How to Avoid Taxi Scam in russia

 Taxi drivers in Russia are indeed dangerous. At Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, one of the main arrival points into Russia, there's a big sign that says, "Beware of private taxi-drivers! Fraud is possible when paying. No safety guaranteed." In Moscow I've always stuck to the subway, my own two feet, or cars arranged by Exeter International, the travel firm I chose to design my trips to Russia. I asked the head of that firm, Greg Tepper, for his insights about taxis in Russia, as well as transportation in Sochi, and here's his advice:



Taxi drivers are the worst of the worst in Russia and should never be trusted. There are no taxi meters anywhere. All taxis negotiate (in Russian) what the fare will be before the ride is given. If you don't want to use the metro and don't want to walk, we recommend having your hotel send a car to get you or transfer you. It might cost you $60 for the ride, but it will be safe and comfortable. Never arrive in Russia without a transfer to your hotel, and never take a taxi off the street.

When I am in Russia, I rarely take a taxi and, when I do, it is always a gypsy (unofficial) taxi, and this is something no non-Russian speaker should ever do. A gypsy taxi is a private driver in his own car who stops to give you a ride. You have to negotiate the rate in Russian, and it takes living in Russia to know which cars to get into and which ones not to.

In Sochi the situation is no different. Sochi during the Olympics will be even more difficult because no private vehicles, including taxis, will be allowed on many of the roads near the Olympic venues. The only choice will be Olympic public transportation—i.e., buses. I am concerned that buses will not be as well organized as they should be, and there is the potential for some visitors to miss their events when buses run late or don't show up at all. There will be no other options to get to the venues. At a minimum, those attending the Games should plan for hours of extra time to get to their venues on Olympic public transportation.