Ataxi is usually the first option that comes to mind when travelling around a foreign city. But think again. Getting a cab isn’t always the best choice as they’re sometimes impossible to hail, especially during peak hours or inclement weather. In some places fares are so high they eat up the budget. Then there is the language barrier – being taken to the wrong destination because you haven’t been able to explain yourself properly in the local language must rank as one of the most frustrating experiences for any out-of-towner. So, why not hire a chauffeur and save yourself a lot of wasted time and grief?
Jakarta
Why not a taxi? The Indonesian capital is notorious for its unscrupulous taxi drivers, many of whom refuse to use the meter (claiming that it's broken) and ask for an exorbitant rate. This phenomenon is particularly common at the airport. They may also refuse to take passengers wanting to go somewhere nearby, as travelling short distances are not profitable. The rule-of-thumb here is only use Blue Bird taxis, which is the most reliable operator. The company also offers a chauffeur service and given the city’s chaotic traffic, it is certainly worth considering.
Recommended operator Blue Bird operates regular taxis (Blue Bird and Pusaka), executive taxis (Silver Bird) and charter buses (Big Bird). It also offers limousine and car rental services through subsidiary company Golden Bird, with a selection of vehicles available for short and long term rental. Golden Bird also operates Pusaka Prima Transport to cater to long-term corporate clients requiring a fleet of vehicles.
Fleet From Kijang Innova and Toyota New Camry to Mercedes-Benz E 200 CGI.
Amenities Newspapers provided.
Reservation You can pay with major credit cards (Visa, Amex or Master Card). Clients should send a request letter with a copy of the credit card to the company’s fax number at +62 21 798 5388 at least three days before hiring.
Rate Prices vary depending on the car model, and you can choose hourly or daily rates. A minimum of four hours is required for the hourly rate, starting from US$64 with US$16 per extra hour. The daily rate is for 12 hours and costs from US$144, with US$16 for each extra hour.
bluebirdgroup.com
Beijing
Why not a taxi? Other than being infamously congested, China’s capital is known for rude cabbies with little or no English proficiency. But language is not the only issue – oftentimes, even hotel concierges experience difficulties communicating with them. The fact is, they are often recent migrants to the city and do not know it that well, and they will pick and choose destinations because they warrant higher fares or are on a route they want to travel. Even a printed map and address in Chinese may not solve the problem.
Recommended operator Beijing Central Chauffeur Car Rental Company has a list of services designed for business travellers and can help clients optimise their itinerary, in addition to providing tips on doing business in the country.
Fleet From Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta to Audi A6L and Mercedes S320/S350/S500. There is also the option of a Lincoln limo and Golden Dragon bus.
Amenities Each vehicle is equipped with a CD player and mobile phone. Mercedes-Benz S Class vehicles have leather seats, reading lamps and vanity mirrors. The stretch limo comes with a wine decanter and glasses, stocked bar, mood lighting, TV with DVD player and moon roof. On vans and mini buses, bench seats and reading lights are installed.
Reservation There are two options: you can call +86 10 6758 6625 from Monday to Sunday from 8.30am-11pm; or fill in the online reservation form.
Rate Daily rates range from US$100 to US$330 for eight hours, and from US$8 to US$15 per hour after this.
bccrental.com/about.html
Tokyo
Why not a taxi? Taxi drivers in Japan are generally trustworthy, but cab fares are expensive. For a standard four-passenger taxi, the meter goes up at ¥600 (US$5.90) to ¥700 (US$6.90) for the first 2km and each additional kilometre is ¥312.50 (US$3). From 10pm to 5am, there is a rate surcharge of 20 per cent. Also, since Tokyo is so spread out a taxi ride can easily exceed US$30. It simply makes more economic sense to use a chauffeur service if you need to hop around the city.
Recommended operator Outech features a “Planner” service that responds to a client’s request by formulating an itinerary. The driver can wait for a meeting to finish so pick-up is immediate, and the service also includes picking up and dropping off a clients’ guests. Entertainment and surprises are also a feature of the chauffeur service, including music for kids, small gifts for anniversaries and birthdays, in-car slippers and photo mementoes.
