Posts Tagged ‘chauffeured transportation’

Being met at the airport by Chauffeured Services for the first time

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Things to expect when taking the ride

As with all things sometimes there is a little trepidation when you do anything for the first time. For instance, you may have just found out that you are going to be met at the airport by chauffeured transportation and it is your first time meeting a driver for a limousine airport transfer and you want to know what to expect. Being met at the airport by a chauffeur for limousine or sedan service is a very unique experience that not many people actually get to enjoy. Scheduling a limo or sedan service can be intimidating and so this blog is written to ease your mind and tell you what to expect.

When arranging your chauffeured transportation for limo or sedan service it is always a good idea to ask the particular limousine company that is providing the service a few questions with regard to the pick-up at the airport. These questions will be invaluable when arranging chauffeured services so that there aren’t any delays. All airports are different and many have very specific rules as to where and how a chauffeur can engage a passenger when they arrive. Asking specific questions can make finding your chauffeur much less difficult.

The following questions will lead to a very enjoyable experience:

1. Where exactly will the chauffeur meet me?
2. Can you provide a map of the airport and the precise location?
3. Will the chauffeur attend to my luggage?
4. What will be on the sign that the chauffeur is holding?
5. What is the name of the chauffeur?
6. Should I tip the chauffeur and if so how much?
7. How will the chauffeur be attired so that I will recognize him/her?
8. Will the chauffeur have a cell phone?
9. Will he have my cell phone in case we miss each other?
10. Can I have your number  so I can contact you?

These questions will assist you in making sure that your airport pick-up goes without a hitch and they will ensure that you are picked up and on your way without delay. As with anything, asking good questions and being prepared always leads to much better results and less stress.

Once you and the chauffeur have met and are in the limousine or sedan or whatever mode of transportation you have chosen, how you and your chauffeur conduct your relationship will be strictly up to you. In most cases a chauffeur is trained to not engage in conversation with the passenger except to confirm your destination and to secure payment if it has not been taken care of prior to the trip. The chauffeur is trained in most cases to conclude those dynamics of the trip in order to ensure that you arrive at your destination as quickly as possible.

If you want to engage the chauffeur in conversation, you most likely will have to initiate the conversation for the onset. Most chauffeurs are hired because of their professionalism and their customer service. However, they know too that most of their clients are busy with business, or talk amongst themselves and his interjection could be seen as rude or and interruption. So if you like to engage in banter about your visit with the chauffeur, feel free to engage him/her in conversation.

So there you have it. It should be a snap from there. You are now well equipped to go out and experience the wonder of being transported by professional chauffeured transportation with the fore knowledge of what to expect and how to proceed. Good Luck!

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Lasting Impressions, advice from the limousine and chauffeured transportation industry.

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Planning an event and you need a few limos or fully fledged chauffeured transportation services.

How do you ensure perfect service from your limousine or chauffeured transportation providers?

If you are an event planner your life is so very hectic when it comes to the planning and implementation of a major event for your client or company. The devil is in the details and oh my, there are so many details. There are rooms to secure, flight details to coordinate, convention and banquet halls to book, limousine or chauffeured transportation to schedule, catering, events, lectures, videos, photographers, sound systems, the list just never seems to end.

Bringing all of this together can be a sheer act of will. With so many facets of the event to be planned down to the minutest detail, you cannot afford to have anything go awry. It must be pulled off flawlessly. You are the one in control, all systems are “Go” and the event depends solely on your ability to coordinate a thousand details and do so without a hitch.

So planning the transportation of the few dozen, hundreds and in some cases thousands of event goers is just one of the many details that you must attend to. However, a word of caution, other than the trip to and from the event by aircraft, the transportation you put in place is the first and most importantly…the last impression your clients and event participants are going to have of the whole event. Therefore, pulling it off flawlessly is mission critical.

Planning transportation services for an event can be a daunting task. In most cases your event participants are going to show up on several different flights over the course of several hours or even days and pulling such a task off takes meticulous planning and a well coordinated effort in order to get all of your people where they need to go. Such a task not only takes great planning, it also takes working with the very best chauffeured transportation services available.

