CrazedDisFan
<font color=darkorchid>Let's just say there were f
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Messages
- 1,161
We used Prestige for our trip. We were very happy on the arrival leg and very disappointed on the return leg.
Here's a rundown of the town car service we received....
Arrival:
We were met by a smiling face and greeted kindly with a sign bearing our name. Ray, the driver, was very friendly and courteous. He was patient while we waited for our luggage. Luckily, it was all there!
Ray, the drver, helped us take our bags upstairs to wait for him to retrieve the car. He loaded the luggage in the trunk and we set out on our way to the Caribbean Beach. He was chatty and extremely friendly the entire way. We had requested a stop at the grocery store prior to the hotel. We stopped at Publix and I rushed into buy some breakfast items. Dh and the kids stayed in the car and dh stated that they had a nice conversation about Florida, fishing and our home state. Upon my return to the car (15 minutes) Ray loaded the bags in the trunk and off we went to the hotel. Ray told us Prestige stops at Publix due to its convienent location and reasonable prices. He also stated that for those arriving after 11 p.m. Goodings is the only choice. He said they have ridiculous pricing. There are some price comparisions in the Unofficial Guide and I'd have to agree with Ray!
Ray told us a bit about the Caribbean Beach hotel and unloaded our luggage wishing us well on our vacation. We were VERY satisfied and were happy we chose Prestige. However, on the return to the airport all was about to change.
On our return day, we had requested a 2 1/2 hour prior to flight time pick-up. We were outside at the designated area awaiting our driver on time. Ten minutes past the scheduled pick up time we were still waiting. We phoned Prestige and spoke to Raphael. He instructed us the driver was there waiting for us. I assured him he was not. He said he'd call right back. He did and said the driver was not there and was in route to expect him in the next 5 minutes. Five minutes passed, then 10 and we phoned again. They were now 20 minutes late for scheduled pick up. This time as I hung up the phone the driver pulled in. He jumped out of the car and shouted our last name.
Dh helped him load our bags (not many) into the trunk and then he waited while the driver removed the various fast food packaging from the front seat so dh could sit, (the kids and I were in the back). On our way out of the parking lot, our driver rolled down dh's window and yelled to some other drivers to 'head to the airport. it's packed.' He then said to dh, oh yeh there is a cardiologist convention in town. No 'oops, sorry for screaming in your ear or slamming on the brakes to shout at someone else'.
The driver's name was Jose. We think he was not a Prestige driver but someone contracted by Prestige. The reason we think this is that the front plate of the car read another company's name. Neither of us can recall but only remember it started with a 'c'.
Anyways, he asked where our flight was heading. We told him Detroit. He said to us (mind you there are two young children in back seat upper elementary age).."Did you ever hear of Richard Pryor?" Of course dh said yes. He then proceeded to tell a line from a Richard Pryor comedy sketch regarding African Americans discovering Detroit. It was very deragatory towards African Americans and Detroit. The joke also included 2 swear words. We were not laughing. We did not remotely find it humorous and we have good senses of humor. Now we are caucasians that don't live in Detroit but fly from/to there due to the airport size. I was offended and am certain anyone who met the 'criteria' of the comments would be BEYOND offended.
I quit counting after the 3rd car he cut off in traffic and just simply wished we had used a different service. Dh was not happy to give him a tip and that is a rarity. My husband is a generous tipper. He gave Ray a $20 tip on the arrival leg. He only gave Jose $10 and was not so happy to do so.
Overall, if we could have Ray on both legs we would use Prestige again. But, knowing that is not a guarantee, we will be paying a higher fee for a different service next time.
Here's a rundown of the town car service we received....
Arrival:
We were met by a smiling face and greeted kindly with a sign bearing our name. Ray, the driver, was very friendly and courteous. He was patient while we waited for our luggage. Luckily, it was all there!
Ray, the drver, helped us take our bags upstairs to wait for him to retrieve the car. He loaded the luggage in the trunk and we set out on our way to the Caribbean Beach. He was chatty and extremely friendly the entire way. We had requested a stop at the grocery store prior to the hotel. We stopped at Publix and I rushed into buy some breakfast items. Dh and the kids stayed in the car and dh stated that they had a nice conversation about Florida, fishing and our home state. Upon my return to the car (15 minutes) Ray loaded the bags in the trunk and off we went to the hotel. Ray told us Prestige stops at Publix due to its convienent location and reasonable prices. He also stated that for those arriving after 11 p.m. Goodings is the only choice. He said they have ridiculous pricing. There are some price comparisions in the Unofficial Guide and I'd have to agree with Ray!Ray told us a bit about the Caribbean Beach hotel and unloaded our luggage wishing us well on our vacation. We were VERY satisfied and were happy we chose Prestige. However, on the return to the airport all was about to change.
On our return day, we had requested a 2 1/2 hour prior to flight time pick-up. We were outside at the designated area awaiting our driver on time. Ten minutes past the scheduled pick up time we were still waiting. We phoned Prestige and spoke to Raphael. He instructed us the driver was there waiting for us. I assured him he was not. He said he'd call right back. He did and said the driver was not there and was in route to expect him in the next 5 minutes. Five minutes passed, then 10 and we phoned again. They were now 20 minutes late for scheduled pick up. This time as I hung up the phone the driver pulled in. He jumped out of the car and shouted our last name.
Dh helped him load our bags (not many) into the trunk and then he waited while the driver removed the various fast food packaging from the front seat so dh could sit, (the kids and I were in the back). On our way out of the parking lot, our driver rolled down dh's window and yelled to some other drivers to 'head to the airport. it's packed.' He then said to dh, oh yeh there is a cardiologist convention in town. No 'oops, sorry for screaming in your ear or slamming on the brakes to shout at someone else'.
The driver's name was Jose. We think he was not a Prestige driver but someone contracted by Prestige. The reason we think this is that the front plate of the car read another company's name. Neither of us can recall but only remember it started with a 'c'.
Anyways, he asked where our flight was heading. We told him Detroit. He said to us (mind you there are two young children in back seat upper elementary age).."Did you ever hear of Richard Pryor?" Of course dh said yes. He then proceeded to tell a line from a Richard Pryor comedy sketch regarding African Americans discovering Detroit. It was very deragatory towards African Americans and Detroit. The joke also included 2 swear words. We were not laughing. We did not remotely find it humorous and we have good senses of humor. Now we are caucasians that don't live in Detroit but fly from/to there due to the airport size. I was offended and am certain anyone who met the 'criteria' of the comments would be BEYOND offended.
I quit counting after the 3rd car he cut off in traffic and just simply wished we had used a different service. Dh was not happy to give him a tip and that is a rarity. My husband is a generous tipper. He gave Ray a $20 tip on the arrival leg. He only gave Jose $10 and was not so happy to do so.
Overall, if we could have Ray on both legs we would use Prestige again. But, knowing that is not a guarantee, we will be paying a higher fee for a different service next time.
