TAXI IN ORLANDO, FL

 Another thing I love about Yandex is that the rate you’re shown is the rate that you will be charged. And getting to the airport is easy as the rate is a flat rate of 1500 KZT which is half the price of hailing a cab upon arrival or from the street.

 Cons: For some reason, my card will not register with Yandex so I can only use the app if I have cash. This sucks. I also find that Yandex drivers sometimes don’t really carry much cash on them so if you don’t have exact change, you may end up having to just leave them a tip. I, truthfully, think that they do this on purpose sometimes.

 Uber was my go-to app of choice here a few years ago. But, times have changed and Yandex has become more user-friendly for tourists so now I use Uber only sparingly. Click here to download Uber for iPhone and click here to download Uber for Android.

 Almaty Taxi Guide: How to Successfully Take a Taxi in Almaty, Kazakhstan uberAlmaty Taxi Guide: How to Successfully Take a Taxi in Almaty, Kazakhstan uberAlmaty Taxi Guide: How to Successfully Take a Taxi in Almaty, Kazakhstan uber

 Pros: My favorite thing about Uber is that I know how to file a complaint if I have an issue. And don’t worry, I have in the past. Uber was quick to reply to me and reimburse me after the situation. Another thing I like about Uber is that I can use my card with the app.

 I can also use Paypal if I wish. For some reason, I can’t seem to get this to work with my American bank card on Yandex.

 Cons: Uber has fewer drivers than Yandex, so wait times can be a bit longer than expected. The prices are also slightly higher than Yandex’s. Another thing I am not a fan of is Uber as a company in general (research for more information if you’re curious what I am talking about).

 But, as an often solo female traveler, I do feel security in the app and knowing that I can hail a cab anywhere at any time by the press of a finger on my phone.

 Something you may observe when spending time in Almaty is that you will likely see people hailing cabs from the street. And when the cars pull up, they are not marked and just look like an everyday, private vehicle. Well… they are.

 In Almaty and other parts of Kazakhstan, people willingly take rides with strangers. I have done this several times around the city. Basically, you find a good place (where you won’t hold up traffic) and just stick your arm out to initiate pickup.

 Once a person stops, you just agree on a price and if he or she are going in that direction, they may opt to take you with them. And sometimes, they may just give you a ride in that direction for a fee even if not going there.

 I always use my calculator on my phone to agree on the price if the language barrier is strong. I have done this several times and I have not yet had an issue with it. I have also met several people doing this and some of them have become friends.

 If you’re not catching one from the street but a taxi stand of some sort, you may run the risk of getting an insanely high ‘tourist tax’. This would be the last way I would attempt to take a taxi in Almaty, to be honest.

 Arriving at any transportation hub in Almaty is a real treat as you are bombarded with people wanting to take you to your next destination. ‘Taxi! Taxi! Taxi!’ are words that ring relentlessly in my ears for days after I pass through the Almaty Airport or the Sayran Bus Station.

 Unfortunately, getting into the city by taxi from either place is a pain if you don’t have wifi or a way to access a transportation app like Yandex or Uber.

 Getting a taxi from the airport sucks. While it should be easy as Yandex offers a flat rate of 1500 KZT, it isn’t easy because if you just arrive at Almaty Airport, you won’t be able to get online (because they use Chocolife’s service for internet access and it only works for locals and people with Russian numbers).

 How horrible is this? So basically, you have two choices: get screwed over and get a SIM card or find a way to get a local to order you a taxi… OR… just chance it with ones out front. I chance it.

 If you plan to chance the taxi situation, head out front toward the police office (small little hut directly out of the front doors) where you will see a woman wearing a bright yellow vest and shouting like she is directing traffic at Shibuya in Tokyo.

 Go talk to her, tell her where you need to go, and she will get you in a taxi to the city or your address. The rate should be no more than 3000 KZT. That is a rip-off, but better safe than sorry by taking one of the guys wandering around telling you 1000 KZT (trust me… been there done that and they tried robbing and beating me later).

 Don’t want to bother with a taxi from the airport- you can catch Bus #3 which runs every 24-hours from the airport to the city. It will take a while, however.

