Two of the biggest challenges facing foreigners in Costa Rica – and tourists – looking for a taxi are finding the phone number to a service and then, giving – explaining – your location.
Commuting around Costa Rica, even for the most experienced Tico, can proven to be some what complicated. Imagine the nightmare for foreigners and tourists? Landmarks are used as references, no street names, impossible directions, dangerous areas, etc. Even more difficult when the reference landmark is an old one that no longer exists.
Now, help is the palm of your hands – your smartphone, with a new service called “Saytaxi” that is looking to change this.
According to the developer and CEO of anCDigataxi, Ariel Rochwerger, Saytaxi is a global app to hail taxis, and is now available in San José and Heredia, and expanding soon to the rest of the country. It is available as a free download from the Google Play Store, and the Apple App Store. (Later this year, it will also be available for Windows and Blackberry smartphones).
The app locates you with GPS and displays a list of nearby available drivers.
Important information such as: picture, name, plate number, if the driver speaks english, among other information, is shown to the passenger. Once you select a driver, the system sends the coordinates to the official taxi driver of your choice. As a passenger, you can follow the cab as it comes to pick you up, and even call the driver directly.
The system will automatically send you push notifications, letting you know the taxi is on its way, has arrived, or even if the driver is unable to find you. Some other functionalities will follow in the near future.
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