Fleet Ranging from Toyota Crown, Nissan Fuga to Toyota Lexus LS460L and Mercedes Benz S550L. Also the Mitsubishi Rosa and Coaster.
Amenities Each vehicle is equipped with free bottled water, coffee, hand towels, wifi, newspaper, umbrella and iPad. There is a control panel for passengers in the rear to recline seats, control air conditioning and window shade. The Toyota Lexus LS460L even has a massage function.
Reservation The company accepts last-minute reservations, as long as there is availability. If you want to use the vehicle for an entire day, booking should be made as early as possible.
Rate Costs are ¥30,000 (US$294) from Narita airport and ¥18,000 (US$177) from Haneda airport to the city centre (taxi fare from Narita-Tokyo is ¥24,237/US$237, Haneda-Tokyo ¥8,577/US$84). Hourly rates start from ¥6,500 (US$64).
outech.co.jp/en
Mumbai/New Delhi/Bangalore
Why not a taxi? Taxis in India are very low-end. Most vehicles are old and not equipped with seatbelts, which is dangerous, as drivers tend to travel at a rapid clip.
Recommended operator Luxury Limo VIP & Executive Private Car Service is experienced at meeting the requirements of top-end clients, including government ministers, ambassadors and VIPs. The company can accommodate a wide variety of tailor-made tours, trade shows, day trips and corporate hospitality events. It can also organise visits to theatres, nightclubs, restaurants and bars. The concierge service helps clients book tables and secure tickets. Personal bodyguards can also be arranged.
Fleet Includes Audi A6, Jaguar XF, Mercedes S Class S320, BMW 7 Series, Ford Endeavor and Volvo S60. Rolls Royce Ghost, bullet-proof vehicles and the Chrysler 300 Limousine are also available.
Amenities All vehicles have plush leather seats, state of the art surround sound systems with multi-genre play lists, blinds and heat reduction sun films, a first-aid kit, mobile charger, newspapers, magazines, iPod, USB and SD card slots. There are also iPads, noise cancellation headsets, a USB wifi service and child or baby seats are available upon request. Some of the Mercedes E Class, S Class, BMW 5 and 7 Series, and a couple of the Toyota Fortuners and Innova, have DVD players and screens.
Reservation Customers are required to book at least 90 minutes to two hours before the journey, by filling out an online form. An email will be sent to the client with a link to make a down payment that amounts to 50 per cent of the total price. After the payment is confirmed, another email will be sent together with the chauffeur’s staff number, name, car number and car model.
Rate There are four packages – four hours or 40km, eight hours or 80km, 12 hours and 80km, or 24 hours and 250km. Depending on the car model, packages cost from Rs1,000 (US$17) with Rs18 (US$0.30) for every extra kilometre, and Rs180 (US$3) for every extra hour.
luxurylimo.in
Singapore
Why not a taxi? During peak hours it is hard to find a taxi. Even if you do the standard surcharge could amount to a 25 per cent addition to the final bill. At midnight the surcharge goes up to 50 percent of the fare. Travel to the airport and city centre also requires a surcharge of S$3 (US$2.40). Taxi fees also differ among the various companies. Comfort and Citi Cab flag-up rates start at S$3 (US$2.40) and charge S$0.22 (US$0.18) for every 400m, while Chrysler starts at S$5 (US$4) and charges S$0.33 (US$0.27) for every 400m.
Recommended operator In addition to the standard transportation services, Sixt can also provide a personal concierge and arrange flowers or restaurant reservations. If you are an Emirates loyalty member you can get 50 Skywards Miles per hour (enter the membership number in the “Other Notes/Special Requests” section for online booking).
Fleet From Toyota Camry, to Mercedes Benz E200 and Nissan Elgrand.
Amenities Free wifi.