What makes a good chauffeured transportation service? How are you going to be able to discern which company is going to guarantee that your transportation needs are done with the precision of a Swiss watch? In this blog I am going to give you several tips that may help you find the perfect transportation service that will ensure that the “first and last impression” is the very best possible.

These are the steps that can you can take to ensure perfection:

1. Take the time to investigate several companies and ask for references of services they have provided for events that were similar in size and scope of your project.

2. Speak directly with the event coordinator that worked with that company and ask hard questions that will address any concerns you may have about your event.

3. Ask the Chauffeured service provider about their policies toward VIP’s and their overall system of executing such an event.

4. Find out how they handle emergencies, and what systems they have in place if something goes amiss.

5. Find out the size of their fleet and ask how many vehicles they are going to keep on “Stand By” if a vehicle breaks down or a driver is late.

6. Ask what system they use in order to turn your manifest in to an actionable pick-up and drop-off plan.

7. Have them tell you about the technologies they have in place to ensure on time service. Do the have GPS, cell phones or radio dispatch, a chauffeur training plan, an emergency back-up plan? These are all valid questions that will just further ensure success.

8. From a liability standpoint, make sure they have all of the proper licensing, insurances and bonding that is required by the state authority where your event is taking place.

9. If possible make sure that the company you choose has a good reputation with the venue of the event.

10. Ask who you are going to be working with throughout the entire process and make sure that they are going to be on duty at the times your event transportation needs take place.

11. Ensure that you have multiple communication paths established in order to ensure that a system to talk with the transportation coordinator you are working with can happen no matter where you are.

These are a few simple steps that you can take in order to make absolutely certain that you are working with the right company and that you have the right plan in place. If you follow these simple steps and take the time to investigate the limousine or chauffeured transportation service you are opting to work with, you will make a great “first and last impression” of your event is and guarantee it turns out perfect. Good Luck!

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Limousine Services…Did you know?

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

It is kind of funny when you think about it. I tell people I meet in my day to day activities that I work for an internet based Limousine Company and the first thing they ask me is; “Do you get to ride around in a limousine?” When you describe limousine companies to most laymen they have no idea what is actually in the average company’s fleet.

When most people think of limousines or limousine companies, they think of those big, beautiful, gleaming stretch limousines that the rich and famous ride around in. They rarely think of SUV’s, vans or the steadfast luxury sedan. As most limousine service operators will tell you, most of their fleet of vehicles are sedans. Sedans are what fuel the chauffeured transportation industry. The average company has about 80% of their fleet committed to sedans and SUV’s. Very few companies commit their capital to a fleet of stretch limousines only.

Most business conducted by a chauffeured transportation company involve airport transfers. Most of these transfers are conducted through the use of luxury sedans or SUV’s. Many people who I come in contact with are not even aware that the black sedans they see out and about on the road are actually transporting VIP’s, celebs and busy business executives to and from their various activities.

The executive sedan is certainly not as ostentatious as the stretch limousine and certainly not nearly as over the top as the exotics like the stretch Hummers and Escalade’s out there on the road lately. However, the luxury executive sedan, these low profile, sedate vehicles are the mainstay of this industry. They offer the rider comfort, elegance and convenience along with the confidence that comes from utilizing a professional driver.

During my research on a recent blog “The Beast” I had discovered that over 95% of all presidential limousines ever put in service were produced from the Cadillac chassis and yet industry wide, 90% of most fleets are Lincoln Towncars. The Lincoln Towncar is roomy, powerful and has the elegant look that most customers are looking for. It also helps that the differences between a 2000 model Towncar and a 2009 model Towncar are negligible, therefore increasing the lifespan of this mainstay of the industry.

So the next time you think of a limousine or a limousine company, remember that the true work horse of this industry is the luxury sedan. Whether they are commuting a busy executive on the road or a famous celebrity to a show, these marvelous machines dominate the chauffeured transportation industry and will for many decades to come.

