Global Rider Limousine - Kona, Hawaii

Whenever we travel, we prefer to pre-schedule transfers between airport and ship or hotel. Trying to negotiate with taxis can be a hassle, at best. On a recent Hawaii trip, we were planning a hotel stay at the end of a cruise in Kona, Hawaii. After contacting Alex at Global Rider Limousine, we arranged to have a Town Car transfer from the port to the hotel, and from the hotel to the aiport the following day. Even before we disembarked our ship in Kona, we could see Igor dockside waiting for us.

Igor with Global Rider waits for us at the port in Kona, Hawaii

After disembarking, Igor loaded our luggage and we were on our way to our hotel, about a 20-minute drive from the pier. Upon arriving at our hotel's security gate, we learned that we would not be allowed to access the property until after 12 noon. Apparently, the hotel was sold out to a private company the night before and was not open to the public until after 12 noon. So, what to do? Igor graciously offered to drive us into the city of Kona, or to nearby Waikaloa Village. We decided on Waikaloa as it was only 10 minutes from the hotel and our contact at the hotel agreed to pick us up after 12 noon and take us to the hotel. The mark of a good company is how they respond to an unexpected situation, and Igor handled it perfectly! He dropped us at a Starbucks where we had Internet access and the nearby shopping was a good distraction for the next two hours.

Igor drops us off at Starbucks

For our drive from our hotel in Kona to the aiport, Yuri, showed up right on time at our hotel. As it turns out, Yuri is Igor's brother! Once again, the Lincoln Town Car was spotlessly clean, comfortable and outfitted with two bottles of water for our convenience. Yuri was every bit as personable as Igor, and got us to the airport right on time.

Yuri drops us off at the Kona Airport

In addition to airport and hotel transfers, Global Rider offers a variety of private island tours and has a range of vehicles including SUVs and vans. We would not hesitate to recommend Global Rider whenever a pre-/post-cruise stay in Kona is in your plans. And, if you cruise to Hawaii, a pre-/post-cruise stay in Kona is a MUST!

You can get more information about Global Rider by visiting their website.

Larry's Limos - Miami

On a recent cruise out of Miami we chose to fly into Fort Lauderdale to save some considerable money on airline tickets. However, that meant we needed a convenient and fast way to get from FLL to the Port of Miami. A quick Internet search led us to Larry's Limo (www.larryslimo.com). We wasted no time in booking a meet-and-greet transfer upon our arrival and an additional transfer from the Port of Miami to the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale for a post-cruise stay.

Meet-and-Greet In Fort Lauderdale

When we arrived at Fort Lauderdale International airport, we made our way down to the baggage claim area where we found Kenny Jr. waiting for us, sign in hand.

Kenny Jr. is waiting for us when we arrive in Fort Lauderdale

After our checked luggage arrived, Kenny assisted us with our rolling bags out to the vehicle. The "limo" is actually a brand new Chrysler 300, not the typical Lincoln Town Car. This was our first time to ride in the big Chrysler and we were impressed. The black leather seats were plush and comfortable and the ride was very nice and quiet. Kenny was also very conversational and informed us that the drive would only take about 25 minutes since it was Saturday and there is a new tunnel that goes directly to the Port of Miami which means no more weaving through downtown Miami!

The new tunnel leading to the Port of Miami

Kenny was right, we arrived at the pier in under 30 minutes. Our luggage was unloaded and we were on our way to enjoy an 8-night Carnival cruise. Of course, we could have purchased the Carnival transfer for $25, but then we would have to wait at the airport for Carnival to fill a bus, then be shuffled on to that bus with 50 other people. The last thing we want is to stand in any more crowded lines. A private transfer is a little luxury that we have decided we cannot live without.

Transfer From Port of Miami to Hotel

We had pre-arranged for Larry's to pick us up at the end of our cruise outside the port terminal at 10am. We planned to disembark the ship at around 9:15 and figured it would take at least 45 minutes to get through Customs and Immigration. We were shocked when we found ourselves standing outside the terminal at 9:15 instead of 10am! Carnival did a great job with disembarkation, so we were 45 minutes early. No problem. I called Larry's Limo and the dispatcher told me he would contact our driver. A couple of minutes later I got a call back from Mike, our driver, telling me he was just a few minutes away. Sure enough, in less than five minutes, Mike drove up in another brand new Chrysler 300C.

