Tried Uber’s new summer ride launches, including the Luxe Uber boat

Just in time for the peak summer travel seasonuber is introducing a large number of products in popular holiday destinations throughout Europe, especially in Greece. They say nothing compares to vacationing on the Greek islands, and now I can confirm that it certainly is: courtesy of Uber, I recently got an exclusive look at the app’s recently launched features in Athens and Mykonos in Greece, including an epic experience with the new Uber Boat.

Meeting anticipated demand for summer travel, which Uber says is an expected 250 percent increase in trips by American travelers in Europe, the travel service is expanding its familiar features like Uber Taxi, Comfort, and Van into new cities in Europe and specifically in the Mediterranean and Balearic Islands, many of which can be booked through Uber Reserve.

Throughout my four-day adventure in Greece, I was able to experience the novelty first-hand as different types of Ubers took us to all the destinations on our jam-packed itinerary. From transportation to and from tourist spots in Athens with local taxis and roomy vans to lounging on luxurious boat tours in Mykonos, I found the various options without a problem. Travelers, if you are planning an upcoming trip to Europe, I will definitely be taking notes.

Read on for a breakdown of my experience with Uber’s new summer ride products.

uber taxi

Our trip started in Athens, where we took an Uber Taxi to go from the airport to our hotel, Hotels Great Britain, as well as multiple historical attractions such as the Greek Parliament and the Acropolis. While a regular Uber car gets the job done, I enjoyed getting around town in a cab like a local, without worrying about any confusion with fares or communication.

Uber partnered with local taxi drivers to launch Uber Taxi in Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Rodhos, and Corfu in Greece, as well as several cities in Italy, Spain, France, and Croatia. However, unlike when you call a regular taxi, you can see the estimated fares in advance and the details of the car.

Uber comfort

After leaving a major city like Athens, the transportation situation was a bit more complicated once we got to Mykonos. Fortunately, we had booked Uber Comfort and Uber Van rides in advance to get us to places like our hotel, Hotel Soho Rock; Rizes Folk Farm, where we made tzatziki and meatballs during a fun cooking class and pet some very cute goats; and the stunning beach of Paraga, where we board our Uber Boat rides. I was still heavily jetlagged early in the trip, so the extra space and the ability to take note of conversation and temperature preferences were definitely appreciated for naps between our activities.

While you’re likely familiar with Comfort if you’re in the US, you’re new to the Greek islands, Mallorca, Tenerife, the French Atlantic coast, and across the Algarve in Portugal.

uber boat

Now for the main event: Uber Boat. I was definitely very excited to try out the luxurious feature of the new vehicle, which will be launched in Mykonos on June 28. As you can imagine, I was not disappointed. The experience was as dreamy as it was simple. Two trusted drivers in a speedboat picked us up near our hotel in Paraga Beach, which is one of 20 official Uber Boat pickup points. We were then safely taken on a scenic drive with the best vibes and music to our destination. Along the way, I got an up-close view of the stunning blue waters of the Aegean Sea and took enough Instagram-worthy snaps to last a lifetime. It is definitely the most luxurious and surprisingly also the fastest way to get around the city. (The island’s road traffic is no joke, especially during the busiest months.)

As with any other Uber ride, you can book a speedboat for four to eight people as long as you book at least 45 minutes in advance. A private local charter boat associated with Uber will arrive at your desired time and whisk you to your destination. Trips are as low as $130, which is actually more affordable and convenient than booking your own boat trip. Just keep in mind that the feature is only available during the summer season, from June to October, in Mykonos, although Uber hopes to expand the service to other islands.

Book Uber

If you haven’t used it before, Uber Reserve allows you to book your ride up to 90 days in advance. It’s been around for a while, but the feature is new to the Mediterranean and Balearic Islands. While you can use it to book regular trips a few hours in advance, I found it most useful for traveling to and from any airport. Uber’s flight tracking technology syncs your rides with your flight information, so you have a car waiting for you when you land at any airport, taking delays and busy airports into account.

We used the service to have an Uber Van pick us up at the Mykonos airport where we were promptly greeted out of the airport and on the way to our hotel in just a few minutes.

uber rides

Last May, Uber launched Uber Travel, a feature that pulls flight details from your Gmail or Outlook inbox and automatically books rides or rental cards to and from the airport. I first used it on my return to New York where a curb ride awaited me after a long 10 hour flight. If you want to be fancy, you can also integrate your trip itinerary into the Uber app and enter details of your hotel, restaurant, and activity reservations to easily book rides.