Shanghai Car Rental Overview

Rising incomes have seen levels of car ownership in China increase dramatically during recent years. As a result, traffic in Shanghai can be dense, particularly during peak hours, and local driving techniques mean that driving is not for the faint-hearted. However, if you long for that sense of freedom that driving can bring then you can rent a car from any of the local or global car rental agencies.

Requirements to Rent a Car
If you want to drive in Shanghai, you will need to apply for a Republic of China driver’s license, as international licenses are not recognized by the Chinese authorities. To apply for a Chinese license, you will be asked to provide the following documentation:
• Passport and Entry Visa
• Residence Permit valid for a period of at least 3 months
• Current Valid National Drivers License
• Certificate of physical examination for driving license application, available from public hospitals

The complete process requires passing a written examination and takes approximately 3 hours. Non Chinese speakers are advised to take a bilingual interpreter with them to assist with translation and document completion.

From there, the process is similar to those found in Western countries. When arriving at the rental location:
• Present your passport, Chinese driving license and major credit card.
• Select any additional insurances required.
• Provide verification documents and leave a deposit upwards of 5500 RMB.
• Check and sign your Rental Agreement

Self-drive car rental agencies in China are still in their infancy. Oftentimes, renting a car in China means contending with limited selection, discovering that the car you reserved is not available and learning that the price quoted over the phone doesn’t include additional charges such as Shanghai Insurance, coverage for more than one driver and refueling fees. In addition, in order to protect their interests, many agencies require customers to undergo a lengthy process of document verification or to provide a local guarantor before allowing customers to rent cars.

If the process of renting from an agency seems too much of a hassle, then there are also foreign and local companies that offer vehicles with personal drivers.

Hiring a Personal Driver
Most foreign expatriates or visitors to China consider driving on their own too much effort and instead choose to rent a car with a personal driver. These are readily available, reasonably priced and can be rented long-term. China’s car rental companies offer wide vehicle selection, from economy cars to luxury limousines.

The process of renting a chauffeur-driven vehicle is much less complicated and allows customers to enjoy the sights or concentrate on business. Unlike self-driven vehicles, chauffeur driven vehicles are usually reserved for half or full day rentals. Although the rates are slightly higher than those for self-driven cars, the price can usually be justified after factoring in fuel, parking costs and customer convenience.

Rental Tips
Although we can not guarantee a pleasurable experience every time you rent a car, you can reduce the number of times you encounter problems at the rental counter by following the tips below:

Local vs. international agencies
There are a few international car-rental agencies that have local branches in China. These companies offer a level of service comparable to what one would expect from overseas. Although the price is usually higher than local companies, international agencies offer a reliable alternative. If choosing a local company, it’s important to choose a company that has international service experience or that is a member of an international rental association.

No gratuity necessary
Unlike in Western countries, tipping the driver or paying an extra gratuity charge is not necessary. These charges are always included in the quoted rate. Beware of those companies who try to add extra fees. You may end up paying a lot more than you bargained for.

Brace yourself for urban driving
In a city of 6 million bicycles and 20 million people, driving on the streets of Shanghai is an experience in itself. Whether it’s deciphering foreign road signs, avoiding weaving bicyclists and taxi drivers, or locating a parking spot, driving in Shanghai is like navigating an obstacle course. If all this sounds like too much, then consider hiring a chauffeur-driven vehicle.

Service may not be included
It’s important for any renter to be aware that in China “you get what you pay for.” Some companies will not offer anything more than delivery from point A to point B. You may be lucky if you even get that much. It’s up to the renter to do proper due diligence and choose a rental company that can fulfill their needs and provide the service they desire. Fortunately, there are international and foreign invested car rental agencies that cater to international travelers. These companies will usually include additional services such as language interpretation, introductions to local points of interest, etc.

For more information about Shanghai car rental agencies, please refer to the automobile rental section or try search engine sites such as Google or Yahoo.

SHANGHAI LIMOUSINE is Shanghai’s preferred choice for Limousine service, Limousine Airport Transportation Service, and professional Sedan & Car Rentals. We specialize in corporate accounts, special events, weddings & nightlife services. With our brand-new Lincoln and SUV stretch limousines, elegant amenities, and a highly professional and knowledgeable team, Shanghai Limousine will exceed your expectations and make your special moments even more memorable.

Shanghai Limo is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our professionally trained staff can assist you in your needs and provide local information in your language.

Tel: 86 (021) 5466-7368
Tel: 86 (021) LIMO-RENT
39 Yinxiao Rd.
Shanghai, China
Website:
ShanghaiLimo.com ShanghaiLimo.com

Boston is a great city but like most large metropolitan cities it is very expensive to live in, and that is why Boston Proper coupons are growing in popularity. BostonProper.com sells everything from a Boston Proper floral jacket to perfume to jewelry to shoes — all tastefully modeled by attractive Boston Proper fashion models.

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About The Author:

Glenn Reschke is a marketing manager and a freelance writer. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Organizational Management. For more information, visit

Uganda a land endowed with misty forests, snow-capped mountain ranges, lake and Rivers, hills, wildlife and beautiful landscapes. The country has beautiful sceneries and dense tropical rainforests-some of the few in Africa, which are a home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. I had an experience that proves that Uganda is truly ” Gifted by nature”.

