taxi (12)

Instead of bankrupting yourself on a taxi fom the airport to your hotel, get one of the reliable and regular limousine buses from the airport directly to your hotel.

For getting around Paris you have a lot of options - an efficient metro, the fantastic Velib' bike rentals - but taxis are a basic necessity for any business traveller. But taxis are far less plentiful than in London or New York, and it can be a hassle to find them late at night or outside the city centre. Save yourself the hassle and hire one by phone. The best number to use is G7's English-language service; it's much easier than using the French one!

In the peak hours of arrival, the taxi queue at Paddington (connecting for the Heathrow Express) can be quite sizable. Don't forget that there is a taxi share service that runs from the station so you can get to where you are going and save money if you share a taxi. London is split into different zones and there should be an agent at the station to help you.

It is quicker and cheaper to prebook a town car or limo to get from the airport to downtown. Some taxi drivers charge up to $80 while a town car costs only £55.

It is quicker and cheaper to pre-book a town car or limo to get from the airport to downtown. Some taxi drivers charge up to $80 while a town car costs only $55.

Take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. No more than 30 minutes to HK centre and with the exchange rate good value. Coming back to the UK, take one of the late night flights, sleep through the night and be back in the UK at 6.00am local time.

There are plenty of taxis outside the airports and, for those who were brought up watching 'To The Manor Born', you can book a limo to whisk you to your 5-star hotel suite in comfort (as in most US cities, Carey are the best provider). But public transport is probably your best ticket. Chicago is in fact, very unusually for the US, thoroughly served by public networks of buses and trains. The El Al, a rather spiffing elevated train, is the quickest and cheapest mode of transportation between O’Hare, Midway and The Loop.

Buying a single ticket on the London underground is now £4 – if there is more than one of you travelling, then it is often cheaper to get a black cab. Alternatively you can buy an oyster card, which will reduce the cost of a single journey in zone 1 to £1.50.

Taxis can be hard to find in Shanghai, particularly if it is raining. I always get myself an English-speaking chaffeur – the Shanghai car service is very reliable. That way you get the lowdown on the city as well as a car exactly when and where you need it.

NYC traffic is abysmal so think twice before getting in a grimy, appallingly uncomfortable yellow cab – unless, of course, you enjoy spending two hours in traffic guided by a monosyllabic driver who doesn’t know the way. If you really must use the roads, book a limo (Carey International have knowledgeable drivers and phenomenally comfortable Lincoln towncars) and leave for work early. Otherwise, use the subway.