8 Great Motorcycle Books That Will Ignite Your Wanderlust

These 8 books, most true stories of famous motorcycle rides, will inspire you to hit the road or at least look at in a different way. Usually you hear a lot about where to go and less about how to get there – aside from getting there cheap and quickly. You might not often think about motorcycles as anything more than for local travel but those two wheels and a motor can reconnect you with the joy – and act – of traveling.

Jupiter’s Travels

Ted Simon rode around the world on a Triumph motorcycle during the early 1970s and wrote one of the best travel books ever. Jupiter’s Travels is his account of the trip, 78,000 miles over 45 countries. Before the trip Simon was already writing as a journalist and Jupiter’s Travels flows on every page. In 2001, when he was 70 years old, Simon took the trip again – a similar route on motorcycle – and wrote Dreaming Of Jupiter. His observations from the first trip to the second one 30 years later are truly fascinating.

Long Way Round

One of my favorite travel books, this is a motorcycle trip around the world by two actors. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, inspired by Jupiter’s Travels, set off on their BMW bikes and head from London to New York. Long Way Round is a series of journal entries written separately by the pair and recounts an adventure with some interesting characters along the way (particularly in Ukraine). It’s not deep writing but very raw and gives you a sense for the joys of the long open road.

• There’s also a Long Way Round DVD that’s fun to watch after reading. (Who doesn’t like seeing what people described in books really look like?) Most of the footage is shot on cameras placed in the bike helmets and small hand held cameras.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The trip of Ernesto ‘Che” Guevara and Alberto Granada in South America is a book (and subsequent film) which is one of the most common mentioned when talking about travel. With The Motorcycle Diaries, as well as the other books mentioned, you begin to realize the road changes the riders in a way that travel by plane or train does not. The motorcycle cannot be separated metaphysically from the traveler and the trip is where Guevara transformed into Che. The Motorcycle Diaries is a powerful read and inspirational tale.

A Few More Great Motorcycle Travel Books

• One Man Caravan – Robert Fulton goes around the world by motorbike…in 1932.
• The Rugged Road – Two women, Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron, with a motorcycle and towing a trailer go from London to Cape Town in 1935.
• The Longest Ride – 10 years, 500,000 miles, 1 Argentinean named Emilio Scotto has one hell of a ride.

Two Books To Read If You’re Considering Your Own Motorcycle Adventure

You’ve been inspired by the trips in these books and found out why you need to take a motorcycle road trip at least once in your life. These are two books you can read if you’re considering taking your own trip (writing your own book optional).

• Sahara Overland, 2nd Edition: A Route and Planning Guide – Specific to riding across 9 countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Niger, and Chad.
• Adventure Motorcycling Handbook – You’ll need to know how to maintain, repair, and improvise with your motorcycle.

Ever since reading these books, in particular Long Way Round, I’ve made an RTW trip on motorcycle one of my dreams and life goals. These books will help you ignite your wanderlust and remind you of the joys of actually traveling. There are so many things you miss when moving by plane, car, or train that you can still reconnect with by getting closer to the road.

[photos by: Pez King, THEMACGIRL*, psd]

The Quick and Painless Ways To Drive 2,250 Kilometers In A Day: Part 2

A quick and painless 2,250 kilometer road trip begins with good preparation. In Part  1 I mentioned that begins by getting your body ready physically and driving according to your circadian rhythms. A long road trip will wear on you without warning so you’ll need to set a few mental and physical “alarm clocks” to keep yourself alert. Your biggest obstacle is fatigue which you can put off but not fight completely. You’re well rested so now it’s time to hit the road and keep going.

Give Yourself Mental Challenges

Much of a long drive is staring at open road for long stretches of time. It’s boring and can dull your senses. Mix things up from time to time with these little exercises.

• Change lanes every so often. Such a menial task may seem pointless but will get your mind off of autopilot for a moment. It’s also a good way to check how tired you are. If that lane change is more difficult than it should be (like taking forever to get the car over or within the new lane) it’s evidence you need a break, no matter where you are in the driving segment.

• Use your bladder. Mark H left an excellent tip in the comments yesterday about using your bladder to keep yourself alert. I mentioned yesterday that you should limit yourself to 8 oz. of liquid during the first 100 miles of a trip segment, but as the drive wears on increasing your water intake can help you stay awake. You’ll be taking a few more bathroom breaks as you get closer to your destination but you’ll probably need it as you go on.

