"Taxis drivers are the same all around the world..." TAXIS Tip by JessH

You can't really blame taxi drivers for trying to take the "stupid tourists the long way around"... this happens all over the world, so Goa is no different.

One our first 2-3 days in Goa we only took metered taxis. Once we knew the approximate fares to certain destinations we were more brave and often opted for the unmetered variety. Agree the price BEFORE you start the journey and be firm about it.

We happened to have the same driver on a couple of occasions, so we "booked" him for a full day to go and see the sights. Again, we agreed on the price beforehand and everyone was happy: we saved a lot of money on seperate taxi rides (who also charge a "waiting fee"), and the driver had guaranteed business for 6 hours of that day.

Unique Suggestions: Naturally, and hardly avoidable, we were also once driven to a small but expensive furniture store near Panjim, and pushingly asked to step inside and "have a look"... the drivers receive commissions according to how many tourists they bring to these shops. We walked in, had a look, and were outside again within 90 seconds. This wasn't meant to be nasty or rude, but we fulfilled our obligation to guarantee his commission (he explained later that they get a few Rupees even if we don't buy anything) and simply weren't interested in buying anything. In countries like Asia, the prejudice of "all Western tourists are rich" is still widely spread and will probably always stay that way.

A few useful words (even though most drivers in Goa spoke excellent English):
Sida - Straight.
Jaldie - Fast.
Ruko - Stop.
Kitna? - How much?
Bilkul Nahi - Absolutely not.
Nahi Mangtha - I don't want.

Fun Alternatives: If you are unhappy with a driver's prices or attitide, or are not convinced that he really knows where he is going, simply get out and look for another taxi.