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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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 Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject: Basic Living Costs |
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| 1) How much is a taxi ride, more or less? |
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EnglishDoYouSpeakIt
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 151
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| In Riyadh don't use the meter and agree on a price beforehand. The drivers often try to rip off westerners who don't look like they know what they are doing. You're question is really ambiguous. Unless you're going from one edge of the city to the other, anywhere to anywhere in Riyadh should be less than 25 riyals. It may vary if you're forced to take an often jammed road. Haggle with them and be prepared to let them drive away, another one will be along shortly. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Dear JerkyBoy,
EDYSI is right - tell the driver where you want to go (e.g. Batha / Olaya ) and ALWAYS agree on a price BEFORE you get in the taxi.
Regards,
John |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| EnglishDoYouSpeakIt wrote: |
| In Riyadh don't use the meter and agree on a price beforehand. The drivers often try to rip off westerners who don't look like they know what they are doing. You're question is really ambiguous. Unless you're going from one edge of the city to the other, anywhere to anywhere in Riyadh should be less than 25 riyals. It may vary if you're forced to take an often jammed road. Haggle with them and be prepared to let them drive away, another one will be along shortly. |
Thanks. I am well schooled in the art of handling the naughty taxi driver - many years in BKK ... I think Tunisian taxi drivers were the worst, though. Egyptians a close second.
The prices/ distances sound similar to BKK so I will calculate on that basis until I get accustomed to the local rates. In BKK you can go anywhere in the city for up to 7 or 8 US and often 2 or less. Only driving to the provincial suburbs/ airport would cost more than 8 dollars.
Last edited by JerkyBoy on Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:40 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Now how much is a tuna fish sandwich? |
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EnglishDoYouSpeakIt
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 151
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Haven't come across a tuna fish sandwich, Mutabuk tuna is worth trying. But you can buy a can of tuna for 4 riyals, a loaf of bread for 4 riyals and mayo is around 12 I think, something around there. Don't recall what else you might want to throw in there. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| How much for a good pair of shoes? |
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EnglishDoYouSpeakIt
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 151
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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For teaching or what?
How about you take a day or two and write down all your questions and present them at the same time. Happy to help but it might work out better. |
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uh huh
Joined: 14 Oct 2011
Posts: 110
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:02 pm Post subject: Basic Living |
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| Don't know what's changed, but I find Tunisian taxi drivers remarkably kind and generous; they even round down the fares. |
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Christian St.Bacon
Joined: 26 Oct 2011
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:06 pm Post subject: is this ??? for real......... |
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...and how much for a taxi ride to buy some 'tuna sandwich shoes'.....RETURN
Shukran very much
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Basic Living |
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| uh huh wrote: |
| Don't know what's changed, but I find Tunisian taxi drivers remarkably kind and generous; they even round down the fares. |
In Tunis, the very first one actually stole about $15 from me. After that, they were OK. But when I visited Sousse, they were diabolical - every kind of scam. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: is this ??? for real......... |
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| Christian St.Bacon wrote: |
...and how much for a taxi ride to buy some 'tuna sandwich shoes'.....RETURN
Shukran very much
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HA ha that is a funny name, is it?
My favourite food is pork chops, while my favourite drink is gourmet cider. I suppose I will have to "adapt" that to beef steak and apple juice so as to be culturally acceptable.
In Thailand, if they ask you what you think of the King of Thailand, you say "I love the king." Actually, they wouldn't ask you, but they would expect you to say that anyway. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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| EnglishDoYouSpeakIt wrote: |
For teaching or what?
How about you take a day or two and write down all your questions and present them at the same time. Happy to help but it might work out better. |
Shoes for teaching as opposed to tennis shoes.  |
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ellethom
Joined: 29 Sep 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Wherever I May Roam
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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It really depends on where you go The Carrefour is cheap, but the quality is not so great. I would try the Riyadh Gallery, but go with someone who can translate for you. I have found that many of the merchants here are very persistent, bordering on aggressive. Its always best, at least for me, to go with someone who has a working knowledge of the language and how things are done. I got a great price on an abaya the other day at the mall because i went with dear friends who spoke Arabic.
Barring that, try the malls where prices are marked, and never take the first price offered. Also, do not appear interested, because they will descend upon you.
Also, and i have not been yet, but i hear that the Souk is great for haggling and bargain shopping if you are up for that sort of thing. |
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