• Don’t stare at the lines on the road. Staring at the lane dividers and solid lines along the roadside has the same effect on your mind as hypnosis. It’s dangerous and can make take you out of consciously being aware of your surroundings. Read license plates or try to remember the name of your high school math teachers to jolt your mind into action.

• Avoid cruise control. A great feature of most modern cars, cruise control is something you want to avoid on long solid stretches of road when you’re reaching for mental challenges. Force your mind to take conscious action.

Your efficient brain will check itself out of consciousness and start daydreaming. If you find yourself falling into this state, pull over for 5-15 minutes and take advantage of daydreaming to make use of this creative peak (write down your ideas!) or take a 20 minute nap to improve your response time. Keeping the temperature low will also make you less drowsy and more alert.

Be Silly

As UpTake suggests, sing loudly if you’re driving alone or shout for a moment or two. You can also make the drive a more interesting part of your travels and keep your mind occupied by taking Randomn3ss’ advice and looking for photo opportunities to drive 1,000 miles or more in a day.

Talk A Lot

If you’re lucky enough to be traveling with a partner, talk their ears off or get on your mobile if the laws and conditions allow for it. Have your partner or good friend on the phone jot down some travel blog ideas or things you’d like to do at your destination. You’ve got plenty of time on your hands and a long drive is a good time to let the ideas roll.

Check Your Ego At The Door

I used to fight fatigue and sleep mercilessly driving through the night to get to my next destination in as little time as possible. While I was racing against the clock, it was really my ego that was driving me. Ultimately your body is always in control and it’s better to pull over and sleep rather than risk an accident. Sleepy drivers cause more than 2 million accidents in the US alone each year and driving sleepy may be as bad as driving drunk.

The best way to drive 2,250 kilometers in a day is not getting hurt or killed along the way. Enjoy the ride and rest as needed so you get to your destination in one piece and feeling refreshed.

[photos by: greetheory., powerbooktrance, PhotoDu.de, AJamison, themaxsons, zoomar]

The Quick and Painless Ways To Drive 2,250 Kilometers In A Day: Part 1

Driving 2,250 kilometers (approximately 1,400 miles) in a day or a night is a straightforward task but doing so without completely feeling wiped out the entire trip requires preparation and taking advantage of your circadian rhythms. 2,250km is about the distance you’ll be driving from Washington DC to Miami or from London to Istanbul. It’s tolling on the body and mind so make it easy on yourself.

Dress Appropriately

Wear loose clothing so your skin and muscles don’t get irritated and to prevent the restriction of blood flow. Same as when you’re flying, traveling for more than 4 hours at a time increases your risk of blood clots (for up to 4 weeks). Make it easier on your body by giving it as much room to breathe as possible. Wear loose socks as well since the blood supply to and from the legs is affected most.

Caffeine, Snacks, and More Caffeine

Ideally you want to drive in segments of about 500km (~300 miles) depending on how fast you’re driving. (Here’s how to avoid a speeding ticket just in case.) Pick your driving segments according to your bladder and ability to concentrate and stick with it. Limit yourself to 8 oz. of caffeinated beverage for the first 100 mile segment so you’re not pulling over early to go to the bathroom.

Also, you’ll be better able to drive further if your car is stocked with high fiber snacks (apricots, almonds, etc.) which will fill you up without insulin fatiguing you after you eat.

Set The Trip Counter To Zero

Head over to a gas station, fill your tank full and reset the trip counter. While you should listen to your body (as you fatigue or get bored) you’ll find it easier to have a 500km segment goal to make a long trip seem shorter. It’s all about getting into the flow of each segment and not stopping in the middle of any of them. Make each stop a gas, bathroom, stretch, and go. You can cover a lot of ground this way, especially towards the end when you’re concentration is starting to fade.

Use Your Body Clock

The best time to drive is when there’s nobody else on the road which is generally in the middle of the night, conflicting with your normal human circadian rhythms. You want to free yourself from the mental wear of having to stop, go, and deal with other drivers (who don’t drive as well as you, of course).

If you’re normally a morning person, active and alert during the day shift your body clock with peanuts to get up a few hours earlier when the roads are clear. Night owls can do the same, except by leaving after the night rush, if there is one.

