Most of us are accustomed to using rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber. However, these services aren’t always available in other countries.

In fact, certain countries have outright banned people from using them.

If you’re planning a trip, will need to know how to travel by taxi. Otherwise, you might find yourself stranded or unable to make it to an occasion on time.

Check out these traveling tips for more information on what you need to know.

1. Check the Pricing Ahead of Time

It’s essential that you check the pricing of your ride ahead of time, if possible. This is simply due to the fact that some taxi drivers will attempt to upcharge foreigners.

If you know how much your ride should cost, you will be able to point this detail out to them. If the taxi driver is unwilling to budge on their rate, consider hailing another cab instead.

If you find that all of the drivers you speak to claim a rate higher than the one you researched, you may be out of luck.

For those who need to save a bit of extra cash, consider walking a short distance before calling another cab. Sometimes, this can significantly reduce the amount that you have to pay.

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2. Pay Attention to the Route the Driver Takes

Unfortunately, some drivers will intentionally take the long way to your destination in order to rack up a higher fare. In some cases, you might even find of the driver appears to go in circles before reaching your destination.

This is a financially predatory practice that you should put a stop to as soon as you notice.

For this reason, it’s essential that you learn a few basic phrases in the primary language of the country you are visiting. Otherwise, the driver may not understand what you’re saying and you’ll be stuck having to pay the full amount.

To help facilitate this, you can track your route on your own GPS and compare it to the one they take.

3. Always Ensure the Vehicle You Are Entering Is an Actual Taxi

This is one of the most important tips to remember.

You should be fully aware of the fact that criminals sometimes pose as taxi drivers. They may attempt to coerce you and claim they are simply driving an unmarked car.

They may even have taxi driver equipment on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Unfortunately, getting into the vehicle and many of these cases won’t have a positive outcome. Although it’s entirely possible for people to drive unlicensed cabs, is in your best interest to hire a conventional driver instead.

4. Keep an Eye Out for Other Safety Concerns

There’s always the possibility you notice other safety concerns when getting into a vehicle. This is true whether or not the car is marked as a conventional taxi.

Before you close the door to the car, it’s essential that the inside has a working handle. The same can be said about the car having proper seatbelts.

If you notice anything suspicious before you get in the vehicle, is best to walk away as quickly as possible.

5. Always Get a Receipt

In the event that you leave something in the car, you’ll need to contact the taxi company. Unfortunately, this becomes much more difficult if you are in a country that speaks a language you are unfamiliar with.

If you managed to keep all of your taxi receipts, however, you’ll have access to the contact information you need. From here, you can get in touch with a representative and hopefully reacquire your lost items.

6. Keep Track of Your Belongings

As you might guess, it’s in your best interest to avoid losing your belongings in the first place. This means that you should keep them within sight or arm’s reach at all times.

In the event that you need to place luggage in the trunk of the vehicle, make a mental note of everything you leave in this location. It can be notoriously easy to leave items behind when taking a taxi — especially if you are in a hurry.

7. Be Careful When Paying With the Card

When paying with a card, the payment interface generally displays an option to tip the driver. Many times, the driver will automatically select the largest amount.

This is typically between 20% and 30% of the total fare. For longer trips, this can quickly add up to be a significant amount of money.

Unless you fully intend on paying this amount, take the time to adjust your tip accordingly. Although you don’t need to tip a large portion of your fare, you should still tip in general out of gratitude.

This is, of course, everything went accordingly during your trip.

8. Be Respectful

Finally, it’s important to keep in mind they should always be respectful during the ride. Taxi drivers are humans just like everyone else, and they are more often than not simply trying to do their job.

You should maintain this level of respect when entering and exiting the vehicle. Slamming a car door (even on accident) can be enough to sour the driver’s mood.

Traveling by Taxi Can Seem Difficult

Fortunately, it’s not nearly as complicated as you might think. Once you get used to the process, you’ll find that taking a taxi is relatively simple and straightforward.

Want to learn more useful info that can help you out in the future? Be sure to check out the rest of our blog.