It's been more than three months since we began using Uber to take us to our destinations safely - everywhere, everyday - throughout the Klang Valley. Encouraged by our experience, we felt confident about relying exclusively on Uber when we went out of town twice in September, in Penang & Dubai. Here are some thoughts on why Uber turned out to be the right choice.
1. Using Uber in George Town is more affordable than expected.
We took Uber to every restaurant, cafe & kopitiam in Penang that we visited for three days - the total cost of our transport expenses was below RM100, easily shared among three of us. George Town is pretty compact, so most of our Uber rides cost only several ringgit - a worthwhile price to pay for efficient, hassle-free travelling.
2. Using Uber will save you time & effort in George Town.
Everyone's on a tight schedule while travelling - we had more than a dozen venues to visit in George Town. Uber spared us the stress of searching for parking - a scarce commodity on Penang's narrow streets - if we had been driving ourselves, or of looking for places to hail a cab, or of waiting for buses & figuring out where to stop before walking to find our destinations.
3. George Town's drivers are really nice to out-of-towners!
Penang is still new to Uber, which launched here this year. Based on our interaction with George Town drivers, they're enthusiastic, positive & happy to chat with out-of-town riders, sharing their thoughts on where to go & what to eat. Most of our rides only lasted 10 minutes or so, but nearly every driver managed to make us feel warmly welcome in Penang.
And Dubai?
1. Using Uber abroad is a smooth, seamless experience.
The transition from using Uber in KL to Uber in Dubai is entirely effortless, thanks to Uber's well-honed international network & capabilities - simply open the app & request your ride as usual. The ride is charged in the local currency of the country you're visiting. If you're accustomed to using Uber in Malaysia, you'll find it an absolute breeze in Dubai & many other cities overseas.
2. Uber's standards remain reassuringly high outside Malaysia.
Using Uber in Dubai provided us with a consistent reminder of everything we like about Uber. The comfort, the ease, the efficiency & safety - it was all there in Dubai. We found rides promptly across the city, we could relax in our passenger seats, & we were never late for appointments. Dubai was a pleasure to visit for an extended weekend, & Uber made it even better.
3. No more worries about planning for public transport & currency in a foreign land.
No more poring over Metro maps to figure out which train route to take, no more fiddling for change to buy tram tickets. Uber relieves some of the logistical bothers of exploring a foreign city, making it convenient to reach Dubai's malls & creeks & to savour the city's wide-ranging food. And you'll still get a flavour of the city in the car, with one-to-one personal interaction with your Uber driver - the guys we met were mostly friendly & filled with tips about what to try (we loved the camel burger, Atif!).
Keep in touch with Uber wherever you are! Follow Uber in Penang on Instagram at @uber_pg & Uber in the United Arab Emirates on Twitter and Instagram at @uber_UAE
Buckle your seatbelts: Eat Drink KL is partnering with Uber to take restaurant lovers on new adventures across KL & Selangor!
If you haven't used Uber yet, it's time to begin! For new users, just follow the steps below to redeem free rides:
1. Download the Uber app from the App Store, Play Store or Windows Store - and register your Uber account.
2. Apply the code EATDRINKKL as your first promotional code & you'll receive 2 Free Rides worth RM30 each.
3. Request a ride through the app and ride for free to any destination (with two ride values of up to RM30 each).