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Limousine or Party Bus…You decide

Friday, January 29th, 2010

My boss was asked by a close friend’s wife to set up a party bus for her husband’s birthday. Being in the limousine industry, she knew that he would find the right party bus at the right price. As an owner of a limousine company he really thought that nothing could surprise him if it involved chauffeured transportation. He was in for a shock.

She had asked him to find a vehicle that would accommodate about 20 passengers and she also wanted him to find some entertainment as well (that story is for another time and another blog site.). Finding the party bus took very little time, finding a vendor that had several styles and models in his inventory and a selection was made fairly quickly.

On the night of the party, my boss with the rest of the passengers was introduced to the world of the party bus. Unlike a limousine, party buses offer conveniences that cannot be replicated in the largest of limousines, Hummers, Navigators, Expeditions etc. First, a party bus allows the passengers to stand fully erect and mill about the vehicle easily. It also has more space for larger sound systems, televisions and amenities like a full service bar, a kitchen, a restroom and large overstuffed seating.

The birthday party went off without a hitch. Dinner went well, the night on the town took on a character of its own and the dance club was a hoot. When the night was done, my boss was so impressed with the differences that a party bus offered over a limousine that he came in and told the entire staff, “If you are planning a night out with a large group of friends, the party bus is the only route to go.” That is a heck of a statement from a guy who has lived and breathed limos for the last ten years.

A party bus may not be the best route to take if you have ten or less passengers, but, if you are going to go out with a large group of friends for an event or get together, the party bus is the only way to travel, or so says my boss.

He told me that the pricing for the party bus they utilized that evening in comparison to leasing a hummer or navigator was negligible and yet the experience was completely different. So base on that, I think my recommendation would be to look into a party bus the next time you get a large group of friends together. Maybe after you experience it for yourself you can drop me a line and let me know if you found the experience to be that much better as well.

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Do you hear what I hear?

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

So it’s the holidays and you and your family are planning to fly off to grandma’s house.  Here is some helpful information to make your trip a little less of a hassle.  First, make sure you are aware of any restrictions at your local airport, whether it is restrictions for your carry on items or your checked baggage.

As most travelers are aware there are restrictions for all liquids that you have in your carry on baggage.  Your containers cannot be over 100mil or 3oz. and they must all be together in a clear Ziploc baggie or like package. Just another bit of advice, if you are taking Christmas gifts with you, I would not recommend wrapping them before you arrive at your destination. You gifts are still subject to the same security screenings as your other baggage and can be unwrapped by security, which can be a big hassle.

Also be careful as to which gifts you take with you on your trip. Perfumes, lotions, or other liquid gifts are still banned substances if they do not meet the security rules.   I would also recommend avoiding toys that even remotely resemble any sort of weapon, such as toy guns, knives or any other toy that can raise unnecessary security scrutiny.

If you are traveling with children, I would recommend that you bring a Ziploc bag filled with light snacks that can be consumed during the flight. It will keep them quieter which will make your life that much easier. Coloring books and crayons or small video game decks like the DS are a good idea too.

If you are an experienced traveler then you know that it is a good idea to show up to the airport at least three hours prior to departure, especially at this time of year with the new travel restrictions. The lines are much longer and people are checking more baggage.  Arriving early ensures you don’t have to endure the stress of being rushed.  Currently most airlines charge fees for checked baggage.  These fees can be as high as thirty dollars per bag, so try to pack as light as possible.  If you can have everyone have just a carry on it could save you as much as two hundred dollars or more on a round trip.

If you do have carry on baggage, make sure to keep a close eye on it.  There are horror stories about stolen luggage at this time of year.  In Phoenix there was a recent story of a couple that was arrested for baggage theft,  and the police found over a thousand pieces of luggage in their home.

You may also want to consider using a sedan or limousine service to get to and from the airport.  Utilizing these services can save you money on parking and reduce your stress level by leaving the driving to someone else.  If you would like to find the best rates on limousine service visit www.cheaplimorates.com.

We here at CheapLimoRates.com wish all of you the happiest of holidays and a very happy New Year.

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