Athens is a huge, congested city and the local taxis are your main means of getting around. The average Athens tax ride is inexpensive, just bring your helmet.
Living on the Edge
I had just arrived in Athens with a couple who’ll remain nameless. [He’s now a respectable doctor and married to someone else.] My buddy, “John”, had a Greek friend who lived in town named Stavos. We were going to stay with him and explore Athens before heading to the islands.
Stavos had gone to college with us in California and more or less been raised there. After experiencing the finer points of higher education [fraternity parties, etc.], he and his brother had started a snowboard company in Athens. Who could possibly be buying snowboards in Greece? It turned out Stavos and his brother were selling them throughout Europe, not in Greece.
Anyway, Stavos collected us in a friend’s car and took us to his small studio. We decided to catch some winks and then head out for a night on the town. Thus, we would experience an Athens taxi ride for the first time.
Taxi driving is a competitive sport. I am convinced there is a World Cup of taxi driving and drivers practice on the streets of their location. San Francisco and New York taxi drivers are an elite group, while taking a taxi in France is a good way to see the Eiffel Tower while going the wrong way down a one-way street. In Athens, it was all about speed.
Being an idiot, I yelled out “shotgun” as the taxi pulled to the curb. I should’ve guessed my triumph wasn’t a good thing when Stavos just smiled. In we went and Stavos gave the driver our destination. For the next fifteen minutes, I feared for life itself. Mine and others.
Our driver was apparently convinced he would get a bonus if he beat a certain time. We peeled out at the curb and the race was on. Through the tight, winding streets of Athens we went. As is the nature of chaotic Athens, the roads are packed with cars, buses, people and very brave cyclist. Considering this an obstacle course, a driver whipped through the throngs at over 80 miles per hour. Most of the time was spent in the SLOW lane, where less cars were. I still have nightmares about the faces of cyclist staring at me as we passed them with maybe 5 inches to spare. Frozen pictures of terror. Throw in cars starting to pull out in the road and you have the white knuckle event of the year.
When we finally pulled up to the club, I started breathing again. As I pulled my hand off the handle on the door, I left impressions. Standing outside of the cab, Stavos asked me if I wanted to sit in the front on the way home and started laughing.
It took two drinks to calm my nerves. Come hell or high water, I was walking home.
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of writing journals. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for him or her. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles, travelogues and travel stories.
Taxi cab etiquette may not seem of the utmost importance – you don’t need it to get through dinner with the new in-laws, for example – but for those who travel frequently, knowing what and what not to do in a taxi cab is essential. From knowing how much to tip to knowing what to do if you have a complaint, riding in taxi cabs can involve walking a fine line between getting from point A to point B or getting asked to get out and walk. The following offers tips on how to behave as a backseat driver.
Get an Idea of the Cost: Different cab companies can charge different rates, particularly in different cities. A cab in Boulder, Colorado may be relatively cheap while one in New York City may almost require you to put your first born child down as a payment. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to know what you are getting into before you get into it. Instead of just flagging down a cab and giving the driver the address of your destination, ask them how much it will be. They won’t likely be able to give you an exact number – unless they have flat rates – but they can easily give you a ballpark figure. This will help you to determine if you want to take a cab or if you would rather find some other means of transportation.
Ask for an Hourly Rate: If you find yourself in a situation where you need your cab driver to take you to a variety of places – perhaps from the airport to your hotel and onto a convention center – ask about an hourly rate. Not only may an hourly rate be cheaper, but it will also free you of the stress that comes from keeping the meter running. If you need the cab to wait for you while you run into your hotel and change, an hourly rate will allow you to be less in a hurry and less likely to forget something as you run out the door.
