Gran Alacant Forum

Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: thedallas1 on August 09, 2015, 11:07.

Title: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: thedallas1 on August 09, 2015, 11:07.
Hi folks, just joined today and thanks for having me!
I am coming over in October to look at properties, I currently have one at Villamartin Plaza but looking for quiet after my time there....having read many articles it sounds like I can have that. Basically want access to shops, transport, bars etc but not living on top of them, with a balcony, roof,  communal pool to enjoy quiet times. Can I access taxis to airport from Gran Alacant? Any ideas more than welcome!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 09, 2015, 12:23.
Look through the local Gran Alacant magazine. Lots of info.

at    www.granalacantadvertiser.com
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: John H on August 09, 2015, 12:29.
Taxis from the rank at the airport to GA are c.€18

For GA to the airport you'll have lots of neighbours and friends offering to take you, for around €15 there are a lot of local lads who do airport runs, just ask in any bar, or you can call the taxi company in Santa Pola......there's even a bus service.

Regards all

John


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: thedallas1 on August 09, 2015, 13:14.
Thanks for my first replies.....feel like part of the community already .....much appreciated


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 09, 2015, 16:38.
There has been a big clampdown on illegal taxis on Gran Alacant, so be careful. Some have been warned off, others fined.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: Up the iron on August 14, 2015, 18:00.
Hi, GA should meet all your requirements. Been using "local" taxi drivers for 15 years, never a problem.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: thedallas1 on August 15, 2015, 10:27.
Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 15, 2015, 13:25.
Think quite a few of the taxi drivers have ceased working

6000 euro fines a bit of a deterrent

Trouble is, many problems with the legal taxis

We have been having discussions with the Town Hall about the problem
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: Up the iron on August 15, 2015, 17:09.
Hi GAMagazine, I do realise it may not be your responsibility but the taxi situation has been a problem for the 15 years that I first arrived in GA. Do you know why? We have caught the one at Lidl but its very rare its there.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 15, 2015, 18:04.
The taxis rule

New people at the town hall are angry the way some of the drivers are charging from Santa Pola, when perhaps they are on GA
If the legal drivers want to do it all, then they have to provide a proper service
We have suggested an office on GA where holidaymakers can book their taxi back to the airport, perhaps even showing on a map, where they want picking up.
We know the illegals are illegal, but they are providing a proper service.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: Alicante Holiday Villas on August 15, 2015, 20:40.
Well said Barry, some of our guests were recently charged over €150 for 3 cabs from Calle Holanda to the beach and back by the 'legal' taxis they called from Santa Pola - absolutely shameful.   :(

Gawd knows why they didn't just take the land train or the bus as the villa had details of both inside, but still shocking that they were ripped off this way by the legal taxis.
Title: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: John H on August 16, 2015, 11:11.
A Danish family were staying next to us earlier this year, seven of them.
They did a deal with one  of the "locals", a Dutch guy I have known for about 10 years who has a people carrier
He took them to Alicante, returned five hours later to bring them back to GA and then two days later took them to the airport, the total cost €65..........make your own mind up

Regards all

John


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: Gemstone on August 16, 2015, 16:02.
I had friends arriving at the airport and took a "legal" taxi to G.A. First taxi said he didn't do G.A. but only Benidorm, second taxi said he would take them to G.A. he then took well over half an hour going around in circles as he had no idea where the street was !
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: John H on August 16, 2015, 16:05.
In fairness I've never had a problem getting a taxi from the airport, I give them directions!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: sunseekers on August 16, 2015, 17:55.
We first saw and fell in love with gran alacant in 2001 and having watched the place grow, it never ceases to amaze me why some enterprising person has not got a taxi licence and based him or herself in g a and run a taxi company for and from g a.  There's certainly enough business and I would have thought that, if it were run along the lines of a typical Brit taxi, ie, always available, reliable and not costing the earth, that it could have been a very nice little earner and a growing earner over the years for an entire family. By the way we have never had a problem getting Spanish taxis from the airport either and do use them, as we would if they were available and fairly priced in gran alacant, like many others.
Hazel.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: bertdove on August 16, 2015, 20:52.
Agree about taxis from airport; I think they're based in Elche.  Generally reliable and honest.  Unfortunately GA's come from Santa Pola...


Bert
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: Corporal Jones on August 16, 2015, 22:29.
Im sure there's a long winded bureaucratic,  red tape entangled reason as to why no one has started a legal taxi base in GA maybe our local councillor could be asked.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 16, 2015, 23:05.
When a new license comes up, you have to apply for it and go through many hoops. Would be nice to see someone try. Have been told it costs many thousands to buy the license. If it was that easy it would have been done by now. At our next Town Hall meeting, we will make enquiries.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: John H on August 16, 2015, 23:54.
A neighbour recently took and passed his exams as a taxi driver. He has a contract for the Summer driving in a licensed cab in Alicante.
To get his own licence to run a car he told me that the cost is €100,000
Seems like an awful lot of money to me.
Fran seems to think it's worth it, his house is up for sale......with the proceeds he is buying a licence   

Regards all

John


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 17, 2015, 08:54.
That is a lot of money. No wonder they complain at illegals taking their trade
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: John H on August 17, 2015, 10:02.
It is a lot of money Barry, Fran also had to study for about 4 months to get his licence and from what he told me the study and exam costs were a few thousand euros.
Once you have bought the licence for a car it's yours forever from what he told me, most are passed from father to son

Regards all

John


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: gaveteran on August 17, 2015, 10:33.
The basic answer to that sunseekers is that the licenses cost upwards of €150,000 and in many cases are simply handed down through families with no chance at all of obtaining a new one. Roll on uber! It'll be in GA at some point (although they are trying to kill it in Madrid) and when it happens I can only imagine we'll have about 600 registered uber drivers, with a car never more than five minutes away. You can't stop the future!
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: puddy-woo on August 17, 2015, 10:43.
Lets hope not re Uber.  As the wife of a licenced London black taxi driver who paid £42k for his cab and took 2 years to do his knowledge - and is not straight off the boat !! The stories he tells me about them driving the wrong way down roads etc in the city is nothing short of criminal.  Sleeping in their cars in side streets waiting for fares. I will never use uber in any country. Thats my rant over!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: GAMagazine on August 17, 2015, 17:10.
Great to hear that there are 2 sides to every story

If you would like to repeat this info to me at the magazine, I would love to print it, to educate all of us
about the legal taxi drivers lot.
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: John H on August 17, 2015, 17:38.
Well I've just researched and found out what Uber is, you live and learn every day, cheers gaveteran

Regards all

John


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: sunseekers on August 17, 2015, 19:02.
Please don't get me wrong GA magazine I would be happy to use the 'legal' service if there was one on offer but the 'legal' taxis can't really complain about 'illegals' when they are not offering a service based on and dedicated to, Gran alacant, that is the only reason why an illegal service has developed, because there has not been an alternative. I assume that the licences are given to a dedicated area? And that is why there isn't a private taxi service dedicated to g a, where there is plenty of demand, and wow yes, the cost of the licence seems completely exhorbitant, hardly encouraging new businesses.
Hazel
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: angieanded on August 20, 2015, 17:22.
you wont need to worry about a taxi to the airport once your there in ga your never want to leave just send every one back home a post card
wish you were here
Title: Re: Buying in Gran Alacant
Post by: sunseekers on August 20, 2015, 20:22.
 8) And hopefully one day we will be in that position  8)