How to best take a taxi

If you live in a part of the world where taking a taxi is not a regular activity, the thought of getting in a car and trusting a stranger to get you to your destination might be intimidating. For many people in the world, taking taxis are a part of their daily routine and a completely normal way to travel. However, if you've never traveled by taxi before, you might have a lot of questions and fears about the norms, protocols and general guidelines for what to expect.

Here are some tips, tricks and general advice on why taxis are a great way to travel, what it's like to take a taxi and how to avoid getting ripped off by sneaky cab drivers.

Finding a taxi

The first thing you need to know how to do is find a taxi. Luckily, this practice is pretty similar in most parts of the world, where you can simply stick your hand out and hail one on the street. Most taxis have a light in their front windshields that indicates they are free to pick up new passengers. You might also notice some taxis slowing down or honking at pedestrians trying to offer a lift, which is another telltale sign that a taxi is free. If a taxi flies past you, ignoring your hand wave, it's possible that it already has a passenger or is on a shift change, which usually happens in most cities at some point during the day.

Every place has a different style of hailing a taxi. In some places, the locals wildly wave their hands, others stick their arms straight up in the air and flap their hands up and down, and in some places you simply hold your hand out near your waist to indicate a hail. Look for other people on the street who might be hailing taxis and copy their technique.

In airports, train and bus stations, there are usually taxi ranks, where a line is formed and people get a taxi on a first-come first-served basis. Arriving to a new airport or station, look for signs that show a car or say "taxi" to find the rank.