Ridesharing is a current example of the growing peer-to-peer marketplace that is changing how many of us live, work, shop, and even travel.
In fact, traveling is one of the best reasons to use a peer-to-peer service like ridesharing, because it offers what every traveler is looking for: flexibility and affordability. Another bonus? It gets you up close and personal with the locals.
So, if you have a trip planned and want to simplify how you’ll get around abroad, get acquainted with these rideshare companies before your departure.
Go Ride
Japan is known for its excellent public transportation, so ridesharing has yet to gain a huge following there. However, the new Japanese ride-sharing service, Go Ride, launched earlier this year and is a great way for out-of-towners to get around without buying the $244 Japan rail pass.
Go Ride works by searching for a route and date, and finding a driver who happens to be going the same way. It’s suppose to work as though you’re going on a full trip with the driver (and whomever else happens to hop in, rather than sharing a quick ride.
So though Go Ride isn’t as flexible as some of the other ride share services, it can get you to long-distance places to see such things as festivals or other events.
Hailo
If you’re traveling to Dublin or London and want to spend more time seeing the sights, rather than figuring out directions or how to get around town, then Hailo should be the next rideshare app you download. Hailo offers a quick, safe, and reliable way to hop around town with fully insured and certified drivers. Payment is also easier, eliminating the need for cash with their secure, in-app payment system. Currently, Hailo is available in Ireland and major cities in the UK including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds. If you’re traveling to Spain, you can also use Hailo in Madrid and Barcelona.
GrabTaxi
If the South Pacific is where you’re headed, Grab (also known as GrabTaxi) is the answer to your transportation needs. With just a few taps, you can choose a driver and see their location and estimated arrival time, and even see your exact fare before you book. You can speed things along by choosing to pay by credit card ahead of time, allowing you to hop out at your destination instead of fumbling with foreign currency.
Another unique feature is the app’s ability to to share trip details with loved ones, for extra safety or just to let them know when you’ll arrive. Aside from hailing a taxi, Grab has additional options such as carpooling and renting cars as well.
BlaBlaCar
Though BlaBlaCar might not sound familiar to you, those in France have been using this world-leading rideshare service for 10 years now. For anyone looking to take long distance trips, but don’t want to deal with car rental agencies, BlaBla is an affordable life saver. BlaBlaCar works by connecting drivers and passengers willing to travel together between cities, and share the cost of the trip.They even have a “ladies only” option for women looking to carpool only with other women.
This trusted carpooling service also operates in over a dozen other European countries, making it the only rideshare app you would need for your entire Eurotrip.
CarAmigo
Don’t make the mistake of trying to use CarAmigo in Spain or South America, because as the name doesn’t suggest, this app only operates in Belgium. Whether your goal is to take a long drive in the countryside, or make a stop at every waffle stand in Brussels, this peer-to-peer ridesharing app makes travel simple.
One of the nice perks of using CarAmigo, is they provide 24/7 roadside assistance. That extra bit of security provides a lot of peace of mind when traveling in a foreign country.
WunderCar
If you’re looking for a rideshare in Germany, then WunderCar is the service of choice. Similar to Lyft, Wundercar works a bit differently than other ride shares in that it is “free.” By free, we mean that instead of paying the driver, riders donate whatever they feel the ride was worth, and 20% will be deducted for the company.
You might be wondering how this system works, but it’s because everything is open and transparent — drivers and riders rate each other, and any ratings are tied to your account profile. This transparency makes it possible to avoid riders (and drivers) who don’t provide fair exchanges.
So, when your travel plans take you to foreign locals and you need nimble, safe, and trustworthy transportation, try out the local rideshare scene. Not only are they a great way of meeting locals and other travelers, but they could end up saving you a lot of money just on transportation. You may end up exploring a lot more than what you could have otherwise.
Let us know if there are other ridesharing apps that you use on your international travels.