Don’t Grow Impatient: A cab stuck in traffic is frustrating, but it’s not the cab drivers fault. Getting angry, frustrated, or huffing and puffing in the backseat isn’t going to take care of the jam that is blocking traffic. Along these lines, asking the driver if they can go any faster – when the cars surrounding them are barely moving – won’t succeed in anything, other than making you come across as condescending. Instead of growing inpatient with the cab driver over circumstances beyond their control, control your own circumstances: give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
Don’t Forget to Tip: Taxi drivers probably aren’t in it for the money; they aren’t rolling, nor driving, in the doe. For this reason, it’s important to give them a decent tip; what they make in tips may account for a good portion of their overall salary. Usually, it’s best to tip a cab driver what you would tip a waiter or a waitress: between 15 and 20 percent of the overall bill. If the cab driver was exceptionally good – if he took a short cut to get you to an urgent meeting, for example – then tip him more. If he was rude or made a point of going ridiculously slow when there was no traffic, then don’t feel too guilty when you tip him less.
Write Down Information: Whenever you get inside a cab, it’s a good idea to write down relative information: the cab driver’s name, the cab’s number, the time, date, and destination of your route. This not only helps you in the instance you want to complain about service, but it also helps you get items returned if you happen to leave something in the backseat. Calling the cab company and saying that all you know is that the cab was yellow will probably get you nowhere.
Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://turbocellcharge.com. A professional business traveler, she aims to make business trips feel less like work. She also has a healthy collection of hotel shampoos….and a shower cap or two.
Perhaps the one profession that puts an employee at a greater risk to his own safety than law enforcement is the taxi profession. Everyday in the news, there is a taxi driver who is beaten, robbed, or worse, murdered.
The motive for these crimes is always money. If you or someone you know drives a taxi for a living, the following rules of safety will help minimize your chances of becoming the next victim of a violent taxi crime.
Use your radio to call for help. Law enforcement officers know this too well. Your radio is your lifeline to your dispatcher. Use it to call for help if you are in trouble, to get accurate information, or to communicate bad weather conditions.
Be alert and aware. Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times even when you are parked. Get adequate rest between shifts, and eat well.
Do not flash your money or display expensive jewelry. This is so obvious. If your passenger offers a large denomination bill, ask him to get change at a nearby store. Do NOT show him that you have the money to change it.
Size up your customer and assess risk. Many customers will pose a risk to your safety. Read his body language, assess them, then act appropriately. Never underestimate anybody.
Greet and maintain eye contact with the customer when you pick him up. By employing this technique, you tell the customer that you know what he looks like and acknowledge his presence. Psychologically, it makes it harder for him to bring harm to you. Your life may depend on it.
Know the city. Disputes and arguments can arise between you and your customer if you do not know your way around the city. He may think you are trying to “run him up” on the meter. Such disagreements can lead to physical assaults or worse. Study your map during your down time.
Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy about picking up a customer, then there is something wrong. Request your dispatcher that you do NOT want to pick him up because of the area or because of him.
Know your emergency procedures. Every cab company has a written set of rules in the event of an emergency. Be sure you know what these rules are since they can vary from company to company.
Always keep your windows rolled up. Have the window open just wide enough to communicate with the customer. Do not open it all the way such that he can grab any part of you and pull you out of your car.
Keep your doors locked at all times. This is very important if you are sitting at a taxi stand or parked on the side of the street. If you are studying your map, you do not want to be taken by surprise if somebody walks up to your taxi and climbs in all of a sudden without getting a good look at him.
Take extra precautions at night. Between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. are the most dangerous times for a taxi driver. Most assaults, robberies, and muggings occur around the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. There are few witnesses if a crime happens to you.
Beware of customers who give you “vague” instructions. Vague instructions just do not cut it. Ask that the customer give you a solid destination before you start driving or allow him to board your taxi.
Be careful of customers who sit behind you. Never allow a customer sit directly behind you. Eight percent of all assaults and murders occur when the culprit is sitting behind you. Ask him to sit at the outset of the cab to “balance the car.” Say it is company policy.
Keep a watchful eye on suspicious customers. Remember that you have a stranger in your cab. Be alert to his speech and body language. These may raise red flags on your part.
