4 ms·

In several countries it is legal for Cabs to individually define their rates. Then they prey on tourists who didnt get that the rate was bumped up by 10x. Har

In several countries it is legal for Cabs to individually define their rates. Then they prey on tourists who didnt get that the rate was bumped up by 10x. Hard to watch out for in certain areas if you dont know the local currency that well (esp if the 10x shift looks like they show cents values) and often they group up to make places look like legit normal cab waiting spots. Completely normal and legal in eg Rumania and Bulgaria. Stuff you know, learn, have to watch out for but is still highly annoying. I can relate when someone doesnt want to hazzle with this adventure on eg business trips.

Frondo 11y ago
I can relate to that. Buuuut, it's also pretty easy to look up "about how much does it cost to go a mile/kilometer" beforehand, and map the distance to your hotel. Then, when you're hiring a cab, you just give them a price within 10-20% of that. If they try to overcharge you, onto the next one. Americans don't like haggling, but it's actually pretty fun once you get into it. Again, local flavor. But I also get that some people want to go eat at McDonald's whatever country they end up in, so to each their own. (I'd just personally regret it if I visited some foreign country and only had stories about US-based fast food chains...)
- Symbiote 11y ago
  Constantly having to deal with being ripped off is never fun, and is the usual experience for tourists in many countries. It's a big deterrent for independent tourists in places life Egypt and India.
  - Frondo 11y ago
    It's actually pretty easy to avoid being ripped off. You just have to know about how much something ought to cost, and offer that as your price. You also have to be brave about offering $5 for something if someone tries to sell it to you for $100.
    - Symbiote 11y ago
      Now do that at 4am in Merrakesh, in the rain, at the bus station. Possible, but certainly not fun, and not easy when other tourists are paying $75 thinking they've got a good deal.
      - Frondo 11y ago
        Yeah, so? You're travelling in a foreign country. I get that some people want McDonald's wherever they go, and some people stay at Disney resorts, but again, show a little grit, I say.

Frondo 11y ago

I can relate to that. Buuuut, it's also pretty easy to look up "about how much does it cost to go a mile/kilometer" beforehand, and map the distance to your hotel. Then, when you're hiring a cab, you just give them a price within 10-20% of that. If they try to overcharge you, onto the next one. Americans don't like haggling, but it's actually pretty fun once you get into it. Again, local flavor. But I also get that some people want to go eat at McDonald's whatever country they end up in, so to each their own. (I'd just personally regret it if I visited some foreign country and only had stories about US-based fast food chains...)

Symbiote 11y ago
Constantly having to deal with being ripped off is never fun, and is the usual experience for tourists in many countries. It's a big deterrent for independent tourists in places life Egypt and India.
- Frondo 11y ago
  It's actually pretty easy to avoid being ripped off. You just have to know about how much something ought to cost, and offer that as your price. You also have to be brave about offering $5 for something if someone tries to sell it to you for $100.
  - Symbiote 11y ago
    Now do that at 4am in Merrakesh, in the rain, at the bus station. Possible, but certainly not fun, and not easy when other tourists are paying $75 thinking they've got a good deal.
    - Frondo 11y ago
      Yeah, so? You're travelling in a foreign country. I get that some people want McDonald's wherever they go, and some people stay at Disney resorts, but again, show a little grit, I say.