Now For The Actual Driving

Preparation is easy and breaking your trip down into manageable segments isn’t too difficult either…at first. Hours on the road will begin to take their toll, your eyes will get hazy, and you’ll want to stop more and more frequently. Tomorrow I’ll give you my tricks from the road to keep you alert and safe while at the same time being as lazy as possible.

[photos by: BottleLeaf, libraryman, !*S4N7Y*!]

Why You Need To Take A Motorcycle Road Trip At Least Once In Your Life

You’ve probably flown in an airplane, ridden in a boat, and taken a train somewhere in the world but never have hopped on the back of a motorcycle for a single road trip. There are of course a number of motorcycle riders and drivers who have and you should be one of them, at least just once in your life.

Riding a motorcycle across an open road from one destination to the next is the modern-day equivalent of setting off into the sunset on horseback. Let your fear and the thrill put you on two wheels and not keep you from it.

A Motorcycle Connects You With The Road

Like no other form of travel a motorcycle connects you with the road in a way that a bicycle, or even walking can’t. It’s the travel experience firsthand on a macro level. Ultimately your own fate and route are in your own hands on a motorcycle. Your senses are heightened both due to anxiety and the need to be highly aware and responsive to your surroundings. You’ll notice things on a motorcycle you never would in a car.

There are no distractions, no chance to check emails on your hacked iPhone, no windows to drown out the noise, and certainly no heat or air conditioning. All you have to focus on is the travel at hand.

Traffic Is Easier To Get Around

Depending on where exactly in the world you are, being on the back of a motorcycle gives you access to narrow back roads, the space between cars, and in some places, even sidewalks. You’ll be more mobile and able to sneak your way through even the worst traffic jams on a bike. At worst you can simply pull your bike up on a nearby curb and check out some of the local restaurants or just hang out until the heavy rush passes.

You’re Nervous About It

The more you travel the harder it can be to evoke that same sense of danger and excitement you had when you first started seeing the world. Anytime you jump on a motorcycle you’ll feel a thrill knowing that only traffic stands between you any anywhere you want to go. Even a casual trip around town is made more interesting on a motorcycle.

The element is different. People are closer to you and there are no barriers to the outside world. You and the bike are the outside world.

You Can’t Deny It, It’s Cool

Hop on the back of any motorcycle and you’ll instantly feel like a road warrior. Motorcycles evoke a sense of nostalgia, adventure, and danger. You can add these elements to any trip while traveling anywhere in the world simply by changing your mode of transportation. No matter where you are a motorcycle can have you channeling Marlon Brando in The Wild One or any number of other great motorcycle movies.

Be Inspired

If you’re still on the fence about your next road trip, watch some of these DVDs to inspire your inner gypsy.

• The Motorcycle Diaries – Che Guevara’s legendary trip through South America with his friend Alberto Granado on their motorcycle, La Poderosa (“The Mighty One”).
• Long Way Round – Ewan McGregor and Charley Borrman traveled from London to New York on motorcycle in 2004 and Long Way Round is a documentary of their travels. One of the most inspirational travel stories I’ve every seen.
• Easy Rider – Two hippies (played by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda) take a road trip on motorcycle from Los Angeles to New Orleans. Beautiful scenery and invigorating music to go along with a wild story.

Of course you’ll need to learn how to drive a motorcycle and if it’s only going to be a one time event I’d recommend taking one of several great international courses which I’ll be posting more about next week. Learning to drive a motorcycle is a several day task (with a good instructor) and an excellent addition to your pre-trip plans. Having the ability to get on a motorcycle after that is a another way to harmonize planning and spontaneity, and reconnect with any open road.

[photos by: Jeff Bauche, jotor, Shaheer Shahid]

Use Corporate Discounts To Get Better Deals No Matter Who You Work For

Large hotel and car rental chains, as well as many airlines, all give corporate discounts for employees of large companies that most anyone can take advantage. Hotels, airlines, and other players in the travel industry typically give these discounts to entice the huge business a corporate partner can give them.

Since sales staff will rarely verify your employment by a corporate partner you can often get a corporate discount just by saying your work for (some specific) Fortune 100 company.

