Was I ripped off?…

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The question was whether to use a taxi or Uber.

When I looked at Maps, it appeared that the salon I selected for my pedicure wasn’t far away. When I experienced difficulty in finding a taxi that would pick me up for the short distance, I ended up selecting Uber, having used the service many times in many countries.

When I paid in advance on the Uber app, US $24.63, Euro 21.5I, I assumed this was due to many one-way streets and traffic lights along the way. I rationalized this expense based on the fact that we didn’t get a rental car during our stay, which saved us a considerable sum. The cost to take me to the salon and return me to the apartment would be less than the cost of one day’s rental.

My pedicure at the salon was professional and well done. I will return one more time closer to our embarkation date.

When I couldn’t get a strong enough signal in the salon to order an Uber to pick me up after my service was done, the shop owner used her phone’s “translate” feature, advising me to go outside and hail a taxi with a green light on, at the corner, a short distance away. I walked to the corner, and less than a minute later, a yellow taxi picked me up.

I showed him the address on my phone, but surprisingly, he spoke English and we chatted on what proved to be a very short distance at a fare of US $5.64, Euro 4.83!

Apparently, the Uber app took me on a route that would extend their fare. What a rip-off! From now on, we’ll use local taxis to take us anywhere we’d like to go, including back to the airport on October 27, one month from today. I’m looking forward to that date more than I can say.

On another note, I received a notification from the Tedee app, the Bluetooth door opening app, indicating that the battery is running low. I wrote to the management company, and they told me we should recharge it. We don’t have a proper plugin for that, which requires being plugged into an outlet.

There isn’t an outlet within 12 feet, nor do we have an extension cord that can reach it. I told them that they would need a technician to perform this task. It’s not our responsibility to figure it out. Gosh, we’ve had enough of this place. The hot water heater still isn’t working correctly, and we have to unplug it for ten seconds, plug it back in, turn a dial, and wait for hot water.

Each time we try to wash a dish, wash our hands, or take a shower, the hot water shuts off after about five minutes. Since I am taking cold showers to improve my immune system, this hasn’t been as much of an issue for me as it has been for Tom, who prefers hot showers.

While he’s showering, I perform the restarting process on the water heater, allowing him to wait in the shower for the hot water to return so he can finish. Oh, good grief!

Yesterday, we received a message from Costco that Tom’s hearing aid charger is delayed in shipping to our mailing service in Nevada, and won’t arrive until Monday, after which we’ll have it shipped to us. In the meantime, I am hollering at him when I need to say something. Conversation is nonexistent. It will be nice to have a conversation with him once again. At this point, we have no idea how long it will take to go through customs on its way here.

Thank goodness we have Bluetooth speakers so he can hear the shows we stream at night.

Well, that’s all my whining for today. Thanks for hanging in there with us. There’s nothing wrong with Sant Marti or Barcelona.. It’s a matter of us experiencing these issues since we arrived, leaving us with little interest in going out, especially with the precarious three flights of dangerous stairs. I’m not about to get injured before this long-awaited cruise.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 27, 2015:

In Fiji, this duck’s unusual crown caught our attention. He seemed proud of his facial characteristics. For more photos, please click here.

“New Uber Setting Makes International Rides Cost More—Here’s How to Turn It Off”…1 day and counting…

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Uber is the world’s largest ridesharing company, operating in over 70 countries and 10,000 cities. It’s not our photo.From Travel and Leisure, (see the article here) important news about Uber’s international pricing…

This New Uber Setting Makes International Rides Cost More—Here’s How to Turn It Off

Luckily, it’s very easy to turn off this new setting, By Skye Sherman

Published on February 24, 2025

  • Uber’s new “preferred currency pricing” may cost you more when using the ride-hailing app internationally.
  • If your credit card offers free currency conversion, aka no foreign transaction fees, this default setting will cost you more. (But you can turn it off!)
  • If your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee, you should see which setting benefits you more.

A new setting in your Uber app may make your next international ride cost more than it needs to.

Preferred Currency Pricing is a new Uber feature that lets you pay in your preferred or home currency even while riding in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, or European Union. Uber will charge a flat fee of 1.5 percent to convert from a foreign currency within the app.

Uber explains, “By keeping your preferred currency as your home currency, you’ll pay the same fare for rides as the local currency. Prices of the rides will be shown in your home currency, with a fixed 1.5 percent conversion fee, so it’s easier to know how much you’re paying while abroad.”

But if your card already offers currency conversion for free—as many do—this surcharge will only cost you more. And it’s on by default.

“If you choose to pay in the local currency, your bank or payment method provider may charge a conversion fee higher or lower than 1.5 percent and additional foreign transaction fees may apply,” Uber acknowledges,

In other words, if you use a card with no foreign transaction fees, you don’t need Uber to convert it for you to pay in U.S. dollars, so this new capability will cost you extra; paying in the local currency is just fine because your bank or card provider converts for you for free.

