If You're Traveling in Europe This Summer (Like Me!), You Need to Know About These Game-Changing New Uber Features
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Is it just me, or is literally everyone in Europe right now? I swear, every single post I see on IG is tagged with some beachy destination in the South of somewhere fabulous, whether it be Cannes or Malaga. Clearly, it's summer travel season. And clearly, if my FYP has anything to say about it, Europe is the place to be.
Uber (you know, the rideshare and food delivery app you can't live without?) recognized that international travel was going to pop off this year, and launched a slew of new summer travel features to make getting from point A to point B way easier and a lot more fun for those headed abroad. I had a chance to test out a bunch of them—including Uber Boat, which yes, is as incredible as it sounds—earlier this month on a trip to Greece. I touched down in Athens just a couple of weeks ago (why yes, I am somehow still jetlagged, thanks for asking) before hopping another flight to Mykonos, where I spent three days bopping from sight to sight, walking the cobblestone streets, and eating tzatziki with every. single. meal. (Full disclosure: The Uber team comped my travel, accommodations, and meals, but all opinions are my own.)
Basically, Uber wanted to prove just how easy summer travel is in Europe when you have the Uber app downloaded on your phone (which I know you do). They’re expecting a 250% increase in rides from U.S. travelers to the continent this summer and prepared accordingly, with a variety of fabulous features available now through the end of the sunny season in some of the most popular countries for tourists, like France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, and, of course, Greece. Ready to hear my honest review of all the big hitters? Just keep scrolling (*Dory from Finding Nemo voice,* obv).
For When You’re Planning…
Uber Reserve
When you finish an 11-hour flight (ahem, like my flight home from Greece) the last thing you want to do is wait even longer at the airport to get home to your own bed. Sadly, Uber can't make that customs line or baggage carousel go any faster, but they can take the stress out of getting a ride back to your humble abode. How, you might ask? Well, there's this cutie little feature called Uber Reserve, which allows you to reserve rides to and from the airport at a locked-in price (major 🔑) anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 days in advance of your trip. It's available in more than 50 countries rn, and just launched in a bunch of vacation destinations, like Mallorca and Mykonos (yay for me!).
I know what you're thinking: what about if your flight is delayed? Great question. But they thought of that: the feature uses flight-tracking technology to make sure your driver is there when your plane lands—even if said plane ends up arriving later than planned (again, like my flight home from Greece). Can confirm that nothing—I repeat, nothing—feels better than being whisked away from the airport after a long trip while waving goodbye to the sad, sad line of people waiting at the taxi stand.
Uber Travel
You know how every friend group or family has that one person that is *incredibly* organized when it comes to the itinerary while on vacation? The one that may or may not have an Excel spreadsheet with bathroom breaks timed to the minute? Uber Travel is basically that person, but way less annoying. It's a feature on the app that can pull flight information from booking confirmations on your Google and Microsoft email accounts and then schedule Uber Reserves to and from the airport for you. It can also pull reservations for meals, activities, hotel check-outs, and more, and recommend rides based on the information gathered—or you can input them into the itinerary yourself. The feature first launched last year, but has been evolving since then, now offering car rentals(!) in addition to regular rides.
For When You Get There…
Uber Taxi
I 'm sorry if this fact alarms you, but...Uber doesn't exist in a lot of countries (like, all of Greece!). At least not in the ride-share-y way we think of here in the U.S., where you can push a button and someone will come pick you up in their car in mere minutes. There are, of course, taxis in many places, but flagging down a cab in a new city where you don't speak the language can be, to put it simply, daunting as f*ck. That's why Uber launched Uber Taxi, a convenient lil section of the app where you can book local taxis in areas where UberX isn't a thing—again, like Greece.
We bopped around in Uber Taxis while we were in Athens and Mykonos, booking on-demand rides to get to and from dinners, bars, shopping, and even the Acropolis. The feature is still rolling out worldwide (they're hoping to get every taxi on Uber by 2025 😮) but it's currently available in 286 cities across the globe, with 102 in Europe.
Uber Van
I was traveling with a big crew throughout my trip (like, almost 25 people total...it was a party), which might sound like a nightmare when it comes to transportation, but it was actually pretty chill because of a lovely ol' thing called Uber Van. The on-demand service—which offers vehicles with up to eight seats—literally just launched in Mykonos, and it was an absolute honor to be one of the first to plant my peach on one of those aforementioned seats. I mean, when you're traveling with friends, it's always better to stay together, not packed in a million different cars, am I right? And there was so much more leg room. It was a damn treat.
For When You Wanna Be a Lil Bougie…
Uber Boat
Okay, I can't even deny that this is the most exciting feature on the list. And the feature I was most excited to try—can you blame me? Uber Boat is truly...Uber but for boats. Available for the first time ever in Mykonos, you can book a speedboat for four to eight people directly in the Uber app—just choose a pickup and dropoff point, and book at least 45 minutes in advance of your trip. Prices start at just $130 per ride (though it can vary based on time and distance), and if you've ever tried to rent a boat, you know this is actually pretty darn affordable. Uber teamed up with local boat companies to bring this service to life, and each ride comes with a driver, ofc, to ensure smooth sailing. My driver was a very tan and muscular Greek man, but I sadly cannot confirm all captains will fit that bill.
We got picked up at a dock near our hotel, the gorgeous Soho Roc House Mykonos, and then jetted around a bit (v fast at times, which I loved) and had a picnic at sea before getting dropped off at our final destination: Scorpios, the popular beach club on the water. Did I feel like a celebrity walking off a boat and directly onto the sand at one of the swankiest hotspots in the Mediterranean? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to everyone I know? Yes. Just know it's a seasonal service, so you've got until October to try'er out.
Uber Comfort
If a boat isn't an option (sometimes you do have to take roads to get places) but you still want to feel like a VIP, Uber Comfort is where it's at. For just a wee bit more $$$, you're guaranteed to get a car that's a) a newer model and b) more spacious than the average. And you know what? You deserve that. The service is now available in Mykonos—can confirm!—as well as a bunch of the other Greek islands, like Corfu, Santorini, and Rhodes. If you're traveling to a popular city in the U.S. or abroad, check your Uber app—chances are Comfort might be an option.
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