I've had my fair share of taxi scams too! Won't go into details but worst few were in Morocco. 2nd place was actually in France but I was travelling for work and could claim it back! Taxis really are a last resort for me now.
I was almost scammed in France until the older cabbie realised I could speak French, kid around in French, and tell off my German and English speaking grandparents in ... French. Cabbie and I had a great time talking in French, about my upcoming vacation in Morocco with the Grandparents. He loved it when I told off the fam in French. He gave us a three hour tour of Paris practically gratis. He was très génial!
It is amazing that some people give you grief about London location and walking on the street wow ....people just enjoy Gabe's video they are amazing..........safe travels Gabe
@@witlof5492 Yes I understand that but we worry about Gabe also we have been followers for over 10 years to the point when he does not post for a while (especially when he has not told his audience he is taking a break) we email him directly
Actually in the UK & Ireland it’s recommended that you walk on the side facing towards the oncoming traffic, even when there is @ pavement. Also, on a lighter note, London City airport is one of the few airports that lands in the city centre, near London Docklands!
Well, at least in Europe, literally everyone will know London Stansted, because it's the main hub for Ryanair and has many other low-cost carriers. And they will know it's out in the sticks.
Higher taxi charge to tourist is very common. It's the privilege of being able to travel. If one doesn't want to pay the overcharged taxi, take public transportation, bus service or walk.
A question, why did you book a hotel at the airport if you were going to spend time in Almaty? You could have booked a hotel in the city center and go there directly. Taxi scams at airports is a problem that needs to be dealt with by many governments, even here in Sweden these thugs are infesting the airports. In for example Krakow, Poland all taxis have to have the same price at the airport or they will not be allowed there, should be like that everywhere.
It is often easier if you arrive late to just get a quick hotel near the airport and then make moves to your city center accommodation in the daytime. Especially when the airport is 45 mins away from the city. He arrived at 2am and having to get out of the airport and then into the city is not worth it. The airport hotel and transit options are not very accommodating at that time of the night.
Makes total sense to identify your location by the principal city and not by a neighborhood. Did you ever fly Ryan Air into Paris? I did a couple years ago and we landed at an airstrip close to an hour from downtown Paris surrounded by nothing but empty fields. The ticket said we were in Paris but we were truly in the boonies.
Gabe go hang out somewhere sip there local flo d’s a few cold ones. Just chat to the camera. just hang for a bit. like a live street view or something. Just a thought🧐. Your top notch! 🇨🇦🍺🥓👍
Glad to hear that you got something back for that travel card in Azerbaijan, and interesting to think that the next guy might end up selling it on too - if it could speak that card might end up having a few stories to tell ;-)
There was 96 manat left on the card. The intercity buses in Baku cost 40q or .4 manat. So with what's left on the card you could take 240 bus rides. 😆 Hopefully it's put to good use. In the end I lost 66 manat which is $39 or the cost of one long distance bus ride in a lot of countries. Math gets weird when you travel.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos 240 bus rides, wow, that's definitely the golden bus ticket then! Yeah $39 isn't that painful and sometimes it's just better/easier to not think too much about the math and exchange rates etc. and just enjoy yourself.
London City airport is an international airport located in the heart of London's financial district. It serves many European cities with commercial flights and also has flights to New York with a brief re-fuelling stop in Dublin.
It's seven miles or a 26 minute drive from Tower Bridge. But yes, it's technically within London, as well as Heathrow. I've never seen a recommended flight going into or out of London City though. It's always Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton. Most airports for major cities are somewhere outside of the city.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos It's quiet central for an Airport. I think that from the European Capitals only Lisbon has an airport so close to the centre. You can Literally cycle from tower bridge in less than 40 minutes. But it's true, the option of flight is not so great, mainly if you are transferring.
Taxi scams seem unavoidable. I just left Albania and my experience (over months) was as soon as they notice you're foreigner and don't speak the language, they overcharge you - they're not regulated so they don't run the meter and charge as they please. I'm heading to a Greek island now and keeping my fingers crossed.
Like you i travel quite often to different countries, and sometimes the only way is getting a taxi without getting scammed is to negotiate a price before i sit in the taxi, i will also ask locals beforehand what the correct and honest price should be for that particular Journey just to give me an idea. At the end if i can negotiate the correct fare and if i feel like i got the right deal i will also leave a small tip to the taxi driver at the end of the ride.
Thank you for sharing! We seem to have been on the same travel schedule lately - We were in Georgia, then Azerbaijan also, and we're heading to Kazakhstan this Saturday. Excited to follow along with your videos there!
I always ask for an approximate price if there is no fixed price and they insist on using the meter - if not I don't enter the taxi. Often the meters are corrupted in these countries, although I luckily didn't have any problems in Kazakhstan. But in almost any country it's annoying taking a taxi from the airports, the biggest scammers are waiting there. But Almaty itself is a very green and pleasant city as you will see. Check out the First President Park, the Ascencion Cathedral, take the Gondola to Kok Tobe Hill, a nice viewpoint where you also find a strange Beatles Monument. Check out some restaurants with great Kazakh Food and discover the nice pedestrian zone in the center. And go on a day tour to nearby Ile Alatau National Park for hiking and exploring Big Almaty Lake (which is actually not big at all, but still the scenery is very worth to see).
I still feel the pain of being scammed by a taxi driver in Malta 17 years ago when I arrived by Ferry. I try to Google for costs of bus and taxis before arrival now to know what is the going rate.
Hello and welcome to your 92nd country! Taxis are scam artists world wide but some countries are worse than others. I hope you weren’t burnt too bad. I’m sure Kazakhstan will be interesting though. Looking forward to another amazing not so known country, other than the Borat version 😊
In case you are unaware…..The United States has issued a travel warning for ALL US citizens travelling abroad due to the turmoil now because of the war in Israel. Please check this out. We want you to stay safe during your travels. Sorry for your problems there. Please stay safe.
In the places where you are unfamiliar with the local situation and don't even speak the language, you need to negotiate the final price. But it's not always a solution as well. In this airport they tried to scam me twice. First time offering the rate "per one kilometer" and not specifying it until I pressed with additional questions. Second time the driver on arrival said that the agreed price was per person (I was with my ex-wife and son). I said no way and offered to discuss the matter when my local friend arrives. So he said it was just"misunderstanding" and left charging me as it was agreed. But, I did speak the language (Russian) and had a local friend just in case. If not, most likely I would have been scammed as well.
The first 15 minutes of the FIRST Borat film were so funny! Scat airlines I know all about from the Noel Philips YT channel. He flies everywhere on all manner of 'planes. Air Traffic Control to a Scat incoming flight: "You're #2 cleared for landing"
Hi Gabe, I think everywhere there are taxi scams. I had it in Mexico, but my little Spanish language helped me to negotiated and got good deal. Be safe, Chaos.
You won't get scammed in Iceland, Switzerland, Singapore, Florida or New York City, but you're guaranteed to pay a heck of a lot. 😛 Basically it's a matter of reliably expensive taxis or the possibility of scams. Yes, knowing the language always helps.
11:35 all of the london airports are outisde of the city? wrong , Heathrow falls entirely within the boundaries of the London Borough of Hillingdon, and under the Twickenham postcode area, with the postcode TW6. and also there is the airport called London City😁so two inside three outside ( but easily reachable with public transport).
I meant in the city center. Heathrow is more than an hour's drive from Tower Bridge. London City airport is about half an hour's drive and I've never come across a flight going into there. All the main airports in London as well as most other major cities involve a long drive to get into the city.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos sorry still cant agree. there are cities where the airport is quite near the city center. naples, italy or lisbon, portugal.milano-linate.or washington. or Bratislava, but of course for Bratislava the main airport is Schwechat😂😂
I didn't mean it as a categorical "never ever" statement, the point is that when you fly to most cities, you generally land somewhere outside of it. The reason it's called London Stansted airport is because it's intended for people who are trying to get to London. And when you're standing next to London Stansted airport it makes sense to tell people that you're now in London, since that's where you're going and most people don't know where Stansted or Burton's End are.
The metropolitan area of London finishes a long way before Stansted and Luton Airport unlike the other London airports. Iit's amusing for brits to see you wandering around lost in the quaint country lanes of Essex shouting "I'm in London"
In England you don't do what you feel like it's the standard but not set in stone rule we walk on the side facing oncoming traffic not what's behind you.All the best.
You probably know by now but yes there is a bus from Almaty Airport into the city. At least there was when I took it in early 2020. On another occasion I took a taxi and I think he only ripped me off a little bit, but I would say for anyone travelling in this city via taxi don't put your luggage in the boot where the driver can keep it hostage until you pay what they demand. I've read about beatings. Can't be sure it's true but I would not be surprised. And I definitely experienced a few scams in this city but it's a great place to visit. But definitely agree on a price first, and I actually write down the price in my phone then confirm/ show to driver and then I take a screenshot which will then have a timestamp in case it becomes an issue lol.
@@iammaxhammer I think so. Have you seen the Borat Tries To Buy A Slave? It’s really old, like 25 years old or something. It’s in the American South, gut bustingly funny.
Hello there nice to know that you're in Almaty and I'm disappointed that it is still hot Regarding the bus from the airport, there is a bus stop just in front of the exit door next through the barking and a lot of the airport staff are waiting over there Dont forget to go to Full: Big almaty lake ( Ozero Bol'shoye Almaatinskoye ) From sairan bus station President’s Park - bus 103 - Kokshoky Village - bus 28 Or Rodnik Tausamal Go to bus 34 to President’s Park Take bus 28 from First President’s Park to Kokshoky Village Taxi 2.500 tenge ---- Best spots - Panfilov street - Beside the opera ( begining ) - Metro station : Almaty metro station - City centre ( astana square ) - The green bazar
Avoid taxi period. My first time in Europe I was quoted 15E then the driver says it's 27E on arrival. Maybe he wanted me to pay his way back to the airport too. :(
I suddemly remember my experience with a cab, it's metered not contractual agreed price. My goodness! Every time I inhale 2 breaths, the meter already increased. I asked my friend and he said that has a mechanism that cheats in the meter and i told the driver his meter increased so fast, I just inhale twice and the meter cost kept increasing rapidly. I told him I knew how much should be the fare from where I boarded till my destination. Would you brlieve the change in cost became slower but still arbitrary. When I reached my destination, still higher costing, but at least the change of meter cost became slower. As I alighted, I said I usually give a tip if the driver is honest, but if not nevermind.
Thank you for sharing your toughts and emotions. In this way, you are talking to the viewers. I am sorry that you had troubles with the taxi drivers. I wonder whether there are honest taxi drivers anywhere in the world? They say that even Stalin was not able to manage the drivers. I am looking forward to watching your reports about this huge country of Kazahstan.
Strange that people were giving you grief over London location. In my experience, people generally refer to the biggest nearby city rather than smaller suburban neighborhoods. If I say I live in Southfield, Michigan, very few people will have any idea where that is. I just say I’m from Detroit or the Detroit area. I know the rule for runners is to face traffic. I never heard of a rule for walkers I suppose because we generally have sidewalks for walkers. They are too uneven for running, hence the need for a rule for runners, not walkers. Also, we morning/evening runners often will have a headlamp which oncoming cars will see.
Gabriel, you must never tell any service provider that it is your first time there as those will bad intent will take advantage of that and take you for a ride!
Kazakhstan is the least vegetarian country in the world. Biggest consumer of meat with one of their main being horse meat. Recommend asking for that is a a restaurant. Also check out Almaty lake but don't swim in it as you'll get a fine.
I had some borscht with dinner tonight that had some strange meat in it. Might have just been some tough beef meat, but I wonder if it might have been horse. I definitely have mixed feelings about that.
Second that. Horse meat is really good, I eat it from time to time (I live in Sweden, one of the European countries where horse meat is accepted). Like beef, but much leaner and in my opinion tastier. I know they really love it in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. May seem awkward to the English-speaking world, but really worth trying!
It worked pretty well and you only have to pay in cash what is shown in the App. You can choose even private ride and shared rides (nice to know other passengers).
Hello Gabriel, how do you handle all the "interested" people in India. I was recently there and I've been the main attraction. The people came from everywhere to ask me the same questions over and over and it didn't stop. At some point I tried to explain that I don't want to answer their questions anymore and they walked away... but some people who didn't hear that came over and the game began again. At the end I needed to show my anger to get rid of them. Also they don't respect personal space. They just come to you and look with you on your phone. Even waiters in the restaurants. How do you handle that?
I normally never ask a taxi driver what the price is whilst wearing sunglasses, in India you can guarantee they will double or triple the price if you are wearing sunglasses
Gabriel , It seems to be a “given” that taxi rides and scams of some degree are going to happen . I just wonder if the drivers are just trying to get any money they can get , and are not concerned with ethics ? They don’t have an ongoing relationship with their customers , so it doesn’t matter ? Do they have. Varying prices with tourists ? It must be very frustrating to tired travelers . You just strike out walking , you have strong legs ! You also show how to be resourceful in a variety of settings !Thank you for sharing information while you show us around in the place you are visiting ! I have always lived in rural SE USA. No public transportation where I have lived, so a car is a must . All your videos showing public transportation , make me appreciative of living in a rural setting . I live 22 miles from grocery store , pharmacy ,etc. 9 miles to a truck stop for gas . You never disappoint , thank you for a very great channel !
Regarding your talk on walking on uk roads Gabe as it happens there are rules in the uk regarding walking on uk roads in the uk we have something caled the high way code. The high way code covers the rules for all types of road uses including walkers PLEAE SEE BELOW part of the code covers when there is no pavement (sidewalk) rule 2 of the UK high way code Rule 2 of highway code when there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should take extra care and be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light keep close to the side of the road. It may be safer to cross the road well before a sharp right-hand bend so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you. Cross back after the bend. Happy Travels Gabe
You mistakenly claimed that all London airports were outside the city limits. Not true! London City Airport along the Thames and reachable via the DLR, the Docklands Light Rail (part of the London City Transport System)! Thought you should know. You use STN, LGW, LTN and LHR airports the most. But LCY is within the city limits
Heathrow is also within London, but in all cases it's a long drive into the city. Point being, when you fly from another country and land in London or Paris or Amsterdam or wherever, you've landed in that city even though you're somewhere outside of it.
Gabriel, I'm writing the name of the transportation App and it's been deleted. It's an App like Uber and wilk try to write in parts YAN and the second part is DEX.
Have you ever been to Nagaland in India? Looks so interesting, Christian state with a totally wild mainly meat-focused food culture that is nothing like the rest of India, and sparsely populated compared to the rest of India.
Hi Gabriel, the taxi story is a mess. The taxi industry has changed in NYC to own your own taxicab business. It costs 100,000 USD to have a medallion which means any income you get from this is yours to keep. It's a license and you keep all the profits but what Uber did is revolutionize the industry by taking out the medallion business of owning a cab where you work for yourself, but you must provide Uber with a cut on what you make. Uber can change its business model by asking for a larger percentage of what you're making many businesses are doing this type of business where you work for yourself under a business structure but pay into who is allowing you to work under this umbrella and then the business takes a percentage which can change any time after the initial agreement. This is the way businesses like Uber tend to operate allowing you to make money if you accept the amount that they impose which can be subject to change.
I was there not long ago. There is very little to do there. Very little. I think there are 2 or 3 museums near the monument of Panfilov, the military museum is very small, and is always closed, you have to call for them to open it for you. Other than that I don't know what you will do there 8 days, some people advice to go to Medeu, but I didn't go since it didn't interest me at all. By the way, near Almaty there's a canyon yes like the great canyon in Arizona, also there's an ethnographic museum in a zone called "Borolday" it is in northern Almaty. Make sure you visit the central mosque and the green bazar.
Gabe, Re your comments about which side of the road to walk on with no footpath (side walks in your language) it’s probably best to see the cars coming at you, instead of the cars that may have just gone over the top of you from the back, just saying 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Unless you include the observer states of Vatican City and Palestine, which is certainly debatable. But I count them both as countries I've visited, which would alter your equation ever so slightly.
@@GabrielTravelerVideosAnd in a way they are recognised by the UN or else they would not be allowed to be observer states. They just haven't joined. Switzerland, North Korea and South Korea became members very recently.
Sir, you of all people probably should know that it's not the best idea to tell a taxi driver that it's your first time in a country, at least until you have determined the driver's "honesty" (as much as you can at least). You're inviting uneducated foreigners prices.
Well, I just had to correct you regarding London airports. You are wrong again; there is a London city airport, which is in the city just like the name says.
True. And even that one is a 30 minute drive from Tower Bridge. I've lost track of how many times I've flown in or out of London, but I've never come across a suggested flight into London City. I know it exists but not a popular airport. Reality is almost all airports are outside of any major city.
I understand haggling but when they start out with a price that is 10 times what it should be it is so ridiculous. I am currently in Cambodia. I know with an app here that the price is USD $0.75 for the first km and $0.25 for each additional km. I will still get tuktuks here quoting me $5 for a km ride. Nope. Thanks. I'll walk or just use an app. I mean to arrive at the app price I would need to counter offer $0.07 to begin. Sometimes they ask me why. I say in Khmer that with them it is $5 and with the app it is 5,000 khmer riel (about $1.25). They usually laugh and walk away at that point because they realize I am not a tourist but someone who has lived here a while.
Never tell em your 1st time in that country, instant scam. When walking on non pavement roads, we in the UK always walk facing the traffic, reason being, you can see the car that might hit you, and dive out the way, walk with your back to the traffic, you can't see the cars and they could drive into you. I think its in the UK highway code book. No UK peeps were having a go at you, it was more concern for your safety. We know you are an experience traveller.
One time I was in Vrindavan India and wanted to go to Temple from Hotel. Before I got into the Rickshaw I asked driver if 40 rupees was good. He nodded yes. Once I got to temple I gave him 40 and he said no no, 80. Didn’t want to dispute it so I just gave him 80 and when I handed it to him he kissed the money to God. lol
ah, you renamed the video for some reason... the biggest taxi scam? man, what have you gotten yourself into? can't wait to see what happened next... in any case, stay out of trouble, man
"Colder weather will definitely be happening"
See you in Nepal bro
“All the airports in London are outside the city”.. except for ‘London City Airport’, which is within the city limits, next to the river Thames!
Although mainly business flyers use that airport😉
I've had my fair share of taxi scams too! Won't go into details but worst few were in Morocco. 2nd place was actually in France but I was travelling for work and could claim it back! Taxis really are a last resort for me now.
I was almost scammed in France until the older cabbie realised I could speak French, kid around in French, and tell off my German and English speaking grandparents in ... French. Cabbie and I had a great time talking in French, about my upcoming vacation in Morocco with the Grandparents. He loved it when I told off the fam in French. He gave us a three hour tour of Paris practically gratis. He was très génial!
It is amazing that some people give you grief about London location and walking on the street wow ....people just enjoy Gabe's video they are amazing..........safe travels Gabe
We were worried about his safety - walking on a road, not a street.
@@witlof5492 Yes I understand that but we worry about Gabe also we have been followers for over 10 years to the point when he does not post for a while (especially when he has not told his audience he is taking a break) we email him directly
Seems like you and Gabriel are real pals.
@@witlof5492 I think Miss Posey has a thing for Gabriel, it's quite obvious.
@@lanamortenson8694 Its nice to say that but I am a 65 year old and just like honest vloggers
Actually in the UK & Ireland it’s recommended that you walk on the side facing towards the oncoming traffic, even when there is @ pavement. Also, on a lighter note, London City airport is one of the few airports that lands in the city centre, near London Docklands!
Same in the US when there's no sidewalk, but most people seem to not know that.
Same here in Finland too. It is recommended. This is in the finnish traffic laws. 🙂
yes,even Heathrow is `Middlesex, a defunct county that is greater London .
Well, at least in Europe, literally everyone will know London Stansted, because it's the main hub for Ryanair and has many other low-cost carriers. And they will know it's out in the sticks.
At the end of the video when you tell the guy you're from America I am getting Hit the Jackpot vibes.
100%. Thats what I thought too in that moment. Gabriel should have never said that. Rather South Africa or so.
Higher taxi charge to tourist is very common. It's the privilege of being able to travel.
If one doesn't want to pay the overcharged taxi, take public transportation, bus service or walk.
Use apps like Uber or Yandex taxi
Visited Almaty last year and got on a bus to the city center. Very affordable, but it did get a bit crowded.
London city airport is actually in the centre of town! 🧐😉 But I see what you mean as a Londoner myself
Excited for Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
Sabrina 🇫🇷🇬🇧
I've never come across a flight into that airport, they're always to Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and Luton.
You're very unlikely to find cheap flights into LCY
@@GabrielTravelerVideos code is LCY great airport maybe try coming or leave into next time I go there to fly to Switzerland usually
A question, why did you book a hotel at the airport if you were going to spend time in Almaty? You could have booked a hotel in the city center and go there directly. Taxi scams at airports is a problem that needs to be dealt with by many governments, even here in Sweden these thugs are infesting the airports. In for example Krakow, Poland all taxis have to have the same price at the airport or they will not be allowed there, should be like that everywhere.
He arrived late a night and wanted a quick bed probably 😮
It is often easier if you arrive late to just get a quick hotel near the airport and then make moves to your city center accommodation in the daytime. Especially when the airport is 45 mins away from the city. He arrived at 2am and having to get out of the airport and then into the city is not worth it. The airport hotel and transit options are not very accommodating at that time of the night.
Glad you posted this video. We area planning to go there soon
I'm guessing the meter for the taxi was already set at some huge amount and Gabriel's fare was added on top of it...well guess I gotta wait
Regarding "London" ...people don't understand the concept of metropolitan area, lol. But you explained it politely. 😊 Always enjoying your videos!!
thought he sounded annoyed the way he said it...
Way to end the video with a cliffhanger Gabrial … 😁👍peace ✌🏻out..
I love it when Gabe talks to his viewers like they are his beloved wife thats nagging too much about something completely unimportant :D
Makes total sense to identify your location by the principal city and not by a neighborhood. Did you ever fly Ryan Air into Paris? I did a couple years ago and we landed at an airstrip close to an hour from downtown Paris surrounded by nothing but empty fields. The ticket said we were in Paris but we were truly in the boonies.
Wrong on your ticket it was written Beauvais.
Gabe go hang out somewhere sip there local flo d’s a few cold ones. Just chat to the camera. just hang for a bit. like a live street view or something. Just a thought🧐. Your top notch! 🇨🇦🍺🥓👍
Glad to hear that you got something back for that travel card in Azerbaijan, and interesting to think that the next guy might end up selling it on too - if it could speak that card might end up having a few stories to tell ;-)
There was 96 manat left on the card. The intercity buses in Baku cost 40q or .4 manat. So with what's left on the card you could take 240 bus rides. 😆 Hopefully it's put to good use. In the end I lost 66 manat which is $39 or the cost of one long distance bus ride in a lot of countries. Math gets weird when you travel.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos 240 bus rides, wow, that's definitely the golden bus ticket then! Yeah $39 isn't that painful and sometimes it's just better/easier to not think too much about the math and exchange rates etc. and just enjoy yourself.
London City airport is an international airport located in the heart of London's financial district. It serves many European cities with commercial flights and also has flights to New York with a brief re-fuelling stop in Dublin.
It's seven miles or a 26 minute drive from Tower Bridge. But yes, it's technically within London, as well as Heathrow. I've never seen a recommended flight going into or out of London City though. It's always Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton. Most airports for major cities are somewhere outside of the city.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos It's quiet central for an Airport. I think that from the European Capitals only Lisbon has an airport so close to the centre. You can Literally cycle from tower bridge in less than 40 minutes. But it's true, the option of flight is not so great, mainly if you are transferring.
Taxi scams seem unavoidable. I just left Albania and my experience (over months) was as soon as they notice you're foreigner and don't speak the language, they overcharge you - they're not regulated so they don't run the meter and charge as they please. I'm heading to a Greek island now and keeping my fingers crossed.
True, but when you go to different cities like Durres, Vlora, .. you have no choice which was my case.@Nostalgia-
Like you i travel quite often to different countries, and sometimes the only way is getting a taxi without getting scammed is to negotiate a price before i sit in the taxi, i will also ask locals beforehand what the correct and honest price should be for that particular Journey just to give me an idea. At the end if i can negotiate the correct fare and if i feel like i got the right deal i will also leave a small tip to the taxi driver at the end of the ride.
Americans are all billionaires you know because of inflation in this case. For starting
Thanks for all of your travel videos!
Thank you for sharing! We seem to have been on the same travel schedule lately - We were in Georgia, then Azerbaijan also, and we're heading to Kazakhstan this Saturday. Excited to follow along with your videos there!
А какой из них вам понравился?)
Really looking forward to this one, have never been to central Asia
English is widely spoken in kazakhtan . Very beautiful country. Enjoy your adventure
I always ask for an approximate price if there is no fixed price and they insist on using the meter - if not I don't enter the taxi. Often the meters are corrupted in these countries, although I luckily didn't have any problems in Kazakhstan. But in almost any country it's annoying taking a taxi from the airports, the biggest scammers are waiting there.
But Almaty itself is a very green and pleasant city as you will see. Check out the First President Park, the Ascencion Cathedral, take the Gondola to Kok Tobe Hill, a nice viewpoint where you also find a strange Beatles Monument. Check out some restaurants with great Kazakh Food and discover the nice pedestrian zone in the center. And go on a day tour to nearby Ile Alatau National Park for hiking and exploring Big Almaty Lake (which is actually not big at all, but still the scenery is very worth to see).
Definitely a good idea to ask before. FIY they pull fast ones in NYC too by claiming the card reader doesnt work so they can only take cash.
@@missmo3451 damn
Taxi guys act all nice and friendly until it becomes time to pay and then all of a sudden BAM you owe them a full days salary.
I still feel the pain of being scammed by a taxi driver in Malta 17 years ago when I arrived by Ferry. I try to Google for costs of bus and taxis before arrival now to know what is the going rate.
Crazy how that area looks like a random Turkish town. The roads, the bricks, the dirt filled sidewalks, the fences etc..
Hello and welcome to your 92nd country! Taxis are scam artists world wide but some countries are worse than others. I hope you weren’t burnt too bad. I’m sure Kazakhstan will be interesting though. Looking forward to another amazing not so known country, other than the Borat version 😊
In case you are unaware…..The United States has issued a travel warning for ALL US citizens travelling abroad due to the turmoil now because of the war in Israel. Please check this out. We want you to stay safe during your travels. Sorry for your problems there. Please stay safe.
It seems normal to hitchhike around Almaty city, locals to just stop any random car and pay driver small amount.
In the places where you are unfamiliar with the local situation and don't even speak the language, you need to negotiate the final price. But it's not always a solution as well. In this airport they tried to scam me twice. First time offering the rate "per one kilometer" and not specifying it until I pressed with additional questions. Second time the driver on arrival said that the agreed price was per person (I was with my ex-wife and son). I said no way and offered to discuss the matter when my local friend arrives. So he said it was just"misunderstanding" and left charging me as it was agreed. But, I did speak the language (Russian) and had a local friend just in case. If not, most likely I would have been scammed as well.
The first 15 minutes of the FIRST Borat film were so funny!
Scat airlines I know all about from the Noel Philips YT channel. He flies everywhere on all manner of 'planes. Air Traffic Control to a Scat incoming flight: "You're #2 cleared for landing"
Hi Gabe, I think everywhere there are taxi scams. I had it in Mexico, but my little Spanish language helped me to negotiated and got good deal. Be safe, Chaos.
You won't get scammed in Iceland, Switzerland, Singapore, Florida or New York City, but you're guaranteed to pay a heck of a lot. 😛 Basically it's a matter of reliably expensive taxis or the possibility of scams. Yes, knowing the language always helps.
11:35 all of the london airports are outisde of the city? wrong , Heathrow falls entirely within the boundaries of the London Borough of Hillingdon, and under the Twickenham postcode area, with the postcode TW6. and also there is the airport called London City😁so two inside three outside ( but easily reachable with public transport).
I meant in the city center. Heathrow is more than an hour's drive from Tower Bridge. London City airport is about half an hour's drive and I've never come across a flight going into there. All the main airports in London as well as most other major cities involve a long drive to get into the city.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos sorry still cant agree. there are cities where the airport is quite near the city center. naples, italy or lisbon, portugal.milano-linate.or washington. or Bratislava, but of course for Bratislava the main airport is Schwechat😂😂
I didn't mean it as a categorical "never ever" statement, the point is that when you fly to most cities, you generally land somewhere outside of it. The reason it's called London Stansted airport is because it's intended for people who are trying to get to London. And when you're standing next to London Stansted airport it makes sense to tell people that you're now in London, since that's where you're going and most people don't know where Stansted or Burton's End are.
The metropolitan area of London finishes a long way before Stansted and Luton Airport unlike the other London airports. Iit's amusing for brits to see you wandering around lost in the quaint country lanes of Essex shouting "I'm in London"
Gabriel, stop what your doing and watch Borat. It’s a masterpiece!
12:20 pm 67°
Light rain.
Nice fall breeeze.
😎
In England you don't do what you feel like it's the standard but not set in stone rule we walk on the side facing oncoming traffic not what's behind you.All the best.
Gabriel Traveler: 92 countries! As Borat would have said: Very Nice!
You probably know by now but yes there is a bus from Almaty Airport into the city. At least there was when I took it in early 2020. On another occasion I took a taxi and I think he only ripped me off a little bit, but I would say for anyone travelling in this city via taxi don't put your luggage in the boot where the driver can keep it hostage until you pay what they demand. I've read about beatings. Can't be sure it's true but I would not be surprised. And I definitely experienced a few scams in this city but it's a great place to visit. But definitely agree on a price first, and I actually write down the price in my phone then confirm/ show to driver and then I take a screenshot which will then have a timestamp in case it becomes an issue lol.
Whats up Gabe! Do you ever get sick? All those different foods never seem to phase you
I was wondering about that too. He must have a cast-iron stomach.
*VERY NICE, HOW MUCH?*
Great success!
@@dougieranger haha Gabe is going to be flooded with Borat quotes.
@@iammaxhammer I think so. Have you seen the Borat Tries To Buy A Slave? It’s really old, like 25 years old or something. It’s in the American South, gut bustingly funny.
Hello there nice to know that you're in Almaty and I'm disappointed that it is still hot
Regarding the bus from the airport, there is a bus stop just in front of the exit door next through the barking and a lot of the airport staff are waiting over there
Dont forget to go to
Full: Big almaty lake
( Ozero Bol'shoye Almaatinskoye )
From sairan bus station
President’s Park - bus 103
- Kokshoky Village - bus 28
Or Rodnik Tausamal
Go to bus 34 to President’s Park
Take bus 28 from First President’s Park to Kokshoky Village
Taxi 2.500 tenge
----
Best spots
- Panfilov street
- Beside the opera ( begining )
- Metro station : Almaty metro station
- City centre ( astana square )
- The green bazar
This is true -Borat has been shot in Romania but fits perfectly Kazakhstan ! Just watch your video posting...
Avoid taxi period. My first time in Europe I was quoted 15E then the driver says it's 27E on arrival. Maybe he wanted me to pay his way back to the airport too. :(
I prefer the bus for the same reason, really awkward being in a taxi if I’m not in the mood to talk
Sorry about the sanctimonious comments regarding road walking.
We Brits can be a tad uptight on occasion 😅
There is London City Airport, bang in the middle, smaller jets only
Nice and convenient
Almaty seems like a very good base for exploring Kazakhstan and maybe even Kyrgyzstan as day trips. Looks like a nice city and mountains are near.
I suddemly remember my experience with a cab, it's metered not contractual agreed price. My goodness! Every time I inhale 2 breaths, the meter already increased. I asked my friend and he said that has a mechanism that cheats in the meter and i told the driver his meter increased so fast, I just inhale twice and the meter cost kept increasing rapidly. I told him I knew how much should be the fare from where I boarded till my destination. Would you brlieve the change in cost became slower but still arbitrary. When I reached my destination, still higher costing, but at least the change of meter cost became slower. As I alighted, I said I usually give a tip if the driver is honest, but if not nevermind.
Thank you for sharing your toughts and emotions. In this way, you are talking to the viewers. I am sorry that you had troubles with the taxi drivers. I wonder whether there are honest taxi drivers anywhere in the world? They say that even Stalin was not able to manage the drivers. I am looking forward to watching your reports about this huge country of Kazahstan.
Strange that people were giving you grief over London location. In my experience, people generally refer to the biggest nearby city rather than smaller suburban neighborhoods. If I say I live in Southfield, Michigan, very few people will have any idea where that is. I just say I’m from Detroit or the Detroit area.
I know the rule for runners is to face traffic. I never heard of a rule for walkers I suppose because we generally have sidewalks for walkers. They are too uneven for running, hence the need for a rule for runners, not walkers. Also, we morning/evening runners often will have a headlamp which oncoming cars will see.
Normally the runners can't run everywhere. There must be special places for the runners.
Gabriel, you must never tell any service provider that it is your first time there as those will bad intent will take advantage of that and take you for a ride!
Kazakhstan is the least vegetarian country in the world. Biggest consumer of meat with one of their main being horse meat. Recommend asking for that is a a restaurant. Also check out Almaty lake but don't swim in it as you'll get a fine.
I had some borscht with dinner tonight that had some strange meat in it. Might have just been some tough beef meat, but I wonder if it might have been horse. I definitely have mixed feelings about that.
Second that. Horse meat is really good, I eat it from time to time (I live in Sweden, one of the European countries where horse meat is accepted). Like beef, but much leaner and in my opinion tastier. I know they really love it in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. May seem awkward to the English-speaking world, but really worth trying!
@@GabrielTravelerVideos real Borsch is Ukrainian. Kazakhs dont know how to cook it. Only Ukrainians know that.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos It could also have been camel meat, another popular meat in Central Asia.
It worked pretty well and you only have to pay in cash what is shown in the App. You can choose even private ride and shared rides (nice to know other passengers).
looking forward to Kazakhstan Taxis | Biggest Scam in the world
International competition
Hello Gabriel, how do you handle all the "interested" people in India. I was recently there and I've been the main attraction. The people came from everywhere to ask me the same questions over and over and it didn't stop. At some point I tried to explain that I don't want to answer their questions anymore and they walked away... but some people who didn't hear that came over and the game began again. At the end I needed to show my anger to get rid of them. Also they don't respect personal space. They just come to you and look with you on your phone. Even waiters in the restaurants. How do you handle that?
I normally never ask a taxi driver what the price is whilst wearing sunglasses, in India you can guarantee they will double or triple the price if you are wearing sunglasses
Interesting. 🤔
I carry Gucci everything and bizarrely I get charged more than the going rate 😮
Gabriel , It seems to be a “given” that taxi rides and scams of some degree are going to happen . I just wonder if the drivers are just trying to get any money they can get , and are not concerned with ethics ? They don’t have an ongoing relationship with their customers , so it doesn’t matter ? Do they have. Varying prices with tourists ? It must be very frustrating to tired travelers . You just strike out walking , you have strong legs ! You also show how to be resourceful in a variety of settings !Thank you for sharing information while you show us around in the place you are visiting ! I have always lived in rural SE USA. No public transportation where I have lived, so a car is a must . All your videos showing public transportation , make me appreciative of living in a rural setting . I live 22 miles from grocery store , pharmacy ,etc. 9 miles to a truck stop for gas .
You never disappoint , thank you for a very great channel !
Regarding your talk on walking on uk roads Gabe as it happens there are rules in the uk regarding walking on uk roads in the uk we have something caled the high way code. The high way code covers the rules for all types of road uses including walkers PLEAE SEE BELOW part of the code covers when there is no pavement (sidewalk) rule 2 of the UK high way code
Rule 2 of highway code when there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should take extra care and
be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light
keep close to the side of the road.
It may be safer to cross the road well before a sharp right-hand bend so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you. Cross back after the bend. Happy Travels Gabe
Exactly, but unfortunately Gabriel doesn't like being wrong.
Forget about the rules, do what makes sense at the time. As long as you aren't deaf you can hear the cars coming either way.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos
Didn't hear that in Kuwait.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
#jk🤗
@@GabrielTravelerVideos We're just concerned about your safety. I know you're a world traveller, but you still need your comfort blanket - right?
@@witlof5492
Speak for yourself.
(we're?)
Like how an adult does. 🤗
You tell 'em Gabriel!
You mistakenly claimed that all London airports were outside the city limits. Not true! London City Airport along the Thames and reachable via the DLR, the Docklands Light Rail (part of the London City Transport System)! Thought you should know. You use STN, LGW, LTN and LHR airports the most. But LCY is within the city limits
Heathrow is also within London, but in all cases it's a long drive into the city. Point being, when you fly from another country and land in London or Paris or Amsterdam or wherever, you've landed in that city even though you're somewhere outside of it.
Gabriel, I'm writing the name of the transportation App and it's been deleted. It's an App like Uber and wilk try to write in parts YAN and the second part is DEX.
Got it. 👍
Sorry about the rip-off; But it's so nice to see you in this part of the world.✌️
Do you have any plans to see Mongolia, Bhutan, china...?
Unfortunately I think he's on his way back to India.
One city with the airport in the center is San Diego.
Yes! Landing there is crazy if you’re sitting on the left side of the plane you can see in the windows of the high rise buildings!
Have you ever been to Nagaland in India? Looks so interesting, Christian state with a totally wild mainly meat-focused food culture that is nothing like the rest of India, and sparsely populated compared to the rest of India.
