private car hire: Bath-Southampton?
 

We'll be in Bath for several days pre-cruise. Are hoping to stop in Salisbury and maybe Stonehenge on way to Southampton. Can't do train, so will need to hire private transfer/tour. Suggestions on which companies might be most reliable and reasonably priced much appreciated.

Any particular reason why you can't do train as the option I would choose would be train to Salisbury, drop luggage at hotel then bus to Stonehenge before continuing to Southampton the next day

Presumably they want to stop by Stonehenge en route the same day as leaving Bath and arriving Soton.

Absolutely no idea. I'd hire a car in a similar position in Italy or the US. But there's this bizarre terror they've all got of driving here....

I honestly doubt there's much expertise on this forum. I'd just google for a quote.

Absolutely can't do train (too old/too much luggage). Don't want to overnight in Salisbury (would love to, but don't have time).
Need to go from Bath to Southampton, hopefully with a stop or two along way.

OK -- flanner has it right. Rent a car for the day. Pickup in Bath, drop in Southampton. Rent from the afternoon prior if you want to get an early morning start.

Drive to Stonehenge, drive to Salisbury, finally drive to Southampton, drop car and take a cab for the short distance to the port. to the port. This will save you hundreds of £££ - and since you won't be jet lagged, the drive should be easy.

I appreciate people trying to help, but I guess I didn't make myself clear. At this stage of our lives, we need "help" to still be able to travel. My husband does not drive anymore, even at home, and I'm no longer comfortable driving outside the States. We could just "pack it in" and stay home, but we've had some terrific trips in recent years; we just need drivers and guides (not always guides, definitely drivers).

Then you need to google private car hire companies as flanneruk suggested. You'll find that a number of taxi companies will do such trips. For a start just google taxi companies or private car hire in Bath.

Midway Motor Travel advertises in <I> Realm</I> magazine www.midwaymotortravel.com and Forum Cars www.forumcars.co.uk has ads in <I> In Britain </I> but I have no personal experience with either. I suggest you try locally first ie.Bath

I've see the same ads historytraveler mentions. You can also contact the Tourist Information Centre in Bath to see if they have references.

http://visitbath.co.uk/site/travel-a...st-information

You might try Trip Advisor, Bath, UK Forums as there are usually some local experts who can respond better to such specific requests. Also try/google Southampton for chauffered cars/taxis.

There should be a lot of local firms in Bath offering such a service. Most taxi and chauffeur-driven car services offer it. Often called excursion or tour. Yellow pages (yell.com) should have a listing. You can usually book by phone. The distance is only around 60 miles so easily done in a day. You will probably have to pay for the driver's lunch.

Googling brings up a few firms:
http://www.drive-u.co.uk/index.php
http://www.chauffeurlink.co.uk/leisure-tours.htm
http://www.chariotsofleisure.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.spright.co.uk/
http://www.a-classcars.co.uk/
http://www.parkerprestige.co.uk/