Never tell customers when you started your shift or had a good shift. By doing so, you convey to the potential mugger that you are loaded with cash. If he asks you this, be tactful yet evasive. Say, “I just started my shift half an hour ago.”
Carry a spare key. This is a very good idea. In case a robber rips out your microphone and throws away your key so that you can not drive away to call for help, at least you have a spare key to start your cab. If they DO carjack your cab and dump the cab at a remote location, you can still retrieve it after they leave in order to get assistance.
Do not drive into dark alleys or back lanes. Tell your customer that it is company policy that you can not drive into alleys or back lanes. Driving a customer into a dark alley only invites him to rob you when nobody is looking.
Always know your location. Know where you are in case you find trouble.
Check all emergency equipment before you begin your shift. If you rent your cab, do a walk-around to view any damages. Check for proper tire pressure. Check the inside for cleanliness. Check for any weapons that may have been dumped there.
Never carry more than four passengers. This tip is more of a road safety tip. In general, you should not carry more passengers than the number of available seat belts. If you do so, you could risk getting pulled over and receiving a ticket.
Do not be argumentative. Being a hothead only asks for more trouble. Keep a cool head at all times. If you lose your composure, your judgment is affected greatly.
Do not offer resistance to a robbery. If you are being robbed, give the robber what he wants, usually your money and/or taxi. Your life is not worth it. You may feel violated, but at least you are alive to work another day.
Tell your dispatcher. After the robbery, call your dispatcher right away and give him your location so that he can call police.
Do not threaten the customers. Always keep a cool head if they refuse to pay, can not pay, or are being disruptive. By threatening them, you might escalate the situation to a physical assault. You get into big trouble, if you lose your composure.
Look for an opportunity for escape. If you have your seat belt on and he does not, look for a parked car or telephone pole to ram. Do this in a well-lit area with lots of witnesses.
Get a good description of the perpetrator. After the assault or robbery, write down everything you know about the suspect. Get his height, weight, sex, race, color clothing, pickup point, drop off point, etc. so that you can report it to local authorities. If you get a good enough description, you will aid police in apprehending the suspect.
By incorporating these safety tips on your shift every day, you can help put a stop to potential crime and minimize becoming a victim to an assault, robbery, or mugging. Most veteran cab drivers have already developed a “sixth sense” in the taxi business. It would be to your best interest to do the same if you are a rookie.
Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the website NinjaCOPS SuperStore. This virtual store specializes in personal defense products where you can buy pepper spray, kubatons keychains, wireless hidden cameras, nunchaku technique videos, Taser stun guns, expandable steel batons, and many other home security products.
The love for traveling is perhaps one of the things a lot of people have in common. Well, since touring around the world is the usual dream of each and every human being walking on the planet, let’s take traveling seriously.
Anyway, have you heard about Ryan Air? They’ve been around for sometime and are considered as Ireland’s favorite. Anyway, news says that connections from Dublin to Zadar were opened last March 2008 making travel to Croatia so much easier since you longer have to get a connecting flight. Anyway, RyanAir also has packages for tourists so you might want to check them out when you start planning your itinerary.
Whether you are traveling as far as Croatia, or just a short trip, you first need to make sure that everything you will need is all ready. This is the perfect time to exercise your foresight. Make sure that a few hours before your trip you have had already prepared all the things you need to bring, like your clothes, a medical kit, your communication kit, and of course, your travel documents. When you pack your clothes, make sure you have enough for a day trip, and possibly a dress for a nice party. Make sure too, that you pack comfortable shoes for sightseeing and another one for when you go dancing. Don’t pack too much as I’m pretty sure you’ll probably buy a lot of souvenirs for your family and friends and you’ll want to have enough space in your suitcase for that.
