Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PRIVATE TAXI
Any taxi without passengers, whether obviously a shared taxi or a more expensive private
taxi (usually yellow), can be chartered to go anywhere in town; an act usually called
'ser-
vice'
or
'agence'
. Unless it's a complicated deal, including waiting time, simply hail the
vehicle, tell the driver where you want to go, and ask
'chand toman?'
Immediately offer
about 60% of what he suggests but expect to end up paying about 75% or 80% of the ori-
ginally quoted price.
If your destination has no known street address, tell the driver the name of the place and
the nearest square, main road or other landmark.
AGENCY TAXIS
Agency taxis, or 'telephone' taxis, are ordered by phone. Any hotel can arrange an agency
taxi (often with the manager's brother behind the wheel). These are the most expensive
taxis but you get a better car, the comfort of knowing there will be someone to complain
to if anything goes wrong and, possibly, a driver who speaks English. One reader wrote to
say that lone women are advised to get someone to call them a taxi if they're travelling
after dark, thus avoiding being hooted at or ignored by dozens of drivers as they try to hail
one. Demand is such that Tehran has a women-only taxi company - female drivers, fe-
male passengers, no groping.
DRIVER GUIDES
In this topic we include recommendations for private drivers and guides in their home cities. These (mostly men)
speak English and make a good, flexible alternative to more formal tours. They are often happy to meet visitors in
Tehran and take country-wide tours. For details see the Tours sections for Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Kerman,
Tabriz and Bam.
Minibus
Minibuses are often used for shorter distances linking larger cities and towns to surround-
ing villages. Sometimes they're an alternative to the bus, but usually there's no choice;
just take whatever is going your way. Minibuses are particularly popular along the Caspi-
an Sea coast, and between Caspian towns and Tehran.
