{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Luxe Food &amp; Travel","provider_url":"http:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog","author_name":"admin","author_url":"http:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog\/author\/admin\/","title":"Getting around Kuala Lumpur by taxi\/ cab - Luxe Food &amp; Travel","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"RE2wiXipEb\"><a href=\"http:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog\/getting-around-kuala-lumpur-by-taxi-cab\/\">Getting around Kuala Lumpur by taxi\/ cab<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"http:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog\/getting-around-kuala-lumpur-by-taxi-cab\/embed\/#?secret=RE2wiXipEb\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Getting around Kuala Lumpur by taxi\/ cab&#8221; &#8212; Luxe Food &amp; Travel\" data-secret=\"RE2wiXipEb\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=http:\/\/travelrestauranthotel.com\/blog\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"Kuala Lumpur has the most dishonest taxi\/ cab drivers I have seen, and I thought Bangkok taxi\/ cab drivers are bad.\u00a0 BKK drivers would pretend not to understand English, and resolutely sit there and not give you your change.\u00a0 Come on, the fare on the meter clearly indicates that they need to give change, but they just sit there, inertly, pretending to be oblivious and clueless. KL drivers would take you on a ride around the city to rack up the fare.\u00a0 Even if the distance is extremely short, they would still pretend not to know the way and drive a really long way to send you to your destination.\u00a0 For example, I took a cab from Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang to back to my hotel at Jalan Conlay.\u00a0 It is a really short 5 mins drive.\u00a0 I asked him if he knew where my hotel was.\u00a0 He said he knew. I took a cab back instead of walking as I was slightly intoxicated. The taxi driver wanted to turn in the opposite direction of where he should be turning.\u00a0 I said to him, \u201cShouldn\u2019t you be turning right?\u201d\u00a0 If he turned right, it\u2019s a simple 5 mins drive.\u00a0 If he turned left, he would take me on one big round before coming back to Jalan Conlay.\u00a0 Caught, he mumbled something and turned right.\u00a0 On Jalan Raja Chulan, he should turn left into Jalan Conlay.\u00a0 I screamed at him. \u201cTurn here! Turn here!\u201d\u00a0 He screamed back, \u201cYes! Yes!\u201d There were no cars and he could have turned in, \u00a0but he didn\u2019t turn.\u00a0 He was hell-bent on taking me for a ride.\u00a0\u00a0 We reached a traffic light.\u00a0 I got out, slammed the door and walked back to my hotel.\u00a0 On another occasion, I was travelling to my hotel.\u00a0 I had my luggage with me.\u00a0 I got into a red and white cab.\u00a0 I dictated to him where he should turn and which roads he should take.\u00a0 When we reached my hotel, the fare on the meter was RM$7 and I gave him RM$10.\u00a0 He only gave me back RM$2 change.\u00a0 I was him why.\u00a0 He hurriedly said RM$1 was for my luggage.\u00a0 I asked him to show me where on the sticker on the window it says extra RM$1 for luggage.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 We got into an argument for 5-10 mins.\u00a0 The hotel\u2019s manager came out, which was of no help.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He asked what was happening. The taxi driver very cleverly switched to Malay, which I couldn&#8217;t understand. The manager then repeated what the taxi driver said, that extra RM$1 is charged for luggage. I stood my ground said to the manager to show me in print this regulation. The manager simply repeated what I said back to the cabbie. \u00a0\u00a0Finally, after pretending to search around for a while for a print statement or sticker of some sort that states extra charges for luggage, the taxi driver of course couldn\u2019t and sheepishly gave me my remaining RM$1 change. At many 5-star hotels, there will be a line of blue executive taxis outside.\u00a0 These blue executive taxis start from RM$6, as opposed to RM$3 with the normal red and white taxis.\u00a0 The meters of the blue executive taxis also jump faster.\u00a0 The executive taxis, though more expensive, are not any more honest.\u00a0 They will still take the long way to deliver you to your destination. So, here are some measures you can take to protect yourself: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you take a taxi from KL Sentral, please, please, please use the taxi coupon counter.\u00a0 In KL Sentral Station, just take the escalator up till you see the Hilton\/ Le Meridien.\u00a0 Standing in KL Sentral station, facing the Hilton, Le Meridien, the taxi coupon counter is located on your right.\u00a0 You queue up, tell them where you want to go and you pay for your taxi coupon. The taxi coupon from KL Sentral to Bukit Bintang cost RM$13.\u00a0 Right outside, there is a line of taxis waiting.\u00a0 With your taxi coupon, you just hop onto the next available taxi.\u00a0 I never have to wait.\u00a0 I can always get on a cab immediately.\u00a0 Show your coupon to the driver.\u00a0 He will tear and retain half of it to claim his fare later on.\u00a0 With the taxi coupon, the taxi driver will not take you a ride around the city.\u00a0 After all, you have already paid.\u00a0 He will drive you as fast as possible to your destination and dispose you so he can pick up his next fare. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get your hotel to arrange complimentary transport to pick your up. If your hotel arranges a metered taxi to pick you up, most probably you will be taken for a ride. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take public transport.\u00a0 Pick a hotel that is close to a monorail or subway station. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pass off as a local or at least an expat who\u2019s lived in KL for many years.\u00a0 With your luggage (like I was), they immediately know you are a tourist and you become a prime target. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Familiarise your route.\u00a0 Get a map.\u00a0 Mark out on your map the exact route you want him to take.\u00a0 Along the way, remind him where to turn etc.\u00a0 Yes, you have to twist their arms and micro-manage. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Know your stuff.\u00a0 If it\u2019s not in print, it\u2019s not legitimate.\u00a0 Supposedly, the blue executive taxis do charge extra for luggage and it\u2019s in print on the sticker of the window.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure, as I have not taken a blue executive taxi while with luggage. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stand your ground.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be a pushover.\u00a0 Locals tend to side with locals.\u00a0 Hotel staff would tell you to come inside and they will settle it for you, even at the top hotels in KL.\u00a0 Inside, they will just say things to appease you and the taxi driver would have driven away.\u00a0 Do you really want to let him get away with it?\u00a0 They will tell you to note down the number plate and make a complaint.\u00a0 But do you think anything will come out of it? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Negotiate a fixed fare beforehand.\u00a0 This is a bit tricky and I don\u2019t really recommend it unless you have travelled the route many times before and you know the metered fare.\u00a0 If you do, and you managed to negotiate an okay fare, then the driver would drive really fast to dispose you so they can pick up their next fare.\u00a0"}