A trip to Europe is expensive, especially if you consider the cost of fares. While you can hire cars and drive them on your own, you would need to have an international license. Add to this the problem of parking and your liabilities, and you will realize that you are better off using taxis.
We have listed several taxi services that you can use while in Europe. Some of these are already familiar to you, especially if you are from North America. These services are reliable, and you can even call upon them no matter what time it is in the day.
Taxi EU
Taxi EU is a private company where you could “order” your taxi and get to at least 160 cities in the European continent. The company offers rides for 10 countries.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- App is free
- Services many countries
- Accepts credit cards
Cons:
- A little expensive
Like ride-hailing companies, this one has an app that you can download. You can book according to your wishes. The taxi will pick you up where you are and will take you to your destination. From the app, you will also see your estimated fare cost.
One great thing about this company is that it offers several types of cars. You can get Eco, XXL, Business Class, and more. Since this is a taxi and not your typical Uber kind of service, all the cars here charge you per meter as per government standards.
Uber
Uber is an international company that has a presence in many countries. It has pulled back its services from Asia, but its European operations are very much active.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- App is free
- Offers convenience
- Cashless transaction
Cons:
- Surge pricing
Uber is popular in many regions of the world. In this service, it feels like you are renting a car because the vehicle is not marked like taxis are. Uber also only accepts credit card payments, so you do not have to bring cash.
One thing you may not like about Uber is the price surge. If there are many consumers, the algorithm will increase the fare. Sometimes, you will have to pay up to 4x the usual fare amount.
LeCab
From the name itself, you can say that this is a European company. According to many user reviews, the company offers an excellent service.
Pros:
- Supportive even for disabled people
- Drivers are always smiling
Cons:
- Some transactions get declined
- You will get overbilled on some occasions
LeCab has an app in Google Play. Once you download the app, just complete the registration and add your credit card. The downside to this is that you can only use this in France. If you are travelling to other European destinations, you would have to use another service.
Cabify
This is the service you want if you are travelling in Spanish areas like Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities. Cabify is active in many countries in South America.
Pros:
- Safe to use
- Has professional drivers
- Clear prices
Cons:
- Extra charges happen
- Sometimes your account canl get deactivated
One common complaint that people talk about is over-charging. The system seems to show a different price against what you are actually paying for. However, this issue seems to have a glitch in the past that has been fixed by now. You can find the Cabify app in both Apple and Google.
G7
This is a personal taxi service where you can get a ride on-demand or per schedule. The schedule window can go as far as 30 days.
Pros:
- Tracks the whereabouts of your taxi in real-time
- Pay from the app with your credit card
- Has over 9,000 taxis in Paris
Cons:
- Only available in France
G7 services 20 countries. However, you can only call them if you are in France. They can take you to other countries but from there, you will need to hire another ride provider to get back to Paris.
G7 was the first taxi-booking company in Paris. It has the largest fleet of taxis, and the app itself is not so bad. You can even choose English speaking drivers if you want.
Free Now
This company does not offer free rides. It works like any app-based ride-hailing company. It operates in several countries, but its hub is in Germany.
Pros:
- No need for cash
- You can share your journey to get cheaper rides
- The fare maximum is 200 GBP
Cons:
- You cannot register unless you are in a serviceable area
Free Now is a licensed company. This means that you are dealing with a legit ride-hailing app. Apart from taxis, you have the option to hail what they call black cabs—these are comfortable cars, but you will pay more. Like other apps, you can pre-book your taxi.
Summary
You would be lucky if you could find a taxi that offers Wi-Fi. This is not ordinary, but some may offer this service. As such, you can access your entertainment sites like the casino Vulkan Vegas or watch a movie while travelling.
Before you leave for Europe, make sure that you download the app. The last thing you want is to realize that you have no app that works once you get off the airport. Nevertheless, you still have the option to go to the hotel concierge and ask them to book you a ride.