Airport taxi drivers are not all rogues – but neither are they all angels

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“Thieves the world over,” stated my Bosnian pal, Semir. I had simply informed him of my four-minute, £13 journey from Sarajevo airport in an airport taxi.

I had touched down from Luton and was heading for the Tunnel Museum. This sombre memorial to the 1992-95 siege of Sarajevo is on the other aspect of the runway from the terminal. The man within the airport info sales space insisted: “It’s too far to walk. There is no bus. You must take a taxi.”

Local recommendation must be revered, I often discover. So I wandered out and took the taxi on the head of the queue. At such moments it’s usually sensible to investigate, “How much will it cost?” But such a query carries with it a faint but inevitable implication of distrust. Knowing that Bosnia is a low-cost nation, I left it unasked, even once I famous the absence of a meter.

Four minutes later, the driving force demanded 30 KM (“convertible marks”, value £13).

How a lot? In such a dispute, although, the driving force all the time has the higher hand. I requested for a receipt, which I later confirmed to Semir.

“He’s charged you extra for luggage,” my pal laughed when he learn it. My single piece of cabin baggage was so modest that Wizz Air had not charged me additional for baggage. That was when Semir made his sweeping generalisation about airport taxi drivers.

Normally I take advantage of public transport from airports. On the uncommon events I take taxis, most drivers are pleasant and cheap worth. Naturally, I bear in mind most strongly the pockets of extortion: US$20 (£16) between the terminals at Jeddah airport; €40 (£35) for 10-minute rides from Venice and Catania airports in Italy.

When I posted my Bosnian expertise on social media, it grew to become clear inside minutes I used to be not alone. Among a litany of rip-offs involving “credit card machines not working” and circuitous routes to the vacation spot, some areas appeared repeatedly in fellow travellers’ responses.

At Istanbul airport, says Charles Bristow: “I was absolutely done there. I consider myself worldly wise, but they schooled me.” Even whenever you are within the metropolis, writes Anne Abrahams, “Istanbul taxis are a rip-off, don’t use the meter, and try to negotiate absurd fares. Uber is available.”

Italy options closely: Michael Brooks says that from Naples airport he was “absolutely fleeced” and had his baggage held hostage earlier than he paid up. Lear studies an expertise in Rome: “Dropped off nowhere near hotel and money stolen! Hotel staff were horrified & always arranged taxis who were excellent.”

The airports at Portugal’s two greatest cities additionally linger in travellers’ reminiscences. Lulabelle says: “I got charged €60 [£52] from Lisbon airport into town.” Even in heavy site visitors it must be lower than half. “Mr Ranty” says he was “stitched up for a 10-minute drive from Porto airport”. “Don’t use taxi drivers who are loitering by arrivals,” he recommends.

Aoin Douglas says: “Within the grounds of Marrakech airport it is impossible to get a ride into the Medina or new city (both five minutes away) for less than £30. If you walk a quarter of a mile to the roundabout at the airport entrance you can get a cab for £3.”

Taxi drivers who wait patiently to succeed in the top of the airport queue solely to be requested for a close-by and unrewarding location can even take their revenge. Davie recounts his first arrival at Madrid airport, late at night time, when there have been many taxis and few clients. The driver took quarter-hour to succeed in his resort and charged €30 (£26) for the privilege. Next morning, Davie found: “Our hotel was literally a 15-minute walk from the airport.”

Many travellers responded positively about airports the place you pre-pay for the journey, or the place costs to locations are fastened and clearly marked. Those fastened costs, although, might be excessive by the point the airport has taken its lower. I arrived at Bristol airport after a flight from Glasgow to seek out the (additionally costly) buses in disarray. The 20-minute journey into the town centre was priced at £40. Fortunately it did not take lengthy to recruit three fellow arrivals to share the journey and scale back the fare to a extra cheap £10. “Cycling Womble 81” observes of the west of England hub: “It’s a captive market and they’re taking the proverbial.”

Taxis from railway stations can even show tough. Stephen Bailey says that taxis from Warsaw airports are nicely run, as are these inside the metropolis. But, he says: “Warsaw Central Station is basically managed by crooks. I speak the language but have kept quiet until they tell me the price. That’s surprised them.”

Talking of crooks, Mark Campbell studies an encounter at Mumbai airport. “The driver and his mafia mate tried to charge me an extra £15 from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. They even threatened to drop me in the middle of nowhere if I didn’t pay.” In the tip, he negotiated the additional all the way down to £5 and paid up “to avoid missing my flight”.

Threats are inexcusable; but theatre could earn forgiveness, because it did for Lee Ruscoe in San Jose, Costa Rica. New arrivals who ask to be taken to a bus terminal are evidently given an elaborate efficiency centring on the premise of an imminent four-day strike by bus staff.

Lee’s driver went to the intense of asking him to carry up a listing of telephone numbers. The driver pretended to name the bus station and ask the workers to carry the departure for Lee. “He seemed to be a hero, except he wanted £25 for a £2.50 ride. Weeks later I was still searching for any signs of bus and transport strikes. He got a smile, and a fiver out of me for his creative story and believable acting.”

Last phrase to Robert Boyle, who advises: “Beware the phrase ‘Is this your first time in…’ Always answer, ‘No’.”

Simon Calder, often known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about journey for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key journey difficulty – and what it means for you.