In addition to discounts, a corporate connection (or just by saying you have one) can get you bumped to the front of the line when there’s a shortage of rental cars or you’re a few behind first in the standby line. While I won’t debate the ethics of doing so, the best way to maximize your corporate discounts is to research ahead and not be shy to ask.

Pick Your Company

You’ll need a company that you’re an employee of but generally anyone on the Fortune 100 is a good bet.

Call Ahead

Prior to booking any hotel, rental car, or airline reservation give the specific branch a call directly and ask if they have a corporate discount. Don’t be shy and call around to see what’s available and which companies have agreements with which chains. No need to go into details of exaggerate (you’re just an employee, not the CEO).

• Don’t forget to check for conferences in and around town the dates you’ll be there. Hotels usually have discounted rooms for those attending corporate and private conferences (like Comic-Con). Do a simple Google search to find conferences of all sizes.
  

Head Of The Line

We’ve all seen chaos at ticket counters and hotel lobbies when things are overbooked. People go up to the clerk and fall back to the crowd in a rotating line of frustration. Using your corporate connection you can go up to the counter and get yourself bumped to the head of the line and maybe even get a better deal while you’re at it. Your ‘corporate discount’ may entitle you to an upgrade, so while all of the rooms are booked there might be a presidential suite you can afford.

• You’ll be more likely to get your way in any situation if you use Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to win battles at the ticket counter.

Sorry, We’re Out

A busy weekend where there are no rental cars, rooms, or flights available usually means not available for the general public. Companies usually set aside a certain number of cars, rooms, seats, etc. for valued members, which generally includes those with corporate connections. All you have to do is say you’re traveling for (insert Fortune 100 company here) and ask if there’s anything available for preferred customers.

• Don’t panic if you’re asked to show some proof of your employment. Just say you don’t have any – if that costs you a discount then so be it.

Keep A List

It’s best to be organized and keep track of which places gave you which discounts so you’ll have less reconnaissance to do next time you book. You can also try changing companies to see if perhaps some get better discounts than others.

Things To Remember:

• You don’t necessarily need to be wearing a business suit when you ask or when you show up.
• While large chains are usually a safe bet ask for corporate discounts and smaller hotels which may not advertise their corporate partnerships.

All You Have To Do Is Ask

You don’t have to wear makeup, change your voice over the phone, or come up with an elaborate story about how you became the most powerful person since Steve Jobs. It’s as simple as coming up with a company big you work for (whether you do or not) and asking if that hotel, rental car company, or airline offer a corporate discount. The worst that can happen is they don’t or won’t give you one which is where you’ll be if you never ask anyway.

[photo by: thinkpanama, Warder Jack, koalazymonkey]

My Interview With Rod Burkert of GoPetFriendly

Rod and Amy Burkert run GoPetFriendly.com a site that lets travelers find pet friendly accommodations so they can enjoy extraordinary travel experiences with their pets. They’re currently traveling across the US and Canada and were kind enough to answer a few questions about their trip, website, and pets.

Rod, where are you and Amy traveling and why?

Our goal is to spend three weeks a month traveling throughout the US and Canada.  We hope much of the travel will be in an RV that we plan to acquire later this year.  Our goal is simple.  We travel with our dogs to make it easy for other people to travel with their pets … so more businesses will become pet friendly … which will make it easier for more people to travel with their pets … and so on.

How many places have you been and where are you headed now?

Unofficially, we have been traveling with one or two dogs since 2001. Most of that travel has been in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, the midwest states, and New England. We launched GoPetFriendly.com in June and on August 23, we left on our first “official” road trip with our two dogs – 3500 miles over 24 days.  We started in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania.  We’ve traveled due west through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.  As I write this, I am in western Wisconsin visiting family.  We are planning a side trip to Iowa to look at RVs.  Then we are headed north through Minnesota to Kashabowie, Ontario for a fishing vacation.  We’ll return home over the north shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, then over to Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and finally back home by way of New York’s southern tier.

How are you financing your trip (i.e. savings, promotions)?

My wife and I are on sabbatical from our day jobs (we ran our own business valuation firm).  So in our reinvented lifestyle, our current trip is being financed with savings.  As word spreads about who we are and what we do, we believe revenue from our web site will finance our travel.

How does traveling with two dogs change the experience of travel?

