Unfortunately for Prague,
its taxi drivers have become a scar on its reputation.
Fortunately for you, getting around Prague by public
transportation is so easy and convenient that you
may be able to simply forget about the existence
of taxis. Taking a taxi is a good choice when you
are traveling with a lot of luggage, it is freezing
cold, you need to get to a distant part of Prague,
or you need to travel at night when the metro isn't
running and the trams and buses run less frequently.
Although the situation is getting
better (and the City of Prague is working on it), many
Prague taxi drivers are still as rude and dishonest as
ever and will try to take advantage of you if you are
a foreigner and "don't
know the ropes". Luckily, there are
more and more reputable taxi companies that you can rely
on for good service and fair rates.
Here are some tips that might save you nightmares
and a few hundred crowns:
• Don't
get into a taxi that is parked in front of the train
station or at a tourist site.
These are waiting
- for unsuspecting tourists
and are known to charge rates several
times higher than they should be.
• If
you need to catch a taxi on the street, make sure it
is a real, registered taxi.
The yellow roof
- lamp
must be permanently installed and must
say TAXI in
black letters
on both sides. The company
- name,
license number and rates should
be printed
on both front doors.
• Try
to find out beforehand how much your ride should
cost. If you're stopping a taxi on the street,
- you
can ask the driver before getting in and even pay
in advance
if the amount sounds reasonable.
- If
you're ordering a taxi by phone (always
a good idea), you can get a price estimate from
- the dispatcher.
• Once
in the car, make sure that the rate on the taximeter
corresponds to the price
list posted
- in
the car. If it doesn't, bring it to the driver's attention
or have
him stop the car and get off.
• You
have the right to request a printed receipt from the
driver. If he refuses to
give it to you, you
- can refuse to pay the fare.
• Be
smart and order a taxi by phone from one of these
reliable and courteous taxi
companies:
