Vacation Transportation: Tips For Successfully Hailing A Cab In An Unfamiliar City
After arriving at your vacation destination, you may find that getting around town to all of the different attractions you wish to visit can be quite difficult as you struggle to familiarize yourself with the public transportation that is available in the area. In most cases, the use of a taxi service will prove to be the most beneficial way to get around in an unfamiliar city as cab drivers are able to help you navigate your way to each location. However, before you can begin taking advantage of this transportation option, you will first need to be able to successfully hail a cab. Thankfully, the tips outlined below can help you to accomplish this task in even the busiest cities.
Don't Stand Too Close To The Corner
People often try and position themselves at the corner of an intersection when attempting to hail a cab. The belief is that this position allows you to see taxi cabs that may be approaching from a variety of directions. However, the fact is, while you may be able to see more cabs from this position, fewer taxi cabs will be likely to see you.
Intersections are a common place for crowds to gather as they way to make their way across the street. If the taxi driver is unable to see you through the crowd, you will not be able to secure the ride that you need. Therefore, it is always better to move a few feet down the road so that you are more visible to passing drivers.
Don't Forget To Be Assertive
Not everyone is comfortable being the center of attention. Unfortunately, being meek and mild is not going to help you secure a cab ride when competing with dozens of other travelers and locals who are simply trying to get where they need to go. If you want to successfully hail a cab in a large city, you will need to get in touch with your assertive side. Don't be afraid to take a step off the curb as an available taxi approaches, throw your hand up in the air or whistle as loud as you can. Anything that you can do to capture the driver's attention will ultimately help you secure a ride faster.
Once you are able to successfully grab the attention of a passing taxi, be ready to quickly enter the cab once it stops. If you have luggage or shopping bags with you, have these bags in hand as the cab approaches. This will prevent other eager passengers from trying to take the cab that you just flagged down.
You can also call a cab service direct to have a cab dispatched directly to your location. Services like A New Day Radio Dispatch, Inc. can help.