First time to dubai: what to wear for work, how to get to your hotel, where to change money

I had the chance to visit Dubai,UAE for a work assignment and being the maiden trip for me, I felt myself asking a lot of questions. It was after all, not the usual work trips to Southeast Asia, and the culture is much different.

What to wear to work

I was thinking to wear polo tee in view of the hot weather, but was concerned if it would be too casual by Dubai standards. My worries were unfounded. There were definitely people in suits and ties, there were also a handful in normal long-sleeve shirt and pants, and polo tees were not uncommon.

For ladies, my feel is most expats dress conservatively, though you could still see some ladies dressed like they are still in Europe. (Dubai is a city with a significant number of western expats after all)

In times of doubt on the dress code, always err to the safer side.

Where to change money

Unlike more common places like Malaysia and Japan, where the currency rate does not differ much whether you change it in some of the currency exchange hotspots in town or at the airport, for the case of AED ( United Arab Emirates Dirham, UAE's currency) , it does matter where to change.

In simple numbers, this was the rate i got at various places

Arcade: 1 SGD : 2.530 AED

Airport: 1 SGD : 2.358 AED

That is a difference of about 17 bp , which is about 7% difference. (To put things in perspective, thats about $7 bucks you are saving for every $100 you are changing)

I changed 500 for this trip , saving me about $35. (Totally worth a trip down to raffles place to change!)

I also read online that the rate is better at dubai.

I went to the Dubai mall to check out the rate, they offered 1SGD : 2.35AED (Not fantastic)

Not very sure if I was able to get my hands on any AED at Dubai, I decided to change in Singapore just in case(my usual style). I am glad i did!

How to get to your hotel from the airport 

(Hint:Uber)

Nice rides, you will get minimum a lexus.

Call the driver to coordinate where to meet.

My case:

From the airport, Head out of arrivals turn left, and you will exit to the taxis area.
Across the road is the car park.
This location is gate 2, I waited for my driver here , who parked his car and came out to meet me.

Hope this was useful for you!

Learn tips, share tips

EUFASS

5 ways using Grab can play you out

Just wanted to share some of my experiences where i felt "cheated"/frustrated using Grab.

In the midst of the fierce taxi competition in Singapore, I have been using Uber and Grab quite a fair bit, especially since my company formally recognizes claims through their electronic receipts. I am definitely one of the happy consumers welcoming the newcomers in the taxi scene, where it was once dominated by the blue Comfort Taxis & yellow City Cabs. The commuters in Singapore (and also the region) has benefited from affordable fares, occasional promotions and most importantly, a greater convenience.

That said, these benefits come at a price. A price of frustration especially when it is coupled with poor customer service policies to rectify the issues. In my opinion, poor customer service is what distinguishes Uber and Grab. I am writing this for awareness for Grab users on how you could be played out by their services, based on my experience with them so far.

Scenario 1: Promotion codes are mostly limited to first xxxx users

This is quite common, and I am sure most of the savvy users are aware of this now. There might be a great 50% discount, but there are always small terms and conditions like only valid for first x users, up to discount of $x. So do not assume you will always get the advertised discount.

Well, this is still acceptable.

 (Someone shouts “Nobody ask you to take taxi what, take train lo!!”)

Scenario 2: Promotion codes keyed in by you may not be reflected by the taxi driver

Especially for NOBOOKFEE.

Watch out, taxi drivers may still charge you in full even though you have entered the promo code. There was also the situation where there is a no-promo-code-required $3 off was not reflected on my final bill.

It has become such a chore to need to always check and clarify with the driver “ You got minus the promotion already?”. Well, that is still better than having dealing with Grab’s customer service.

Which brings me to my next point:

Scenario 3: No promo code may be a big lie

In my case, it was.

When I saw that the $3 off was not reflected, I raised this to customer service. They asked me for proof, and I have to send them the screenshot.

They showed no sign of being apologetic in missing that out. For me, I got my $3 and also the feeling that I’m the biggest cheapskate out there...

Scenario 4: Promotions with credit card

Yet another case of promotion that was never delivered.

I think there are quite a few credit card rebates promotion out there in alliance with Grab. For me, I took Grab as there was a $10 rebate if charged on a Citibank credit card. The $10 credit rebate did not come. When raised to customer service, they said that the credit card company will reimburse the rebate. It never came.

Whose fault?

Scenario 5: Cash or credit? Exercise prudence when paying cash

This scenario applies to Grabtaxi.

Well I could I couldn’t remember if I selected the option to pay by cash or card. Taxi driver asked to pay up at the end of the ride in cash. Not thinking it is a big issue, I paid up, only to realise I was charged by card as well.

Raised this issue to customer service, and again, was asked to show proof. This time I had no proof, but perhaps to Grab’s customer service every commuter is trying to cheat their few dollars.

