Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of negotiation to that involved in catching a car, only the driver will want more
money for being 'official'.
The best way to get a taxi is to order one through a company as prices will
be a lot lower than those charged if you flag a driver down on the street. Oper-
ators will usually not speak English, so unless you speak Russian you might
want your hotel reception to call one of the following numbers for you:
Peterburgskoye Taxi
(
Taxi-4
(
Taxi Blues
(
Taxi Million
(
CATCHING A CAR
Stand on practically any street and stick out your arm: you can be assured that
sooner rather than later a car will stop for you. Usually it's a well-worn little Lada
or Zhiguli, but it can be anything - a snazzier car, an off-duty city bus, an army
Jeep with driver in camouflage. The drivers may be on their way somewhere, or
they may just be trying to supplement their income. These unofficial taxis are the
cheapest way to cover distances in the city centre.
So, you've stuck your arm out and a car has stopped. This is where the fun
starts. You state your destination, say,
'ulitsa Marata!'
The driver looks away for
a second and shouts back
'skolko?'
(how much?) You bark back a price. If he's
happy with that amount, he'll say,
'sadites'
(sit down), at which point you get in
and drive off. If he's not happy with that price, a period of negotiation might en-
sue.
If you feel that the driver is trying to rip you off because of your accent, shut
the door. If there's more than one person in the car, don't get in. And if the driver
seems creepy, let him drive on. There'll be another car coming in a flash. At any
time, you are welcome to give a gruff
'nyet'
and slam the door.