However, Uber’s new setting could be helpful in one instance: if your debit or credit card has foreign transaction fees. This means you are charged a conversion fee when you pay in a foreign currency, and Uber’s 1.5 percent fee may save you money if it’s lower than the fee from your bank or card provider.

Still, many travel-friendly credit and debit cards offer “zero foreign transaction fees” as a perk, so check with your bank or credit card company to determine which option is better for you. Luckily, it’s very easy to turn off this new setting.

  1. To turn off Preferred Currency Pricing, open your Uber app.
  2. Click “Account” on the bottom right.
  3. Navigate to “Wallet,” which is at the top of most phones.
  4. Scroll down until you see “Preferred Currency,” then click in and select “No preferred currency.”

This principle also applies when withdrawing cash from an ATM or using tap-to-pay in foreign countries. If your card has no or low foreign transaction fees, you should always pay in the local currency and click “Decline Conversion” when offered.”

We often use Uber when traveling in foreign countries, especially when we don’t have a rental car. From now on, we will check these features to ensure we receive the best possible pricing.

We’re still busy packing and preparing for tomorrow’s departure. We’re thrilled to have almost everything done today, so tomorrow will be easy.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, February 28, 2015;

Not all beaches in Kauai are sandy and pristine. For more photos, please click here.

Special deals with Uber!…Five days and counting…

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We encountered this waterfall while on a walk on the Big Island.

It’s hard to believe that five days from today, we’ll already be on the road beginning the approximately 2300-mile road trip from Cleveland, Ohio, to Lake Las Vegas, Nevada. I’ve started getting organized to pack, which I’ll begin on Thursday for our Saturday departure. We’re excited to be on the move once again!

In the meantime, we can’t help but share deals and discounts we find online. The following Uber deals may work for you and your family during the holiday season. Most of these only apply to US customers, but you may want to check online if you live in a country with access to Uber promotions that may be available near you. Here’s the article:

“Uber Is Offering Savings on Rental Cars, Expanded Car Seat Access, and Even Carolers on Demand for the Holidays

From Travel & Leisure at this link.

by Alison Fox

 Published on December 8, 2024

Uber is making it easier to travel for the holidays with discounts on rental cars, expanded car seat access, and more festive options to celebrate in style.

The company shared with Travel + Leisure that customers who rent a car with Uber and choose the valet option over the holidays from Dec. 11 to Dec. 25 will receive $50 in Uber Cash as a bonus. Drop-off services are available in Washington D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, New Jersey, Miami, and Boston.

In addition, travelers nationwide who rent a non-valet car with Uber will also receive $50 in Uber Cash when they choose the “Pay now & Save” feature. Uber Rent is available across the United States and partners with popular rental car companies like Avis, Hertz, and Sixt.

Uber is also making it easier for families to travel by expanding access to car seats. Travelers in New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, and San Francisco who reserve a car seat in advance will be set up with a Nuna RAVA seat. To make things even easier, Uber offers $20 off two car seat rides with the promo code “FESTIVESEAT20” until Jan. 2.

But the festive cheer doesn’t stop there. Customers can celebrate the holidays with a toast of Don Julio, Casamigos, or Bulleit Bourbon when ordering carolers on demand. The singing service is available to book for one special day on Saturday, Dec. 7, in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

Last-minute decorators can order Christmas trees or wreaths for delivery to their door through the Uber Eats app anywhere in the country, or they can tap the gingerbread icon to see a curated list of available gifts.

“Uber is thrilled to bring some holiday magic directly to your doorstep this season,” a spokesperson said in a statement shared with T+L. “Whether it’s the joy of Carolers singing to your family, the effortlessness of getting your Christmas tree delivered, or the convenience of finding the perfect gift with a few taps in the app, we’re making it easier than ever to focus on what truly matters — spending time with loved ones.”

The holiday offerings come as Uber is making an effort to be more sustainable. It is rolling out a new “EV Preference” option, which allows travelers to automatically be matched with an electric vehicle when ordering a ride if one is nearby, and offering a shared airport shuttle service.”

As for today, the laundry is done, and takeaway dinner is ordered, arriving before 5:00 pm. We won’t be cooking anymore as we use leftover eggs, cheese, and perishable odds and ends. We can bring the non-perishables with us. As mentioned, packing will be easy since we don’t have to be concerned with the weight of our bags.

Ah, it’s so good to think of the future after so long focusing on health and medical issues. We are both feeling well. I still have trouble walking, but using the treadmill has helped, especially since I can hold on. I can now do 20 nonstop minutes, a third of which is using the elevation feature, increasing daily. I’ve also started using the BetterMe app for indoor bodyweight exercises. I work out every day, hoping to experience great results soon.

On our four-day road trip, I’ll do the indoor bodyweight exercises in our hotel room at night, hoping to maintain what I’ve accomplished so far.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, December 9, 2014:

We spotted a billy goat on our long drive on the Big Island, Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.