Reservation Online booking is required and clients will receive instant confirmation. The company will send an email providing contact details for the limousine chauffeur and a receipt, 24 hours before the agreed pick up time. Reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance, but if not then you could check availability.
Rates Airport transfers or point-to-point pickups cost S$60 (US$48) to S$125 (US$101).
sg.sixt.com
Jakarta
Why not a taxi? The Indonesian capital is notorious for its unscrupulous taxi drivers, many of whom refuse to use the meter (claiming that it's broken) and ask for an exorbitant rate. This phenomenon is particularly common at the airport. They may also refuse to take passengers wanting to go somewhere nearby, as travelling short distances are not profitable. The rule-of-thumb here is only use Blue Bird taxis, which is the most reliable operator. The company also offers a chauffeur service and given the city’s chaotic traffic, it is certainly worth considering.
Recommended operator Blue Bird operates regular taxis (Blue Bird and Pusaka), executive taxis (Silver Bird) and charter buses (Big Bird). It also offers limousine and car rental services through subsidiary company Golden Bird, with a selection of vehicles available for short and long term rental. Golden Bird also operates Pusaka Prima Transport to cater to long-term corporate clients requiring a fleet of vehicles.
Fleet From Kijang Innova and Toyota New Camry to Mercedes-Benz E 200 CGI.
Amenities Newspapers provided.
Reservation You can pay with major credit cards (Visa, Amex or Master Card). Clients should send a request letter with a copy of the credit card to the company’s fax number at +62 21 798 5388 at least three days before hiring.
Rate Prices vary depending on the car model, and you can choose hourly or daily rates. A minimum of four hours is required for the hourly rate, starting from US$64 with US$16 per extra hour. The daily rate is for 12 hours and costs from US$144, with US$16 for each extra hour.
bluebirdgroup.com
Beijing
Why not a taxi? Other than being infamously congested, China’s capital is known for rude cabbies with little or no English proficiency. But language is not the only issue – oftentimes, even hotel concierges experience difficulties communicating with them. The fact is, they are often recent migrants to the city and do not know it that well, and they will pick and choose destinations because they warrant higher fares or are on a route they want to travel. Even a printed map and address in Chinese may not solve the problem.
Recommended operator Beijing Central Chauffeur Car Rental Company has a list of services designed for business travellers and can help clients optimise their itinerary, in addition to providing tips on doing business in the country.
Fleet From Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta to Audi A6L and Mercedes S320/S350/S500. There is also the option of a Lincoln limo and Golden Dragon bus.
Amenities Each vehicle is equipped with a CD player and mobile phone. Mercedes-Benz S Class vehicles have leather seats, reading lamps and vanity mirrors. The stretch limo comes with a wine decanter and glasses, stocked bar, mood lighting, TV with DVD player and moon roof. On vans and mini buses, bench seats and reading lights are installed.
Reservation There are two options: you can call +86 10 6758 6625 from Monday to Sunday from 8.30am-11pm; or fill in the online reservation form.
Rate Daily rates range from US$100 to US$330 for eight hours, and from US$8 to US$15 per hour after this.
bccrental.com/about.html
Tokyo
Why not a taxi? Taxi drivers in Japan are generally trustworthy, but cab fares are expensive. For a standard four-passenger taxi, the meter goes up at ¥600 (US$5.90) to ¥700 (US$6.90) for the first 2km and each additional kilometre is ¥312.50 (US$3). From 10pm to 5am, there is a rate surcharge of 20 per cent. Also, since Tokyo is so spread out a taxi ride can easily exceed US$30. It simply makes more economic sense to use a chauffeur service if you need to hop around the city.
Recommended operator Outech features a “Planner” service that responds to a client’s request by formulating an itinerary. The driver can wait for a meeting to finish so pick-up is immediate, and the service also includes picking up and dropping off a clients’ guests. Entertainment and surprises are also a feature of the chauffeur service, including music for kids, small gifts for anniversaries and birthdays, in-car slippers and photo mementoes.
Fleet Ranging from Toyota Crown, Nissan Fuga to Toyota Lexus LS460L and Mercedes Benz S550L. Also the Mitsubishi Rosa and Coaster.
