Cheap Car Rental in Cape Town - 3 Reasons You"Re Better Off Renting Vehicles Than Riding Cabs
Flying to Cape Town really soon? Whatever you do, don't get on a cab! Don't do it.
Don't even think about it.
Do yourself a favor and get a cheap car rental in Cape Town instead.
I flew to the Cape recently, and was dumbfounded by how much their cabbies charge--and that's not even the worst of it.
Here are three EXCELLENT reasons to avoid cabs at all costs in Cape Town and rent a car instead.
1.
Cabs Charge Very High Rates.
The rates for cabs in the Cape are among the highest I've seen, and I travel around the world regularly! Rates start at 11 rand per kilometer.
That's a whooping 2.
37 USD per mile or 1.
16 Euros per kilometer! We're not even talking of legally metered cabs here.
It's up to the cab company to decide how much to charge you per kilometer, so long as this rate is listed on the body of the cab itself.
Don't pony up the cash; you will get more mileage out of your cash if you pay for getting your own car while in Cape Town.
2.
Cabs Are Very Inconvenient.
If you're thinking you can flag a cab anytime you want, you have obviously never been to Cape Town.
In the Cape, taxis cannot be stopped in the middle of the street.
You have to get your ride from a taxi stand, or call for one to pick you up.
This is a very serious inconvenience, especially if you need to go somewhere really fast.
With your own car on the other hand, you can zip to any part of town anytime you want! 3.
Cabs Can Be Dangerous.
Ever heard stories about the black taxis of South Africa? Be warned that when people talk about the black taxis of South Africa, they certainly do not mean to compare it to the black cabs of London.
The black cabs of London are reputable; the black taxis in South Africa are just dangerous.
The truth is, many of these taxis are no more than beat-up mini-buses.
These mini-buses are meant to hold 12 people at most.
But the Cape being the Cape, don't be surprised if your driver tries to cram at least 20 people inside.
There are even stories of drivers steering their taxis with lead pipes! The first time I rode one of these mini-buses in the Cape, I was shocked.
There was this guy who yelled out the destinations while hanging from the sliding door! Later on, I learned that they call this guy the conductor, and that this practice is not at all unusual in the Cape.
Not at all usual in the Cape, yes, but it was unusual enough for me to go for a cheap car rental in Cape Town on my next visit! So yes, if you want a hassle-free stay, please don't get on a cab.
Don't even go near one.
Book a car instead.
Driving is a joy in the Cape; having to deal with unscrupulous cabbies, very high rates, and dangerous vehicles is not.
Don't even think about it.
Do yourself a favor and get a cheap car rental in Cape Town instead.
I flew to the Cape recently, and was dumbfounded by how much their cabbies charge--and that's not even the worst of it.
Here are three EXCELLENT reasons to avoid cabs at all costs in Cape Town and rent a car instead.
1.
Cabs Charge Very High Rates.
The rates for cabs in the Cape are among the highest I've seen, and I travel around the world regularly! Rates start at 11 rand per kilometer.
That's a whooping 2.
37 USD per mile or 1.
16 Euros per kilometer! We're not even talking of legally metered cabs here.
It's up to the cab company to decide how much to charge you per kilometer, so long as this rate is listed on the body of the cab itself.
Don't pony up the cash; you will get more mileage out of your cash if you pay for getting your own car while in Cape Town.
2.
Cabs Are Very Inconvenient.
If you're thinking you can flag a cab anytime you want, you have obviously never been to Cape Town.
In the Cape, taxis cannot be stopped in the middle of the street.
You have to get your ride from a taxi stand, or call for one to pick you up.
This is a very serious inconvenience, especially if you need to go somewhere really fast.
With your own car on the other hand, you can zip to any part of town anytime you want! 3.
Cabs Can Be Dangerous.
Ever heard stories about the black taxis of South Africa? Be warned that when people talk about the black taxis of South Africa, they certainly do not mean to compare it to the black cabs of London.
The black cabs of London are reputable; the black taxis in South Africa are just dangerous.
The truth is, many of these taxis are no more than beat-up mini-buses.
These mini-buses are meant to hold 12 people at most.
But the Cape being the Cape, don't be surprised if your driver tries to cram at least 20 people inside.
There are even stories of drivers steering their taxis with lead pipes! The first time I rode one of these mini-buses in the Cape, I was shocked.
There was this guy who yelled out the destinations while hanging from the sliding door! Later on, I learned that they call this guy the conductor, and that this practice is not at all unusual in the Cape.
Not at all usual in the Cape, yes, but it was unusual enough for me to go for a cheap car rental in Cape Town on my next visit! So yes, if you want a hassle-free stay, please don't get on a cab.
Don't even go near one.
Book a car instead.
Driving is a joy in the Cape; having to deal with unscrupulous cabbies, very high rates, and dangerous vehicles is not.