I have sworn off using the tube for the rest of this trip. I just can’t face the crowds, the noise, the stairs, the cost. I have only one trip left so it is not a big thing to swear off but I have decided… no more tube. I need to get from my hotel here next to Kings Cross station down to Waterloo station to train south to Portsmouth.
Taxi!
It can’t be too costly surely!
A ride in London cab would be fun right!
We can walk to the station, with our bags, it’s only 20 minutes, that must be better.
Even a bus should be better.
Walk to the station. Catch the bus. Change bus. Catch another bus.
Change more, with our bags…. ahhhhh
There must be a better way.
There is!
Taxi!
It can’t be too costly surely!
A ride in London cab would be fun right!
We can walk to the station, with our bags, it’s only 20 minutes, that must be better.
Even a bus should be better.
Walk to the station. Catch the bus. Change bus. Catch another bus.
Change more, with our bags…. ahhhhh
There must be a better way.
There is!
Uber.
I am sure I am not telling some of you anything new at all. If you have used Uber you will know it. If you have never used Uber let me tell you my Uber experience.
We thought of Uber over breakfast. We were having a fairly ordinary breakfast in a small room overflowing with Italians. We had stumbled into a hotel where the prime language is Italian, even with the staff.
We decided to try Uber right away. How big a mistake could it possibly be?
I set my phone down away from the toast and butter and downloaded the app restarting the phone again to gain a better connection as I am used to doing. App launched, I filled in the application. This is very friendly and easy to complete. They need your credit card so they can bill you directly and no cash changes hands with the driver. They use the camera in my phone to enter the details. This is good, clever use of technology.
Then I am told do not pre book a car. Call for one when you need it and it will be there.
OK
We checked out and dragged our bags to the kerb. I opened the app and saw on the map right away that there were 3 cars close by and the wait time was estimated at 3 minutes. I hit book. I said to Waterloo station. The app said to expect to see Abdul in 3 minutes. It showed me where his car was, showed me a picture of him and told me what car to look for.
He turned the corner into the street and the app said he is here.
The car was in immaculate condition, better than any taxi I recall using. He helped us with our bags and off we went. His GPS took us by the best route. He offered us water and gum as we drove along. He did not seem to want to chat which was OK, he was driving. We dissolved into a conversation of our own and as we did, he increased the volume of the radio just a little, as if to say, I am not listening in to you guys. Just a little thing but it felt good.
We arrived at Waterloo and went off to catch the train. It was an amazing experience.
Then the kicker! I had not asked for an estimate of cost. We had decided, we will do this and pay what it costs. Taxi was suggested at £20. Tube would have been about £12. I was expecting about £15 for the Uber.
My email arrived this evening from Uber summarising the entire transaction and the cost?
£7.29.
Debited to my card and paid to Abdul’s account less their fee I guess.
Uber has my vote. It is the hero of today and the best thing I have discovered in London.
And they gave me a voucher. If you sign up with Uber using my promo code
geoffp224ue
you will get some credit on your first ride. It says your first ride is free up to ten pounds. Who know what that means in AU and if it even works.
Just to say I was very impressed and if you are ever considering it, just do it. Try the code if you like it may save you some credit.
Disclaimer*** they offer me credit too.
Use it because it is great. I had heard this from many people but now I am sure.
Uber is excellent.
I am sure I am not telling some of you anything new at all. If you have used Uber you will know it. If you have never used Uber let me tell you my Uber experience.
We thought of Uber over breakfast. We were having a fairly ordinary breakfast in a small room overflowing with Italians. We had stumbled into a hotel where the prime language is Italian, even with the staff.
We decided to try Uber right away. How big a mistake could it possibly be?
I set my phone down away from the toast and butter and downloaded the app restarting the phone again to gain a better connection as I am used to doing. App launched, I filled in the application. This is very friendly and easy to complete. They need your credit card so they can bill you directly and no cash changes hands with the driver. They use the camera in my phone to enter the details. This is good, clever use of technology.
Then I am told do not pre book a car. Call for one when you need it and it will be there.
OK
We checked out and dragged our bags to the kerb. I opened the app and saw on the map right away that there were 3 cars close by and the wait time was estimated at 3 minutes. I hit book. I said to Waterloo station. The app said to expect to see Abdul in 3 minutes. It showed me where his car was, showed me a picture of him and told me what car to look for.
He turned the corner into the street and the app said he is here.
The car was in immaculate condition, better than any taxi I recall using. He helped us with our bags and off we went. His GPS took us by the best route. He offered us water and gum as we drove along. He did not seem to want to chat which was OK, he was driving. We dissolved into a conversation of our own and as we did, he increased the volume of the radio just a little, as if to say, I am not listening in to you guys. Just a little thing but it felt good.
We arrived at Waterloo and went off to catch the train. It was an amazing experience.
Then the kicker! I had not asked for an estimate of cost. We had decided, we will do this and pay what it costs. Taxi was suggested at £20. Tube would have been about £12. I was expecting about £15 for the Uber.
My email arrived this evening from Uber summarising the entire transaction and the cost?
£7.29.
Debited to my card and paid to Abdul’s account less their fee I guess.
Uber has my vote. It is the hero of today and the best thing I have discovered in London.
And they gave me a voucher. If you sign up with Uber using my promo code
geoffp224ue
you will get some credit on your first ride. It says your first ride is free up to ten pounds. Who know what that means in AU and if it even works.
Just to say I was very impressed and if you are ever considering it, just do it. Try the code if you like it may save you some credit.
Disclaimer*** they offer me credit too.
Use it because it is great. I had heard this from many people but now I am sure.
Uber is excellent.
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