7 Tips While You're Traveling Alone with Taxi or Cabs in a New City

“Traveling alone is definitely great fun, however, it also requires you to be on the alert all the time. Especially if you’re taking a cab to explore a new city. In such a case, you can follow the top 7 tips, discussed in this blog, to make your solo travel with taxis safer and convenient.”

Nowadays, going on a solo trip seems to be on the wish-list of more and more people from all corners of the world. On top of that, people tend to opt for a cab or a taxi app solution to move around an unfamiliar town to do away with all the hassles that bus routes often bring in. 

A cab ride is sure a great way to take in the sights of an unknown city, but at the same time, it has its own loopholes. After all, we all have heard stories about tourists being bugged by their taxi drivers or forced to withdraw money from the ATM to save their lives. 

Of course, not everyone goes through the worst-case scenarios, but as they say, precaution is better than cure. Hence, we bring to you a list of 7 tips while you’re traveling alone with a taxi or cab in a new city.

#1. Book a Taxi from a Registered Company

While on a vacation in an alien city, you may not always be able to find yourself registered cabs. Of course, you can just go out on the road and hail a taxi by yourself, which may or may not be a legitimate cab. Moreover, there have been multiple cases where drivers have partnered with thieves to rob tourists or commit more serious crimes. 

That’s why it is inevitably a safe bet to ask the front-desk staff of the hotel you’re staying in to book a cab for you. They’re aware of the reputable and reliable taxi services around and can book the best one for you based on your destination. 

P.S. Make sure that you note down the taxi number, the name of its company, and emergency contact #.

#2. Make Yourself Aware of the Local Fares and Possible Routes

Tourists are often overcharged by cab drivers because of their lack of knowledge when it comes to local commute fares and/or routes. In fact, some taxi drivers deliberately take longer routes for a hefty fare. 

Thus, it is vital for a person traveling alone in a cab to get all the correct information regarding their destination’s possible shortest route as well as expected fares. You can get these details from the hotel staff or through locals. Using GPS and local maps is also a great option to stay alert about the route.  

#3. Look for a Badge, Meter, and Door Handle

Most of the countries across the world require the cab drivers to carry, as well as display, their identification badge in the vehicle. Apart from that, all genuine taxis will have a meter to show the charges and interior door handles in the working state. Some taxis also have a radio for answering calls from its dispatcher firm. So when you step into a cab, make sure that the cab has these things. If not, it would be in your best interest to let it go. 

#4. Avoid Getting in the Cab Alone When Drunk

You may choose to get drunk on your vacation to unwind and enjoy. And it is undoubtedly the best thing to book a taxi when you’re down and out. However, if you’re drunk plus alone, you might land yourself a lot of risks while traveling by cab - from getting robbed to physical assaults. Furthermore, there would be a reduced scope of fighting back, thanks to your semiconscious state. 

The best option, in this case, is to keep a check on your alcohol intake to stay alert. If you still want to let loose, prefer your hotel’s bar/club over a faraway pub. 

#5. Take Care of Your Luggage & Other Expensive Belongings

Haven’t you heard instances where taxi drivers fled with tourist’s luggage as soon as the tourist stepped out of the vehicle? That’s exactly why it is important to keep an eye on your valuables, no matter how trustworthy you find the driver to be. After all, you don’t want yourself stranded without your stuff on an unknown land, right? 

There are plenty of things you can do:

• Keep your bag with you in the backseat, if possible. 

• Keep only sufficient cash in your wallet for your day’s journey.

• All your expensive items, such as camera, should be in the bag or backpack, zipped up. Keep your phone close.

• Don’t put all your money and important documents like ID and passport in one bag, split them. So in case if you lose one thing, you’ve got the other.

• Before settling the cab payment, check if you’ve all your luggage with you. If the luggage is in the trunk, make sure the driver also steps outside the vehicle to help you get it. 

#6. Don’t Share a Cab with a Stranger

When you’re traveling alone in a foreign city, there may be instances when someone just hops in, a stranger or a “possible” tourist, and asks to go for a shared ride, let’s say at the airport, restaurant, or a tourist attraction. Although that appears like a good idea to cut down the expensive cab costs, avoid it as it can be a local set-up to loot or harm you.

Yes, you may make some new friends on your journey but unless you know and trust the person, avoid sharing the cab.

#7. Know the Local Currency

Before you hop into a cab in an unknown city, ensure that you know the local currency well along with all the valid denominations. That will save you from being handed over discontinued coins and banknotes by the driver. 

Final Thoughts

What we discussed here are key tips to make your solo cab travels in a foreign city safer. Follow these hacks and you’ll find yourself enjoying the trip more rather than worrying about the taxi rides.