What to do when you arrive at your destination late at night.

I would recommend avoiding arriving at your new destination late at night. But I know, sometimes you have no choice. In those cases, make sure you have made sleeping arrangements beforehand. Tell the hostel or hotel where you arrive and at what time, and inquire about the best way to get to them at that time. They might offer to send a pick up car to come and meet you, which is the most comfortable and safe option. Or they can advise which taxi company or other kind of public transport to take and what a fair price would be for the ride. Try to have small change ready to pay for the ride, as sometimes taxi, rickshaw or bus drivers pretend not to have any change.

In some cities, some taxi companies will have a safer reputation than others. Especially when you need a ride at night, so try to find out which ones are more trustworthy by checking your guide book, asking your hostel, some fellow travellers or the locals. In some airports, the reputable taxi companies will have a booking desk inside the airport, before the exit. It will cost you more, but the added safety and advantages are well worth it. The people at the counter speak better English than the drivers usually do. It will be a lot easier to explain to them where you need to go and they will inform the driver about your destination. The price of the ride will be fixed and will be paid upfront at the counter, you can even use a credit card if you want, so you don’t need to worry about having the right change either. This option thus avoids any discussion about the destination and any financial hassle with the driver, a very welcome luxury when tired after a long day’s journey.