Antalya Turkey taxi incident - help

RuthnJasper

dmg24 wrote: »

The travel company have no part in this situation - they did not provide the taxi.

Ah, yes, of course. Silly me! I got a bit confused with the hotel guy sorting out the driver that the OP procured. I wonder if the hotel was one that offered its own 'approved' drivers? Then, at least, there may have some scope for comeback.

Again, this isn't a dig at Cupcakelady but, speaking for myself, I wouldn't get into an off-the-street taxi abroad without knowing enough of the language to be able to sort things out if problems arose...

I'm still very sorry for the OP and what happened to her and her mum. I would probably have freaked out if it was me. x

PompeyPete

Just been reading on Trip Advisor about taxi fares between Antalya airport and Cirali (and visa versa).
About TL140 to TL150 seems to be the going rate.
So I'm surprised that the hotel reception in Cirali (who must know the going rate) would have agreed a price of TL90 with the driver. It's a £20 difference, which no taxi driver anywhere is going to want to lose.
I suspect something might have got lost in translation, and what was actually agreed was a taxi back to Antalya (Kaleici).
A taxi from Kaleici to Antalya Airport is about TL40 (+ a self-assessed tip of TL10!). The airport is a further 25-30 minutes drive east of Kaleici.
So I can see where the TL140 that the driver was demanding comes from.

WolfSong2000

whatyadoinsucka wrote: »

I'm saying in many countries mugging/killing a tourist for money / valuables or other 'worse things' is common practise.

Be careful out there. remember in certain religious countries women are not seen in the same light as in western countries and are classed as second rate citizens.

Just because thomas cook sell holidays there it doesn't mean its safe
(SE Asia / Turkey/ North Africa / Gambia / Kenya / south africa / Central America & Caribbean all spring to mind)

I'd be wary of generalising countries - the Gambia, for instance - yes in Banjul the locals do tend to heckle the tourists, but if you get away from the main touristy areas, you'll find the vast majority of Gambians are lovely people, very friendly and helpful. Sadly a lot of "beach bums" have come to realise that most tourists are easily ripped off and so make a nuisance of themselves. Can't speak for the other countries.

But yeah...you'll get difficult circumstances wherever you travel - I had a really bad experience with a taxi in Nashville, Tennessee in the USA. I was staying in a hotel about 10 mins drive from the city, so got a cab at 3am after a night out with friends. It was a licensed cab, driver seemed friendly and we got chatting. He realised I was on my own and once we were in the middle of nowhere (between town and my hotel) he admitted he wasn't actually a licensed taxi cab driver, it was his friend's taxi and as I was travelling alone, did I want a friend? He'd also be happy to walk me back to my hotel room. I was 18 at the time and it was a pretty scary experience. As it was dark I couldn't get the taxi number, so sadly the idiot got away with it (after he dropped me off I stood in car park and waited for him to leave before I went to my hotel room, so he didn't know which room I was in).

Also on a recent trip to sarajevo in Bosnia I was openly propositioned by the hotel receptionist. He apparently did the same to a number of other female guests. Also had huge problems with the hotel I stayed in in Sarajevo on a previous visit - they changed my room (and moved all my belongings) whilst I was on a day out and didn't tell me...I didn't find out until I went up to "my" room and found it occupied by two strange women. lol.

I haven't let these experiences dampen my view of the countries involved, though. You get good and bad experiences when travelling - it's part of the package. Despite my bad experiences, I still regularly travel to the USA and would not hesitate to go back to Sarajevo (just find a different hotel! lol).

I think for me, the only bad experience I've ever had that's totally put me off going back to a place was a bad experience I had in Paris when I was 16 (attempted rape). This, combined with the general attitude of the Parisians I encountered (my french isn't brilliant and my attempts at speaking the language were met with contempt) has meant that I have no desire to re-visit Paris. Other parts of France, however, I'd definitely be up for .

