You know that feeling when your heart wants to travel but your wallet says “No”? This is why you save and save and save as much as you can.
From accommodation to airfares, car rentals to house-sitters to shopping money; there’s a long list of expenses to consider when you want to travel. This is why we scour the internet for hours and hours to find the best deals for accommodation within your budget. You read guides on travel hacking. Try your luck with AirBnB and couchsurfing.
When you’re looking for a way to bring down the costs of travel, you tend to cut the things that you won’t need. You bring your own snacks instead of buying something at the airport, and you book direct and in advance to get cheaper tickets for nearly anything.
One of the best but underrated ways to bring down those little miscellaneous costs is by finding the cheapest way to get to the airport. With a little know-how, you can save a a hefty chunk of change with on transport from the CBD or your home to the airport.
Taxis: The Tried and Tested
Old faithful. No one can deny that one of the most convenient and trusted ways to get to and from anywhere and everywhere (including the airport) is by taxi. You know that the strict regulations implemented by the Australian Taxi Industry Association (ATIA) will ensure your safety with both the vehicle and the driver.
Each taxi you ride is inspected by ATIA approved mechanics every four to six months so you know that the cab will be in good working order. Any other safety issues are also addressed with the ATIA’s directive that all taxis be hardwired with two or three GPS locators traceable to the company’s system. Taxis are also required to have at least one tamper-proof security camera installed in the vehicle.
As much as the ATIA takes vehicle safety seriously, they’ve also ensured passenger and driver welfare with a mandatory mental and physical evaluation performed on each driver before deployment, This way you know that not only is the cab you’re riding safe, but your driver is also of sound mind and physically fit to drive a commercial vehicle.
Uber: Sleek, Sexy, and New
If you’ve ever tried Uber, then you know the sheer satisfaction of being chauffeured like a boss around town. This is one of the more superficial reasons why most today prefer Uber to taxis. When you dig deep into the heart of it, you’ll find that there are actually practical reasons why this relatively new mode of transport is steadily climbing in popularity.
In case you haven’t noticed, taxi rides are getting more and more expensive each year. One ride from the CBD to an airport, let’s say in Brisbane, would cost you roughly $104 to $132 depending on traffic. On the other hand, ride-sharing services like Uber can save you around 20% to 40% compared to taxi prices.
With Uber, your small to medium vehicles from the uberX service, and disability-friendly vehicles from uberASSIST will cost you only $64 to $82 for the same distance. If you want larger or fancier vehicles, SUVs and minivans from the UBERXL service will cost around $94 to $120, while premium cars from UberSELECT will cost around $104 to $134. Think about it: Uber’s most expensive service from the CBD to the airport is only a few dollars over a taxi ride — and that’s for a chauffeur and really swanky car for a day.
Some people don’t feel comfortable driving with a stranger working ‘for themselves’, to take out the danger of anonymity, Uber allows both passenger and driver to see one another’s profiles (including photos) before booking. Moreover, you can share your ETA to friends and family through the app in real time. And just like ATIA, Uber enforces strict guidelines before allowing a vehicle and/or a driver to deploy under the Uber brand.
Drive & Park
One of the main reasons why people opt for Uber instead of other modes of transport is that it is one of the cheapest while being the most convenient out there. While it is one of the most convenient out there, it still isn’t the cheapest or the best option for you. Believe it or not, the cheapest way to get there is by driving and parking.
Sound crazy? You might want to take a look at the costs first. Airport parking in Brisbane or other cities would cost you as little as $7 per day. Most companies would also provide free airport transfers (to and from the airport), so a 5-day booking would cost you around as much as a single taxi or Uber ride.
Still unconvinced? Here’s a comparison of costs, assuming that you’re taking these modes of transport to the airport for your five day trip, and back to the CBD when you return:
If you’re looking for one of the cheapest ways to get to your flight — don’t Uber, park and ride instead!