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🚕 Airport to hotel: taxi, shuttle, private transfer or public transport?
Updated on 7 Nov 2026
After a long flight, the ride from the airport to the hotel is often where travellers overpay. Here is how to pick the right option.
Public transport: the cheapest
Airport trains, metros and buses are the cheapest option in many big cities. Ideal if you travel light, arrive in daytime and your hotel is near a station. Less practical with children, lots of luggage or a late arrival.
Official taxis
Always take a taxi from the official rank, never from someone approaching you in the arrivals hall. Some cities have a flat fare to the centre: check before you arrive. Elsewhere, ask for the meter or agree on the price before getting in.
Private transfer booked in advance
A driver waits for you at the exit with a sign showing your name, at the price fixed when booking. Drivers usually track your flight in case of delay.
- Ideal for: night arrivals, families, countries where you don't speak the language, first visits;
- Check: what is included (waiting time, luggage, child seats) and the cancellation terms.
Ride-hailing apps
Where they operate, ride-hailing apps show the price before the ride. Watch out for surge pricing and check where the pick-up point is at the airport.
Anti-scam tips
- Write down your hotel's exact address (and its local-language version if needed);
- Keep some local cash, or check that cards are accepted;
- Turn down unofficial "taxis", even if they announce a very low price.
You can book a fixed-price transfer in the "Prepare your trip" block of our flight and tourism pages.