Mike, our Larry's Limo driver

Mike loaded our luggage and we were off to the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale. Mike was also very easy to talk to and filled us in on the 25-year history of Larry's Limo. Apparently, Larry's has been serving the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area for quite some time. They offer a variety of transfer services to individuals, celebrities and large groups. Larry's has everything from sedans, like the Chrysler 300, to stretch limos, 15-passenger vans, 24- and 38-passenger mini-buses and 61-passenger luxury motor coaches.

Chrysler 300 is quiet and luxurious

There's really not a lot you can say about a limousine service when everything goes right. The vehicles were clean and comfortable, the drivers were polite and on time. What more can you ask? We now have a reliable car service we can depend on when we travel to Miami-Fort Lauderdale.

The cost for a transfer from FLL to the Port of Miami is approximately $ 70 + gratuity.
The cost for a transfer from the Port of Miami to a Ft. Lauderdale hotel is approximately $85 + gratuity.

For more information, contact Larry's Limo at www.LarrysLimo.com or call toll-free 1-800-611-6631.

Full Disclosure: It is customary for companies to provide journalists with complimentary services for the purpose of reviewing the product or service. CruiseReport.com editors were provided with a complimentary transfer in exchange for this review. However, we never guarantee a positive review of any product or service provided to our journalists.

Originally posted on: 9/10/2014

Limousine Basel

On a recent river cruise assignment that embarked in Basel, Switzerland, we were in need of a reliable transfer/limo service to take us from our hotel (Swissôtel Le Plaza) to our river cruise boat. As some of you may already know, we like to pre-book our transfers in foreign countries before we leave the USA. We have had a few bad experiences relying solely on local overseas taxi companies. Therefore, a few weeks before our trip, I reached out to Patrick at Limousine Basel. Within a few hours, I received an email reply from Patrick confirming the transfer. The email also included Patrick's phone number in Basel so we could call him if our plans changed.

A minivan transfer to your river cruise boat is the only way to go!

A quick look at Patrick's website reveals that he provides a wide variety of transportation services including airport transfers, transfers to/from Zurich, sightseeing tours and, of course, cruise ship transfers

The real test of a good transfer company is how well they can deal with changing situations. We received an email from our cruise company the day before we left the USA informing us that our boat would not be able to make it to Basel for our embarkation. Instead, the cruise company would provide us with a coach transfer from Basel to the ship which would be docked in Breisach, Germany, but we had to meet them at the Radisson Blu hotel in Basel the morning of embarkation. I emailed Patrick right before we departed the USA for Switzerland to inquire if he could change our transfer destination to the Radisson Blu hotel instead of the riverboat. In less than an hour I received an email from Patrick letting me know that it would not be a problem. That is good service, especially considering there is a seven-hour time difference between Switzerland and the United States!

Patrick's Mercedes minivan

On the day of our riverboat embarkation, Patrick showed up right on time at our hotel. In fact, he was a little early! Our luggage was loaded into his new Mercedes minivan and off we went to the Radisson Blu hotel. The Mercedes minivan is perfect for cruise travelers because it can hold a lot of luggage, and up to six passengers. Often, when you call a taxi in Europe, they show up in a small Toyota or similar and there is little space, if any, for luggage.

Patrick and Rickee pose for a photo before we leave Swissôtel

The drive to the Radisson Blu was less than 15 minutes, but with luggage for three weeks of travel, a transfer is a must. We were very impressed with Patrick's service and his personality. His Mercedes minivan was spotlessly clean and very comfortable. The next time we travel to Switzerland, we would not hesitate to contact Patrick for our transfer needs. We highly recommend his services.

For more information on Limousine Basel, go to http://www.limousine-service-switzerland.com
On Twitter:@LimousineBasel
On Google+:https://plus.google.com/+Limousine-service-baselCh/posts
On Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/patrick.limousine.service
On LinkedIn: @limousineserviceswitzerland
On Instagram:https://instagram.com/taxi.limousine.basel/

Athen's Custom Taxi Tours

We are huge fans of private tours. Cruise line shore excursions are fine, but they are expensive, regimented and often crowded. In short, it is not the best way to see a city, certainly not a great city like Athens. Of course, when you opt for a private tour of a city, who do you trust? Athens Custom Taxi Tours is not only highly rated on TripAdvisor, but we have personally used the service on a recent cruise to Athens.

