Local taxies in Med ports

[Copacetic]

Is hiring a local taxi in lieu of scheduled tours a good idea in Italian and other Med ports? We've done this in Carribbean and find you can get a fun, personalized tour for about the same price as a ship excursion. Is lanuage a problem?

[orchestrapal]

Our experience has been that the drivers that come to the ships usually speak English, maybe not well but passable. Learning some Italian and Spanish will make your trip more fun too. The Greeks speak wonderful English for the most part.

We have had some interesting and fun day-trips with cars hired on the piers.:)

[Bollinge]

When engaging a foreign taxi driver, don't just ask "Do you speak English?"

 

It pays to inquire further, because many "fluent English" speakers only seem to know "Yes".

[NAS-KARR]

We never ever take a ships tour~ ~ always hire local drivers or driver/guides and language has never been a problem whether it be Italy, Turkey, France you get the picture. I do believe if they plan on servicing an American they had best speak the language be it broken or fluent.

Good luck e CIAO,

[joeljoan]

What is the best way to bargain with the taxi drivers? Do you know how much on average it is for 1/2 day, 1 day?

 

Joan

[meow!]

Taxi IS our mode of travel in ports. They are convenient (you don't have to pre-book and don't have to worry about your ship's being late or missing the port due to bad weather), comfortable (they can get close to many spots where buses are not allowed to park and you need to walk a lot less), flexible (you can create your own route, where and how long to stop at the spots of your choice) and private (you don't have to share with others). In ports where taxis wait right next to the ship or close to the pier or tender landing, the sight of an available taxi is a relief!

 

Do dicker the price (how much for how many hours) with different drivers (talk with a few before you hop on). They tend to lower the price an hour or more after the ship's docking, when the flock of waiting fellow passengers have dispersed, and the driver will rather take you than just sit there and wait. They usually charge less for just two people, even if the car can otherwise take four or six. By dickering prices with each driver, and asking him the possible routes and places to see, you are testing the driver's ability to speak English, whether his English is at least workable. This is also "interaction with the locals", and therefore in itself part of your "port experience" and you get to have a good "first hand impression" of the local people. (Taxi drivers are often quite representative of the local common culture).

 

Four years ago, an entire day at Venice or Rome was 220 to 250 euros for one couple, perhaps half the price of a true limousine, and not much more than what you pay for the ship's excursion fare for two. In other ports, it varies from 30 euros in Croatia (the cheapest) to 60 euros in Monaco (the most expensive) per hour if it was on an hourly basis. For other destinations, roughly GBP 30 in London, A$50 and NZ$50 in Australasia, and US$30 in Central America. If you take a "one way" trip on a taxi to a spot, ask how to get a taxi back to the ship before you leave your taxi (it may be difficult to get a taxi back, in that case ask him to wait for you). In third world countries, be wary, and select taxis only at the official local tourist stand (you are alone with the driver in a strange land) and be cautious (don't bring your valuables other than cheap cameras etc. and insist on not going to questionable places).

 

So, have fun, and enjoy safe taxi rides!