Greek Taxi Tips from Tom Mazarakis

If you take a taxi to your hotel from the airport please follow the following instructions (cabbies have been known to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists and overcharge them):

• Make sure that the cab driver turns his "Meter" on from the moment you begin your ride to your hotel. Do not make "a deal" with the taxi driver. The cab fare is not negotiable and any agreement you might make with him is going to be to your disadvantage.
• Look at the meter and make sure that it is running at the normal speed. You can determine this by looking for the number " 1 " or the number " 2 " in one of the 4 corners of the meter's face. If you see the number 1 then it is correct. If you see the number 2 then it is running at double the normal rate. (The double rate is only applied when you use a cab after the hour of 12 midnight or if you take the cab for a trip far outside the Athens city limits which does not apply to the new airport).
• There is an additional charge for every suitcase you load into the cab's trunk which is added to the total indicated by the meter.
• You can tip the driver (if you want to) at a rate of 10 - 20% at your own disgression.

  
  I hope this information will be of some help to you.

  I can also supply you with your own personal cell phone to use during your visit to Greece. See www.greecetravel.com/phones
  Regards from Athens Greece.

  Tom Mazarakis