Travel
Taxis, ride-hailing and airport transfers
Which app works where, pre-booked transfers compared on cancelling, official airport taxi fares, and how to avoid unlicensed taxis.
Checked on 20 October 2026. Prices, fees and rules are from each company's own pages, or the law, unless we say otherwise. They change, so check when you book.
The short version
- Uber isn't everywhere. It works in more than 70 countries and 15,000 cities, but not mainland China, most of Southeast Asia or Russia, where its annual report says it has agreed not to compete. Use DiDi, Grab or the local app instead. Uber annual report (Form 10-K), 2025
- Many airports have fixed taxi fares. Paris Charles de Gaulle is €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left; Madrid is €33 to anywhere inside the M-30 ring road. Service-Public.fr (French government), taxi fares, February 2025, G7, Paris taxi fares, Madrid regional bulletin (BOCM), taxi fares, December 2024, Última Hora, Madrid taxi fares 2026, December 2025
- With a pre-booked transfer, read the cancelling terms. Welcome Pickups gives you credit, or a refund less 20%, if you cancel 24 hours ahead, and nothing after that; Suntransfers refunds in full up to 48 hours before; Blacklane is free to cancel until an hour before. Welcome Pickups, terms for travellers, June 2026, Suntransfers, terms and conditions, Blacklane help, cancellation policy
- Never take an unbooked minicab. In London, TfL says unbooked minicabs "are dangerous and illegal"; in Colombia, the UK government says "Do not hail taxis on the street." TfL, safer travel, FCDO, Colombia safety and security, October 2026
Which app works where
From each company's own pages and filings where we could; alphabetical.
| App | Where | Worth knowing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt | 50+ countries and 850+ cities | Go to Bolt | |
| Cabify | Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Uruguay, says the press | Left Mexico in October 2024 | Go to Cabify |
| Careem | The Middle East and North Africa (2022 figures) | Its rides business is owned by Uber; it stopped rides in Pakistan in July 2025 | Go to Careem |
| DiDi | Mainland China; 30+ cities in Australia and New Zealand; Latin America, including Brazil as 99 | In China, an English interface, overseas phone numbers and international bank cards | Go to DiDi |
| Freenow by Lyft | 200+ cities in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and Austria | A taxi app at heart; Lyft bought it in July 2025 | Go to Freenow by Lyft |
| GO | Japan, all 47 prefectures | Takes non-Japanese mobile numbers, and Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex | Go to GO |
| Gojek | Indonesia and Singapore | Left Vietnam in September 2024 | Go to Gojek |
| Grab | Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam; 500+ cities | Add your home card once and verify it | Go to Grab |
| inDrive | 48 countries and 1,065 cities | You and the driver agree the price | Go to inDrive |
| K.ride | South Korea | Kakao's app for visitors; takes cards issued outside Korea, says a news report | |
| Lyft | The US and Canada | Go to Lyft | |
| Ola | India | Left the UK, Australia and New Zealand in 2024 | Go to Ola |
| Uber | 70+ countries and 15,000+ cities | Not mainland China, most of Southeast Asia or Russia | Go to Uber |
Sources: Bolt, about, Digital Trends ES, Cabify leaves Mexico, September 2024, Eye of Riyadh, Careem's billionth ride, November 2022, Enterprise AM, Careem stake, June 2026, Geo News, Careem ends rides in Pakistan, June 2025, DiDi China, App Store listing, DiDi Rider, App Store listing (Australia), GPCA, DiDi in Latin America, August 2024, Lyft, FREENOW acquisition complete, July 2025, Lyft, one year of FREENOW, September 2026, GO taxi app, App Store listing, Gojek, about, VTV, Gojek leaves Vietnam, October 2024, Grab, where we are, Grab, paying overseas, April 2026, inDrive, press release, January 2026, Daum News, Kakao launches K.ride, June 2024, Lyft annual report (Form 10-K), 2025, Business Today, Ola leaves the UK, Australia and New Zealand, April 2024, Uber annual report (Form 10-K), 2025
In Russia, Uber's business went to Yandex, whose app is Yandex Go, but the UK government advises against all travel to Russia. FCDO, Russia travel advice, September 2026, Uber annual report (Form 10-K), 2025
Pre-booked airport transfers
You book and pay before you land, and the driver meets you. Alphabetical.