Certainly pet travel requires patience and flexibility.  But mostly we believe pet travel enhances the experience because it relieves the stress of wondering how your pet is faring if you left them with a sitter or kennel.  I don’t know about you, but I won’t have a good time on my trip if I’m worried about my dogs.  For people traveling with children, we think you give kids a different set of memories and teach them a different set of responsibilities – that you don’t need to leave the family pet behind in order to travel.

What should travelers consider before setting off on a trip with their dog or cat?

The most important thing to consider before heading out on a trip is training your pet so that you will all enjoy the experience. Start with short trips in the car to fun places – take you pet along when you run errands or go to a local park. You want your pet to associate being in the car with having fun – not a trip to the vet! Work your way up doing the things you’d do if you were on vacation – take a longer drive, eat out, even spend a night in a hotel. You’ll encounter challenges that you’ll want to work on before you head out for a two-week trip. With dogs, remember to practice all obedience commands in new locations because it will be harder for them to do what they are asked in unfamiliar situations.

Your website, GoPetFriendly.com is a great resource for travelers with pets, how do you get all of that information?

The basic hotel information on the site is obtained through an affiliation with HotelsCombined.  All of the hotel pet policies, campground information, activities and service providers were gathered by brute force – a telemarketing firm made tens of thousands of telephone calls, and we gathered data from various travel guides, web sites, and Twitter.

How are you managing blogging and getting online on the road?

Most hotels and campgrounds offer free or fee-based wireless internet connections.  In the event that falls through, we purchased the Verizon MiFi 2200.  If we have cell phone coverage, we can get on the internet with the MiFi.  All that being said, we were dark for five days when were fishing in Kashabowie, Ontario due to its remote location. The best laid plans of mice and men …

Finally, any plans to extend into international destinations as well?

That’s a good question.  While foreign travel is a blast, we have no plans to extend our coverage outside of the US and Canada.  To travel beyond those points ourselves we would have to fly our dogs, and that is something we just wouldn’t do with the options currently available.

Rod I appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to answer a few questions. Aside from the GoPetFriendly website you can get more updates on the road by following Rod and Amy on Twitter @GoPetFriendly and their blog GoPetFriendlyBlog.com. You can also check out my more pet-oriented interview with Rod on my other blog How To Travel With Pets.

Quiet Ways To Beat Shady Taxi Drivers [Part 2 of 2]

Many of the quiet ways to beat shady taxi drivers I mentioned in Part 1 take place before you ever meet the driver. The hardest part of not getting ripped off by a dishonest cab driver is when you are actually sitting behind them. I once read that being silent hides your ignorance and the less you say the more you convey.

As long as you are conveying the right things you can get a strong message across that you won’t be hustled easily.

Be Cheap Not Stupid

Go with whatever ‘official’ taxis there are and don’t try to save by going in an unmarked vehicle or one that doesn’t feel right (as I almost did in India). In many parts of the world there are official or government cars. These official vehicles might be a bit more expensive but aside from fixed prices you’ll also be safer.

Lose The Sympathy

I can’t tell you how many sob stories I’ve heard from some drivers, in particular the older ones. They try to make you feel sorry for them in hopes that you’ll leave a big tip or be OK with a drive that’s an hour longer than it should be. Be heartless and convey it by not responding much. (Don’t engage in conversation!)

Scope The Meter

Just because a meter is off doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work. Ask the driver to turn it on and if there is a problem with it confirm the average price you researched before the ride. Based on your prior research if working meters are common don’t get in a cab without one.

Mind Your Manners

• Be Nice Without A Smile - It almost goes without saying but be polite. A smile might give you away as naive though because in many places it’s an international faux pas.
• Eyes Up and Speak Up - You won’t notice the 10 left turns a shady taxi driver has taken if your nose is buried in a guidebook and he or she certainly won’t stop it if you don’t say anything. Trust your gut and ask why the driver is taking a certain route or to speed up if you feel like you are being taken for a ride.
• Dan mentions that you should pay once you are outside of the taxi either through the driver’s window or face to face after unloading your luggage. That way the driver can’t hold you up in the cab if you refuse to pay the fare being asked. (Thanks for the tip Dan.)

Don’t Let Your Guard Down

I know I’ve made taking a taxi sound like a horrific experience but it never has to be. None of these quiet ways will work if you don’t stick with them. Like anyone else trying to scam or hustle you out of some money a shady taxi driver will work all of the angle he or she thinks will work. Stay quiet and be firm and learn to blend in. A few minutes of Googling, a straight face, and a tight lip will go a long way to keeping your fare fair.

