PRAGUE GUIDE

In every single large city in the world, stories emanate about unsuspecting tourists being conned by unscrupulous taxi drivers, keen to exploit their lack of knowledge when it comes to local pricing and there lack of comfort in a foreign land. Unfort...

Taxi drivers in the Czech capital are well known for their insolence. But the man caught by Prague police in early August 2011 was more than that. For many months he had kept stealing credit cards from his customers, and over several months he cashed almost a quarter of a million crowns.

According to reports from some Prague tourists, local police authorities and card issuing associations, Prague taxi drivers are trying a new card trick to rip off tourists.

Complaints about Taxicab Drivers - Another example of the situation being serious at Prague Ruzyně Airport is a case from November 2009 when an "illegal" cab driver swindled passengers who were undercover officers of the Prague City Hall. The cab driver charged them 2,140.00 CZK for a 10-kilometer trip from Prague Ruzyně Airport to the hotel Diplomat (approximately 5 times the regular price of the fare).

An unoccupied taxi has a lit-up sign and may be hailed on the street or hired from a taxi rank, but it is much more recommended and safer to order over the phone. Sadly, Prague still has some of the worst taxi drivers in the world when it comes to overcharging.  Don't hail taxis on the street - either ask a Czech person to call you a cab or call one of the city's more reputable English-speaking companies.