Car Hire/Limo service for London

[Flashback]

Can someone recommend a private car service in AKL? I have excellent ones in Melbourne, Sydney, London and New York, and need to expand my catalogue. I'm sick of stinky bad taxis everywhere I go (although I've generally had good ones in AKL).

Who do you use in London? When I had to rush back here I had major issues trying to organise a cab and was going to give you a call (I remember Storyteller talking about the one you recommended when you guys were here for OWMD however couldn't remember the name!) but then ended up just sorting something else.

Easiest way in the world to cook white rice:

1 cup of rice
2 cups of water
microwave save bowl, covered
nuke for 15 minutes
stand for 10 minutes (or sit, but don't touch the rice).
Done. Works brilliantly.

Brown rice same, but make it around 25 minutes. If you're doing 2 cups, you need to add time that'll depend on your microwave power

That's how I do it! Perfect every time. It's generally a ratio of 2:1 on the water:rice. If more than 1 cup of rice will generally increase the cooking time by a few minutes too. YMMV:!:

 

[drewbles]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Who do you use in London? When I had to rush back here I had major issues trying to organise a cab and was going to give you a call (I remember Storyteller talking about the one you recommended when you guys were here for OWMD however couldn't remember the name!) but then ended up just sorting something else.

London Minicab | Airport Minicab | Chauffeur Service | Courier & Delivery Service - ENC

Their online site is pretty average and their online booking system has been 'coming soon' for over 18 months .

Call them, setup an account using your CC (they happily take amex) and they'll furnish you with an account number. They debit your card once a month and email you an invoice with all your trips/dates/times.

They've always been spot on time. The mini cabs are spotless, smell fresh, and have exceedingly polite and friendly, well groomed (shirt and tie) drivers, who have been known to call me and say 'oh just so you know i'm a little early if you're ready. If not that's fine just thought i'd give you a heads up'.

And they're cheap. Addison Lee are a rip off

That's how I do it! Perfect every time. It's generally a ratio of 2:1 on the water:rice. If more than 1 cup of rice will generally increase the cooking time by a few minutes too. YMMV:!:

Have to thank Mum for that one

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

London Minicab | Airport Minicab | Chauffeur Service | Courier & Delivery Service - ENC

Their online site is pretty average and their online booking system has been 'coming soon' for over 18 months .

Call them, setup an account using your CC (they happily take amex) and they'll furnish you with an account number. They debit your card once a month and email you an invoice with all your trips/dates/times.

They've always been spot on time. The mini cabs are spotless, smell fresh, and have exceedingly polite and friendly, well groomed (shirt and tie) drivers, who have been known to call me and say 'oh just so you know i'm a little early if you're ready. If not that's fine just thought i'd give you a heads up'.

And they're cheap. Addison Lee are a rip off


Have to thank Mum for that one

Thanks, I wonder if they do set price trips to / from certain airports, like some other cab companies too. Will need to have an explore of their site.

Yeh, AL are expensive.

Ditto, mum hooked me up too! :mrgreen:

 

[Storyteller]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

London Minicab | Airport Minicab | Chauffeur Service | Courier & Delivery Service - ENC

Their online site is pretty average and their online booking system has been 'coming soon' for over 18 months .

Call them, setup an account using your CC (they happily take amex) and they'll furnish you with an account number. They debit your card once a month and email you an invoice with all your trips/dates/times.

They've always been spot on time. The mini cabs are spotless, smell fresh, and have exceedingly polite and friendly, well groomed (shirt and tie) drivers, who have been known to call me and say 'oh just so you know i'm a little early if you're ready. If not that's fine just thought i'd give you a heads up'.

And they're cheap. Addison Lee are a rip off


Have to thank Mum for that one

Travelled on the HEX, got to Paddington station, in the rain, around 9am. The taxi queue went the whole block, with some folk from the OWMD about half way. They had left LHR immediately on arrival whereas I had gone to the arrivals lounge for a freshen up. They had a good 45 minute head start on me! Hoofed it up the hill to Hilton Paddington to see in the concierge could get a cab for me sooner than the hour or more it would take for me to get a cab ...

And rang Drewbles, who was lounging the morning away at LHR to get the NationalExpressCarriers phone number that he had told me about.
Rang them & within 3-4 minutes I had an account set up and despite peak hour they could get a car to me in around 20 minutes.

Used them another 2 times in 24 hours. Car always on time or early. They let the Hyatt doorman know they were there for me, so all I had to do was walk out & get pointed towards my awaiting vehicle. Account arrived last week, all good. And they take my Amex too..

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Travelled on the HEX, got to Paddington station, in the rain, around 9am. The taxi queue went the whole block, with some folk from the OWMD about half way. They had left LHR immediately on arrival whereas I had gone to the arrivals lounge for a freshen up. They had a good 45 minute head start on me! Hoofed it up the hill to Hilton Paddington to see in the concierge could get a cab for me sooner than the hour or more it would take for me to get a cab ...

And rang Drewbles, who was lounging the morning away at LHR to get the NationalExpressCarriers phone number that he had told me about.
Rang them & within 3-4 minutes I had an account set up and despite peak hour they could get a car to me in around 20 minutes.

Used them another 2 times in 24 hours. Car always on time or early. They let the Hyatt doorman know they were there for me, so all I had to do was walk out & get pointed towards my awaiting vehicle. Account arrived last week, all good. And they take my Amex too..

I e-mailed them at 5.50am and had a response at 6.28am regarding my query on prices from LGW/LHR. Now that's service!

 

[medhead]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I e-mailed them at 5.50am and had a response at 6.28am regarding my query on prices from LGW/LHR. Now that's service!

What are the prices like?

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

What are the prices like?

Depends on the terminal, but from T4 to where I need to go is approximately 42 GBP inc. VAT + any parking/waiting charges. This compares to the 110 GBP I was offered when I landed a week and a half ago by the various minicab companies available at the airport.....

 

[medhead]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Depends on the terminal, but from T4 to where I need to go is approximately 42 GBP inc. VAT + any parking/waiting charges. This compares to the 110 GBP I was offered when I landed a week and a half ago by the various minicab companies available at the airport.....

Sounds pretty good. I'll want to get from T5 to town somewhere in May. Will check it out.

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Sounds pretty good. I'll want to get from T5 to town somewhere in May. Will check it out.

I asked what the standard charges may be and here is the response:
You would call to book the flight before boarding the plane and we would take the flight number which we keep a track of the flight in case the flight is early or delayed. You would then nominate your free waiting time, this is the time you think you would need to collect luggage and to get through customs, this time will not start until you have landed. You can nominate as much free time as you require. When this nominated time has exceeded this is when waiting time becomes chargeable.
The car park charges are usually only a couple of pounds, depending on how long the driver is parked up waiting.
I hope I have made this clear enough for you, but please do not hesitate if you have any other queries.

 

[Flashback]

Just to close off on this one, setting up payment is quite easy:

Yes, call up when your ready to book and someone can set you up an account also, they will need to take your card details over the phone and the driver will need to see the front of the card on the very first journey(this is a security check to confirm your name) but on future journeys you won't need to show it.
They will also be giving you your personal account number, and if you provide an email address you will also receive a welcome email with these details on also.

 

[drewbles]

As Flashware advised, pricing is excellent. I paid £45 from Docklands to LHR T3. That's excellent value IMHO. You have to add VAT on that though as well (was only 10% last time I was there, but that was during the Tax holiday the UK had, and it's 20% now).

 

[kpc]

This thread also has some info of interest:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ions/heathrow-transfers-36959.html#post565078