Signal as much as Simon Calder's free journey electronic mail for knowledgeable recommendation and money-saving reductions.
Get Simon Calder's journey electronic mail
“Thieves everywhere in the world,” stated my Bosnian buddy Semir. He had simply informed her about my four-minute, £13 journey from Sarajevo airport in an airport taxi.
I had landed from Luton and was heading to the Tunnel Museum. This somber memorial to the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995 stands on the other facet of the terminal's runway. The person on the airport info sales space insisted: “It's too far to stroll. There isn’t a bus. You must take a taxi.”
I usually consider that native recommendation must be revered. So I went out and took the taxi that was on the entrance of the road. At such occasions, it’s usually prudent to ask, “How a lot will it value?” However such a query carries a slight however inevitable implication of mistrust. Figuring out that Bosnia is a low-cost nation, I didn't ask, even after I seen the absence of an accountant.
4 minutes later, the driving force demanded 30 KM (“convertible marks”, valued at £13).
As so much? Nevertheless, in such disputes, the driving force at all times has the benefit. I requested for a receipt, which I then confirmed to Semir.
“He charged you additional for baggage,” my buddy laughed when he learn it. My single carry-on baggage was so modest that Wizz Air had not charged me extra for the baggage. That's when Semir made his sweeping generalization about airport taxi drivers.
I usually use public transportation from airports. On the uncommon events that I take taxis, most drivers are pleasant and cheap worth. Naturally, what I keep in mind most are the extortion hotspots: $20 between the Jeddah airport terminals; €40 (£35) for 10-minute journeys from Venice and Catania airports in Italy.
Once I posted my expertise in Bosnia on social media, it turned clear inside minutes that I used to be not alone. Amongst a litany of scams involving “bank card machines that don't work” and circuitous routes to the vacation spot, some locations appeared repeatedly in fellow vacationers' responses.
At Istanbul airport, Charles Bristow says: “It was over. “I take into account myself worldly sensible, however I used to be educated.” Even if you're within the metropolis, writes Anne Abrahams, “Istanbul taxis are a rip-off, you don't use the meter and attempt to negotiate absurd fares. “Uber is accessible.”
Italy options prominently: Michael Brooks says that from Naples airport he was “completely fleeced” and that his baggage was held hostage earlier than paying. Lear recounts an expertise in Rome: “They left him nowhere close to the lodge and stole his cash! “The lodge employees had been horrified and at all times bought taxis which had been wonderful.”
The airports of Portugal's two largest cities additionally stay within the reminiscence of vacationers. Lulabelle says: “They charged me €60 [£52] from Lisbon airport to the town.” Even with a number of visitors it must be lower than half. “Mr Ranty” says he was “stitched for a 10-minute journey from Porto airport.” “Don’t use taxi drivers who dangle across the arrivals,” he recommends.
Aoin Douglas says: “Inside Marrakech airport it’s not possible to get transport to the Medina or the brand new metropolis (each 5 minutes away) for lower than £30. “If you happen to stroll 1 / 4 of a mile to the roundabout on the airport entrance, you may get a taxi for £three.”
Taxi drivers who wait patiently to get to the entrance of the airport queue solely to be requested for a close-by, unrewarding location may additionally take revenge. Davie recounts his first arrival on the Madrid airport, late at evening, when there have been many taxis and few prospects. The driving force took 15 minutes to get to his lodge and charged €30 (£26) for the privilege. The subsequent morning, Davie found, “Our lodge was actually a 15-minute stroll from the airport.”
Many vacationers rated airports the place journey is paid prematurely or the place vacation spot costs are fastened and clearly indicated. Nevertheless, these fastened costs could be excessive when the airport has collected its share. I arrived at Bristol Airport after a flight from Glasgow to search out the buses (additionally costly) in disarray. The 20 minute journey to the town heart was £40. Fortuitously, it didn't take lengthy to recruit three fellow arrivals to share the journey and cut back the fare to a extra cheap £10. “Biking Womble 81” observes of the central west of England: “It's a captive market and they’re taking the proverbial.”
Taxis from prepare stations can be tough. Stephen Bailey says taxis from Warsaw airports work nicely, as do these from the town itself. However, he claims: “Warsaw Central Station is mainly run by criminals. I converse the language however I’ve remained silent till they inform me the value. “That stunned them.”
Talking of criminals, Mark Campbell stories an encounter on the Mumbai airport. “The driving force and his mafia accomplice tried to cost me an additional £15 from the home terminal to the worldwide terminal. “They even threatened to depart me in the midst of nowhere if I didn’t pay.” Ultimately he negotiated the additional all the way down to £5 and paid “to keep away from lacking my flight”.
The threats are unforgivable; however theater can earn forgiveness, as occurred to Lee Ruscoe in San José, Costa Rica. New arrivals asking to be taken to a bus terminal are evidently supplied an elaborate efficiency centered across the premise of an impending four-day strike by bus staff.
Lee's driver went as far as to ask him to indicate him a listing of telephone numbers. The driving force pretended to name the bus station and ask the employees to e-book the departure for Lee. “He appeared to be a hero, besides he needed £25 for a £2.50 journey. Weeks later he was nonetheless searching for indicators of bus and transportation strikes. He bought a smile and a fiver prize from me for his artistic story and his credible efficiency.”
Final phrases for Robert Boyle, who advises: “Watch out with the phrase 'Is that this your first time in…?'. At all times reply 'No.'”
Simon Calder, often known as The Man Who Pays His Means, has written about journey for The Unbiased since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key journey subject and what it means to you.