| Company | Where | Cancelling | Worth knowing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklane | 60+ countries and 500+ cities | Free until an hour before pickup | Chauffeur cars; all-inclusive fares and an hour's free waiting at airports | Go to Blacklane |
| Booking.com taxis | 600+ cities in 130+ countries, says an airline partner page | Free up to 24 hours before, says the same page | Fixed price, flight tracking, 45 minutes' waiting | Go to Booking.com taxis |
| GetTransfer | 150+ countries, says a network listing | Not found | Drivers send you offers and you choose one | Go to GetTransfer |
| HolidayTaxis | 150 countries, says its network listing | Not found | Taxis, shuttles and coaches | Go to HolidayTaxis |
| Intui.travel | 152 countries, says a network listing | Standard fares free to cancel 48 hours ahead (a 2018 help page) | Go to Intui.travel | |
| Jayride | Not checked | Its help pages say both 24 and 48 hours for a full refund | Go to Jayride | |
| Kiwitaxi | 102 countries, says a 2023 network blog | Full refund 16 or 24 hours ahead by car class; a dearer fare cancels up to a minute before, minus any service fees | Go to Kiwitaxi | |
| Suntransfers | 500+ airports, ports and stations in 115+ countries | Full refund 48 hours ahead, nothing after; €15 for a second change | Shared or private; rebooks you if your flight is late | Go to Suntransfers |
| Welcome Pickups | 350+ destinations | 24 hours ahead: 12 months' credit, or a refund less 20%. Under 24 hours: no refund | Waits 60 minutes at airports and tracks flights delayed up to 8 hours | Go to Welcome Pickups |
Sources: Blacklane, press release, June 2026, Blacklane help, cancellation policy, Blacklane blog, customer care questions, August 2026, ITA Airways, Booking.com partner page, GetTransfer blog, comparing offers, September 2026, Travelpayouts, GetTransfer, Awin, HolidayTaxis, Travelpayouts blog, HolidayTaxis, 2019, Travelpayouts, Intui.travel, Intui help, cancellation and refund, November 2018, Jayride help, do you offer refunds?, Jayride help, how do I get a refund?, Kiwitaxi support, cancellation policy, Travelpayouts blog, best travel affiliate programmes, December 2025, Suntransfers, terms and conditions, Suntransfers, affiliate programme, Awin, Suntransfers, Welcome Pickups, terms for travellers, June 2026, Welcome Pickups blog, August 2026
Official airport taxi fares
| Airport | Fare | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Charles de Gaulle | €56 to the Right Bank, €65 to the Left Bank | Fixed; the same figures on G7's 2026 page |
| Paris Orly | €45 to the Right Bank, €36 to the Left Bank | Fixed |
| Madrid Barajas | €33 to anywhere inside the M-30, day and night | Fixed, no supplements; unchanged for 2026, says the press |
| Lisbon | From 15 October 2026: zone 1 €16 by day and €20 at night, zone 2 €19 and €23 | An agreement reported by the press; night is 22:00 to 07:00; the taxi federation said it won't work fully until November; beyond the zones the meter runs |
| Bangkok Suvarnabhumi | A 50 baht airport charge on top of the fare; you pay the tolls, and luggage fees may apply | Public taxi counters on Floor 1, between Gates 4 and 7, 24 hours |
| Miami | Metered, $15 minimum from the airport, plus a $2 origination fee |
Sources: Service-Public.fr (French government), taxi fares, February 2025, G7, Paris taxi fares, Madrid regional bulletin (BOCM), taxi fares, December 2024, Última Hora, Madrid taxi fares 2026, December 2025, Diário de Notícias, Lisbon airport fixed fares, September 2026, Euronews, Lisbon airport taxi fares, October 2026, Suvarnabhumi Airport (AOT), public taxi, Miami International Airport, taxicabs and shuttles
Staying safe
From the UK government's travel advice and transport authorities.
- At airports
- Ignore anyone offering you a ride inside the terminal: Miami says "many illegal solicitors are unlicensed and uninsured", and Kenya's airports tell travellers to use the official taxis. Miami International Airport, taxicabs and shuttles, Kenya Airports Authority, taxis
- London
- Book a minicab with a licensed company by app, phone or at its office. Only black cabs can be hailed in the street or taken from a rank, and every one takes cards. TfL, safer travel
- Mexico
- "At airports, only use authorised pre-paid airport taxi services", and use "sitio" taxis from authorised ranks. In Cancún, taxi drivers protesting about Uber have pulled tourists out of Uber cars. FCDO, Mexico safety and security, October 2026
- Colombia
- Use licensed taxis booked by phone or app, or through your hotel; Bogotá's airport only lets authorised taxis pick up. "Well-known taxi companies can be booked via Uber and Cabify." FCDO, Colombia safety and security, October 2026
- Indonesia
- Use registered companies such as Bluebird, Silverbird or Express, check the driver matches the app, and be wary of drivers claiming to be from an app company on the street. FCDO, Indonesia safety and security, September 2026
- Morocco
- Many taxis booked through ride-sharing apps "may be unregulated and unlicensed". Agree the fare first or check the meter is on. FCDO, Morocco safety and security, August 2026
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