24 Apr 2023
Beware of private taxis on Almaty airport.
What I am about to share will make your hair stand on end and we met other people who had this horrible experience. Do not take any private taxi from the airport. They will probably kill you for money. If you have to take any taxi, then take the one booked from Yandex app for 2000 Tenge and activate it before you leave the home country or take a local SIM at Almaty airport and activate it. Or ask the hotel to send gtheir taxi for 7000 tenge.
As soon as we came out, one guy approached us and asked for taxi, we told him we were booking from app and he hustled us saying he will take us for same amount and told us to buy sim and exchange currency in the city as airport was expensive. Then he took us to taxi where two guys got in. After spending a tense journey, the got us to the hotel but then wouldnt let us out. They demanded half a million Tenge instead of 2000 or 880 dollars. We were stunned. They were talking through mobile app. They said 2000 was aiport parking fee and rest is taxi charge for the distance. We said why didnt u tell us sooner? I didnt have that much money. They said they wouldnt let us out till we paid. Then we screamed at the windows to the people to let us out but no one interfered. We said we could make a compromise but they were unrelenting.
Then they pinned me to the back seat with my wife watching and tried to strangle me. I was in panic and started having an attack. Then they panicked and let us out. I ran to grab some water. The hotel Grand Sapphire people also didnt and later told us they settled with the guys for 5000 tenge.
So beware of airport taxis or they will fleece you. We met another Swiss lady at our hotel who had the same experience and paid up. This used to be my favorite place but these guys have ruined it. The police needs to take action or their country will also go to the dogs and lose tourism just like Uzbekistan has done.