girlonthego

Best way to get around Manhattan. I am traveling with my mom who does not want to use public transit. So, taxis, ubers and car services? Have done some research, but the recommendations seem older.
I would have just taken cabs, but my mom wants a car waiting after we come out of late show up at Lincoln center. So, I would like to give her piece of mind by booking a car pick up ahead of time. Have never used uber before, but have rode once in an uber with a friend who ordered it. I signed up for an account.
So New Yorkers, or recent travelers, what are your favorite car services or do you love Uber. Thanks!

IMDonehere

I am old and I can't stand Uber. But your Mom is right on one account, many a night it is hard to get a cab immediately after a Lincoln Center event.

I have never used Carmel car for a Manhattan to Manhattan trip but use them often for trips to the airports. Their number is 212 666-6666.

girlonthego

Thanks IMdonehere. I have read some really bad reviews of Carmel. She is looking at Automotive NYC limo? I have heard of Dial 7 as well...

nytraveler

The largest basic car services (not corporate services with uniform drivers and limos which are much more expensive) are Carmel and Dial 7. We usually use the latter but I've not heard many complaints about either (since they do so many hundred rides per days there will always be some complaints). If she doesn't want to use Carmel then go with Dial 7. Just make sure you reserve in advance, identify a very specific pick up spot, have a price fixed and understand that it is plus tip (20%).

Never heard of Automotive NYC.

sf7307

Uber is not an "order in advance" service, it's strictly "on demand" meaning you click on it and order it when you need the car, and the app will tell you how long it will be. So if tons of people at LincolnCenter order Uber cars before you do, it may be awhile, or if there are a lot of cars in the area at the time, it might not.

HappyTrvlr

I have never had one bad experience with Carmel in many years.always on time, often early.

doug_stallings

Car services can be booked by the hour if you want to have a driver on call. This will be extraordinarily expensive, but perhaps your mother has money to burn. If so, I'd do that and then you don't have to worry about waiting for a taxi to come. You'll have your driver's number and will just call as any other rich person with a chauffeur does.

If you are looking just to call someone when you're ready to move from one sight to the next, I'd use Uber. But taxis are pretty reliably present these days, especially with Uber as competition, and except after the theater and during shift changes, I rarely have to wait for more than a minute or two anymore.

I am also old and find all these apps give me a headache.

But I'll just warn you. I find it's counterproductive NOT to take public transit sometimes when traffic is bad. It takes far longer to take a taxi, and depending on where you're going it can be quite a bit faster. I tried to take a taxi to dinner one Friday night and was stuck in traffic for 45 minutes and still only halfway to the restaurant. I jumped on the subway and was there in 10 minutes. I'm still too impatient to wait and not rich enough to have a chauffeur waiting for me.

But there are also other ride-sharing services that are cheaper, at least per ride.

Gett, for example, will take you virtually anywhere in Manhattan for $10; you have to download and use their app and be willing to share. The downside is that it's $10 per person (it's really aimed at single people who don't want to pay for a whole taxi ride).

Via is just $5 per ride, making it quite reasonable for two. But again, these are shared rides and you have to use the app.

Arro is an app calls a regular taxi for you. It's tied into the taxi payment system citywide.

None of these is going to help you find a taxi after a performance at Lincoln Center I'm afraid. It's just a madhouse after the opera or ballet.

girlonthego

Thanks everyone! Will figure out what mom wants to do. Would take the subway myself except late at night, but it is her trip, so we will see. Thanks again.

nytraveler

Want to reinforce that getting out of a performance at Lincoln Center there are always way more passengers than there are cabs.

We often walk home. Or if the weather is bad will walk 3 or 4 blocks uptown to catch a cab. But if your mother is not comfortable with that I would definitely get a car service.

soogies

Agree with a couple posts. My daughter often uses the subway instead of cabs, uber, etc following a show. Much faster.

But if your mom doesn't mind the cost, then car service booked in advance is good. I personally have had better service with Dial 7 rather than Carmel. My daughter uses both and likes both.

ekscrunchy

I use Allen and have always been pleased with them. If you book in advance they charge more but you are sure of getting a car. (Not to the airport, then price is the same and you must call the day before)

At the last minute it will cost less but in rush hours they maybe not have enough cars. We always use them for JFk and LaG..cannot speak highly enough about them. In fact they had a contract with my Mom's fancy senior living place in Tribeca which is how I found out about them. If they pleased all those older women, well. you can imagine!! They are also known now as AJ. Drivers are mostly Dominican and unfailingly polite and know shortcuts to JFk that I never heard about after decades of living here in Manhattan.

Barring that, I've been using UBER and of course yellow taxis…...



http://www.ajaycar.com/