Keeping taxi drivers honest

How do you make sure you are not cheated by your cabdriver?

Well, in Panama City, you can only hope not to be cheated by too much. In some other places, cabs operate a taximeter - but then how can you make sure they take the direct route? "Traffic is crazy today, I will take a different road to avoid getting stuck in a jam" is an explanation that sounds familiar. Often there is no taximeter; agreeing the price beforehand is difficult - by asking how much the ride costs we show that we actually have no idea of the correct price.

The strategy we adopt is the following: we get in the cab, announce our destination, and at the end of the trip just hand the driver the amount we think is correct (having asked beforehand at a hotel or tourist information what that should be). In Cuenca, we take a cab from the bus terminal to our hotel - according to the hotel, this costs 2.50 USD. As we get out and unload our suitcases, Gaudi hands the driver his money. This exact moment, the driver says "1.50, por favor", but instantly realises that we overpaid and adds "Oh, muchas gracias, señor!", thanking for a generous 65% tip and almost hugging Gaudi.