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Taxis
and "Gypsy taxis"
You can order a taxi at the following numbers:
080
10-55 Vokat (Вокат)
10-13 10-33 Ogonek (Огонек)
10-10 Radio (радио)
070 Aozt (Аозт)
The most
inexpensive and convenient way to travel around Odessa
is in taxis. Taxis are cheap for Russian or Ukrainian
speaking passengers. Of course, if you don't speak
the language the price goes up immediately.
There actually
is no reason to call a taxi. In Odessa almost every
car you see on the road is your own personal taxi.
Called "gypsy taxis", every taxi ride costs
a fraction of a dollar.
If you
can get over the embarrassment of fumbling over Russian
to tell the taxi driver where to go, you can travel
around the city in comfort. Go to a busy street, put
your hand out, palm facing down, and within seconds
a car will stop (usually a Lada, but Mercedes and
other high end cars sometimes stop also).
Negotiate
your price before you get in the car. If you cannot
agree on a price with the driver, close the door and
wait a few seconds for the next gypsy taxi. Often
the driver will reconsider and agree on your price.
Prices
for Gypsy taxis and normal taxis
Prices for gypsy taxis in the center between Staroportofrankovskaya
(Старопортофранковская), the train station, and the
port, for locals is never more than 4 hryvna, and
it is usually 2 or 3. A foreigner shouldn't pay more
than five hryvna. Remember, it is a "buyers market".
In gypsy
taxis prices from the center to the Arcadia area
for locals is six Hryvna. Never pay more
than ten.
Throughout
all of Odessa never pay more than 15 hryvna for
a gypsy taxi.
Tips
for taxis:
- Never
take a taxi at the train station or bus station,
they are very expensive. Walk a few feet to the
street and hail a taxi there.
- Don't
get into a car having more than one passenger. Refuse
to continue to stay in the car if the driver attempts
to pick up someone else. A volunteer here in Odessa
was robbed and severely beaten after a man picked
up someone else who actually was his accomplice.
- Agree
on a price beforehand. There are no meters in the
taxis themselves.
- It is
advisable to always carry lower denomination notes
for taxis. If the driver does not have change, it
is okay to go to a store or kiosk and get change
while the driver waits outside.
- Pay
the taxi driver ONLY after you have arrived.
- Most
seat belts in cars don't work or have been removed.
Taxi drivers will tell you do not a seat belt here.
Insist if this is important too.
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