Arrival in Uganda

We arrived in Uganda and had a short stay in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. It was so beautiful hanging out, relaxing and enjoying the experience in Africa with warmly welcoming people, beautiful people and service.

Journey to the heart of South-West

After our night in Kampala, we set out early morning to southwestern Uganda with Churchill safari guides, anxious for experience in “the pearl of Africa.” The journey took us 6 hours drive, passing charming attractions en route like the royal drum makers, the Equator, and we stopped at the roadside market to enjoy Lunch, fruit and vegetables en route. The journey from Kabale to Buhoma took us 3-4 hours with a 4WD, since the terrain is hilly and roads are bumpy.
The driving time was approximately 9 hours and we arrived late afternoon and spent the night at Bwindi Tented Camp.

Gorilla tracking safari at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is magnificent Rain Forest, lying across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley. The forest is a home to 326 gorillas, roughly half of the World’s Mountain Gorillas. The altitude of the forest is above 5200 feet which means trackers need to be physically fit for tracking. Since the demand of Gorilla tracking is systematically growing, we had to book for gorilla permits in advance as well as organise our trip with the help of Churchill safaris and Travel.

Gorilla tracking experience started early morning with the guides waking us up, and preparing us for the all day adventure into the mountains. We then took a long walk at 8:30 am local time early in the morning through the forest in search of gorillas. Accompanied by a guide and porters, we were fitted out in jungle boots and rain jackets because the park is often wet. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. The time taken to track the gorillas varies from as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours, and it may occasionally last the whole day! The Tracking was quite rigorous, and rain gears, sunscreens, insect repellants and a hat given the fact that the weather is un-predictable was part of the experience.

The walk through the dense forest with our guides took us to the spot where the Gorillas were last seen, and we started following their trail through the dense forests of Bwindi. Finally we had the most exiting experience when we had an
encounter with the Gorillas. Looking at the gentle giants is surely the most exciting encounter Uganda has to offer. We were limited to one hour with the gorillas with rules of course. We were also allowed to take a few pictures of the Gorillas, an opportunity no one could miss. Parting from the Gorillas is not easy. Leaving the spectacular view was such a difficult task.

The day ended with a walk back after a long day, with scenes of other attractions like mammals including diurnal primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, buffalo and elephants, bird species endemic to the Albertine Rift and butterflies. The forest has a dense under storey of fern, shrubs, vines, and About different tree species have been recorded here, 10 of which occur no where else in Uganda. The day was full of experience and adventure.

Gorilla tracking remains the most popular activity in Uganda safaris, though its dependant on the seasonal movements of the habituated gorilla groups. The experience was worth every drop of sweat and money paid, very enjoyable and exciting. An experience hard to forget.

For more information on Gorilla Safaris, contact

I wrote in our just-released book, Guanajuato, Mexico, that to avoid getting ripped off in Mexico as a Gringo Expat depends entirely on “whom you know.” I made application of this principle to the issue of renting a house here in Mexico. There is the “gringo” price and there is the “Mexican” price. How do you prevent yourself from paying the higher “Now-We-Are-Going-To-Stick-It-To-The-Gringo-Sucker” price?

If you want to prevent yourself from getting cheated when renting a house in Mexico, you have to develop contacts—influential ones—with renowned people. Then, you have to drop their names.

If you meet someone who is influential at a party and he gives you his business card and tells you, “Call me if you need anything,” then he is the person whose name you will drop when you try renting (or buying) a house.

When trying to rent a place for which a Mexican would pay $200.00 less than the Mexican landlord is trying to charge you, drop the name.

“Oh, by the way, did I tell you I know so-and-so?”
The more influential the person is, the less likely the landlord will risk having his reputation ruined by cheating you. A perfect example of this salient principle of Mexican Living happened the other day.
We live in Guanajuato, Mexico. The city is doing major repair work on the street in front of our house. It is an unholy mess but they have to repair the sewer lines, the water mains, and the road itself. It has to be done. In the process, they have to turn the water off in sections of the neighborhood for days on end.

A couple from the States, who come here for a short time each year and who live on our street, came back to this mess. They arrived at the apartment only to find that their water had been turned off. The woman found the project boss, El Maestro, and complained. She also wanted to know when he would get the water turned on so she and her husband could flush the toilet.

The guy began the usual singsong, Mexican whine of why he couldn’t help her and why the water had to be turned off, and so on and so on.

I couldn’t stand listening to another second of his excuses. This is the identical singsong whine you hear from anyone from whom you try to get any definitive information in this country. They all do it and they do it to Gringos. It was the same tune, just with different words.

Finally I blurted out, “She lives with the governor’s mother!”

The current governor of Guanajuato’s mother has a compound of apartments next to her house that she rents out to selected clients. This couple has rented one of her apartments for years. They are well-known in the city (though not as well-known as the Governor’s mother).

You could have sworn that someone lit a firecracker under this guy’s butt. He jumped off the wall on which he was sitting, uttered a few vile profanities, all the while whipping out a cell phone to call for a crew to come out and turn the water on.

This is how life works in this country. Do not underestimate that:

It’s all in a name.

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Content, Transitions Abroad, International Living, Escape Artist, and The Front Porch Syndicate.

He is founder of zyworld.com/theolog/page14.htm Mexican Living Print & eBooks.