Taking a taxi can be a frustrating and expensive experience unless you know how to call (hail) for one, give the taxi driver proper directions and appropriate tip amount. Just knowing a few subtle things about the way a taxi driver expects to be treated can go a long way towards averting an uncomfortable and expensive taxi ride.

If you are hailing a taxi then try to choose one yourself. You can often determine a lot just by the condition of the vehicle or by the person behind the wheel. If a hotel concierge hails a cab for you he may be more concerned with speed rather than assessing the safety or cleanliness of the vehicle. This is especially true if you are using a taxicab service or catching a taxi to airport.

If you are using a taxi service in a foreign country then it is always a good idea to have the address of your destination or hotel name written on a piece of paper in the local language. This is recommended because it is so easy to mispronounce unfamiliar words and confuse the driver from the airport taxi service.

When getting into a taxicab do it as efficiently and quickly as you can. Drivers of taxis tend to become very irritated by passengers that seem slow and sometimes try to take advantage of them.

If you call a taxi, wait for it to arrive in a safe indoor location that is well lit – especially at night. This is for your own safety and security.

Be sure to keep a watchful eye on your belongings while you are loading and unloading baggage into a cab. Luggage left sitting unattended on a sidewalk is vulnerable to thievery from crafty passersby.

If you are taking a metered taxi make sure the meter is active and that it is set to zero. If you have negotiated a flat fee to/from airport then make sure the meter is off as this is an indication that the taxi driver has agreed to your terms.

Most cab companies require their drivers to post their licenses somewhere in the taxicab. It is better to be in a taxi with a driver whose appearance matches his or her picture. This is simply for your own safety as in this case you do not really know who might be driving the cab you are in.

Although it may seem obvious, when exiting a taxi it is a good idea to make sure that you are taking all of your belongings with you. If you were carrying items in plastic bags in the taxi’s trunk make sure none of them have spilled into the trunk. In fact it is a good idea to make sure all of your belongings are in proper suitcases and travel cases to prevent the accidental loss of your property while traveling in a cab.

If traveling in a foreign country it can be a good idea to get good advice beforehand about which are the best taxi companies to use and what types of local transportation you should avoid. In some countries it is more advisable to take public transportation rather then risk getting taken for a ride in an unscrupulous taxicab.