PompeyPete

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

I think for me, the only bad experience I've ever had that's totally put me off going back to a place was a bad experience I had in Paris when I was 16 (attempted rape).

I hope you hadn't ventured into Bois du Boulogne after dark:eek:

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

This, combined with the general attitude of the Parisians I encountered (my french isn't brilliant and my attempts at speaking the language were met with contempt) has meant that I have no desire to re-visit Paris.

Even Parisians don't like Parisians;)

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Other parts of France, however, I'd definitely be up for .

Spot-on, but I'd be careful in some of the bigger cities.

WolfSong2000

PompeyPete wrote: »

I hope you hadn't ventured into Bois du Boulogne after dark:eek:



Even Parisians don't like Parisians;)



Spot-on, but I'd be careful in some of the bigger cities.

Looking back it was a ridiculous situation - I'd gotten separated from colleagues who'd wanted to go drinking near the red light district (God knows why!). I was 16, naive, and when a nice older gentleman offered assistance in helping me get back to my hotel, I initially thought nothing of it. It went downhill from there.

Nowadays (I'm 24), I'm more experienced and better travelled, but wherever I go in the world, I am wary in large cities. Having said that, Sarajevo has to be one of the safest places I've ever been. I could wander round the old part of town at night, as a lone female traveller, without worrying too much about my own security (I'm always aware, but there was no need to be paranoid). Sarajevo is highly underrated as a holiday destination .

whatyadoinsucka

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Sarajevo is highly underrated as a holiday destination .

I'd love to go, really enjoyed belgrade and an overnight train to bar in montenegro a few years ago, only had time to get a bus from dubrovnik to mostar (what a nice little bullet hole ridden town that was.)

in belgrade i arrived at 10pm pitch black no street lights and only a 'english map' that was virtually useless with the street names in cryllic, wandering down a road lost, i by chance got spotted and a couple came over spoke german, serbian, then english and asked what hotel i was staying at, i said the name and they gave me perfect directions it was only 5 mins away :0)

Lip_Stick

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

I think for me, the only bad experience I've ever had that's totally put me off going back to a place was a bad experience I had in Paris when I was 16 (attempted rape). This, combined with the general attitude of the Parisians I encountered (my french isn't brilliant and my attempts at speaking the language were met with contempt) has meant that I have no desire to re-visit Paris. Other parts of France, however, I'd definitely be up for .

An old guy tried to drag me down an alley in Paris, in broad daylight in a busy area. I've no idea what he wanted, and don't want to guess. I shouted a French sounding 'Non' lol which caught peoples attention and he let me go.

Am going to Alanya on the 6th June though, and now I'm hoping I won't need a taxi to anywhere! :eek:

PompeyPete

Lip_Stick wrote: »

Am going to Alanya on the 6th June though, and now I'm hoping I won't need a taxi to anywhere! :eek:

Alanya is in a gorgeous setting.
It's 90 minutes plus from Antalya airport though, so make sure you've got your transfers sorted out.

Ponkle22

Sorry to hear of your distress.

If I were you I'd post this on Trip Advisor in the correct area forum - others might have experienced similar - or to warn others, or whatever.

WolfSong2000

whatyadoinsucka wrote: »

I'd love to go, really enjoyed belgrade and an overnight train to bar in montenegro a few years ago, only had time to get a bus from dubrovnik to mostar (what a nice little bullet hole ridden town that was.)

in belgrade i arrived at 10pm pitch black no street lights and only a 'english map' that was virtually useless with the street names in cryllic, wandering down a road lost, i by chance got spotted and a couple came over spoke german, serbian, then english and asked what hotel i was staying at, i said the name and they gave me perfect directions it was only 5 mins away :0)

You should definitely go! The people are lovely and there's lots to see and do...I visited Sarajevo, Mostar and Srebrenica - the last one was a real eye opener! The food in sarajevo is to die for as well...I've been twice now and really, really enjoyed myself.