Scam guide
Do you know why your driver wants you to see a spice garden?
The detour is always brief, always on the way, and always ends beside a till.
Some drivers earn commission from gem shops, batik factories, spice gardens and Ayurveda clinics. Unplanned stops at these places are a near-universal complaint about private drivers.
How it works
- A stop is added to the route as a cultural visit or a quick break.
- Entry is free, the tour is friendly, and it ends in a shop with prices several times the market rate.
- The driver receives a share of whatever you spend. A very cheap day rate often depends on it.
How to avoid it
- Tell the driver before the trip starts that you want no shopping stops, and put it in the written agreement.
- Be wary of day rates far below US$50. The gap has to come from somewhere.
- If you do want spices, tea or gems, ask your hotel where locals buy them.
If it happens to you: You can decline to get out of the car. A firm, polite no is enough, and you are never obliged to buy.
Know the fair price: Private driver should cost US$50–80 per day, for a car with driver, fuel included, on a multi-day trip.
Rather have the price settled before you land?
Tell us where you want to go. We reply with one all-inclusive figure for car and driver, with no shopping stops along the way.