Driving tourists mad: Taxi drivers in Paris and Rome voted the rudest in world

By TRAVELMAIL REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

It might be wise to take the metro next time you're in Paris or Rome: taxi drivers in the two capital cities have been voted the rudest in the world by British holidaymakers.

And it's probably best if you can't understand what the cabbies in San Antonio on the Spanish island of Ibiza are saying to you, as politeness isn't one of their strong points either, according to the survey.

A taxi is shown driving past the Colosseum in Rom

Road rage: Holidaymakers said taxi drivers in Rome were rude and unhelpful

Other popular holiday destinations where you'd be better off walking include Dubai and Magaluf on the island of Majorca.

But anyone holidaying in Pefkos on the Greek island of Rhodes and the Turkish resort of Marmaris will get a warm welcome as they boast the friendliest taxi drivers.

Polite and helpful cabbies can also be found in Playa de las Americas in Tenerife, New York and Palma Nova in Majorca.

The survey by airporttransfers.co.uk, was based on responses from 2,162 UK holidaymakers who had taken an overseas holiday in the last 12 months.

When asked what they thought made a taxi driver "friendly", 86 per cent of respondents agreed it was a driver who was "talkative"', while 42 per cent also said a friendly taxi driver was someone who gave their advice or knowledge about the local area.

Holidaymakers are pictured sunbathing in Pefkos

Warm welcome: Taxi drivers in Pefkos on the Greek island of Rhodes are some of the friendliest in the world

When asked what they saw as a rude taxi driver, 51 per cent said it was someone who was "unhelpful".

Airporttransfers.co.uk managing director Chris Clarkson said: "Taxi rides around the world can be totally different experiences, depending on the time and the place.

"You could stumble upon the most helpful taxi driver in the world, who gives you a guided tour of the area you're in on the way to your end destination, or you could have someone that just grunts in response to anything you say."

Paris

Most watched News videos