Next, you have to confirm your hotel accommodations since you’ll want to rest immediately when you get there. Aside from this, you need to arrange for an airport taxi for when you get to Croatia , especially if this is your first time. With airport taxi service Zadar, you can travel with ease and get an instant tour guide too! Book taxi Croatia, because airport transfers are not easy to find especially during peak seasons such as summer. When you travel to another territory, it is always advisable to book for car rentals with driver beforehand, unless you plan to go backpacking. At Taxi Zadar, you don’t need to worry whether you are being driven to the right place because all their employees are locals of the place.
Before leaving, you have to make sure you have arranged for someone to look after your house especially when you are living alone or if you are going on a family vacation. Aside from this, make sure to finish all you backlogs or else you will end up with more when you get home. You and I both know that relaxing despite the fact that you have a pile of job to do is not really what you call as recreation, it’s more of slacking and it could really hurt your career.
Being prepared is the key to getting the most out of your vacation. So remember, before you go, you have to make sure everything is set up and ready. Then, all you need to think about is how to enjoy being in a place as marvelous as Croatia.
About The Author:
Johnnie Kazija is an airport taxi service provider in Zadar, Croatia. Find more information about Croatian Taxi Transfers at www.taxi-zadar.com
As a taxicab driver myself, doing Airport transfers from Gatwick Airport mostly into London or the surrounding areas. I would like to share some points on safetly picking out the right Cab for you, to get you to your address on time.
1. Look for a Cab Rank
You can usually find a taxi rank outside most main train stations and landmarks – even if your in a different country, you’ll find cabs congregating near the cab sign. In General, only taxi’s with a (Hackney Carriage in the UK) license are permitted to wait at these taxi ranks, this means that in any country this is the norm . Look for these cab stands at foreign airports, too: finally, don’t let in-your-face drivers or their “helpers” direct you into a cab without sussing out the layof the land first.
2. Look for Cab SimilaritiesLook for Similarities taxicabs
When you see taxis at a taxicab stand, notice the types, logos, colours or ‘TAXI’ light on top even if your not booking a taxi right now — you can avoid a “gypsy” or fake taxi afterward if you have an idea what the city’s legit taxi companies’ cars look like.
3. Look if there is a tel no. printed
All good business’ want to advertise. Recognised cabs commonly have the taxi company’s telephone number plastered on the roof, doors and boot. A taxi without a phone number doesn’t want to promote — how come? Don’t get into a taxi without a company phone number advertised plainly someplace on the taxi’s exterior unless all the taxis are clearly the same (see above).
4. Taxi Meter & Radio – A great sign
Legitimate taxi’s will probably have a radio and or a Taxi Meter; see for either before you get in and feel free to wave the cab by if you don’t see them. Look for a taxicab light on top of the car, this is also a sound bet. Normally using your commen sense and be mindful of what is going on around you.
5. What’s your destination?
Gain an idea of where you are headed – look on a local map, or Google maps if you get the chance, so that you can be sure you don’t end up somewhere inhosbitable. If you do end up going the wrong way, ask the driver to stop somewhere safe and feel free to get out at the earliest chance. Pay the driver anyway in case they are nasty, and look for alternative travel.
6. Are they wearing a Taxi License Badge
All Taxi drivers particularly in the UK have Taxicab License cards which will be on the person or displayed in the car, if not, ask to see one and don’t stand for, ‘oh I forgot it today’, as it is illegal for taxicab drivers in this country not to have it on their person. The controlling body is Hackney Carriage usually and it is licensed through local council. The license should have a picture on it for reference and an expiry date.
7. Don’t Share with a Stranger
Ok, you can save a few pounds, but it’s a scam in some spots. Or sometimes the taxi driver will end up charging you double or once each for the same journey. Before you get in, talk to the driver and agree to a fare for the entire journey, one complete cost, or set fare.
What are the main differences between taxis and limos? Taxis and limos have their similarities because both of them are for hire and the most common of all is that both are vehicles. Ha! Just kidding. Who can not tell that both are vehicles?
