Local taxis, Brussels

I just had a very bad experience with them. After waiting for the cab driver at the meeting point for more than 45 minutes, he appeared and very rudely placed my luggage in the car. When I asked him his name and complaint form, threw my luggage out of the cab and shouted me to leave. I called the police and, while I was waiting for him inside the cab, catch my arm and pushed me out of the take. Then, he left. I called taxi2brussels.be and the girl told me that "she knows what Spaniards do to avoid paying"!!!!!. My recommend: there are plenty of companies much more professional than these people.

I travel a lot to Belgium and till the last few weeks it was a complete nightmare if I had to take a taxi on the street or even if I had to book online. Overcharge, delays, few times drivers just DID NOT COME.

A friend of mine told me to book at EconomTaxi. These guys are awesome. They offer nice prices, brand new and clean cars ( I've travelled with new Mercedes E Class). Drivers speak pretty good English and dressed very properly. To give an example of a price : Brussels - Zaventem Internation Airport costed me only 35 euro.

When I travel with my boss I also order VIP. The price is CHEAPER than a simple taxi in Brussels, but they offer you Mercedes R-Class, very luxurious. My boss was just happy :)

I hope I could help anybody with that :)

There are their website and number : http://economtaxi.be/ or http://www.viptransfers.be. +32485804382. Enjoy!

Over the last couple of days myself and two other colleagues took taxis from Brussels Midi to the Mariot hotel (down town). I was charged E12, my other colleague E20 and another person E10. All of these journeys were made during day between 10am and 12pm. Why?????? I leave that for you to answer. But don't say I didn't warn you.

Hi, I've had a very bad incident with a taxi in Brussels. I had a flight at 8 am and hotel called me a taxi. I have had a bit rush to the airport to catch my flight. The cost was 50 euros and I gave the driver 100 euros and wanted a receipt. He gave money with the receipt and I went away and then when I arrived I had arranged the things inside my bag and I saw that he gave me 5 euros back instead of 50! I immediately called the hotel and reported this but nobody helped me. I have the receipt and I often go to Brussels and the next time I go, I will go to the taxi station and inform them about it. I could not find their telephone number online. The hotel was Crowne Plaza, taxi station was Transport taxi. The driver was a black man in mid 40s. I don't know he did this on purpose or not but I'll not give up this incident! So be careful when you get on a taxi in Brussels!!!

FORUM REPLY.

It's about 900 m and the streets and trottoirs (foot path) are not flat for small wheels of luggage like already said by others.
I would take a taxi. (If you would arrive at Bruxelles Midi-South by Thalys or Eurostar than a taxi is a must because the area is not safe - see warnings and dangers).

Bruxelles-Nord, Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Midi are main stations because they are linked by the "Jonction". Nearly all trains from North to South, East to West of Belgium stop at these 3 stations (except Thalys and Eurostar only Bruxelles-Midi)

Here the prices for a taxi from the official Brussels Regio website (only in French and Dutch): www.bruxellesmobilite.irisnet.be

Détail du tarif (Service, T.V.A. et pourboire sont compris dans le prix indiqué au taximètre) :
Prise en charge : 2,40€
Tarif I (dans les 19 communes de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale) : 1,60€/km
Tarif II (en dehors des 19 communes) : 2,70€/km
Heure d'attente : 30,00€ de l'heure (le taximètre s'enclenche automatiquement sur l'heure d'attente lorsque le taxi roule à une vitesse inférieure à 19km/h, par exemple dans les embouteillages, au feu rouge, etc)
Entre 22 heures et 6 heures, un supplément forfaitaire de 2,00€ est demandé au client (le taximètre est pourvu d'une horloge-calendrier qui permet l'enregistrement automatique de ce supplément forfaitaire).

Obligation de vous donner le ticket !
Le chauffeur est tenu de vous donner le ticket de l'imprimante (et non un ticket manuscrit) correspondant à votre course une fois celle-ci terminée. Ce ticket reprend le numéro du taxi, le prix de la course et toute une série de renseignements utiles en cas de plainte ou d'objet perdu.