We first met Dimitris Stamatelatos in 2008 when we were in Athens to board a Regent[end] Seven Seas cruise. Dimitris met us at the Athens airport and provided a transfer (http://www.stargroup.gr/) to the ship in Piraeus. The transfer gave us time to get to know him and we have stayed in touch through Facebook ever since. We knew that whenever we returned to Athens, we would like to take advantage of Dimitris' private taxi tour service (athenscustomtaxitours.com).

I contacted Dimitris a few weeks before our cruise aboard Paul Gauguin Cruises' m/v Tere Moana, which disembarked in Athens, to arrange a private taxi tour. As promised, Dimitris was at the cruise terminal in Piraeus to meet us as we exited the terminal building. Dimitris escorted us to his Mercedes taxi, which has been impeccably maintained. His taxi even is equipped with free Wi-Fi, so you can check your email or update your Facebook page during your tour!

Before leaving Piraeus for Athens, we stopped at a great place to see the huge marina located here. One thing you will soon learn, Dimitris loves to take photos for his own Facebook page (@dimitris.stamatelatos). When I contacted Dimitris about the private tour, I mentioned that we had already visited The Acropolis during a visit in 1998, so we really did not need to visit it again. This is another huge advantage of a private tour, it can be tailored to your specific interests. Dimitris has more than a dozen different tour packages on his website that range from 1/2-day tours to multi-day tours. And, he offers tours specifically designed for cruise ship passengers who have to be back on board their ship at a certain time.

The large marina of Piraeus in the background

After a short drive to Athens, thanks in part to the fact that this is Saturday and traffic is much lighter than normal, Dimitris drives us to one of the highest points in Athens. We have a great panoramic view of the city, including the Acropolis. Along the way, Dimitris takes time to identify historical points of interest. And, since this is a private tour, any time we had a question, all we had to do was ask. And by the way, Dimitris has an answer for everything!

A great view of Athens in the background

We drove through town where Dimitris pointed out "The Trilogy", The Academie, The University and The Library. The historic architecture with Greek columns is impressive.

The Academie

Good fortune had us passing the Parliament just as the changing of the guard was about to occur. Dimitris pulled the taxi over and parked so we could get out and watch the ceremony. Again, try doing this on a motor coach tour with 45 of your cruise buddies. It ain't gonna happen.

Changing of the guard at Parliament

What really made the day special was when Dimitris presented us with a hand-painted stone that his daughter made for us. That was very special indeed!

A special gift from Dimitris' daughter

After a short drive through Plaka, the old city of Athens, we asked Dimitris if he could take us to a local Greek restaurant. We did not want a "touristy" place, but one where the locals like to eat. That did not take long. Soon, Dimitris was double-parking in front of a local restaurant and were enjoying an incredible meal of Souvlaki (thin sliced pork, tzatzki, french fries, tomato, and onions in a pita bread roll), Greek beer, fried potatoes and Tzatzki (Greek yogurt with garlic, lemon juice, onion, cucumber and dill), followed by a platter of deliciously sweet watermelon. The meal was amazing and one that you will only get if you know a local Greek like Dimitris! He did all the ordering for us in Greek, so it pays to have a friend that speaks the language.

We all toast "Yiamis" at a local restaurant

Do I look like I am enjoying the Souvlaki?

After the delicious lunch, Dimitris returned us to Piraeus port in plenty of time to board our next cruise on SeaDream Yacht Club. This was a great way to spend an afternoon in Athens. Of course, any time you cruise into or out of Athens, you should plan at least three days to really see the city. Whether you are spending a week in Athens, or if you just have a few hours before you have to be back on board your ship, there is only one way to see Athens, and that is by private taxi. Dimitris offers a variety of city tours tailored to fit any traveler's interests and schedule.

While many cruise ship passengers where shuffling through long lines, getting on and off a motor coach, we were enjoying our day in Athens from the leather seat of an air-conditioned Mercedes with Wi-Fi! Before your trip to Athens, contact Dimitris through his website or Facebook page, and tell him you read about him on CruiseReport.com!

You can check out his website at athenscustomtaxitours.com.

EdelSwiss Limousine Service - Basel Switzerland

On a recent trip to Basel, Switzerland, we were in need of an airport transfer to our hotel. After some research, we learned about EdelSwiss Premium Limousine Services (www.edelswiss-limousine.ch). Their website indicates that they offer a wide variety of transfer services as well as sightseeing tours, celebrations, etc. In fact, EdelSwiss offers sightseeing tours for all group sizes in all Swiss cities.

