KL Best Taxi Service

My last post was a little lame frankly. I probably left it a little too long after leaving KL to write it, and forgot some of the intricacies that I was originally intending to convey regarding the best magazines for expats in KL. Anyhow, at least I put forward my definite #1, which was Time Out.

Anyhow, this post is another bit of KL advice for expats, or anyone really, and that is taxis. Taxis - while incredibly cheap in KL compared to most other developed cities in the world (particularly bloody Australia!) - are a bit hit and miss. There are SO many different kinds of taxis, some of which are regulated, but many I believe are not. For the unsuspecting tourist or expat, this can lead to difficulties.

So let's start with the basics. There are 4 main ways you can get taxis in Malaysia:

1) At the airport

2) Online booking

3) On the street in KLCC/Bukit Bintang areas

4) On the street elsewhere

We'll go one by one.

1) Airport - as you leave Customs, you'll see a taxi counter. This is by far and away the best place to book a cab. You tell them your destination and the fare is fixed and paid upfront. No hassles. Ever. You can get taxi touts en masse in the arrivals hall, and hey some of them might give a decent competitive price, but my experience is most will try and sting you for tolls, extras, and also it is not registered, so you're in their hands. Flying in, either use the train (which is kind of stupid expensive now really) or use the taxi service counter. Easy.

2) Online their is an app called grab cab or something similar. The link is here https://www.grab.com/my/ Simply put, this service is awesome. You can choose exec, budget or even private cars, and between the 3 options, I have never had a problem getting a taxi, and they are always decent, I guess because it is registered. This is an excellent app, and I could not recommend it more highly, even when in the middle of town.

3) Be careful hailing a cab in this environment, as they try to stooge you often. Always immediately ask if they are going to use the meter. If yes, should be ok, if not, then just walk away. Otherwise you'll end up paying 3-10 times more than you should.

4) Generally, hailing a cab outside the central city is ok in my experience, and I have never had an issue with a cabbie not using the meter in this circumstance. But if they do not put it on as soon as you get in the cab, ask, and if they make some excuse, get out.

For me, even though it was more pricey, I was a big fan of Blue Cabs in KL. Clean, modern vehicles, professional drivers for the most part, and security. If you are not on a strict budget, this is the mode I would advise. A photo of one of their cabs, picking me up from my old home in KL is below: