I love taxis. Whether stranded in the middle of the night or completely exhausted after a long flight, taxis are always there for you when public transportation isn’t the best option. Furthermore, taking a taxi can be the safest option to get around for solo female travelers, especially in high-risk areas. That being said, there are unfortunately also unique safety risks that you might face when getting into a taxi. Being alone inside a car with a male driver can not only be a frightening experience but in a few cases pose a real danger to the traveler.
I’ve had my fair share of negative experiences with taxis around the world but that doesn’t keep me from taking them over and over again. Taxis are extremely convenient and no solo female traveler should feel like they have to avoid them altogether. Therefore, I decided to compile this list of my top 10 taxi safety tips for solo female travelers.
I want to begin this post with a personal story because I believe there is a lot to learn from my experience.
One year ago, I was traveling from Germany to Hong Kong and had a 3-hour layover in Abu Dhabi. It was my first time in the city so I decided to use this time to explore the stunning Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
After passing through immigration, I felt like I was under intense time pressure to get to the mosque. Hence, I chose to go with the first tout who yelled ‘taxi’ at me. The driver offered me to take me all the way to the Grand Mosque and back for only 200 dirhams (~ $55 USD), which I believed was a good deal for UAE standards. Quite exhausted, I put my carry-on into the trunk of his private car and got into the front seat.
