Part 2:

When you arrive at your destination:

Have the cash ready in hand, including a tip if you wish. Keep it hidden.

Get out of the taxi and take all of your luggage. Have it all ready to go (i.e., backpacks on your back, handles out, etc).

Hand the driver the money and walk away and do not look back.

Drivers sometimes claim that the money given is not enough or try to impose some additional changes on you. By being ready to go and handing the money over and walking away he has less of a chance of pulling this scam. If your luggage is still in the trunk or you are not ready to go then there is a good chance of this scam developing.

If the driver is very insistent that you have underpaid him (e.g., he follows you into the hotel lobby), then just make sure that you didn’t short-change him or forget an extra charge (e.g., taxi desk at airport charge or a toll booth). Discussion of the problem in the hotel lobby or other public place will likely help you, not the driver, as people there likely know if a scam is in progress.

Taxi drivers never seem to have change, but will gladly take that big bill of yours. If you do not have enough change then tell the driver wait and go into a hotel, restaurant, or other establishment and get some change. Breaking a big bill at the airport prior to taking the taxi will help deal with this situation.

If the driver drops you nearby your destination, such as a couple of blocks away due to “bad traffic”, “difficult area”, “road closed” etc then be aware that this is most likely a scam in progress. The driver will then likely demand a rip-off fare as you cannot just go into the hotel and ask someone what the appropriate fare is or have someone at the hotel talk to the driver in the foreign language. In this situation, demand to be taken to the hotel front door (the better approach to side-track this scam) or just pay what you think is fair (which will never be enough). There is a good possibility that an argument will occur, but stand your ground. You can always WALK to your hotel and if the driver follows you demanding money, then you know it will likely be settled before you get to the front of your hotel. This is much less likely on metered fares, but still there might be extra fees demanded for “luggage” or other likely nonsense.

Tags: foreign travel, safety tips, taxi in a foreign country, taxi safety, taxi safety tips, tourist, traffic, Travel, travel safe