In Reply to: Taxis posted by Mad Batak on Thursday, 1. May 2003 at 10:39 Bali Time:
Well, Mad, I hesitate to say this, but you're way off. I have visited more airports than I can count, and only a very small minority operates a monopolized non-metered taxi service.
Now, allow me also to address your second point which also misses its target by a mile. I am not talking about exchange rates or how much an airport taxi trip will set you back in Kangaroo dollars. A bluebird taxi to the airport from Sanur in 1999 - 2000 was about 12000, while an airport taxi to Sanur was 16 500. Now the prices are about 22 000 / 55 000. As you will note, something is not right about the development of the pricing of airport taxis.
By the way, the last chap I talked to about this - a driver of the "white taxis" who also operates the airport taxis - told me the average number of daily trips for a driver at the airport these days is less than 1. So perhaps a reduction of the staff, rather than an increase of the prices would be called for.
Now your last statement needs to be somewhat adjusted too. No need to walk out of the airport and "hope" for another taxi. Alternative drivers are lining up in dozens - outside the domestic terminal - to drive the tourists at half price. If, next time, you read the post to which you answer, you will find that I actually mentioned this.