Rent a car or hail a ride service?
While requesting a ride from the palm of your hands might seem like the easiest thing to do – it’s not always the case when you factor in budget, location, length of stay, safety and more.
Here’s a guide to determining whether renting a car or using a ride-hailing service is the best option.
Length of stay in Cape Town
The length of your stay is important to think about when planning your trip in Cape Town.
Will you be staying for 1 – 2 days or will you be there for well over a week? For short trips such as from the airport to your hotel, any ride-hailing service will do the trick.
For example, if you were to stay in Cape Town for a maximum of two days, a ride-hailing service would be most convenient and cost-effective. However, you should still consider other factors such as travelling schedule (distance of all your trips) before making a decision.
For example, if you’re staying in Cape Town for a short period but plan driving long distances or stay for a longer period, your best option would be to rent a car as it’s cost-effective and convenient.
Accommodation
Is your accommodation situated in the midst of all the hustle and bustle or will you be taking on the road less travelled?
When determining whether to use a ride-hailing service or renting a car it’s important to research the area where you will be staying.
It’s one thing to use a ride-hailing service for short trips such as from the airport to your hotel; but if your holiday means being outside the city, ride-hailing services might not be available or the service will be slower as drivers will have to travel quite a distance to pick you up.
Renting a car eliminates worrying about the availability of ride-hailing services, as you’ll be able to go from A to B without having to depend on a service – you’ll be able to leave and return anytime, anywhere.
Timing of visit
Part of determining the best mode of transport is the timing of your visit. Considering the time of year of your visit is an important factor.
During peak season traffic can make it challenging to get to your desired destination. And if you’re using a ride-hailing service it will cost you more than you might have planned to spend on travelling.
With a car rental, factors such as traffic wouldn’t hurt your budget as you won’t be billed the longer it takes you to get to your desired destination.
Safety in Cape Town
Safety isn’t usually an issue when renting a car, but it’s totally different when it comes to public transport and ride-hailing services.
Recently, we’ve seen some instances where passengers of ride-hailing services experience more than bad service – leading users to question how safe is it is to use these services.
These services always offer sufficient information about the driver: contact details, number plate, location, etc. which should make you feel safe – yet somehow bad incidents still happen.
Compare travel costs
Finally, after you’ve considered the contributing factors – your final decision should be based on the most cost-effective option.
If you not sure what you’ll be doing during your holiday, it still helps to get a rough idea. Once you settle on a travel schedule, look at the destinations that you will visit and add the numbers. With an estimate, you’ll have a rough idea of how much it will cost you to use a ride-hailing service.
The same method cannot be applied when calculating the cost of a car rental. Remember to factor in additional costs to get an idea of how much it will cost you. Betta Car Hire is the only car rental service in Cape Town to accept cash payment, unlimited mileage and specialise in long-term hire.
Why public transport shouldn’t be an option
The public transport system isn’t reliable in Cape Town.
Reliability might be the least of your concerns when realising that safety is an issue. If you still want to experience public transport be sure to do thorough research on how it works in the areas you will be travelling. Also, research the best times to use public transport as well as operating times, cost and operating areas.
If you use the above-listed guideline, you should reach a conclusion that will benefit you financially and save you time. Use the guideline to help you navigate the city with ease and confidence.
