(no subject)

[avoider]

There’s no denying that Baku is very expensive, even by London standards - and that’s saying something! Expect to pay around five Euros for a cup of coffee, imported items often come with a 30% premium and property rental rates can bring tears to your eyes.

The traffic here is something else, though! It takes a brave soul to drive here and most expats have local drivers. It’s completely chaotic and involves recreational horn blasting. Glossy and sophisticated as Baku is, service provisions are still catching up with the stellar development of the city. Taxis may look like purple versions of the typical London cab (and these are the only metered taxis) but you cannot expect them to know where you want to go, even if it’s to a well-known tourist landmark or an International hotel. There is a running joke in Baku: ‘New to the city? Don’t know your way around? Become a taxi driver!’