Ive never been in a cab

[DBowling]

Im going to be in portland for two nights on a whim, and i dont really feel like renting a car. Last time i was there i got around fine on their light rail system. However the ride from the airport to my hotel is about 45 minutes by rail. Its only 15 minutes (8 miles) by car. What should i expect to pay for a cab for this distance? Also, what is proper tipping amount for this situation? Thanks
DB

[fluxrad]

I couldn't tell you. I've never been on a cab either.

It should cost you about $15 or so. You should probably tip a couple of bucks. If it's a $20 fare, I'd probably tip $3 or $4...

[Dead]

[ QUOTE ]
If it's a $20 fare, I'd probably tip $3 or $4...

[/ QUOTE ]

$7

[PoBoy321]

You tip $7 on a $20 cab fare? Wow, you're way more generous than anyone I've ever met.

$4 seems more than generous.

[daryn]

yeah that's way over the top.

[Dead]

I tip $4 on a $12 haircut, so why not 7/20.

[fluxrad]

Umm...because that's a friggin' 35% tip.

I mean, maybe if the cabbie does something extra special like give you a hand job from the front seat...

[Dead]

Yeah, but you don't want to saddle the cabbie with change by giving him $6.60

[Dead]

[ QUOTE ]
maybe if the cabbie does something extra special like give you a hand job from the front seat...

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean yours doesn't? I thought this was standard operating procedure.

[PoBoy321]

15% is a standard size for a tip. $4 on a $12 haircut is more than twice that. I usually tip $3 on a $12 haircut because a) I have a good relationship with my barber and b) that makes it $15 total, so I can just get a $5 back when I give him a 20.

So basically, I'm saying that you probably have overly generous tipping standards in general, not just for cabs. Not that I'm opposed to overtipping, I generally throw a few extra dollars onto any tip (since college kids are always notorious for being awful tippers), but 35+% is pretty excessive.

[Dead]

Yeah, but I never have to wait in line at the barbershop. It's a busy barbershop, but they know me by name, and bump me up ahead of everyone(probably because of the big tipping)

I'm a college kid too.

[fluxrad]

I smell a new thread...

[DBowling]

i over tip my barbers too, but i feel they do a personalized service where some should receive a higher % than others. If someone makes my coffee or drives my cab, i sort of feel like all of them do it the same

[DBowling]

so i should expect to pay around $20 for the trip?

[PoBoy321]

It depends on the rates in Washington (or was it Oregon). In DC, the trip from Reagan to Georgetown is about the same length and costs me $13.

[JaBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
15% is a standard size for a tip. $4 on a $12 haircut is more than twice that. I usually tip $3 on a $12 haircut because a) I have a good relationship with my barber and b) that makes it $15 total, so I can just get a $5 back when I give him a 20.

So basically, I'm saying that you probably have overly generous tipping standards in general, not just for cabs. Not that I'm opposed to overtipping, I generally throw a few extra dollars onto any tip (since college kids are always notorious for being awful tippers), but 35+% is pretty excessive.

[/ QUOTE ]

I tip 4$ on a 16$ haircut for the same reason. my barber is happy with this and i am more than happy to give that much to her. i've been getting great haircuts from her for 5 years.

[DBowling]

i tip $6 on a $14 haircut, btw. I just dont feel a taxi driver deserves almost 50%, yet i feel my barber does.

[zaxx19]

[ QUOTE ]
You tip $7 on a $20 cab fare?

[/ QUOTE ]

Stop doing this you are making me look cheap.

3$ is a normal tip 4-5 if i rushed him or he was really friendly-fast.

[ericd]

1. Call the hotel and ask.
2. Confirm the amount with the cab driver before starting.
3. Take down the cab driver id so you can report them if they try anything. If you're not satisfied let them know you did this (pay them, get a receipt and leave no tip if they do something that makes you want to report them).

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Actually it depends on the rates in the specific city. Taxi fares aren't set and regulated at the state level, they're regulated at the local level.

[mostsmooth]

i cut my own hair

[Paluka]

It should be pretty obvious that you should tip the person who regularly cuts your hair more than you would tip a cab driver.

[HesseJam]

[ QUOTE ]
It depends on the rates in Washington (or was it Oregon). In DC, the trip from Reagan to Georgetown is about the same length and costs me $13.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do they still have those whacky zoning maps inside each taxi where you are supposed to figure the fare yourself. You know, those maps which indicate the zone limits by the obscurest streets in DC. I spent 3.5 years in that city and could never figure out these maps. It took me 2 years to discover that the top of the map did not point to North but to East or West.

[HesseJam]

got it!

one of those scams in DC (http://www.dcpages.com/Travel/Reviews/pix/taxizonemap.gif)