Hi there, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're discussing some tips on
using ride-sharing services, like Uber, when traveling abroad.
(light chiming music)
As many of you know, Uber has been pretty aggressive with expanding their services around the
world. So much so that some places have seen protests from taxi operators and
unions who feel extremely threatened by their presence. While Uber counters that
they're creating new jobs, some feel like the money is being extracted rather than
invested back in their country. While the politics of the service is complicated
and controversial, I have to admit that the service is extremely useful when
traveling abroad. In fact, when given the choice between using a local taxi or
Uber, I usually prefer to use Uber since the service is usually cheaper and I
like the fact that I don't have to negotiate the fee or exchange money with
the driver. That being said, using ride-sharing
services in a foreign country can sometimes be confusing, especially when
getting a ride from the airport. So today, I thought we would run through some tips
to help you use the service when abroad. Number 1: Research the airport pick-up
information before your trip. Most times you'll see specific airport
information when you open the Uber app that should tell you where to get your
pick-up. However, it doesn't hurt to get information online in advance. I remember
arriving at Bangkok Airport a few years ago and having a spotty network
connection. I was struggling to find the pick-up spot and level, and I couldn't
seem to get any information online. Luckily, I was able to ask around and
figure it out. But in retrospect, I wish I had just checked out the Uber page for
Bangkok ahead of time so I knew what to expect. Number 2: Send a photo of your
location. When your driver arrives, there can sometimes be confusion on the exact
location of your pickup, especially if there are multiple levels at the airport.
What I've done in the past is to send a photo of my location to my driver,
especially when I don't speak the local language. The messaging feature in the
Uber app allows you to send photos to your driver, so don't hesitate to send
visual information to help find your ride.
Number 3: Review your pick-up location. Don't assume
that your current location is the exact pick-up location. In some places,
Uber will request that you walk to a better location in order to meet your
driver. We noticed this in Lisbon, where the Uber app usually requested that we
meet our driver away from the busy roads. Number 4: Know your options. Just
because you've used Uber in your home country doesn't mean that you've seen
all of our service offerings. For example, you can request an uberMOTO, which is
essentially an UberX style motorcycle ride. While it's probably not the best
option when you're trying to carry luggage from the airport, it's definitely a
unique option when getting around town. Number 5: Add a credit card to your
account. While I usually use Apple Pay when using Uber and Lyft in the United
States, I noticed that the app required a credit card when using it in Europe,
specifically in Portugal. As always, I recommend using a card that not only
avoids any foreign transaction fees, but also one that rewards you for using ride
sharing services, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred card. Number 6: If
you have a bag in the trunk, don't exit the vehicle before your driver. This tip
actually applies to both ride-sharing and taxi rides. I've not personally had a
driver steal my luggage, but I always suggest remaining vigilant of your security
and belongings. If you have a bag in the trunk of the vehicle, I would suggest waiting
for the driver to get out of the car before you do. I might be overly paranoid
about this, but I think it's good practice and it minimizes the chance of
a driver leaving with your bags in the car, whether it's on purpose or by
accident. Number 7: Be cautious of partner services.
While Lyft is expanding internationally, they do have some partnerships in
countries. I used the Lyft app when I was traveling in Thailand, and it basically
matched me with a driver from a local ride-sharing service. Everything seemed to
be working ok, and I ended up getting picked up from my hotel. The trouble came
when I got to my destination. The driver wanted me to pay and I tried to explain
that the payment was made through the app. I ended up sitting in a car for
another 15 minutes while the driver made calls to their ride sharing service
company to confirm the payment. It looks like
Lyft is trying to expand natively in countries now, so this might not be an
issue anymore. However, just be weary of any situations
where you might be using another partner service from within the app. Number 8:
Have a plan B. While Uber and Lyft are awesome services, they are still new
technologies and are not always allowed or accepted. For example, when we were in
Barcelona, we noticed that Uber was shut down, so we relied on taxis and metro to
get around. While it seems impossible to stop the ride-sharing trend from
spreading, just know that the service has been known to get shut down overnight
despite its impact on tourists and the local economy. Do you have any tips for
using ride sharing services when traveling abroad? If so, please share them
in the comment section below. Also, if you have any questions, please let us know. If
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