Getting A Cab & Accuracy of RI Grocery Service

[kylieh]

Hi all - Our plan to get from LV to Anaheim was to originally rent a car - with my coupon code from my work for Hertz and insurance I was quite happy with the one-way rental price. I've been visualising the driving on the other side and I'm feeling quite comfortable, but the more DH thinks about, the more unsure he is feeling.

My first option then to obtain groceries- how easy is it to hail a cab from the side of the road in Anaheim? My reason is I was planning on going grocery shopping on arrival (can't do online ordering with international CC). I know I could get the hotel to call me a cab, but would the shop do it for the return? How hard would it be to hail a cab? Do they line up outside supermarkets? Can I request the driver to order me a cab for an hour later?

Our other option is to fax Residence Inn Maingate our grocery list, I'm thinking that they may do that for us to be ready on arrival. Are they pretty accurate with their purchases and brands (if any)? EG, if I walk through the Albertsons or Vons website to see what I could purchase generally, would they follow our requests? How is the fruit?

I'm confused and an overplanner as always

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't know about the cab thing...I have a feeling that they don't just wander the streets like one imagines in NYC, but I don't know.

As for driving on the other side...I did it in Ireland, and with a good navigator I never had problems! Well, OK, she did the intake-of-breath thing instead of communicating with me, and that was ANNOYING, but I still didn't have a problem. Luckily in the States, rental cars are almost always automatic transmissions, so that makes it less confusing for you. In Ireland, at least in the 90s, I couldn't have gotten an automatic if I paid a million dollars for it, so I was on the other side of the road, other side of the car, AND dealing with the stick shift with my other hand! Zoiks! But it was still OK.

If you feel comfy, then you can ask him to be the "make sure I'm on the correct side of the road" person, and you can focus on the driving part.


I've shopped online, and have had things substituted, or just missing if I checked the "do not substitute" box...for me it's annoying b/c Von's/Safeway is where I shop and I know what I want and want what I want....but knowing how different things are from country to country, I know that I wouldn't be so specific elsewhere. (though there was no online shopping when I was in Ireland, so maybe I would be!) You could probably let them know...substitute size if needed, or substitute brand if needed...or just don't bring it at all, if that's your choice.

 

[mariezp]

We did not go to the grocery store but we did have Desert Inn call us a cab to take us to Torrance for Jiu-Jitsu classes for my son. The cab driver was extremely nice and when we told he we would need a ride back he told us to call him again. We called probably 90 minutes later and he had just hung around waiting for us. So I would guess that they would probably be willing for you to call them back if you went for groceries too.

When the driver showed up we were surprised because he was actually driving a town car. I don't recall the exact rate but it was just about the same as the cab service we had from the airport but a much nicer ride than the cab. (I don't think it had any shocks left! )

The company that DI called was A Plus Limo. I can highly recommend their driver Sunday. He was very pleasant, a good driver and even spoke English! His number was (714) 420-3873, for anyone that might be interested.

 

[Danauk]

I can't offer any advice about the cab or food shopping situation but wanted to say a few things about driving on the 'wrong' side of the road. As some one who lives in England we face this every time we visit both main land Europe and the USA. Every time we go to America we rent a car, plus we have driven around mainland Europe in our own car (we drive to Disneyland Paris, plus we drive to France to the hypermarkets a few times a year.) Once you begin driving on the other side of the road, the rest is easy as you naturally want to go around roundabouts, make turns in the opposite way to what we are used to. We have driven around Florida plus driven from San Diego to Las Vegas before, plus we are doing a lot of driving in the summer (Anaheim to Hollywood to Las Vegas) and we are not worried about it. To be honest I am more worried about driving an automatic when I am used to my stick shift!! The only thing I am going to make sure about it that I remember to pack my sat nav!!
Have a good trip, I'm sure you will be fine driving.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hi all - Our plan to get from LV to Anaheim was to originally rent a car - with my coupon code from my work for Hertz and insurance I was quite happy with the one-way rental price. I've been visualising the driving on the other side and I'm feeling quite comfortable, but the more DH thinks about, the more unsure he is feeling.

