Taxis and other Istanbul Ili, Turkey Tourist Trap Tips

If you're taking taxis from Taksim to Sultanahmet or vise-versa and you look like it's your first time, take cautions because some taxis will overcharge you. Not that I'm stupid, heard all about it from other people, but I guess I just want to have a piece of the personal experience kind-of-thing. So, if you're not in a hurry there are regular buses in Taksim Square near McDonalds for YTL 1.10 (or 1.25?), you'll be swept to Sultanahmet in 15 to 30 minutes depends on the traffic.

If you're wondering and FYI.... I was charged by the first (and last) taxi driver I took from Taksim to Sultanahmet for YTL27 (OUCH!), when it's normally only about YTL7. Never took the taxi since then, except for that honest taxi driver who took me to the airport of course.

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At Least Do This: At least ask the driver first how much is the approximate fare or make a fix deal, you can almost always do that, but asking approx. is better than a fix deal. If he can't give you an answer, go to the next taxi, plenty of them anyways.
Alternative: Bus that ply from Taksim to Sultanahmet area or Beyazit are realiable, big, clean, spacious, and fast too.

I don't want to elaborate it much as I know this modus operandi is near extinction.

The Scene: Along Istiklal Caddesi or Taksim area, a lone tourist (allegedly) walking restlessly, looking up the buildings, around, walking slowly, looks like wondering, where to go or looking like no specific place to go or itinerary to do. He will look at oyu, smile and introduce himself that he's a tourist from Greece (Greeks faces looks very much like Turkish, or is it?) and he's alone and he's bored inside his room in a 4 or 5-star hotel (he'll mention the name). Then, ask you if your looking for a night fun too, a bar or club maybe. Then he'll walk with you pretending he doesn't know the place and tell you to "let's check this place out", when you're already inside, he will order 2 beers or whatever you want, he'll take the same, when the bill comes, it's too late and you'll jump up hitting the roof with a bill skyhigh! (i.e. beer for YTL70/bottle!!!). Plus the "other entertainment" stuff.

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At Least Do This: Be cautious with people pretending to be a lone tourist from Greece... or any country that may ressemble or has facial similarities with Turkey....or even some Turkish allegedly from Ankara or Adana, etc... pretending to be on business trip in Istanbul.
Alternative: Ignore or tell them that you're in a hurry catching up someone... in fact you don't owe them any explanations. Just don't be rude.