The best way to get a taxi cab can vary significantly depending on where you're located. Sometimes it pays to know which companies are most popular in any given place, and where the best locations are to assure there's a cab available to pick you up. This page shows you how to get a cab in Boston.

Getting a cab is easier in almost every city when you are familiar with how things run. Whether you need to get to or from the Washington Street Theater District, Suffolk County Courthouse, Purple Shamrock, Neptune Oyster or any other location, this page has advice that can help. Below are three simple ways you can get a cab when you need it and where you need it.

The most obvious way to hail a cab other than flagging one down directly is to use a landline or mobile phone. Phone numbers can frequently be seen on the sides of cabs as they pass by, but if you can't locate a number this way you can also use 411 (though there will be a fee). Though phone books are becoming more and more hard to find, the Yellow Pages are another sure way to get the contact information you need. Since you've chosen to plan ahead by reading this page, why not input some cab numbers into the Contacts list on your mobile phone right now? Metro Cab is (617) 536-0666http://boston-cab.com/, Boston Car Service is (617) 536-2600http://www.bostoncar.com/, and East Boston Tunnel Taxi is (617) 567-2700.

If you're finishing your dinner at a restaurant and need a ride home or back to your hotel room, consider asking your waiter or waitress to call you a cab. They are sure to be familiar with cab services in Boston and should know of a quality service to call. However, even if they're not extremely familiar with the city, the restaurant will likely have someone on staff who can recommend a company, and if all else fails they should have a phone book in the back.

If you've been drinking at a bar or tavern, asking the bartender to call a cab for you is simply the most responsible option. Even if you drove your car or truck to the bar or restaurant, they would much rather deal with your vehicle in their parking lot rather than deal with the potential liability of having you drive while under the influence of alcohol.

Services like Cab4Mehttp://www.cab4me.com/ and Taxi Magichttp://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/taxi-magic-hail-a-cab-from-your-iphone-at-the-push-of-a-button/ allow you to locate cab services. Some applications even allow you to book directly through their interface without dialing a number or talking to an operator. You can access these services through a browser with an internet connection on a computer or laptop, or through an application on a Blackberry, Windows Mobile device or iPhone. Make sure to check the Apps Store or App World for the latest list of compatible applications.