taxis, Istanbul

I thought it was just one dishonest driver, but then it happened in three different taxies in the same day. Here's how it works: you hand the driver a 10 million lira note, he immediately hands you back a 1 million note, saying that you only gave him one million. Or you hand him a 20 million note, and he hands back a 250,000. There are so many zeroes on the notes that it's easy to get confused, and the cabbies are counting on this. The best thing to do is carry small bills, count out your money carefully, and if they try to screw you over, threaten to call the tourist police. They will back down. There are a lot of good honest cabbies, but plenty of crooks, too.


	taxis: check the meter!	Tip Rating:

Updated By TheTurkishBrit

on August 10, 2005

Most taxi drivers are scrupulously honest, but the occasional one will see a lost looking obviously foreign person at the side of the road and will try to diddle you. SO as you get in take a look at the meter, it will alternately flick from the fare to one of two words, GUNDUZ or GECE, day or night. Yes, you've guessed it , the driver may "accidentally" switched on the night rate long before the midnight switchover. If so, point out his "error". Hopefully he will be very apologetic and switch it back !!!!! If he refuses, muttering "tourist police" to him may well do the trick. If all else fails get out of the cab as soon as you can and offer him what you think the fare should be,(about half what is showing on the GECE meter). Then take another cab to your destination.


	taxis: Taxis	Tip Rating:

By ophiro

on July 25, 2005

by ophiro
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taxis from marmara hotel

To get a taxi in Istanbul is cheap if you are more than 1 person because you pay for the way and not for a person. Some of the taxi drivers will try to get an easy money because you are a tourist. If you want to get a taxi ask him for a meter and if it is before midnight check for the word GUNDUZ which means daytime and after midnight you should see the word GECE which means night (it is higher price) There are a lot of taxis in Istanbul so if a taxi driver tells you he will take for a sum of money higher than 2-3 YTL leave him and find another taxi because even if he will start a meter he probably will take you in a longer way.


	taxis: taxi drivers	Tip Rating:

By orke

on May 18, 2004

just noticed exactly what bill u give him (the 1 and 10 mill looks alike) try to give them small bills also if there is a problem just say "ill call the police" know the place u r going to (so they wont cruise around all over town and also dont let them get u off the cab far from the place u r going to ask for an aproximatly price b4 u get on the cab (and first try to find out what is the normal price)


	taxis: Turkish taxis are generally...	Tip Rating:

By grrl_travel

on September 7, 2002

Turkish taxis are generally very safe, even late at night, however, the only slight negative I encountered was getting ripped off by a taxi driver. The amount was small so I didn't argue. And with one other driver I had to insist that I didn't want a full tour of the city and that I wanted to go back to my hotel. If you are a woman, do NOT sit in the front seat of the taxi. It's considered inappropriate (unless the taxi is full, but if you can have a guy sit in the front it's better).


	taxis: Taxi scams	Tip Rating:

By mavi-tr

on March 27, 2004

Ensure that there is a meter in the taxi before you travel in it. Ensure that the meter is set to "Gunduz" (day) and not "Gece" (night) if you are travelling in the day of course.


	taxis: Istanbul - Banknotes 20.000.000 =2.000.000	Tip Rating:

By Raffael

on August 25, 2003

by Raffael
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PLEASE! Be aware when you take a taxi, as it happens twice to us. My friend before he has asked me 20.mil. liras and gave it to him, then later we took a taxi and i went out first till he pay..he payed but suddenly apears that he only gave 2.000.000 in case of 20.000.000? strange no! ,not at all, but i m not so easy,i was so sure something was wrong that i open the taxi?s driver door and discover he has droped there the banknote..when we went to the airport the same. So take care with taxi driver?s!. OK best luck


	taxis: Dear tourist! I will say to...	Tip Rating:

By Olgitka

on August 26, 2002

Dear tourist! I will say to you: if you come in Istanbul in use Taxi please remember 2 words!!! GECE-night GUNDUZ-day that soo important if you are in Taxi to not loose some money in taximetr:)))there is diferend price and some driver make for you in day time -night taxi price:))) that words you can see in taximetr!!! 'TAKE CARE'!!


	taxis: easy money for lousy cab drivers	Tip Rating:

Updated By prikje

on September 9, 2005

I found this tip from a VT member Cocali on taxiscam It was such a well detailed explained scam I just had to put it in my list also.


	taxis: Desde el aeropuerto, si tomas...	Tip Rating:

By maribelm

on August 26, 2002

Desde el aeropuerto, si tomas un taxi para que te lleve a un hotel determinado, insiste bien en que te lleve al que tu indicas. Puedes llevarte la sorpresa de que te lleva al que el quiera para cobrar la comision.