Thankfully my current trip was $7. But for my fellow commuters out there, always make sure you are not charged by card already when paying cash!

In summary

Well, there is always the convenient excuse to please read the terms and conditions. For me, I am quite sure I was eligible for the promotion (eg. $3 off no promo code required) but still not awarded. I guess there is a fundamental execution problem in Grab.

Thus, I wrote this post to give fellow commuters better awareness, and not to take the fares for granted. You might think you are saving money but in the end paying up more than the usual taxi ride.

I am willing to overlook the issues if the customer service is nice (. In my recent trip with Uber, they also missed out in awarding the $5 off for my 2^nd ride as part of the promised promotion. I raised to their customer service and they promptly reimbursed the amount. No questions asked.

This post is not about taking sides, but kudos to Uber and I know I will have a piece of mind riding with them. At the end of the day, I have no intention to make myself unhappy over a few tens of dollars. I believe every commuter out there shares the same feeling - which is the reason at the very beginning why uber and grab could succeed - that at the end of the day, we just want a fuss-free ride home.

Learn Tips, Share Tips

EUFASS

Travel tips from my trip to Sydney, Australia

It was my second time to Australia in two years but i have forgotten most of the tips i gotten the last time during which i visited Perth. I'm glad though i have blogged about some of my experience back then from my week-long trip.

So I have listed down all the travel tips I have acquired during this short trip to Sydney. I stayed at Travelodge Sydney along Woolsworth Ave.

Gifts and souvenirs 

• Tim tam,  macadamia nuts are my top recommendations to buy back from australia.

Taxi

• Use Uber. A ride to the city from the airport is about AUD 35-60
• Go to the "express pick up" area near p9 car park, there will be signs guiding you there.

Accommodation

• Hotel may not offer drinking water bottles
• Buy your stuff from supermarket, it will be much cheaper. Still, expect to pay about AUD2 for a 500ml bottle of water
• Convenience stores are expensive (3 bottles of water and 3 bottles of coke costed my AUD24.60... GAHHHH) 

Traffic

• Traffic is generally smooth even during peak hours. (Probably very smooth compared to the likes of Indonesia and Philippines)
• There was a prolonged rain during the afternoon on our way to the airport, but we managed to get there in under an hour.

Currency

• Smallest note is $5. Comes in 5,10,20,50,100
• The $2 coins are gold coloured and are the smallest of the coins. A 20cent is so much bigger.
• Refer to my previous post on changing SGD to AUD... It matters where you change!

Immigration

• Singaporeans will need an ETA to visit Australia, even for a short travel. 
• The process is fairly simple and can be done at the singapore airlines customer service area on the spot for $50. (Will verify if you need to be flying SQ to be able to apply through them) 
• And yes, we can use the smart electronic immigration gate.

Learn tips, share tips

EUFASS

Uber or Grab or Taxi (bluebird) in Jakarta indonesia

Was in Jakarta a few days back again and once again traffic was a nightmare (Welcome to Jakarta!)

Made a few notes about my ride experiences when using uber, grab and bluebird taxis.

Do also look at my previous post on taking taxi from the Jakarta airport as well as my experience on blue bird rides.

Some notes when choosing to take uber or grab in Indonesia:

• When taking uber, problem encountered: GPS is spotty
  
  As such, the uber car icons may not be showing accurately where the driver location is. There are times where the car has arrived but the uber app still shows the car being few minutes away.

• So, do we wait and trust in the drivers?
  No! Some of the uber drivers in Indonesia do not know the way, does not come if there is police, and they do not cancel the ride. They wait for you to cancel the ride and you get hit by the cancellation fee of RP30,000 once you have waited more than 5 minutes.
  If there is still no sign of your driver, please make alternative plans or book again.
  
• Please remember to claim back your cancellation fee if it is not your fault.
  
  Yes, although it might be a small amount from your perspective. But lets not condone with the drivers who are abusing this system.
  
• So, what are some tips to mitigate this?
  
  There is the call driver function to let the driver know where you are and if he is really coming or not. Only thing is, the drivers are usually not well versed in English and speak Bahasa. What you can try is to pass to a local next to you to help explain your pick up location. The locals are generally friendly and helpful.
  
• What else can I do?
  
  Another alternative to consider is blue bird. They are generally available but you will have to live with the advantages uber and grab gives, which is their GPS-enabled navigation to your desired location.
• That is a sacrifice to bear in time-sensitive times, until the system and driver pool quality of uber and grab taxis improve in Jakarta.

Learn tips, share tips

EUFASS

Taxi in Thailand: From Bangkok Airport to Hotel

Taking a taxi from Bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi airport) to your hotel can be a harrowing experience. Traffic can get as crazy as Jakarta during rainy days and peak hours. Sometimes, traffic is so bad that I can't tell whether is peak or not. That said, the land of smiles has definitely more to offer.

