While traveling internationally, getting around from place to place can be a challenge depending on the city you are in. I can attest to that. One incident that happened a few years ago especially stands out.
I was with a group of colleagues in Istanbul on a lovely Saturday afternoon. We had been out sightseeing for hours near the Blue Mosque and the Royal Palace and were ready to go back to the hotel. There were several taxis conveniently located right near the exit of the palace, so we approached them and asked how much it would cost to go back to the hotel. We even showed the cab drivers the hotel’s business card so there would be no miscommunication or confusion about where we wanted to go.
Well, the quotes we heard were outrageous and at least triple what we had paid to get from the hotel to the same area just hours earlier—and they wanted only cash. Here we were, going from taxi to taxi and trying to get the price down, but none of them came down. Suddenly, some man approached us and said he would take us back to the hotel for the price we wanted.
We were thrilled and followed him through the sea of taxis to a side street. Only thing is—when we finally reached his vehicle—there was no taxi sign on it. It was someone’s personal car! We took a huge risk and decided to go ahead anyway with him, and thankfully, we reached the hotel with no issue. Even though we arrived safely, I would not recommend for anyone to ever do this. Here is some advice to think about when getting around by taxi in foreign countries.
1. Ask your hotel about local taxis:
Since I travel mostly for business, my local company’s contacts help educate me on what the ground transportation situation is. They tell me if it is safe to just hail a cab at the airport, or if we should arrange a car service to get around. Your hotel can also provide this type of advice for you.
Call your hotel ahead of time to get a feel for whether you will need to arrange ground transportation or you can rely on street cabs. Make sure to also ask how much it should cost to get from the airport to your hotel, so that you don’t get ripped off first thing on your trip.
2. Not all taxis are created equal:
In some countries, there is more than one type of taxi that you need to be aware of. Some are “official” and display license information about the driver, and they have meters. Others are not official, but may still have a taxi sign on their roof. In many cases, they are distinguished by the color of the car. Make sure you are aware of this fact, and stick to only official taxis.
3. Always get a receipt:
Even if you are on a personal vacation, always ask for a receipt when you leave a taxi. Chances are they will contain the name of the company and a phone number. This can be handy information if you had a good experience and want to reuse that same cabbie, or if you forget something in the car and need to track them down.
4. Carry hotel information:
While I have found that about 50 percent of taxi drivers speak some amount of English, many still don’t. To make sure you get back to your correct hotel, or if you need translation help in a pinch, take along the hotel’s business card with the phone number and address written in the local language (and in English).
5. Have enough cash on hand:
I would say that the majority of taxis abroad only accept cash, and if you only want to pay via credit card, ask the driver before you get in. But as a general rule, make sure you have enough cash with you when sightseeing since finding a cash machine can sometimes be challenging.
6. Talk price before you leave:
Since I ask my hotel ahead of time how much it should cost me to get from Point A to Point B on a day of sightseeing, I have a benchmark to start discussions with the taxi driver. Even if there is a meter in the taxi, there may be surcharges or fees for going out of certain zones. Have the bellman at your hotel get a quote for you when leaving, and if you want similar treatment on your return, try to find a hotel from which to hail a cab and have them do the same for you.
If you enjoy the freedom of traveling without a formal schedule or via an organized bus tour, follow these tips to minimize the risk of being taken for a ride (pun intended)when exploring your surroundings.
As always, happy travels to you all!
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