 Another place you may have to take a taxi from where things are a bit sketchy. Again, I wouldn’t bother getting a Kazakhstan SIM card at the bus station. The companies selling there aren’t authorized dealers and who knows what you could end up with. The rate with Yandex app is about 800 KZT from Sayran to Dostyk Plaza area just to give you an approximate rate.

 But, I have paid up to around 2000 KZT for this route from taxis from the street or hitchhiking just to avoid being around this bus station. I have also been cheap and walked to the Sayran Metro Station (quite far away, really). Don’t play around in Sayran if you can avoid it, especially after dark. It is one of the seedier places in Almaty.

 I would go to the street and try to hail a taxi from there. If not, then you can find the guy annoying you the least and try to use him. I always go for the oldest man in the bunch as some of the younger people tend to be in taxi gangs.

 Taking a taxi should be pretty easy but it is definitely an experience in Almaty if you don’t know what you’re doing (and sometimes if you actually do). I used to have a personal driver here so I could avoid taxi situations, actually. But since taxis have become easier to take, I don’t feel the need to have a dedicated driver. Keep the following tips in mind:

 This is a weird one, I know. It took me a couple of extremely negative experiences with taxis in Almaty to learn what was happening. A few years back when the economy crashed here, a lot of younger men formed taxi gangs. I have been told this by several people and I still don’t know their actual purpose.

 But basically, it was traced back after police reports (which nothing was done about for the most part) I had to file that this was the case with both companies used. Anyway, if you use Yandex and Uber, you won’t have a problem with this. It was some of the other companies circulating a few years back but I don’t see them on the streets as much anymore.

 But basically, it was traced back after police reports (which nothing was done about for the most part) I had to file that this was the case with both companies used. Anyway, if you use Yandex and Uber, you won’t have a problem with this. It was some of the other companies circulating a few years back but I don’t see them on the streets as much anymore.

 If you’re using an app, this won’t apply to you. But, if you’re hailing a cab from the street, you will need to negotiate a price before you take off. Some taxi drivers will not reply quickly with a price and try putting you in the car. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. They are avoiding a price because you’re about to get screwed over. I negotiate on a calculator or have a piece of paper ready so they can write the price on there.

 Yes, people smoke in Almaty just like other cities. And many taxi drivers will smoke. I don’t usually have someone smoking while I am being driven, but the car may reek of smoke when you enter it. Such is life… not much can be done about it.

 This is also extremely commonplace. I wish it wasn’t. I would love to say that if this scares you, take a bus. But then again… bus drivers do it too.

 If you throw your belongings in the trunk of a taxi, ALWAYS ensure that the driver gets out of the car to help you grab them. Make sure that he or she gets out before you. Never ever get out of that taxi without your things and a driver still being in the taxi.

 You’re likely safer with Uber and Yandex as all information is on file… but never do this with street taxis. I have had a friend very wronged at the Bishkek Airport. He threw his stuff in the trunk and went climbing in the backseat of the car and the taxi drove off with all of his stuff and not him. Be careful. This happens everywhere though, not just when traveling in Central Asia.

 I never get dropped off directly where I am staying. I have had multiple instances here with Almaty taxis in the past, so I just get dropped off somewhere nearby and walk. I always pick a prominent place by where I’m staying and consistently stick with that. Lately, the place is Dostyk Plaza. I just tell everyone that and they know where it is and no harm.

 I was contemplating talking about these or omitting them but I feel it is important to discuss them so you know why it is important to use a reliable taxi source when in Almaty (the third was Uber, on the other hand). These incidents can take place anywhere. They are not Almaty-specific. But, here is a little insight as to why I eventually was keen on writing this post.

 My first visa run a few years ago took me from the Dostyk Plaza area to Sayran Bus Station early on a Saturday morning to catch a marshrutka to Bishkek. The hostel I stayed at at the time called me a taxi to take me to the bus station and they used an actual company. The driver picked me up and we started our way to Sayran.

 I had exact change on me for this ride as well as the amount needed to buy a bus ticket to Bishkek. Nothing more. Once we pulled up to the bus station, I told him to let me off before and he refused.