One of the most popular transport apps in the world has arrived in SA and The Socialite were delighted to experience a ride in one of the Uber luxury vehicles, check it out…

So what is Uber you may ask? Well simply put it is a mobile application that connects passengers with luxury vehicles for hire putting a sexy spin on the classic old taxi service.

The app can be downloaded on iPhones, Android and BlackBerry or even accessed through the internet. It allows the user to upload your info and save your credit card details on it, so money is automatically deducted from your account without having to carry cash around. The best part is the timely drivers arrive within minutes and you will be driven in style in black and silver C-Class Mercedes-Benzes.

The vehicles vary from city to city and in places such as Miami, Uber users are driven around in Cadillacs while in Paris the company is said to have cars as well as scooters.

Uber recently launched in Cape Town, Joburg and Durban, making South Africa one of 20 countries and 51 cities using the transport app. It was started in San Francisco, California a few years ago and has since made quite a name for itself with a recent backing from Google who invested $250m earlier this year – their largest investment in a start-up company to date.

The service is so easy to use and reliable and even indicates available cars in the vicinity and allows users to request an immediate pick-up. The user can then liaise with the driver directly from the app and a receipt for the journey is automatically sent to their mobile phone or e-mail address when a ride is concluded.

Another great aspect of the service is that the Uber drivers are rated on a five-star scale by users and a level of quality is maintained and high-rated drivers only remain in the system. Users can also view the driver’s profile and this is a great asset to female users who may need to use the service on their own and may seek refuge in the safety and security features of the service.

The Socialite loved arriving in style and with the service being so affordable it won’t break the bank using Uber on a big night out. A ride from Florida Road to Gateway only costs between R160 – R190 depending on traffic conditions and from Sandton city to the OR Tambo airport it’s a flat fee of R550.

Why not give your local Uber a try and arrive in style this weekend, I know we will…