Jiddah Transportation Tips by daaebissa

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Taxis. The bane of my existance in Saudi. Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi, and you can only drive with a male who is either your husband or a relative. Women are not allowed to ride bicycles either - let alone skateboard or rollerblade down the streets of Jeddah!

So that leaves......TAXIS!!!! Probably the best thing you can do when you find a good taxi driver that can speak passable English is to snatch him up! Get his mobile number, and if you are planning to go somewhere, you can call ahead. That way, you know you are with someone you can trust and who doesn't rip you off.

Secondly - KNOW SOME ARABIC. There are a few arabic words that can get you by in a taxi. I am going to type these how they sound phonetically. These are:
1) Al la toule (straight head, all the way straight, no turning).
2) Yamine (right)
3) Yasaar (left)
4) Henna (here, i.e., stop)

Thirdly - KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING. There is nothing more frustrating and tear-evoking than driving around Jeddah with someone who doesn't speak English trying to tell him where to go when you don't even know yourself. Be careful, because when you ask the driver at first if he knows where _________ is (fill in the blank), he will probably say yes, even if he doesn't know.

Fourth and lastly - KNOW THE PRICE OF WHERE YOU ARE GOING. Before you even get into the taxi, ask how much. He will give probably a high quote, so then you tell him what you already know the price should be. He should smarten up and take you for that price.

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