Big Ideas, Beautiful Facts and Brave Journeys: A Transportation Blog

​Cost Saving Tips When Using a Taxi in a New City

When visiting a place for the first time, people tend to experience an encroaching feeling even if they are avid travellers. Therefore, getting off on the right foot is vital for such people. However, if you fail to do your homework regarding local taxi rates, then you might end up paying over the top. It can work against your plan especially if you are on a tight budget. If you are about to travel to a new city, do not panic because you can do some things to manage anxiety. Read on to find out practical tips for saving money when travelling to a new town. 

Check Availability of Car-Sharing

Car-sharing is an option that travellers can explore since it allows travellers to share the cost of a taxi ride especially if they are headed to the same destination. However, you should not assume that all airports allow car sharing services in their premises. While some do, others do not offer cab-pooling services. Therefore, it pays to ask around if you can get access to the service. The best way to find out if a cab sharing service operates at an airport is to inquire directly or make use of an official website.

Ask a Cab Driver for the Fastest Route

On arriving at a new town, the chances are that you will not know the different routes to your destination. In such a case, a taxi driver will come to your rescue. Therefore, remind your cab driver to take the fastest way to your destination. Since taxi rates are metered based on mileage and time, it is only logical that you will save money by taking the quickest road. Additionally, you can use a mapping application on your smartphone to curve out the shortest possible route and show it to your driver. 

Use Taxis During Off-Peak Hours

As mentioned earlier, taxi rides are metered for billing purposes. Therefore, the longer you stay on the road, the higher you are likely to pay. As such, it is essential to try as much as possible to reduce the amount of time you spend on a taxi service. One way you can achieve this is by avoiding peak hours—between 7 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM through to 6 PM when taxi rates are at their highest point. Additionally, peak times attract heavy traffic that tends to cause delays. On the other hand, off-peak hours are less busy as few cars and people are competing for taxi space.


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