Comments on: Tips for Dealing with Touts

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 01:58:08 +0000

Agressive touts can be soo intimidating. Before we arrive anywhere we think would have this problem, we’d either figure out a way to get pick up service from the hostel, or learn beforehand where the public taxi stand is located. That way we won’t look too lost when we get there…

By: Europeeno

Europeeno — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:02:16 +0000

When you arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, you’ll be besieged by taxi touts offering you overpriced rides. Make sure you get to the Public Taxi stands to get a properly priced taxi into Bangkok.

By: Ryan & Liz

Ryan & Liz — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:17:00 +0000

Great tips guys! We’ll be sure to use a few of these along the way.

By: The Working Traveller

The Working Traveller — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:15:27 +0000

I’ve tried the not speaking English trick too, pretending, in halting English, to only speak Dutch. The smirking tout was only too happy to point out the sign above the door that read ‘We speak Dutch’.

By: Gray

Gray — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:21:58 +0000

That is a great story, Daniel! Good thing the driver played along. And good advice as well. I’m pretty good at saying “no” to people trying to sell me something, but not so good at negotiating down in price when I do want something. Guess I need some practice at that.

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:36:18 +0000

My main tip: If you’ll be in the same area for awhile, make friends with them. If you always buy from them or ride in their van, then they stop harassing you and, after awhile, protect you from others who do.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:06:56 +0000

I sometimes pretend that I can’t speak English to get them to leave me alone, but this tactic failed spectacularly in Varanasi last year. My friend and I were getting frustrated with all of the touts along the ghats, so she switched to Spanish to explain that she couldn’t understand. But when the next tout came along and overheard her Spanish, he switched over, too! They ended up having a great conversation about how he had learned Spanish from other tourists — but she still didn’t buy anything!