Features

Helping hand

27 Nov 2014 by GrahamSmith

To avoid taxi traumas and surprise surcharges on your travels, Valerian Ho recommends some reliable chauffeur services in Asian cities


A taxi is usually the first option that comes to mind when travelling in Asia. However, cabs aren’t always easy to hail, especially during peak hours or inclement weather – and in some places fares are so high that they can eat up your budget.

Then there is the language barrier – being taken to the wrong destination because you haven’t been able to explain yourself properly 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? Here are some recommended operators in major Asian cities.


SINGAPORE

Flagging down a taxi in the city-state during peak hours may prove to be a bit of a challenge and, if you succeed, the standard surcharge could add more than 25 per cent to your bill.

At midnight, the rate goes up by 50 per cent, and travel to and from the airport and central business district at any time incurs an additional S$3 to S$5 (£1.50 to £2.50).

Fees also differ among companies. Flag-down rates for Comfort and City Cab vehicles start at S$3.20 (£1.60) and charge S$0.22 (£0.12) for every 400 metres. Chrysler starts at S$5 (£2.50) and charges S$0.33 (£0.16) for every 400 metres.

  • Recommended operator In addition to the standard chauffeur services, Sixt can provide a personal concierge. Emirates loyalty members can earn 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, Nissan Elgrand and Toyota Hiace Commuter.
  • Amenities Free wifi.
  • Reservation Online only. Clients will receive instant confirmation. The company will then send an email providing contact details for the chauffeur, as well as a receipt, 24 hours before the arranged pick-up time. Reservations should be made at least a day in advance, but there may be availability if you book later.
  • Rates Airport transfer or point-to-point pick-up and drop-off costs between S$60 and S$125 (£30-£62).
    sg.sixt.com

 

 


BEIJING

Other than being infamously congested, China’s capital is known for impolite cabbies with little or no English.

Often they are recent migrants to the city and are not all that familiar with it, and they will pick and choose destinations because they warrant higher fares or are located on a route that the driver prefers to take. Even a printed map and an address written in Chinese may not solve the problem.

  • Recommended operator Beijing Central Chauffeur has a list of services that are designed specifically for business travellers and can help clients to optimise their itinerary. The staff can also provide helpful tips on doing business in the country.
  • Fleet From Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta to Audi A6L and Mercedes-Benz S320/S350/S500; Lincoln limousine or Golden Dragon bus for bigger groups.
  • Amenities Each vehicle is equipped with a CD player and a 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, a stocked bar, mood lighting and a TV with a DVD player. Vans and minibuses have bench seats and reading lights.
  • Reservation Either by telephone on +86 106 7586 625 Mon-Sun 9.30am-12am (GMT 1.30am-4pm) or by filling 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 thereafter.
    bccrental.com/about.html


TOKYO

Cab fares are expensive in the Japanese capital. For a standard four-passenger taxi, they start at about ¥700 (£3.80) for the first 2km and increase by ¥80 to ¥90 (£0.44 to £0.50) for every additional 300 metres to 400 metres.

From 10pm to 5am, there is a rate surcharge of 20 per cent. Since Tokyo is so spread out, a taxi ride can easily exceed £20. It may make more economic sense to use a chauffeur if you need to hop around the city.

  • Recommended operator Outech offers a “Planner” service that formulates your itinerary. The driver can wait for a meeting to finish, and the service includes pick-up and drop-off of a client’s guests.
  • Fleet Ranges from Toyota Crown and Nissan Fuga to Toyota Lexus LS460L and Mercedes-Benz S550L; Mitsubishi Rosa and Toyota Coaster for bigger groups.
  • Amenities Each vehicle is equipped with bottled water, coffee, hand towels, wifi, newspapers, umbrellas and an iPad. There is a control panel for passengers in the rear to recline seats and control air conditioning and window shades. 
  • Reservation The company accepts last-minute reservations, as long as there is availability. If you want to use the vehicle for the whole day, book as early as possible. Tel +81 368 801 290, 24 hours.
  • Rate Hourly rates from ¥6,500 (£36). Airport runs are more expensive than taxis – ¥30,000 (£164) from Narita and ¥18,000 (£99) from Haneda to the city centre, compared with ¥24,237 (£133) from Narita or ¥8,577 (£47) from Haneda in a taxi.
    outech.co.jp/en


JAKARTA

The Indonesian capital is notorious for its unscrupulous taxi drivers, many of whom refuse to use the meter (claiming that it’s broken) and charge an exorbitant rate. This is particularly common at the airport.

They may also refuse to take passengers wanting to go somewhere nearby. Blue Bird taxis is the most reliable operator and also offers a chauffeur service, which – given the chaotic traffic – is certainly worth considering.

  • Recommended operator Blue Bird operates executive taxis (Silver Bird) and charter buses (Big Bird). It also offers limousine and car rental services through subsidiary Golden Bird, with a selection of vehicles available for short- and long-term rental. Pusaka Prima Transport, operated by the Blue Bird Group, caters to corporate clients who require a fleet of vehicles for extended periods.
  • Fleet From Toyota Camry Altise, Vellfire and Alphard to Mercedes-Benz C200 CGI, C230 ELG, E200 CGI and E200 K.
  • Amenities Newspapers. 
  • Reservation Fax a request letter with a copy of the credit card to +62 217 985 388 at least three days before hiring. By telephone on +62 217 944 444.
  • Rate Prices vary depending on the car model; 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 additional hour.
    bluebirdgroup.com


DELHI/MUMBAI/BANGALORE

Taxis in India are low-end. Most vehicles are old and don’t have seatbelts – dangerous, given that drivers tend to travel at a rapid clip.

  • Recommended operator Luxury Limo is experienced in dealing with top-end clients. It provides tailor-made tours and shuttle services for trade shows and corporate hospitality events. A concierge service and personal bodyguards are also available.
  • Fleet Includes Audi A6, Toyota Camry, Volvo S60, Jaguar XF, Mercedes S320 and BMW 7 Series. Rolls-Royce Ghost, bullet-proof vehicles and Chrysler 300 Limousine are also available.
  • Amenities All vehicles have leather seats, surround-sound systems with varied playlists, blinds and heat reduction sun films, a first-aid kit, a mobile phone charger, newspapers, magazines, an iPod, and USB and SD card slots. They are also equipped with iPads, noise-cancelling headsets and wifi.
  • Reservation Book online at least 90 minutes to two hours before the journey. An email will be sent with a link to make a down payment of 50 per cent of the total bill. You will then receive another email stating the chauffeur’s details.
  • Rate There are four packages – four hours or 40km, eight hours or 80km, 12 hours or 80km, and 24 hours or 250km. Depending on the car model, packages cost from Rs1,000 (£10) with Rs18 (£0.19) per extra km, and Rs180 (£1.90) for every additional hour.
    luxurylimo.in


OTHER GLOBAL OPTIONS

Hertz

  • Network covers 145 countries 
  • Hourly, full-day or nine-hour service available in select countries
  • Book 48 hours in advance 
    hertz.com

Olympus

  • Network covers 65 countries 
  • Chauffeur service available 24 hours, seven days a week
  • Last-minute requests possible, but booking 24 hours in advance is advisable
    1olympus.com

Tristar

  • Covers more than 80 countries
  • Free wifi
  • Can provide non-fleet vehicle models for special events
    ap.tristarworldwide.com

Driven Worldwide

  • Network covers more than 100 countries
  • Ad hoc requests such as collecting lunch or documents upon request
    drivenworldwide.com
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