Limousines are hired for special occasions like wedding parties, hen nights, stag nights and other important occasions. On the contrary, taxis are hired just for transportation from one place to the other without having to mind about the levels of comfort. Taxis are also very common and are seen on every corner of the streets of any town. Their fares are also very different from those of limousines. Taxis prices are not inclusive of extra services like drinks on board. With limos you are offered the best and the finest drinks like champagne.
The prices of the taxis are also pocket friendly and just about any one can afford to pay for a taxi but in some cases the prices of the taxis can be a bit high depending on the type of the car and the services that you are treated with that are not part of the transportation.
The prices of the limos are very high and this why only those who are luxurious and extravagant go for the limos. The rental prices of the limos will also depend on the type of limo that you are hiring. It is not logic to have the price of for example a Ford Excursion limo and a Hummer Limo as the same. The Hummer H2 Limo is way much expensive than a Ford Excursion limo. Those who want recognition would also go for the Hummer H2 limo. This is a limo for the rich and the strong. It oozes strength and wealth. May be due to its military background.
The taxis can be used for airport transfers and the same for limousines. But for those who would like to get to their destinations in style and the best of comfort will go for the limousine. If they want to announce to every one that they have arrived they take the classiest limo that they know of. On board a taxi no one will realise that you are in town. You are guaranteed of attention with the limo.
The limo is also for those who love to be entertained while sipping their favourite drinks. The taxis do not have these extravagant services. The aim of the taxi is just to get you to your destination.
Some of the features that a taxi has are not even comparable to those of a limo. Limousines have a lot of extras to keep their passenger busy to the levels of not realizing if they have reached their destinations. The amenities you get are just too many.
Limousines pick people from their homes. This is treating the passengers like executives. For taxis you have to go and get them in the town. But only few of them have the services of picking their passengers at their houses which comes with an extra fee.
Limousines also come with the most beautiful and head turning colours that are usually well presented. The colours of the taxis are not comparable to the limousines.
Most consultants are like cab drivers. Cab drivers run the meter. They throw the luggage in the trunk (that’s a $1.00 bag charge). They may or may not be personable. If you have extra passengers, that’s $1.50 each on top of the mileage. No smoking. And the radio is tuned to their favorite station – not yours.
Most consultants charge by the hour or the day. The meter is running. When you need a special report or their attendance at an onsite meeting, there’s your bag charge. They may or may not be personable to anyone other than the executive who hired them. If you need additional work or facilitation or expertise, there’s a fee “on top of the mileage.” And most times, you’re locked into their “radio station” – tuned to their methodologies, their licensed tools, their processes – not yours.
What if you came across a dramatically different kind of cab driver? Let’s call him Ike.
1. Ike has his own business card with his personal cell phone number, a rocket logo and a humorous tagline, such as “Strap in. Hang on. Here we go!” One of his cab’s notable features is the Hot Wheels steering wheel cover. Your initial impression might be that he is direct and, most importantly, fast.
2. In addition, Ike is a great listener. This would be in contrast to some “real character” cab drivers, who are great talkers.
3. Ike takes credit cards and proudly displays the Visa and American Express decals inside his cab. A credit card transaction costs him between 2 and 4% of every sale. (The cab company does NOT subsidize this fee – it’s up to each individual driver to decide whether to accept credit cards or not.) But it also makes him easy to do business with – and, coincidentally, increases the likelihood of getting a nice tip.
4. Ike is proactive and offers suggestions. For example, when a passenger asks Ike for a good restaurant recommendation, he has a few of his favorite places in mind and a restaurant guide available right in the front seat of the cab. Ike will offer to take his passenger to the restaurant, and also to come back at an appointed time to save the hassle of tracking down another cab. He is never late. Does Ike profit from this? Sure. Does Ike’s passenger? Sure. Will some cab drivers refuse to come back at a set time for fear of losing a juicier fare or a longer ride that may or may not come along? You bet.