Translation by Google.

Retail tariff (Service, VAT and gratuities are included in the price indicated on the meter):
Support ( = minimum charge) € 2.40
I rate (in the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital): € 1.60 / km
Rate II (outside the 19 municipalities): 2.70 € / km
Waiting time: € 30.00 per hour (the meter automatically starts on the hour wait when the taxi is traveling at a speed below 19km / h, for example in traffic jams, red lights, etc.)
Between 22 pm and 6 am, a supplement of € 2.00 is applied to the client (the meter is equipped with a clock-calendar that allows the automatic recording of the additional sum.
You have to count with slow traffic and files so that you will pay more than the minimum charge + Km charge.

Obligation to give you the ticket!
The driver must give you the ticket printer (not a manuscript ticket) for your race once it is completed. This ticket contains the number of the taxi, the fare and a range of useful information in case of complaint or lost object.

Between you and me Belgians don't trust taxi drivers. The drivers know and are less tempted to cheat us like they do with tourists.

One thing is important, the taxis waiting at the airport are not from Brussels but from Zaventem.
Brussels' taxis are not allowed to embark passengers there.
There are often traffic jams on the road to the centre so that you pay not per Km but per minute of waiting time or slow moving.
From the airport to the centre I always take the train to Bruxelles-Nord, Central or Midi. Every 20 minutes. Once in the centre you can take a taxi.
Only problem the lines at the airport station to get a ticket. You can buy and print your ticket by internet www.b-rail.be

This is an excellent taxi company running from the airport to city center where you can buy a return ticket and get 20% discount!

I'll find it very convenient and good bargain if you don't want to carry heavy suitcases in the *little train* (which is very good too, cheaper 2,40 Euros one-way and the ride takes only 20min.).

NOTICE:If you take the autolux taxí make sure to:
1. ask the driver its an autolux cab
2. ask for the return coupon in addition to the receipt (the phone nbr to call the return taxi is on that coupon!)
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Very handy indeed as the return telephone call need to be done only a couple hours before.

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This is one that I've noticed a couple of times but not really given it any thought until this visit.

Personally I just use the Metro but if you need a taxi and are arriving by Eurostar the main exit takes you to the taxi rank pictured where there is always a permanent queue.

However if you go through the station concourse to the other end (Rue Angleterre??), where the railway underpass is, you'll find a rank with plenty of taxis waiting for customers. It's only a couple of minutes walk.

AVOID TAXIS IN BRUSSELS: you read it from others, and you better believe. Drivers often do not know how to get from the simplest a to b, cannot follow the map to the address you have given them, will drive the "scenic" route given half the chance, will drop you at the wrong street or restaurant, and will try to claim they have no change for the note you pay with. They are a total disgrace to the city.

I took a cab from the Sheraton near Gare Du Nord and to Grand Place in the worst afternoon traffic and it only cost around 5 euros. It's a quick trip/15 minute walk, 5 minute drive. Trip back with cheating driver was 14 euros. Same distance, 3 times as much. Ugly, mean driver too! Be wary (or better yet, walk!)

Taxi's in Brussels are very expensive and not everybody is correct. For short distances is ok but if you need to go a bit far you have to be very careful of your choice.
Let me tell you what happened with us. We came from Spain and had to go to the Belgium cost, and because I know about how expensive Taxis in the airport are, we made a reservation with Limo Taxi. The price was 187 euros.
Somehow our travel agent did not inform the company that we were 5...
When that awesome BMW 7 came, we had a problem, we were 1 too much.
We were obliged to get an extra Taxi from the airport that drove on the meter.
When we arrived in the cost we had to pay 275 euros !!!
I asked the driver of Limo Taxi how could this be? Well this was the normal Taxi price on 2.2 euros per km outside the city. Our tour operator booked us for almost 100 euro less. Here is the link of these people http://limotaxi.net
So the tip is: Make a booking in advance because the Taxis from the airport are 0.60 euros per km more expensive than these guys.