Question regarding Miami Taxi fare

[c_cruiser]

We just returned from our first cruise and something has been bothering me since we got back.

We decided to fly to Miami 1 day early and stayed at a hotel by Bayside Market. We took a Taxi from the airport to the hotel, the fare on the meter was around $22. The driver told us that there is a $3 airport charge on top of the fare. We were surprised by that, because I didn't read it anywhere (and the driver didn't tell us before either). The driver gave me a very bad feeling, but since this is our first time in Miami, we just weren't too sure how the fare works.

On top of the $3 charge, we gave him a $2 tip, when my bf gave him the money, he gave us this disgusted look, and my sweet bf thought the $2 tip wasn't enough, and offered him an extra $1. The driver took the money, left the luggages on the street (not the sidewalk) and sped off. I guess my question is: is the $3 extra charge legitimate.

[premiumrican]

I just returned from Miami a couple of weeks ago and there was a flat fee from the airport to different Zones in Miami. Meaning no meters were used by the driver. I stayed in South Beach and it was a 28 dollar fee for that Zone. If I am not mistaken, I thought downtown was in a different Zone with a different rate.

[Ericknow32]

I too was ripped of by a Miami taxi. I was going from my pre cruise hotel to a restraunt and the driver took us all around the city before dropping us off. He claimed that a road was closed. Yeah right.

[c_cruiser]

If I remember correctly, the pricelist by the taxi stand at the airport indicates that to go downtown, the fare is normally between $19 to $22. That's why it is bugging me that we probably got ripped off. When I asked the front desk at our hotel if there is a $3 airport charge, the person at the front desk avoided my question and told me the meter is normally around $21.

I just want to be sure, so when we cruise again out of Miami, I will know for sure if we are getting ripped off. If I did get ripped off, I am sure not all Miami taxi drivers are like that. In fact, our taxi driver who took us to the port from our hotel was excellent, we gave this driver a $5 tip willingly.

[cmason]

Cab from airport to south beach stuck to the posted flat rates. the cab from the port to the airport asked me to pay the tolls at the port, which I did. I then read the fare guide in the cab: Flat rates from the port to the airport was $21, which includes all other charges. In otherwords, I didnt have to pay the $1. It also said that if you were on a metered rate, the extra charges would be only $1 or $2 depending on what you did, and it listed a few options.

When I arrived at the airport, I handed the cab driver a $20, and told him the $1 I paid earlier brought the total to $21. I paid no tip, because he did not explain what he was doing, only insisted I pay the fee, and was a jerk about it.

So, read the fare guides in the cab, and stick to them.