Festival CarsLabels: travel, cars, taxiReviewer: Andrew Date: 01/04/2006 Rating: 1/5 Website: www.festivalcitycars.co.uk Festival Cars is often called Festival Cabs and that is an important mistake - this is a private hire car company and not a black cab company. As such Festival Cars are not able to drive in the greenways in Edinburgh and this can make the difference between catching your flight and missing it when you head to the airport. My first experience with Festival Cars was good. A silver Mercedes turned up and whisked me to the airport. The driver was pleasant and we made good time. Despite the sheer luxury of the car I was able to put my small shoulder bag on the seat beside me. Shocking? Not really but one Airport Car (Onward Travel) driver did once complain. My experiences with Festival Cars went down hill from there. In fact, the company contract with them lasted less than 48 hours. The next day and for another trip to the airport the car (any car) did not arrive. I called to chase and was reassured that no order had been placed for the car. I did not make it myself and so that would have been possible. However, a second car ordered at the very same time in the very same phone call by the company PA did arrive on time and take my colleague to the airport. The car which eventually arrived to pick me up (some twenty minutes after arranged) was a simple people carrier. At the same time - exactly the same time and same day - Festival failed to show up a third colleague's house. She had placed the order a day later and herself. When she rang to chase the whereabouts of the car she was told that they were too busy! As a result, my colleague missed her train and was late for her meeting. There is no excuse for a taxi - or a private hire - company to say "we're too busy" when the ride had been ordered a day before. |