From Suvarnabhumi airport to hotel

Taking a taxi from Bangkok International Airport to your hotel is a breeze. There is actually no need to read this post, as the signs are very clear and there even is an automated kiosk for taxi allocation. (I'm kidding, just read this post anyway.)

 

There are a few options- 

• Limousine (you can see a row of travel booths once you exit from immigration.)
  
• Metered taxi, head one floor down to level one and you will see a gate that leads to a queue for taxi outside.
  
• Train - connected to the terminal and also thereafter you can transfer to the ever clean and comfortable BTS in-city train.

I took the metered taxi and the driver quoted us 500 baht for ride into the city. For some reason they do not go by meter from airport to city. My friend, during his visit, was quoted 1000 baht (raining and peak hour) and he negotiated down to 600 baht. I think a range of 500-600 baht should be ok. 

The people are genuine

Do not bring the fraudulent taxi driver impression that other neighbouring countries have given you to this country. Thai taxi drivers are a genuine bunch, making a honest living.

My experience with taximeter drivers (4 times) has been 100% positive. The only obstacle is the communication - in the one instance where the driver did not understand where we want to go, he asked us to alight. However, you will soon realize that you dont really need the whole suite of vocabulary to indicate where you want to go. I have since quickly learnt from the drivers how to say turn left, turn right and go straight, as well as my hotel address in comprehensible Thai language. And i also quickly learnt that taxi drivers here are anything but scammish crooks.

Get set for an exciting ride if you asked for it

I requested my driver to go fast as i was running late to catch my flight. Boy, i reached the airport in 25mins, a journey that should have taken 40mins. The driver weaved in and out of traffic at an average speed of 120km/h. Even when I said " i am not that in a hurry", He replied," Dont worry, trust me!" And indeed, I arrived at the airport in one piece.

Some other small things to note

Remember the small change for the toll - 50bahts

Oh, and some metered taxis do not issue receipts. Always check before boarding if you need receipts to claim. 

My experience with Uber in Bangkok

Uber rides are great and offer a competitive rate as well. My 6 trips with Uber this round were all positive. Like Jakarta and Philippines, you might have to wait more than 10 minutes for your uber due to the traffic, even if it is just a few minutes away from you.

In terms of the familiarity of the routes, Uber drivers are quite clueless. However, the uber app offers the powerful advantage of preloading your destination through the app, and hence you typically do not need to direct the driver to your destination.

That said, with the convenience that metered taxis are everywhere, I tend not to want to wait for the uber taxi to come.

Hope this is useful for you

EUFASS

Bangalore taxi review: from airport to hotel, within city, from hotel to airport

Even though my trip to Bangalore was a short one, I took quite a number of taxis to different destinations. There are quite a few choices, and my feedback on my experience with them is below.

Mega cab: 

Good: Took this cab from airport to my hotel. Ride is smooth and good service (driver checks in to make sure you are comfy). 

Bad: However he took me to the wrong citadine (he heard citadel). I learnt that in India, always state the area you are going to, and name some landmarks. Confirm that the driver knows where he is going.

Verdict: Took me 45mins- 1hr to reach mu hotel, cost me 830 rupees + 120 rupees toll charge. Will still go with mega again, as it is most straightforward to take from the airport. 

Tuktuks

Good: Cheap, versatile

Bad: You will feel vulnerable; not for the faint-hearted.

Verdict: Best for short distance travel: 1-2km. Walking is possible, but the roads of Bengaluru are often tough. Its quite an experience trying to cross the road and navigate the broken, narrow sidewalks - also quite an experience taking a tuktuk!

Uber

Good: Took UberX around the city. Reliable,  comfy ride. Easy to hail with app. Transaction is automatically charged to your credit card.

Bad: I guess you have to ensure google maps bring you to the right place, because for more of the less touristy places, chances are it doesn't. Confirm with the party you are meeting what landmarks are near his place.

Verdict:

Really grateful theres uber. It would have been a hassle to direct the driver where I want to go. Uber drivers use GPS and hence. Price is very reasonable too!

Meru cab

Took this guy to the airport, I would have gone with an uber if not for the hotel guy who kindly volunteered to get a cab for me.

Good: This guy observes the speed limit. Even at times when he doesnt, the machine will prompt him to slow down. Reasonable comfort and price. 

Bad: Not the luxurious and comfy airport transfer ride you are expecting. *Swanky SUV with JW Marriott logo zooms past from my left as i'm writing this*

Verdict:

It took me 45 mins to reach the airport, cost me 920 rupees, including toll charges. I would not specifically request to take a meru, but wont mind to hop onto one if one happens to be around. 

