Uber and PickMe in Sri Lanka

Recently, the Uber service began to work in Sri Lanka. Using this application, tourists can save quite a lot on taxi trips around the country, since the prices through the application are competitive and, as it were, more "honest" than those usually offered to tourists by taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers on the street. In our experience (the authors of the site), the price of a trip using Uber can even be two times lower. For example, for a trip from Bandaranaike airport to Colombo, local taxi drivers ask 5000 rupees (15.11 USD, see Sri Lankan currency, exchange rate), while using Uber you can drive for 3000 (9.06 USD).

But in addition to Uber in Sri Lanka, there is another application-the local version of PickMe. And it is even better than Uber, because it presents not only cars, but also a cheaper option for movement – tuk-tuks, and sometimes you can even call a motorcycle taxi, which is even more economical. Tuk-tuk trips are not much cheaper than a regular car taxi, but you can still save a little. For example, the same trip from the airport to Colombo will cost 2000 rupees by tuk-tuk (6.04 USD) instead of 3000. Another good "feature" of PickMe is the ability to book a trip for a certain time.

PickMe works just like Uber, the interface is very similar. In addition to ordering a taxi through it, you can also order food delivery, rent transport, and even hire a truck to transport goods. You can pay for the trip in cash at the end of the trip, you can link the card in the application for non-cash payment. And the application provides a cumulative system of bonuses, which you can also pay for trips.

Problems using Uber and PickMe

Despite all the advantages of applications, you should be prepared for some features:

• First of all, they need the Internet to work. To do this, you can either buy a local SIM card (see mobile internet in Sri Lanka), or use free WiFi in hotels, cafes, airport. In fact, the Internet is needed only at the time of ordering, and on the trip itself you will no longer need it.
• Another problem is that the country's services are not yet very well covered. In fact, applications can only be used at large resorts on the West Coast, in Colombo and at the airport. But in the center of the country and in the East it is still useless.
• And most importantly-night trips. Unfortunately, at night you can find a car using applications only at Bandaranaike airport, and even then not always. Therefore, be careful when planning a trip at night to the airport or another time-critical place, otherwise, relying on applications, you can stay completely without transport, because you can not find a tuk-tuk or a car on the street at night. Therefore, for such Night Moves, it is better to book a trip in advance, negotiating with drivers on the street, or use the help of hotel staff.

Also, for a trip at night, you can pre-order a tourist transfer from the Kiwitaxi service. This is an analogue of a taxi, but more comfortable and with expanded services. The driver of the ordered car will meet you at the airport with a sign and take you to the desired place. Also, a transfer can be ordered to move between resorts and travel from the hotel to the airport.: