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How to be safe when taking taxis in Greece

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efhernandez_

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When taking taxis in Greece, be sure to stay safe and be very aware. In some instances, taxi drivers will try and charge you a bit more from your trip, especially if they realize that you're a tourist and don't know where youre going. One of the most important things is to ask your taxi driver to turn their meter on and use the gps as navigation. Make sure the correct address is inputed and check that the meter is on. After that, you should be all set. :) Safe travels
 
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efhernandez_ said:
When taking taxis in Greece, be sure to stay safe and be very aware. In some instances, taxi drivers will try and charge you a bit more from your trip, especially if they realize that you're a tourist and don't know where youre going. One of the most important things is to ask your taxi driver to turn their meter on and use the gps as navigation. Make sure the correct address is inputed and check that the meter is on. After that, you should be all set. :) Safe travels
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Another thing that I do, ask at the hotel how far and how much should be charged. The Front Desk has always been helpful to me and I've never had a problem. I also tell the driver I won't pay more than the Front Desk quoted me, and I tip generously and being friendly helps...a smile goes a long way!
 
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Excellent advice above. I haven’t had a problem in the city itself, but when you arrive in the Port of Piraeus, taxis that stop along the street will definitely inflate the price back to Central Athens. If the hotel has told you the fare, then just negotiate with the driver. When they realize that you “know the scoop”, they’ll back down. Some fares (ie. Airport - Central Athens) are regulated, so do your homework ahead of time on the current fare. Also - Have an idea of where you’re going. (ie. Port gate number) Some drivers are foreign-born so you can’t always assume that they know exactly where they’re going - especially if it’s a sprawling place like Piraeus. We use taxis exclusively in Athens and have had little to no problems in over 40 years! In fact, we have often met the most incredible people who are welcoming, kind, and eager to share some great stories and conversation.
 
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Again, criticism of Hellas, so what if the taxi driver makes a couple of dollars more, in America you even need to tip the bus driver isn't that a way of inflated travel?
 
Criticism of Hellas? - hardly. Any major city will have a few people who try to take advantage of people perceived as unknowledgeable. The Piraeus example I used was for a driver who was asking for €30 on a €15 fare. In any city, that’s a bit much. Btw, in America we do not tip bus drivers for transportation. Customarily, only tour bus drivers receive a tip, exactly as is done in the E.U.
 
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efhernandez_ said:
When taking taxis in Greece, be sure to stay safe and be very aware. In some instances, taxi drivers will try and charge you a bit more from your trip, especially if they realize that you're a tourist and don't know where youre going. One of the most important things is to ask your taxi driver to turn their meter on and use the gps as navigation. Make sure the correct address is inputed and check that the meter is on. After that, you should be all set. :) Safe travels
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100% - Another tip is sometimes I'll need a taxi for a longer excursion, as I don't always rent a car in Greece. I've even hired a driver for the day to take me around. They're so knowledgeable and can even act as a guide! One driver took me and my family to his favorite taverna where we had excellent food and parea. When I need a taxi for a longer excursion, or want to hire for the day, I negotiate the rate I will pay before I even get in the car. They've always honored the agreement.
 
So it sounds like the Greek taxi drivers are really good guys and like any business person may charge you a bit more
 
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Blue & White said:
So it sounds like the Greek taxi drivers are really good guys and like any business person may charge you a bit more
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Ive never had a bad experience with taxi drivers in Greece but just with travelling to any country, you should be careful
 
toniiv said:
Ive never had a bad experience with taxi drivers in Greece but just with travelling to any country, you should be careful
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Exactly
 
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I see it's been a while since you've posted, but I just want to ask if anyone’s had recent experiences using taxi apps like Free Now in Greece. I found it super helpful in Athens last month since it shows the fare upfront and avoids confusion. Are there other apps people recommend, or does everyone mostly rely on flagging taxis down?
 
I usually check or pre-book a cab through http://bookinglance.com/ , and it’s been super helpful. I can compare prices and read reviews, which makes me feel a lot more confident before getting into a car, especially late at night or in places I don’t know well.
 
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