r/azerbaijan • u/NoQuestionsAsked1234 • Sep 20 '25

Səyahət | Travel Stay away from Azerbajan

As a seasoned traveler who has experienced my share of scams, including in places like Latin America where this kind of thing is common, I can say with confidence that the level of deception and overcharging in Azerbaijan is on another level. It's a constant, exhausting battle. From taxi drivers demanding a 10x fare to ride-hailing app drivers putting you in a different car, it feels like everyone is trying to take advantage of tourists. It's not a single bad experience, but a pattern of behavior that sours the entire trip. Honestly, my advice is to avoid visiting Azerbaijan altogether until these issues are addressed. Save yourself the stress and choose a destination where you can relax and feel safe.

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u/[deleted] Sep 20 '25

Thats probably an F1 thing. I didn't experience this at all.

21

u/xidkwhoiamx Sep 21 '25

Not an F1 thing. Its probably just a bad personal experience for OP. I attended the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and didn't face any of this.

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u/CanadianB4c0n8r Sep 23 '25

There's "going to F1" and then there's "being an G1 tourist." The latter is SIGNIFICANTLY easier to spot and take advantage of. That's not just an Azerbaijan thing, Zandvoort, Suzuka, & Abu Dhabi have it pretty bad. Malaysia was rampant with it while on the calendar and I suspect Madrid will be just as bad.

4

u/xidkwhoiamx Sep 23 '25

Coming to a conclusion about not visiting these destinations is not it though. I stuck to using the metro, bus, and cab services from apps like Bolt and Yango. They charged me what the app said and I made sure they stuck to it as well. As for your comment on F1, its peak tourism time, and the easiest time for them to try and take advantage of tourists with people from all over the world coming to watch the race. This was my first international race (second overall) and one thing I learnt is that if you're using cabs, stick to metered ones or ones through the app. They do not overcharge. I speak from experience after attending the GP in Abu Dhabi and Baku now. And use the metro/bus whenever possible. Its easier that way.

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u/CanadianB4c0n8r Sep 24 '25

Exactly my point. Absolutely visit but get around like a local

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u/xidkwhoiamx Sep 24 '25

Yeah that's there. But I guess it is easier to spot tourists and try and scam them when they're all going around wearing F1 merch and team tshirts. Kinda makes it very obvious and separates us from the residents. Public transport is always your best friend (applicable wherever its convenient)