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TOP 5: The best taxis in the world
A recent Hotels.com survey reveals just which city boasts of the best cabs in the world. Read on!
Which cities in the world have the best taxi services? A survey conducted by Hotels.com threw up some interesting results. The survey also revealed some unusual passenger habits: over half of all respondents (56 per cent) confessed to have fallen asleep in a taxi, 19 per cent said they used the journey to touch up their hair and makeup. 26 per cent of those surveyed admit to having kissed in the backseat of the taxi in the past.
Th survey also revealed some of the strange items left behind in cabs including a single shoe and a raw fish!
Meanwhile, here are the results:
5. Bangkok
Moving up a spot higher from last year, Bangkok's tuk-tuks came at number 5 this year. Users were invited to vote for the best taxi services across seven categories including Cleanliness, Knowledge of the area, Quality of the driving, Friendliness, Safety and Availability and Value.
As of August 2012, there were 106,050 cars, 58,276 motorcycles and 8,996 tuk-tuks as registered taxis in Bangkok.
4. Shanghai
Even though they were nowhere in the top ten last year, taxis in Shanghai finished at number four in the poll taken this year.
According to reviews on travel websites, you can count on taxi drivers in Shanghai to be honest and taxis are usually the best way to get around on weekends in the downtown area of Shanghai.
Taxi companies in Shanghai are heavily regulated and it isn't unusual to find a list of regulations that the driver must comply with. Drivers usually know their way around the city and almost always will offer you a receipt for the journey.
3. Tokyo
Climbing up one spot from last year, Tokyo taxis came number three in this year's poll. Quite like in Shanghai, fares in Tokyo are regulated. You aren't expected to tip the cabbie since the fare usually includes the tip.
Tourists travelling to Tokyo will tell you that even though the drivers there do not necessarily speak English, they are quite professional and courteous. As part of their duties, Tokyo taxi drivers are also supposed to open and close the doors for you. So don't shut the door behind you the next time you get into one!
2. New York
Finishing at number two, the ubiquitous yellow cabs of New York came second in the poll. They retained their last year's position scoring the highest for their availability.
New York cabbies however are not known to be very courteous -- last year they were voted as the rudest alongside taxi drivers in Paris!
1. London
Retaining their number one position for the fifth time in a row, the iconic London black cabs bagged the top spot for cleanliness, knowledge of the area, quality of driving, friendliness and safety.
The survey also revealed that over 13 per cent confessed to 'becoming amorous' in the back of a cab in the UK, which is well above the global average of 6 per cent.
Among the strange items being left behind in the cabs were an accordion, knickers and condoms!