Taxi gift cards in DC/VA
December 5, 2011 4:01 PM Subscribe
I want to give someone a gift card for a cab ride in DC/NOVA. Will this be more trouble than it's worth? Have you done it successfully?
The gift recipient works in Foggy Bottom, lives in Falls Church and normally commutes on the metro. Ideally this gift would allow her to either catch a cab all the way home from work or catch a cab from East Falls Church home. I've seen the coupon book from Red Top Cab but my concerns are:
1. Can I be sure that the drivers will definitely accept the coupon? Will they insist on a cash tip or try to say that it's expired or that the coupons don't apply at rush hour or otherwise make using the coupon hard?
2. Can Red Top pick passengers up in the District? I've used them before, but only to get to and from DCA.
The gift recipient works in Foggy Bottom, lives in Falls Church and normally commutes on the metro. Ideally this gift would allow her to either catch a cab all the way home from work or catch a cab from East Falls Church home. I've seen the coupon book from Red Top Cab but my concerns are:
1. Can I be sure that the drivers will definitely accept the coupon? Will they insist on a cash tip or try to say that it's expired or that the coupons don't apply at rush hour or otherwise make using the coupon hard?
2. Can Red Top pick passengers up in the District? I've used them before, but only to get to and from DCA.
I'd contact Fairfax Yellow Cab. They're a fairly big company and are a lot more centralized than any DC cab association (which seem to be fairly loosely-organized groups of independent operators). They do corporate accounts, so the drivers should at least be used to the idea of a rider not paying them directly.
As long as the trip either starts or ends on the Virginia side (pretty sure the City of FC is okay) they can go anywhere. You can't use them from a trip that both starts and ends in DC, though.
Anyway I'd call them and ask.
posted by Kadin2048 at 4:22 PM on December 5, 2011
As long as the trip either starts or ends on the Virginia side (pretty sure the City of FC is okay) they can go anywhere. You can't use them from a trip that both starts and ends in DC, though.
Anyway I'd call them and ask.
posted by Kadin2048 at 4:22 PM on December 5, 2011
Nothing is more flexible than cash. You can still express your kind thought in the presentation (and research) behind the gift. Perhaps a gift note in a fancy envelope plus the exact fare + tip for her destination in cash.
posted by rube goldberg at 4:32 PM on December 5, 2011
posted by rube goldberg at 4:32 PM on December 5, 2011
If you are expecting them to use it on a certain date consider hiring a private car. It'll cost roughly the same amount and be much nicer.
posted by zephyr_words at 5:39 PM on December 5, 2011
posted by zephyr_words at 5:39 PM on December 5, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lobstah at 4:18 PM on December 5, 2011