Ola cab

The India version of uber. The hotel guy tried to call for one, but response is too slow and process too cumbersome. I'll go with uber for their responsiveness on their apps.

Other interesting tips:

Enjoy the scenery of cows hanging out on the roadside :)

Hope this is useful for you!

EUFASS


Read about my taxi ride to the hotel after landing at Bangalore at night here.

Jakarta Airport: Getting a taxi safely to your hotel

It is my first time in Jakarta. Things are cheaper here compared to Singapore. Food at a restaurant is about 70000 idr and i'll always complete the meal with haagen daaz at 35000 for 1 scoop. Before we get to the enjoyable side of Indonesia, lets not lose focus and see how to get you safely to your hotel in jakarta first :)

Directions on getting a taxi

Once out of baggage claim, then you'll go through customs, and you will soon see 2 short rows of stalls lining the aisle. On the left, you will see the money changers while on the right the taxi counters. There are 4-5 taxi companies to choose from, but I went with the one with the logo blue bird.

The airport transfer costed me 380.000 rupiah to my hotel and at first thought this seems to be pricey. However, as I could claim from my client this trip, I decided to go with the experience of a prepaid airport transfer. It turned out that the airport transfer is under the brand golden bird, and the ride offered to me was a Camry.

It was a smooth ride on a Camry, you need not pay the toll charge and the driver stays within the speed limits. Safety and comfort seems to be the main draw for the higher price.

Verdict: Suitable for business setting. If you are travelling with your boss (read: girlfriend), might be wise to take a golden bird. For casual travel, head out to take a blue bird. If you are not fussy on money, taking this option eradicates your concerns such as safety, being taken for a ride, need small change to pay for toll etc

How to take blue bird(taxi)

If you are budget conscious, flag a blue bird.

To take blue bird, exit the airport to the sheltered outdoor area and locate a taxi queue with blue bird logo. (Or you can find the area where lots of blue taxis are congregated) Someone online quoted that the price to city is around 120.000 rupiah excluding toll charge. However my ride from the city to the airport costed me 200.000 rupiah. So i guess it will be around that range - which makes my airport transfer service ride on the golden bird felt less expensive.

My experience on Blue bird rides

I took 2 blue bird rides- one from my hotel to my client's place in the city, another from my client's place to the airport. Both followed the meter. I was told that blue bird is one of the more reliable taxi companies in Indonesia. 

Verdict: Reliable and easy to flag in the city. However, on my way to the airport, I noticed the driver took the longer way. Its not much of a detour, probably an extra 10mins and he probably earned an extra 25%, but I advise you to just be careful. Again, to free yourself from such worries, arrange for an prepaid airport transfer. 

Hope this is useful for you

EUFASS

Bangalore airport; taxi to hotel when arriving at night

It is my first time to Bangalore, and due to some circumstances I took the night flight. I wasn't too sure of how to get a taxi to my hotel but I'll just follow the crowd, I thought. Of course, I came to that decision after an hour of researching and reading up forums to ensure that taxis are readily available and safe. 

Disclaimer

It is prudent to at least know the following:

- what is the approximate time and price to your destination

- how to take a prepaid taxi
- if not, the general directions to the taxi stand (you should get a sense whether it is inside or out of the airport, etc)

For Bangalore, I read that the taxi stand is in one corner and outside the building. And I confirmed on multiple sources that taxis are readily available, even at night. There are mixed reviews online, but the reliability of airport taxi service in Bangalore seems acceptable. So, I concluded there is no need to arrange for airport transfer from the hotel.

Directions to the taxi pickup point at Bangalore Airport

When I came out of immigration, there is an airport taxi counter, but it was very empty. Not very popular, I thought, as I clearly remembered seeing quite a number of foreigners on my flight. So i followed the crowd which took me to an airport taxi queue. You can follow the taxi signs in the airport and there are standing signs of airport taxi which you can follow; You wont missed it. The airport taxi has a nice logo and at the start of the queue there will be an usher. 

In the long line of people waiting for taxi, i was the only foreigner. Should be no problem, i thought, since so many locals are using this service.

Each taxi will carry the airport taxi logo, though they can be meru, mega or KSTDC. By sheer fate i hopped on to a mega cab.

The trip started at 80 INR ,and the driver will state that the 2nd meter started at 0. The meters will simultaneously jump at quite a fast pace. A short drive later, you will be asked to pay toll charge of 120 INR.

The ride was pretty smooth, but there is plenty of honking, even at night. Trucks drive alongside your taxi like how chopsticks line together. It was quite an experience. It took me 45mins- 1hr to reach my hotel, and cost $830 rupees with 120rupees toll charge.

Other things to note

Always confirm that the driver knows where you want to go. Their english is quite different , my driver brought me to citadel, instead of citadine.

Hope this post takes you safely from the Bangalore airport to your hotel. 

EUFASS