We contacted EdelSwiss through their website to book our airport transfer and quickly received a confirmation email. Sure, we could wait until we arrive in Basel and hire a local taxi to take us into town, but we have learned that after an all-night flight, the last thing we want to deal with is trying to figure out how to get where we are going. Pre-booking a "meet and greet" transfer is the only way to go. We arrived around 11am and as soon as we collected our luggage and walked through Customs, we found Mark with EdelSwiss holding a sign with my name on it.

After a brief introduction, Mark took charge of our luggage and escorted us to his Mercedes van waiting just outside the airport. The minivan was overkill for just the two of us, but it was very comfortable and Mark was happy to point out some interesting sights in Basel on the way to our hotel.

When we arrived at Swissôtel Le Plaza, Mark unloaded our luggage and we said our goodbyes. Mark and EdelSwiss made the process of getting from the airport to our hotel a breeze. That is exactly what we look for in a transfer company.

The transfer from Basel airport to Swissôtel, Basel by Mercedes E class costs CHF110.00 (about $111 US), by Mercedes Viano CHF110.00 or by Mercedes S class CHF120.00.

A transfer from Zurich airport/Zurich city to Basel by Mercedes E Class executive sedan would cost CHF400.00 (approx. $404 US), and by Mercedes S Class VIP sedan CHF450.00. The transfer usually lasts from between 45 minutes to an hour in normal traffic. When there are traffic jams, it can sometimes take a bit longer.

We were impressed with the quick response we received from EdelSwiss and the excellent service. We would not hesitate to use them on future visits to Switzerland, and we can definitely recommend them to our followers.

For more information, check their website at www.edelswiss-limousine.ch

Paris Major Limousine

We disembarked one ship in Cherbourg, France, and took the train to Paris where we spent the night before flying to Valletta the next day to embark another ship. We knew we needed a reliable transfer in Paris to get from our hotel to the airport. After some research on the Internet, I came across Paris Major Limousine. I exchanged a couple of emails with Mahdi Oustani, the Sales Director for Paris Major Limousine (PML), and arranged a transfer.

Travel in a foreign country is stressful enough without having to deal with local taxis. We have learned from experience that it is much better to hire a private car when you know you have to be somewhere, such as the airport to make a flight. As promised, our driver, Gilles, was waiting for us outside our hotel at 8:00am. We were surprised that he was driving a beautiful new top-of-the-line S-Class Mercedes.

S-Class Mercedes from PML

Our luggage was loaded into the trunk and we settled into the plush leather seats. Complimentary bottled water was waiting for us to enjoy on our way to the airport.

We left the hotel and entered the frantic Paris rush-hour traffic. About two blocks from the hotel, Rickee turns to me and says, "Do you have our passports?" I began scanning my memory banks followed by digging through my backpack looking for them. Suddenly I remembered that they are back at the hotel locked in the safe in our room! When I asked Gilles if he could return to the hotel, he said "no problem" and began working his way back through the one-way streets. He told me that it might be quicker if I walked back to the hotel from the corner of the street where it was located because all the one-way streets would make the trip longer, and that he and Rickee would meet me out in front of the hotel. I exited the car and ran the two blocks back to the hotel to retrieve our passports.

By the time I obtained the documents from our safe and made my way back to the front of the hotel, Rickee and Gilles were arriving. I jumped into the backseat and we were once again on our way to the airport. Thankfully, Rickee asked about the passports when she did, or we would have probably missed our flight. Gilles did an excellent job of maneuvering the big Merc through the Paris traffic and got us to the airport in plenty of time. This is where most drivers would pull up to the front of the airport and just drop you off. But not Gilles. He parks the car, unloads our luggage on to a cart and walks us into the airport!

Once inside, Gilles even helps us find the check-in counter for our flight. That is service above and beyond anything we ever expected. After we knew where we were in the airport, Gilles said goodbye and we were on our way to Valletta.

Gilles, PML driver

There is no question that the next time we are traveling to Paris, we will be contacting Paris Major Limousine for our transportation needs. Of course, they offer much more than just airport transfers. And, they have a large fleet of vehicles to serve a variety of needs. Check their website for full details at 1st-limousine-services.com.

Note: A sedan transfer from Hotel InterContinental to CDG would typically cost 115€, the Mercedes S-Class transfer is 195€