PalQ

We read so much about tourists being taken advantage of by Prague cabbies - well the Mayor of Prague heard to complaints and decided to disguise himself as a foreign tourist and go for a cab ride - he was overcharged 6 times the regular fare! He is talking to the local tourist authorities about what can be done to regulate out of control cabbies!

FainaAgain

Amen to that! I hope other mayors will follow. In some cities it really is getting out of hands.

Intrepid1

We've heard about the so-called "crooked cabs of Prague" for some time now and IMO some of the ones in Budapest with their faulty meters aren't far behind.

massagediva

Now ,that's a mayor who would get my vote!

Gardyloo

Prague Mayor ripped off by taxi drivers? OMG - stop the presses. I can't help but think of Claude Raines in <i>Casablanca</i> complaining about gambling at Rick's. I'm shocked...<i>shocked!</i>

RufusTFirefly

Croupier: &quot;Your winnings, sir.&quot;
Renault: &quot;Oh. Thank you very much.&quot;
&quot;Everybody out at once!&quot;

Patrick

My favorite part of this story is trying to picture how the mayor disquised himeself as a tourist? Khakis, baseball cap, and fanny pack?

Patrick

&quot;The bottom line is that you should always agree on the fare beforehand.&quot;

Huh? That's the statement that really throws me. How is an ordinary tourist to know what that fare should be so he can intelligently discuss it with the taxi driver, and how in the world would such &quot;agreements&quot; prevent being ripped off? I found out in advance from my hotel how much the fare should be -- but that doesn't help when you are out and about and need a taxi some where.

PalQ

A new law in London now lets passengers bargain with cabbies over the fare, which is now pegged at what is amongst the world's highest rates. Seems like in Prague one should always bargain, taking the asked for rate and cutting it at least in half - but probably no cabbie would do it!

elaine

In Prague the usual advice is to have your hotel or restaurant or shop call a taxi for you, rather than your choosing one from a taxi rank or on the street
I have followed that advice, and have not been dissatisfied

AAA is one of the recommended companies should someone wish to call on their own