Holidaymaker reveals how they fell for common taxi scam in Lisbon - and how to avoid making the same mistake
A holidaymaker has revealed how they fell for a common taxi scam in Lisbon - and it's easy to avoid making the same mistake they did.Reddit user @cml1111 shared their experience in the online forum, warning other travellers in the region.They wrote: 'Landed in Lisbon at 10pm, exhausted from the flight. Grabbed a taxi at the official stand. Driver had the meter running, seemed legit.'Halfway through the ride, I mentioned it was my first time in Portugal when he asked. Dude turned off the meter maybe 10 minutes later a minute before we arrived. 'When we got to my hotel, he pulls out this laminated card and says the airport has "zone pricing" - €45 (£39.20) total. The meter had said €15 (£13) or something.'I knew it was bulls**t but I was alone, tired, my suitcase was in his trunk, and it was dark. I tried to take a photo of his taxi number and he got aggressive. Paid him and left.'Hotel staff confirmed this is a super common scam.'Avoiding saying it's your first visit, as this traveller did, could save you much hassle. Holidaymakers who arrive at the Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon often face the scam The common taxi scam in the Portuguese capital has affected many visitorsViewers took to the comments section to share a similar experience.One faced the same situation, writing: 'Too funny! Mine also is a Lisbon taxi. I knew that two was already up on the meter and meant two passengers. But my travel partner just said pay it. So €28 (£24.40) instead of the actual €8 (£7). 'Another wrote: 'My wife and I were in Thailand and offered a tour from two guys in a van. They had all the brochures and stuff and seemed legit. 'Every spot they took us was a money grab and we realised later that all of the prices were doubled at every place they took us so they they would get their kickbacks.'It's not the first time travellers have been warned of these sorts of scams in the Portuguese capital.Last year, a Portuguese resident lifted the lid on a 'rip-off' that tourists often fall for when landing one of the country's most visited destinations.She says it sees them 'paying treble' of the true cost.Instagrammer @nationswithoutborders, who lives with her American husband in Portugal but hails from the Netherlands, regularly shares money-saving travel tips for people visiting the country. It's best to avoid telling drivers you're a newbie while taking a taxiHer sage advice last year involved getting from popular city break Lisbon's airport into the centre, without falling for hefty taxi charges often applied by local drivers.One person said they'd experienced it first hand, paying €120 (£102) for a one-way trip that's just 4.3 miles.Holidaymakers who arrive at the Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon might spy the 'taxi' signs and head straight for them - but should, said @nationswithoutborders, not jump in one unless they don't mind paying through the nose.She explained: 'Taxis aren’t necessarily bad and not all taxi drivers are scammers, but it is generally known by the people living in Lisbon that there is a big, big chance that you'll get ripped off by the taxis at the airport.'
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Holidaymaker reveals how they fell for common taxi scam in Lisbon - and how to avoid making the same mistake