[photos by: Who.is.Bill.Posters?, lumierefl]

Quiet Ways To Beat Shady Taxi Drivers [Part 1 of 2]

It’s easy to get scammed by shady taxi drivers who know that you are from out of town, may not know the local customs, and have extra cash to be cheated out of. Not all taxi drivers are going to cheat you but there are a few quiet ways to be your own travel insurance against it.

Being prepared is the best way to take away most of the leverage shady taxi drivers have to rip you off and you can outwit most without uttering a word.

Research The Local Customs

Taxi culture in Turkey is different than in South Africa than in Argentina, etc. It’s important to know the specifics. Otherwise you’ll just have to take the taxi driver’s word and expect that their actions are the norm. Spend a few minutes Google hacking your next trip the local tipping, meter, and baggage customs.

Know The Average Fare

There are a number of travel blogs that will tell you approximately how much it should cost you to get from the airport to your hostel, between major sites, and any other local hot spots. You don’t want to trust the taxi driver, the only thing you should rely on them is to drive. Find out everything else yourself before you get in the cab. Calculate international cab fares with World Taximeter, do a blog search, or get on Twitter and ask me, I’ll help you find out.

Be Vague About Where You’re Going

Start with the area of town you are going to and get more specific with your final destination as you get closer. It’s more difficult for a driver to wander around when you can see the signs to the part of town you want to go to.

Don’t Engage in Conversation

Almost universally taxi drivers will try to chat with you, especially if you look very foreign. While they might just be curious, the more you talk the more you give away about how clueless you are. I was once ripped off by a driver in a large city I had visited many times because I unwittingly gave away that I was unfamiliar with a part of town.

Have Correct Change

You should always have small bills on you whenever you travel separate from your larger ones. Your socks are a good place to hide your big denominations since opening a fat wallet with a bunch of bills just makes you a more tempting target. Besides, taxi drivers never have correct change, ever.

It’s All Quiet

Good body language and communicating non-verbally will help you bargain when you don’t know the local language. The more you research beforehand the more confident you’ll be directing traffic from the back seat. Tomorrow in Part 2 I’ll share a few ways to be firm, confident, and not get ripped off while being quiet at the same time.

[photos by: Who.is.Bill.Posters?, jk5854]

Calculate International Cab Fares With World Taximeter

Find out how much it will cost you to get from point A to point B via taxi in major international cities around with World Taximeter.

The free online service gives you a break down of the price for 15 North American and European cities. A simple query for a fare from the Chrylser Building to Penn Station shows the 3.14km ride to take about 9 minutes and cost $10.28. World Taximeter estimates the cost not only based on the distance, but the average wait time, any peak hour surcharges, and 15% tip.

Although the search helps you by suggesting famous landmarks, the service is a bit shoddy unless you use specific street addresses. Hopefully World Taximeter will expand its list of cities offered (they are currently taking suggestions).

Knowing how the approximate distance and fare for any cab ride when you travel around the world is the best way to avoid getting ripped off.

Read more

Don’t Fall For The Taxi Scams At Indian Airports

It hadn’t been 5 minutes since I cleared customs in Delhi when a young Indian guy asked me if I needed a taxi and lead me to his green and yellow car sitting right outside of the airport. I knew better, but want to see what he was up to. The entire time he was rather talkative, asking questions about where I was from and doing in India – none of which I answered truthfully. Then I asked him how far away the hotel was, “25 kilometers” he replied for 3875 rupees (~$89 dollars).

Of course I didn’t get in, I went over to a prepaid taxi stand, paid 270 rupees ($6.20) for a short 5km trip down the road to my hotel.

I read about such cons at Indian airports before my previous trip to Bangalore, but it’s easy for someone to get taken in the confusing atmosphere outside of the terminal. Fortunately, it’s just as easy to avoid getting ripped off (or worse) with a few simple precautions.

Always Get Your Cab From A Prepaid Taxi Stand - These government-run booths are located toward the exit of the major airports with bold yellow signs. The prices are set by the state and the licensed drivers can be trusted to take you straight to your destination. You will also be provided an official receipt after prepaying.

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