Amenities Each vehicle is equipped with free bottled water, coffee, hand towels, wifi, newspaper, umbrella and iPad. There is a control panel for passengers in the rear to recline seats, control air conditioning and window shade. The Toyota Lexus LS460L even has a massage function.
Reservation The company accepts last-minute reservations, as long as there is availability. If you want to use the vehicle for an entire day, booking should be made as early as possible.
Rate Costs are ¥30,000 (US$294) from Narita airport and ¥18,000 (US$177) from Haneda airport to the city centre (taxi fare from Narita-Tokyo is ¥24,237/US$237, Haneda-Tokyo ¥8,577/US$84). Hourly rates start from ¥6,500 (US$64).
outech.co.jp/en
Mumbai/New Delhi/Bangalore
Why not a taxi? Taxis in India are very low-end. Most vehicles are old and not equipped with seatbelts, which is dangerous, as drivers tend to travel at a rapid clip.
Recommended operator Luxury Limo VIP & Executive Private Car Service is experienced at meeting the requirements of top-end clients, including government ministers, ambassadors and VIPs. The company can accommodate a wide variety of tailor-made tours, trade shows, day trips and corporate hospitality events. It can also organise visits to theatres, nightclubs, restaurants and bars. The concierge service helps clients book tables and secure tickets. Personal bodyguards can also be arranged.
Fleet Includes Audi A6, Jaguar XF, Mercedes S Class S320, BMW 7 Series, Ford Endeavor and Volvo S60. Rolls Royce Ghost, bullet-proof vehicles and the Chrysler 300 Limousine are also available.
Amenities All vehicles have plush leather seats, state of the art surround sound systems with multi-genre play lists, blinds and heat reduction sun films, a first-aid kit, mobile charger, newspapers, magazines, iPod, USB and SD card slots. There are also iPads, noise cancellation headsets, a USB wifi service and child or baby seats are available upon request. Some of the Mercedes E Class, S Class, BMW 5 and 7 Series, and a couple of the Toyota Fortuners and Innova, have DVD players and screens.
Reservation Customers are required to book at least 90 minutes to two hours before the journey, by filling out an online form. An email will be sent to the client with a link to make a down payment that amounts to 50 per cent of the total price. After the payment is confirmed, another email will be sent together with the chauffeur’s staff number, name, car number and car model.
Rate There are four packages – four hours or 40km, eight hours or 80km, 12 hours and 80km, or 24 hours and 250km. Depending on the car model, packages cost from Rs1,000 (US$17) with Rs18 (US$0.30) for every extra kilometre, and Rs180 (US$3) for every extra hour.
luxurylimo.in
Singapore
Why not a taxi? During peak hours it is hard to find a taxi. Even if you do the standard surcharge could amount to a 25 per cent addition to the final bill. At midnight the surcharge goes up to 50 percent of the fare. Travel to the airport and city centre also requires a surcharge of S$3 (US$2.40). Taxi fees also differ among the various companies. Comfort and Citi Cab flag-up rates start at S$3 (US$2.40) and charge S$0.22 (US$0.18) for every 400m, while Chrysler starts at S$5 (US$4) and charges S$0.33 (US$0.27) for every 400m.
Recommended operator In addition to the standard transportation services, Sixt can also provide a personal concierge and arrange flowers or restaurant reservations. If you are an Emirates loyalty member you can get 50 Skywards Miles per hour (enter the membership number in the “Other Notes/Special Requests” section for online booking).
Fleet From Toyota Camry, to Mercedes Benz E200 and Nissan Elgrand.
Amenities Free wifi.
Reservation Online booking is required and clients will receive instant confirmation. The company will send an email providing contact details for the limousine chauffeur and a receipt, 24 hours before the agreed pick up time. Reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance, but if not then you could check availability.
Rates Airport transfers or point-to-point pickups cost S$60 (US$48) to S$125 (US$101).
sg.sixt.com 