My first option then to obtain groceries- how easy is it to hail a cab from the side of the road in Anaheim? My reason is I was planning on going grocery shopping on arrival (can't do online ordering with international CC). I know I could get the hotel to call me a cab, but would the shop do it for the return? How hard would it be to hail a cab? Do they line up outside supermarkets? Can I request the driver to order me a cab for an hour later?

Our other option is to fax Residence Inn Maingate our grocery list, I'm thinking that they may do that for us to be ready on arrival. Are they pretty accurate with their purchases and brands (if any)? EG, if I walk through the Albertsons or Vons website to see what I could purchase generally, would they follow our requests? How is the fruit?

I'm confused and an overplanner as always

The only problem with the RI gocery service is where we so we did not tell them the brand of water we wanted so they did not pick it up, other than that it has been superb.
Ordering needs to been completed prior to 0930 so they can get the order completed in time for your arrival. Make sure they know you are traveling international, they have no way to store your grocery's in the lobby, etc.

Jack

 

[keishashadow]

we're used to driving on the right side of the road and are still nervous about driving from LasVegas to DLeven though it'll be early on a Friday morn i'm leery of 12 lane highways/unfamiliar roads

i have a free day coming on National; so it's not too bad of a rate.

secretly hoping that SW will have a sale & we can jump a plane instead to SNA

anyone know if any of the towncar companies will agree/negotiate to a grocery stop?

quite common @ WDW ; perhaps a taxi (if we run thru the store while the meter runs lol)

 

[kylieh]

even though it'll be early on a Friday morn i'm leery of 12 lane highways/unfamiliar roads

I've read a lot of peoples thoughts overall about driving on the other side - and it's funny how what we're most worried about it what we're not used to. I'm thinking, wow, "12 lanes, I've done 8 in Sydney, 12 is ok" I can't wait!!! I've changed lanes in peak hour on the Sydney Harbour Bridge many times, can almost do it in my sleep - the traffic is the easy bit. Maybe we should all get together, all us unsure on one-thing only type drivers and make the trip together!!!

I said to DH as long as he stays awake (just to be sure I'm doing the right thing) between LV and Anaheim I'm happy to drive it. I'm used to doing long distance trips and taking my break every 2 hours.

anyone know if any of the towncar companies will agree/negotiate to a grocery stop? quite common @ WDW ; perhaps a taxi (if we run thru the store while the meter runs lol)

I like those ideas, for our cab driver it would be easy $$$ It takes me an hour where I'm familiar doing groceries when I have DD & DH with me, imagine when we have all these brands we're not familiar with. I think that the shop will be a tourist type thing if we end up there as well IYKWIM!!!!!

In all seriousness, I noticed that either Vons or Albertsons had a pick up service, so I have emailed which ever one to find out if you pay at pick up. That way I can investigate and order before we leave (as someone who likes to cook and reads labels all this facinates me), grab a cab to pick up, the cab can wait for 5 minutes or so, then return to the hotel.

 

[fairycat]

A couple tidbits, first we all wish that the 15 (the major freeway you will take most of the way from LV to Anaheim) was twelve lanes. It is actually 2 for a very large (and BORING) portion of the trip.

Also for people who are new to driving in the area I will also warn you of a few other "habits" in the area. You will have a large portion of drivers going 85 (low end) to 100+ MPH who will do anything to pass you and can be in right or left lane. Then you will have those doing 55 MPH or less (note its mostly a 70MPH speed limit) who will block you at all costs and can even make the trucks that also travel the roads heavily feel the need to pass them.

I don't say this to scare anyone from driving to or from LV, I say it more to prepare you. They are having more Cops on the road but they have been saying that and it doesn't change much. Just try to keep with the flow of traffic and try not to let the idiots around you bug you haha!!