A Cut Above Your Average Cab Ride
Chauffeur services make getting from point A to point B a bit more luxurious and convenient
Nicole C. Wong, Boston Globe, 7/27/2008
Driving in Boston can be a headache - and parking can be an even bigger pain.
Chauffeured car services can offer a luxurious escape - especially when the sleek, stretch sedans or sport utility vehicles have backseat controls that let passengers watch a DVD, listen to their favorite radio station, or control the air conditioning.
The Globe tested four local car services: Northeast companies Advanced Coach Car Service and Town and Country Coach Corp., plus national chains Boston Car Service and PlanetTran LLC. We asked each one to chauffeur us between a home and an office on a weekday morning or evening.
The companies charge between $73 and $88 - including a 20 percent gratuity - for a 9-mile ride between Cambridge and Dorchester that takes about 25 to 45 minutes. The automatic 20 percent service fee is an industry standard.
"That way you don't have to tip the driver," said Richard Kane, president of the National Limousine Association. But always ask what the price includes: At least two of the dozen car services we researched online advertised rates that don't include the percent gratuity, fuel surcharge, airport fees, or tolls.
All of the vehicles looked new and were clean inside and out. PlanetTran drives only environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles. The hybrids are equipped with wireless Internet access. The other three companies' fancier fleets - with leather seats and glossy wood paneling - include Lincoln Town Cars and Ford Expeditions with a remote-controlled ceiling DVD player and a backseat panel for picking radio stations and charging electronics.
Overall, the customer service was good. Every chauffeur arrived at least a few minutes earlier than the requested pickup time and patiently waited for us. However, none of the chauffeurs offered to help with our bags - even though we had our hands full with a purse, briefcase-size tote, and bulging grocery bag.
Each driver used a GPS navigation device, but we were pleased the Advanced Coach and Town and Country chauffeurs also asked if we had a preferred route. All our drivers behaved pleasantly and were outfitted professionally in a dress shirt and tie, but the ones from Town and Country and Boston Car Service exuded a more formal air by wearing jackets, as well.
The rides went smoothly. But our PlanetTran driver was punching our address into a global positioning system while driving on Interstate 93 - something he should have done beforehand since we provided the destination when making the reservation. He also took his eyes off the road to read text on his cellphone while merging. The company later told the Globe it trains drivers not to do either of those things because safety is a top priority.
Kane declined to say which company provided us with the best service. But based on his guidelines - including the chauffeur giving his name upon meeting the customer and providing complimentary bottled water - he probably would have picked Advanced Coach. That was our favorite, too. Even though we were initially annoyed by how hard it was to reserve an Advanced Coach car, the driver's crisp formality and unmatched passenger amenities made us feel like important executives.
ADVANCED COACH CAR SERVICE
Price: $74.60
Pros: This was the only company whose driver introduced himself by name, greeted us by name, and offered a handshake. The Lincoln Town Car's backseat provided bottled water and 10 neatly arranged recent issues of Newsweek.
Cons: It was hard to book a car. The 1-800 reservation line rang eight times unanswered. The Boston reservation line was answered after two rings by a woman who was curt and said a car was unavailable even though we called five hours in advance.
The final word: This company offered the best combination of price, professional service, and amenities. An instant online rate quote and reservation system would have made the experience better.
BOSTON CAR SERVICE
Cost: $88
Pros: The new eight-seater Suburban's control panel in the middle row lets riders activate individual seat-warmers and adjust the air conditioning.
Cons: This chatty driver didn't look for cues indicating whether we preferred silence. He also forgot to bring movies to play on the backseat ceiling DVD screen and couldn't find NPR for us on the radio.
The final word: This service picks up in more than 550 cities worldwide. It had the nicest vehicle we tested, but the chauffeur seemed better suited for tourists than business professionals. Still, the 239-page Big Dig photo history book he keeps in the backseat pocket could amuse anyone during a traffic jam.
PLANETTRAN LLC
Cost: $73
Pros: The website immediately offers an estimated fare when customers enter the starting and ending zip codes. It also has a quick, easy-to-use online reservation system for orders placed at least an hour in advance. This was the only company to automatically give us a receipt.
Cons: The Toyota Prius that picked us up didn't offer any luxurious amenities or complimentary bottled water and reading material. The company later told the Globe drinking bottled water is "one of the least environmentally responsible things one can do" and the high-speed wireless Internet is an alternative to magazines - although the Wi-Fi isn't mentioned anywhere on the company's website or in the car, nor did our driver tell us. Also, this driver was the only one who took his eyes off the road.
The final word: We felt good riding in an environmentally friendly hybrid vehicle. But we aren't sure that justifies paying more for almost the same kind of service we'd get in a cab.
TOWN AND COUNTRY COACH CORP.
Cost: $80
Pros: The company guarantees the ride will be free if the driver picks you up even one minute late. The new eight-seat Ford Expedition that picked us up had a control panel in the middle row that lets riders tune into the radio station of their choice and a ceiling DVD player on which we watched a movie - "The Pursuit of Happyness" - provided by the chauffeur.
Cons: The website offered outdated information. The round-the-clock reservation line is only answered after 7 a.m. - although after the Globe asked about this, the company said it would resume staffing the line 24 hours. And the online price sheet states a ride between Cambridge and Boston costs $37, so we were shocked our rate quote was double that.
The final word: The company picks up throughout New England for drop-offs in Greater Boston. Kudos to the company for being the only one out of the dozen we checked to post an extensive city-by-city price list online. But the outdated prices - which the company said will be fixed by publication of this article - undermine the company's credibility.