the World Heritage sites, but I also want to relax at a seaside resort hotel for a few days. I want to relax in the hotel, so I rarely use taxis.
In such cases, we recommend that you complete as much sightseeing as possible that requires taxi travel before arriving at the hotel.
Even if you are not traveling, the vehicle rental fee will be charged for the entire day if you rent a taxi from our company. Therefore, you can finish sightseeing before arriving at the hotel where you will be staying for multiple nights, and then the taxi use will end there.
After enjoying your stay at the hotel, a good way to avoid unnecessary expenses is to use the hotel taxi for your next trip (e.g. to the international airport).
5. When creating a budget, it’s important to balance the number of days and mileage.
This is also an important item.
For example, if your itinerary is to leave a hotel near Bandaranayake International Airport by taxi in the morning, tour Kandy city → Dambulla Cave Temple → Sigiriya Rock → tour Colombo city → end your trip back to Bandaranayake International Airport in the evening.
Normally, you can see the whole place in about three full days.
However, some people might want to take their time and see the different sights along this same route over about six days.
If you were to actually travel the above route, our taxi company calculates the distance from our Kottawa depot to the return trip to the depot to be approximately 600km.
This is the estimated distance that will be calculated when you get a quote (this will include driver accommodation allowances, highway tolls, etc.).
So, if you travel the same route over six days, will you still be charged the mileage of 600km? No, that's not the case.
We have regulations regarding the number of days and estimated mileage, as stated in the quotation form below.
*2) The taxi fare estimate is calculated by adding up the distance from our company's location (Kottawa, on the outskirts of Colombo) to all destinations and then returning to Kottawa, multiplying this by the rate per kilometer, and then adding staff accommodation/meals, highway tolls, and parking fees.
If you are chartering for several days and the total distance traveled is less than 200km per day, the minimum rental fee will be 8 hours per day multiplied by the amount per kilometer based on the vehicle plan.
Even if the estimated mileage remains 600km, if the vehicle is chartered for six days, the number of days will be used, and you will be charged for a distance of 1,200km (6 days x 200km).
If the estimated driving distance for your plan is far beyond the distance for the number of days of hire listed above, it will be more cost-effective to use a three-wheeler or hotel taxi each time, which will charge you only for the distance traveled.
Please use this as a reference when creating your plan.
Tip 2. The key to a round-trip tour is to avoid going back and forth and to make the most of it.
"I would like to stay at a hotel in Colombo for several nights and take day trips to several world heritage sites and attractions, such as Sigiriya Rock, Kandy, and safaris."
In Japan, this is similar in distance to "using a hotel in Tokyo as a base and wanting to take day trips to Karuizawa, Nikko, and Fuji Safari Park every day."
It would be different if we were able to travel at high speeds like on the Shinkansen, but in Sri Lanka we drive by car on regular roads, so even just traveling back and forth is exhausting.
Not only that, but you will end up driving extra distances that you don't need to, which will increase your taxi fare.
Although the above example is an extreme example, the key to keeping travel costs down is to make a plan that allows you to get around without wasting any space.
Before you start planning your trip, you should first decide:
1. Make a list of places you want to visit (tourist attractions, etc.). It's okay to list them in no particular order.
2. Decide which hotel you want to stay at.
3. Approximate flight schedule and travel start and end dates and times.
Once you have decided on these things, consult with a professional tour planner to make sure you can incorporate them well into the number of days you have available for your trip.
Tip 4. Make good use of public transportation
This may be difficult for groups with small children, but traveling alone with less luggage allows for greater mobility, so even if it may be a little inconvenient, it is a good idea to make good use of low-cost public transportation.
*Railways: Online reservations are possible, making them easy for foreign tourists to use.
Reservations can be made up to one month before travel.
Please note that there are no refunds after purchase. You will need your passport number and credit card when making a reservation.
*Express buses: These are a popular means of transportation for locals as they are comfortable and cheaper than taxis.
The downside is that bus terminals are often located in places that are somewhat inconvenient for tourists who are unfamiliar with the area, and some form of transportation is required to get there.
Even after arriving at your destination, you will be expected to have the initiative to arrange your own transportation using Three Wheeler or similar.
