Expat Community > Ecuador

DUNMOVN
Joined 2011
Posts: 1991

Taxi bandits in Quito

12 years ago

I flew into Quito from Cuenca last evening. I had a room at the Holiday Inn Express, which in not listed on electronic list of hotels, so I had to take a taxi. As I walked out of the terminal, an Ecuadorian said TAXI; I said Si. He grabbed my rolling suitcase and started walking down the sidewalk away from the terminal. I asked him where his taxi was and he pointed to a side street. An alarm bell went off in my head which I ignored, I was tired and just wanted to get into bed, so I got into his taxi. About 10 minutes into the trip he pulled into a gas station and tried to hit me up for $20 for gas. I said no take me to the hotel. When we got the Holiday Inn, he parked out in the street expecting me to get out and pay him and drag my luggage up the driveway. It took several minutes for me to convince him that I wasn't going anywhere until he pulled into the driveway of the hotel. Then he tried to hit me up for $10 for the ride. I said I had to go inside and get change. I asked the desk attendant what the taxi fare should be from the airport and $5 was the reply. So I went out and pad him. He wasn't happy but he went away. The advice I have is to only get into a taxi that is parked at the curb just outside baggage claim, there is usually a line just like any other airport. And, ask what the fare is to your destination, there are no taxi meters in Ecuador.

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador share some of the pros and cons of living in Ecuador. Topics covered include where to live, the bureaucracy, the people and more.

Ecuador Forum
Join our Ecuador forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Ecuador.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Best Places to Live in Ecuador

If you're dreaming about living in Ecuador, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Ecuador in 2023.

Healthcare in Ecuador

Expats in Ecuador share their experiences with healthcare and overseas medical insurance in Ecuador.

Cost of Living in Ecuador

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Ecuador.

Moving to Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador offer advice to newcomers and people considering a move to Ecuador about clothing, sunscreen, renting before buying, gringo pricing, Ecuadorians politeness and much more.

Real Estate in Ecuador

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Ecuador.

Pros & Cons of Living in Ecuador

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Ecuador.

Retiring in Ecuador

Advice for people retiring in Ecuador.

10 Tips for Living in Ecuador

If you've recently arrived in Ecuador, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Ecuador.

Additional Information:

Visit our Ecuador Index for a Full List

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Ecuador by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Login

Or, Send Login Link

Expat Community > Ecuador

Taxi bandits in Quito

Login