5. When picking up or dropping off from the airport, Ike always finds out a little bit about his passenger. Is this his first time in town? How long is his visit? If Ike discovers that his passenger has come for business and hasn’t any time to see the sights or experience the city, he offers to take the passenger on a 10-minute sightseeing tour of downtown. Pointing out the highlights, sharing a little history, and telling a few stories, Ike has his passenger back on his way with a real flavor of the city that he loves. Is this a gimmick to add 10 minutes to the meter? With some cabbies, it might be. But Ike’s passion and knowledge and eagerness to share it with his passengers cannot be faked. Would a friend do the same for you on your way out of town? Absolutely.
Let’s turn our focus to the lessons for consulting. Feel free to compare these consulting tips with the corresponding lessons from the taxi business above.
1. Successful consultants stand apart – both in form and in substance. Sales trainer, consultant, and author Jeffrey Gitomer uses a half-dollar sized coin with his image and contact information (and some clever slogans like “In Sales We Trust”) engraved on it as his business card. People not only remember it, they keep it and they show it to their friends. Your initial impression might be that he is successful, funny, creative, and different than every other “me-too” sales trainer wearing a nice suit and carrying sharp white business cards (yawn).
2. Successful consultants are not good listeners. They’re DEEP listeners. “Good” listeners use surface tricks and techniques like “active listening” and “matching and mirroring.” Deep listeners listen with no agenda. Your listening focus should be on empathy – literally “feeling WITH” the client – and understanding the issues behind the issues. This isn’t a trick you learn in “consulting school.” This comes from your heart and your genuine interest in helping the client improve their situation. Deep listening will help you understand the real value that the client seeks from you.
3. Successful consultants are easy to do business with. One of the world’s finest consultants, Alan Weiss, says in his book Million Dollar Consulting, “you have to spend money to make money.” Part of that money should be spent on things that will make you easy to do business with. Some of these things are almost trivial – being able to accept credit cards, having an 800 number, etc. And some of these things will be a major investment of time, effort, thought, and energy. Like designing a resource-rich web presence or moving to value-based fee-setting so people get you and your expertise without concern over when you punch in and out on the time clock.
4. Successful consultants are proactive and offer suggestions. Flexibility is a great source of strength. So is forward movement. When consulting with large organizations, it is easy to fall into their trap of “analysis paralysis.” Especially with all the hype around “getting close to the customer.” The danger for consultants in getting too close to the customer is that you’ll get mired in the same quicksand you’ve been brought in to rescue them from! Keep moving, and always offer options. It could be as simple as “Plan A or B or C,” but giving choices always enhances collaboration and provides a sense of shared responsibility for outcomes. And it’s harder to say “No” when asked “Chocolate or Vanilla or Strawberry?” Ideally, your clients will say “Wow, they ALL sound delicious.” Then you are in a position to make a recommendation based on your deep listening (See #2!)
5. Successful consultants work from passion, knowledge, and eagerness to help. The irony of this is that the more easy and effortless the work for the consultant, the greater the value it has for the client. For the consultant, the intersection of joy and business is called profit. Marketer, speaker, and author Seth Godin believes that in any business relationship, the sooner you ask for money, the less you will get. This has interesting implications for the consulting business, where knowledge and expertise (and to a certain extent, even conversation) has monetary value.
I happen to believe in the concept of value-first selling. In other words, you should give clients valuable information and point them to resources they need, even before you’re hired. You should work to make prospects think, “Wow, this guy is a goldmine. Imagine what we’d get if we actually HIRED him.”
Now a lot of sales and consulting experts call this “spilling the candy in the lobby” and they advise strongly against it. And I would advise against it too – if you’re only carrying one bowl of candy. But without bragging, I can safely say that among great consultants (people who work at the intersection of passion and knowledge and eagerness to help), we’re a veritable candy store and are not likely to run out anytime soon by sharing our gifts with clients that are hungry for what we have to offer.
Would you help a friend with your knowledge and expertise? Sure you would. Perhaps clients are simply friends that pay you money? Think about it.
