Welcome to a city in Croatia where you are more likely to win the lottery than call a taxi
Come to Kaštela, that’s where I’ll be waiting; in my little boat by the sea…these are the lyrics to a song every person in Kaštela knows (Dođi u Kaštela). If you are flying into Split, you have to, at least, drive through this once picturesque city because that’s where the airport is located. It is the 7th largest city in Croatia with the approximate population of 50 000 and yet, if you occasionally rely on taxis to get around like I do, you’re in big trouble.
Calling a taxi in this city and actually getting through to their dispatch service equals winning the lottery. The main Taxi Kaštela stop is located in front of the Airport and they never, ever bother to pick up the phone, no matter how many times you try. The Airport is their goldmine. Having complete monopoly they line up, smoke, slowly scan through the latest edition of Slobodna Dalmacija (regional daily newspaper), wait for the next victim to step off the plane and hope the client is heading to Split, because if you’re wishing to go to Trogir or Čiovo during peak season they will very often say no. The reason is simple: it will take them at least an hour and a half to get there and back due to horrible traffic jams in the area during summer and the most money they can hope to make for that particular route is 150 kuna, while route Airport – Split is an easy 280 kuna in their pocket (in some cases it can climb up to 350 kuna, depending on which part of the city you’re going to).
It also takes a lot of luck to actually find the phone number for Kaštela taxi service since it is only listed on the Airport’s website. Wonderful advertising, isn’t it? Yes, you can find five or six private numbers for taxis in Kaštela, but they will either dismiss your call or say it’s their day off reminding you that you should have ordered a ride way in advance which is incredibly helpful when you’re faced with an emergency.
Why am I ranting? As a person living in Kaštela for over 18 years now, I know what kind of local wars start whenever the time comes to issue new taxi licenses (it doesn’t help that only 11 licenses are issued in the process and the tender only comes out once every two or three years). Finding the right connection within the City Hall and having a white car is all it takes. Once you get your license you’re golden, since there’s no control over what you are actually doing with it or if you’re even driving the car you registered in order to get your license.
As a Kaštela cab driver, you don’t have to worry about other taxi companies or even Uber because your central organization made sure no one else can enter the market. You don’t have to worry about taxi drivers from Split and Solin taking your client if all Kaštela taxis are out and about either, even if they are dropping off their own client at the airport. Airport police will quickly tell the Split and Solin drivers to keep moving and hold the client for local guys. How lovely and caring of them.
There’s no point of asking the local authorities why we are having this problem year after year because, every time this question comes up, they will quickly say “don’t ask that, it’s always a hot potato”, the conversation ends and you’re left standing with a big question mark above your head wondering who the hell’s in charge. So, instead of getting mad, get even. Order your airport transfer online, or use drivers from Solin or Taxi Kajla Split. You can find their numbers using a simple Google search; and while Kaštela taxi service doesn’t even have a visible phone number, private taxi companies, and transfer services all have at least a well maintained Facebook page and they will agree on a price before you even land. Trust me, they’re much cheaper, more professional, all drivers speak English and can tell you a thing or two about the area while you’re in their car.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my town even though the saying “It’s hard to grow old in Kaštela without going mad” is very true. I’m expecting angry comments and swear words from taxi drivers when they see me walking down the street now and I only have one thing to say to them – Dabogda ti sutra došao Uber (I hope Uber gets here tomorrow).