Yeah, Kazakh is kipchak turkic while turkish and azerbaijan is oguz turkic.
It's always the airport taxi
Hi Gabriel, the taxi story is a mess. The taxi industry has changed in NYC to own your own taxicab business. It costs 100,000 USD to have a medallion which means any income you get from this is yours to keep. It's a license and you keep all the profits but what Uber did is revolutionize the industry by taking out the medallion business of owning a cab where you work for yourself, but you must provide Uber with a cut on what you make. Uber can change its business model by asking for a larger percentage of what you're making many businesses are doing this type of business where you work for yourself under a business structure but pay into who is allowing you to work under this umbrella and then the business takes a percentage which can change any time after the initial agreement. This is the way businesses like Uber tend to operate allowing you to make money if you accept the amount that they impose which can be subject to change.
I was there not long ago. There is very little to do there. Very little. I think there are 2 or 3 museums near the monument of Panfilov, the military museum is very small, and is always closed, you have to call for them to open it for you. Other than that I don't know what you will do there 8 days, some people advice to go to Medeu, but I didn't go since it didn't interest me at all. By the way, near Almaty there's a canyon yes like the great canyon in Arizona, also there's an ethnographic museum in a zone called "Borolday" it is in northern Almaty. Make sure you visit the central mosque and the green bazar.
Is there anything interesting along the Caspian Sea I wonder.
Gabe, Re your comments about which side of the road to walk on with no footpath (side walks in your language) it’s probably best to see the cars coming at you, instead of the cars that may have just gone over the top of you from the back, just saying 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Gabriel has been to 47.6% out of the 193 countries recognised by the United Nations 🇺🇳
Unless you include the observer states of Vatican City and Palestine, which is certainly debatable. But I count them both as countries I've visited, which would alter your equation ever so slightly.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos That would now make it 47.1%
I can live with that. 😛
@@policarpo1961 Vatican City and Palestine both have the same observer status within the UN.
@@GabrielTravelerVideosAnd in a way they are recognised by the UN or else they would not be allowed to be observer states. They just haven't joined. Switzerland, North Korea and South Korea became members very recently.
Sir, you of all people probably should know that it's not the best idea to tell a taxi driver that it's your first time in a country, at least until you have determined the driver's "honesty" (as much as you can at least). You're inviting uneducated foreigners prices.
Tip ask a local who speaks English or info at airport what the going rate ROUGHLY is .
Well, I just had to correct you regarding London airports. You are wrong again; there is a London city airport, which is in the city just like the name says.
True. And even that one is a 30 minute drive from Tower Bridge. I've lost track of how many times I've flown in or out of London, but I've never come across a suggested flight into London City. I know it exists but not a popular airport. Reality is almost all airports are outside of any major city.
No way its a 15 min taxi drive max from tower bridge to LCY airport unless you get seriously bad luck at the lights
Interesting!!
Wow watching this October 19
October 20th here, greetings from the future.
Will you be going to Astana?
No, flying out of Almaty to another country in a week.
Dodge City, Kansas USA? 🤗
@@GabrielTravelerVideos Pity...
Hi Gabriel!😊
Good morning from Arizona. 77 degrees. Safe travels.
Very nice
I understand haggling but when they start out with a price that is 10 times what it should be it is so ridiculous. I am currently in Cambodia. I know with an app here that the price is USD $0.75 for the first km and $0.25 for each additional km. I will still get tuktuks here quoting me $5 for a km ride. Nope. Thanks. I'll walk or just use an app. I mean to arrive at the app price I would need to counter offer $0.07 to begin.
Sometimes they ask me why. I say in Khmer that with them it is $5 and with the app it is 5,000 khmer riel (about $1.25). They usually laugh and walk away at that point because they realize I am not a tourist but someone who has lived here a while.
Nice. I like.
Never tell em your 1st time in that country, instant scam.
When walking on non pavement roads, we in the UK always walk facing the traffic, reason being, you can see the car that might hit you, and dive out the way, walk with your back to the traffic, you can't see the cars and they could drive into you. I think its in the UK highway code book. No UK peeps were having a go at you, it was more concern for your safety. We know you are an experience traveller.
Kazakhstan to India flights are very cheap (less than 100$)
Exactly. 😉
One time I was in Vrindavan India and wanted to go to Temple from Hotel. Before I got into the Rickshaw I asked driver if 40 rupees was good. He nodded yes. Once I got to temple I gave him 40 and he said no no, 80. Didn’t want to dispute it so I just gave him 80 and when I handed it to him he kissed the money to God. lol
What about Turdestan next
It is the Russian Uber. And is very easy, plentiful an cheap around Khazakstan ans Uzbekistan...
Taxi meters are rigged too.
I knew he was a chancer. The way he nudged a friend before you got into the Taxi. Also they think Americans are easy to rip off.
The taxi driver probably didnt want to lose his place in line for a 2 or 3 dollar fare.
No 3 maybe?
No 3 maybe.
Yes 3 is.
🥉
#congrats💥
ah, you renamed the video for some reason...
the biggest taxi scam? man, what have you gotten yourself into?
can't wait to see what happened next...
in any case, stay out of trouble, man
london city airport is in the middle of london 🙂
No it's not
London City Airport
Looking forward to seeing more of Kazakhstan!!
Same here. Hopefully the rental car works out.
You're very frugal
I like to think of it as economic strategery.
th-cam.com/video/jERZP6K5UlM/w-d-xo.html
It seems it is very healthy for good structures. He may have a long life. If he doesn't have accidents...
Kalinin was a soviet old school leader