Getting Around Moscow: By taxi

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In Russia and Moscow, the difference between hailing a cab and simply hitchhiking is blurry. It's an old Russian tradition for drivers to offer rides to strangers, for a fee. For many Russians, it's like a second job. Generally, wherever you are, at any time of day or night, you can get a 'cab' in a matter of minutes or seconds by holding out your hand. Hold your hand out low by your hip, not up high as they hail cabs in American films. Normally, you tell the driver where you're going and negotiate an amount with you naming the first price. For many locations, giving the closest Metro stop is the best plan of attack. If you don't like the amount one guy is charging, you'll doubtlessly find another driver in a minute or two. Sometimes when you tell the driver where you're going, he'll decide he's not going in that direction and drive off. Keep in mind, though, that very few drivers will speak English.

You should be able to get between most destinations within the Garden Ring for 200RUB or less, unless it's a national holiday or hours when metro doesn't work. For example, a typical charge for a New Year Eve is 500RUB.

There are several taxi services operating in Moscow, the most noticeable on the streets being The New Yellow Taxi (Novoye Zholtoye Taxi). The cars are yellow Fords or Volgas (Russian car brand). They will charge the minimum rate of around 250RUB no matter the distance. It is however possible to negotiate the price with them as well. The driver will basically switch off the meter and pocket the fare.

You can call a cab over the phone, too, but most Muscovites will only do it during the night or to get to an airport. Do not take these, although they are registered, legitimacy means nothing, and you will find yourself feeling extorted when the meter reads 2,000RUB for a 10-minute drive.

If you not good in Russian, there are several english speaking taxi services operating in Moscow for example Lentaxi - www.lentaxi.com.

• www.lentaxi.com