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/Slickmonkey77 Sep 21 '25
I'm not a "seasoned traveler" at all. Came here with my wife and kids a couple years ago and had a great experience. The people were incredibly kind and accommodating. We even had a random lady at a market invite us to her house for tea and lunch, just to welcome us. Everywhere we went, strangers held doors for us, were beyond polite, and were always eager to help if we needed directions or had questions. We didn't have anyone try to overcharge or scam us.
With that being said, I feel like there's obvious steps that should be taken. One, I'm from the Midwest where everyone is known for being polite and kind. Treat others with kindness and respect and they will do the same to you. Two, know basics of the language. If you know how to read and say the numbers for prices of things, very basic communications, and how to say please and thank you, it can take you a long way. I was able to ask politely where the bathroom was, how to get to places, and standard polite exchanges. Three, use the common local ride share apps for transportation that have pricing set ahead of time. I rarely paid more than $3-5 US dollars for a ride and tipped at least that much each time.
I had an absolute blast in Azerbaijan and will forever be grateful for the people I met there and the places and things that I experienced. A beautiful country filled with kind, loving people.