Job Discussion Forums

[spiral78]

There's been some persistent interest on the boards here (albeit not widespread among posters) regarding the reputability of taxi service in at least one of the world's great cities.
Presumably, this is a major signpost of how advanced a city itself is.

So, please share. Are taxi services in 'your' city all legit and above-board? Do at least some fit the description? Or are visitors to 'your' city all facing a total rip-off as soon as we abandon public transit?

I'll start.

Prague - many are rip-offs. However, there is at least one reliable service which, while not cheap, is fair and safe (it's Europe, and just like in North America or the UK, taxis are not cheap).

It's one of many cities worldwide where it pays to have some insider info when travelling. Rather like New York City, or numerous other cities worldwide.

How about 'your' city?

[MuscatGary]

Oman in general, Muscat in particular - some try to rip foreigners off, others are fair. It's difficult for new arrivals to know because there are no meters here and two different forms of taking a taxi, 'engaged' when you hire the taxi excusively for yourslf and it will take you to exactly where you want to go (expensive) or 'not engaged' where you share with others who get in and out along the route, this type stays on the main roads and you don't get to exactly where you want to go. The trick is to make sure that both you and the taxi driver have agreed which form is being undertaken and to ALWAYS ask how much before getting in!

[fat_chris]

In Chengdu, Sichuan the green official taxis are generally fair and cheap. It helps to be able to know enough Chinese to tell the driver where you are going and to give him directions occasionally.

Don't take an "unofficial" cab in these parts unless you know the driver really well (as in, you have had a meal with him and are really friendly with his family).

Warm regards,
fat_chris

[damn_my_eyes]

I was trying to find a hostel in Xiamen , China one day, I knew I was close but couldn't for the life of me find it so I eventually jumped in a taxi and showed him the address.
He put the meter on and drove about 100 metres up the street to the hostel.

[MuscatGary]

The following is a very brief excerpt from my book in progress about life as a tefl teacher, taxis figure large...

St. Pancras is a beautiful train station, the same cannot be said of the Gare du Nord station in Paris and arriving there gives me pause for thought, there is an air of menace and beggars abound. It's been a long time since I was last here and I'm dreading having to explain that I want tickets for the Metro to go to Porte de Versailles. This feeling of dread is totally removed and replaced by one of sheer amazement when I realise that Paris now has information kiosks with people who: a) speak English and b) are prepared to do so. This is a cultural shock that actually manages to sober me, and allows me to find a bar where I can start drinking from scratch, before heading off on the last leg of today's journey.
Getting to Porte de Versailles proves remarkably easy. Metro line 4 to Montparnasse Bienvenue, then onto line 12, but upon arrival I find that the station has multiple exits which straddle a busy road and I have no idea which is the best one for me. The multi-lingualism evident in the Gare du Nord does not appear to have travelled to this side of the city and my French lets me down, so I take the nearest exit and emerge into a noisy, chaotic, street scene. By now the day's exertions are taking their toll and I decide a taxi is the best option for the final furlong and so show the Parisian taxi driver the address on my mobile phone. There is a momentary, barely discernible, look of surprise, followed by a huge smile and a gesture to get in. We then go for a typical Parisian taxi driver tourist ride with an equally typical price. It's not until the next day that I work out the address is a two minute walk from the station and not a twenty minute taxi ride.
Greedy, grasping, rip-off taxi drivers are a universal phenomenon, maybe there’s a taxi driver gene, which, in accordance with Darwinian Theory, has proved to be successful where others haven’t. The gene has pre-loaded personality traits and abilities such as being able to lie and smile at the same time. I’ve observed them in countries all over the world. The U.K. has them in great numbers, especially at our major airports where they can con unsuspecting tourists. In France and Spain, India and Venezuela, Germany and Kuwait they exist and prosper. Everywhere I go, I have battles with them, but they always have the upper hand, after all they have the knowledge.
I have arrived in Paris. Now where am I working? The agent didn't mention that....

[johntpartee]

"All" or "none"? C'mon, spiral.

[spiral78]

Did you overlook the middle option, johnt?

[johntpartee]

No. It's the ONLY option.

[spiral78]

I agree, but we have been reading for some time that 'all' taxi services in some (at least one) major world city are corrupt. In any case, more info on a city-by-city basis might be useful for those of us who travel.

[smithrn1983]

the unofficial taxis in moscow (i.e. whichever car stops first) were always way cheaper than the official taxis. I only used the official taxis when I needed to be at the airport at 5 am. Other than that, stand on the street, hold your arm out, and let Mother Russia take care of the rest!

[JustinC]

The taxi drivers in Wuhan, China, when I was there in 2006/7 were as honest and fast as you could wish for. They all refused a tip (along with the restaurant staff), which was okay usually, but one night I had to get back to my apartment, in a controlled compound/school. I asked him to go a bit faster which, oh my, he did. When we arrived the only way he would accept a tip was by my running out of the cab before he could give me change. I had to, literally, throw extra money on the passenger seat and decline any return.

Yes, alcohol was involved in my 'grand scheme'.

[johntpartee]