Ripped Off: How To Avoid Being Overcharged While Traveling
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It’s just a fact of traveling that foreigners are often expected to pay more than the locals, but getting ripped off is enough to ruin any vacation. Here are my best tips to avoid being overcharged:
1. Bargain
In many countries, bargaining is expected. I have learned to ask for discounts on just about everything. You can just about always get the price of a hotel lowered, and most people on Airbnb will also give you a discount if you just ask. Learn the phrase, “What is the lowest price you can take?” in the language of the country that you are visiting, and you can save a bundle.
2. Avoid Commission Shops
Drivers in many countries, especially Asia, will get paid a commission for taking you to certain shops. Often the quality of the items in the shops isn’t as good, and the prices are marked up to pay the driver. If you see something you really like at one of these shops, know that you can always go back without your driver and get about 30% off the price because they aren’t having to pay the driver the hefty commission fee.
3. Carry Small Bills
Many times taxi drivers will insist that they have no change to give you, and you will wind up paying more than you need to for your taxi ride. Also, vendors will often give you incorrect change, hoping you won’t notice. Dealing with a different currency in other countries can often be confusing. It’s more manageable if you carry small bills to begin with. I also like to carry a calculator that I can use if I need to in places where the currency is hard to keep track of.
4. Be Careful Of Fake Parking Lot Attendants
This is especially known to happen in the US. Fake parking lot attendants will take your money and give you a receipt for parking. Then you come back with a ticket on your car because you didn’t pay the self-service box. Always look for signs to see if a parking lot is self-service or for a sign that says there is no attendant on duty. If you see signs which say something like this, chances are, you are getting ripped off.
5. Make Sure That Your Taxi Uses The Meter
This is one of the easiest ways to get ripped off. A taxi driver will say his meter is broken or just not use it at all, and then charge you a highly inflated price once you get to your destination. Make sure you can see the meter, too. I once had a driver tell me he would use the meter, only to find out there was no meter at all, once I arrived at my destination. Don’t just take their word. Make sure you see it, and if there is no meter, agree on an amount before you set off.
Have you ever been ripped off while traveling? Share your story in the comments below!
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This is such a useful and great post! Thanks for all of the information. 🙂
Airports in emerging countries
Don’t accept help with your luggage while inside the terminal. The helper will likely take you to an unauthorized taxi.
Don’t make a deal with a taxi driver rep inside the terminal. Most airports now have a taxi station at the curb. Line up, tell the official where you want to go and he will signal the cab and get a fare quote for you. Always ask if there is an extra charge for a night time cab or for driving on a new road with few stops vs. a local road.
Taxi drivers usually have cell phones and often have the number on their receipt. Always take a receipt in case you wish to contact the driver for a left item or another ride.
Check both side of bills. Sometime an extra zero is glued onto of one side of a small bill and passed off to you as a larger amount.
I had plenty a Beijing taxi drive give me fake bills back as change, no wonder they were so hesitant to accept my tips! :p
Devlin @ Marginal Boundaries recently posted…Las Calles de Playa del Carmen: Nuestro Nuevo Hogar
I’ve experienced the “no change” issue a couple of times. I just told the cab driver to wait, then bought a bottle of water to make change from a convenience store, and then paid him. Another time I just walked away from the cab, about 20 seconds later the driver came running behind me suddenly having change.
As far as #4 goes, I have been to 39 US states and have never seen a fake parking lot attendant. Not sure if that’s really a “thing” or just a problem that San Francisco had in an isolated area.
Kenin recently posted…Learning to Snowboard at Nakiska Mountain Resort in Kananaskis
I’ve had the fake lot attendant scam pulled on me in both Arkansas and Seattle, so it can happen! Fortunately, I realized they were fake and didn’t pay!
Excellent tips! I also ask upfront what the expected rate for a taxi fare will be before getting in the taxi.
Elena recently posted…Visit the American Museum of Natural History with Kids
Me, too!
I’d add to also know the exchange rate or have a currency converter app downloaded to your phone.
A taxi driver tried to rip us off in Bangkok. We have taken a taxi from nearly the same place to the same destination the evening before and it cost 40 baht. On the next night, a taxi driver told us he would charge 300 baht. We told him exactly what he could do with that rate and promptly got out to find a different taxi.
Jennifer recently posted…Top Spots to Lunch and Brunch in Monte Carlo
Good tips! I didn’t know about the fake parking lot attendants in the US. Lucky I’ve been ok so far, but now I’m prepared.
Thank you, Deb!