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Hi - I'm having a baby really soon and we're planning to use a car service to get me to the hospital (in Midtown) when the time comes. So... what's the MOST reliable car service in Prospect Heights? The one that has never, ever failed you, regardless of the time of night, the one that doesn't have smelly cars and suicidal drivers? Don't need a service w/a car seat since to come home we will use our own car. Thanks!
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There is no such animal. Arecibo is pretty good, but they've definitely failed me before. If the time comes and your contractions are pretty close together, you should just call 911. That way, if things go quicker than expected, you've got an EMT instead of a cabbie to help out.
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Arecibo has never let me down... we travel quite a bit for work. They've always come within 5 minutes of me calling them. I haven't used them in the middle of the night, but early morning thru late evening has never been a problem.
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I have recently started using "United" car service. They always seem to be the ones that arent' busy, when everyone elses lines are busy.They were ready and available on Halloween night, when every other car service in brooklyn was without cars. They also showed up within 3 minutes last Wednesday, when I was rushing to LGA for thanksgiving. Ive used them around 5 times, and have never had a problem. (United Express Car & Limo SVC 1025 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11238-2902View Map (718) 399-3939 ) Arecibo..... I havent had good luck with them. Once I got a guy who was obviously drunk, another time, a guy would nod off everytime he'd stop at a red light. Two scary rides, havent used them since. And Evelyn... I dont even see why they are still in business. They NEVER answer their phones!my beat is correct.
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Thanks - maybe we will try United if it's the middle of the night. Calling 911 not a great idea in this case, since apparently they will take you to whatever hospital they work with or is closest - NOT the one where you plan to deliver!
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ProspectPlaceGirl » And Evelyn... I dont even see why they are still in business. They NEVER answer their phones!
Amen to that. They have left me stranded at the airport more times than I can count. And I travel for work a fair amount and my favorite was the last time when they didn't have any receipts even... which I always specify I need beforehand. I've gotten used to their inability to take credit cards, but at least have a freaking receipt handy.:evil: Never again. good to know about United. Maybe I'll try them next time. -
PH_dreamin » Thanks - maybe we will try United if it's the middle of the night. Calling 911 not a great idea in this case, since apparently they will take you to whatever hospital they work with or is closest - NOT the one where you plan to deliver!
Not true. The law changed under Giuliani, and you can ask to be taken to a specific hospital (within reasonable limits- you couldn't get picked up in Brooklyn and ask to go to Weiler in the Bronx). If you live anywhere around here, you can definitely call 911 and ask to be taken to Methodist. They are not allowed to divert you to the hospital they work with- it's against the law. They'll often bring patients to my ER based on their request even if we're on 911 diversion because there aren't any beds. -
aricebo took me to the LICH birth center when I had my baby (1am, this time last year). They were perfectly fine, but we did have the phone numbers of other services in case. I did wait at home for a long while before we called (went when the contractions were every 2 minutes) and the driver was quite calm as I was groaning in the back seat. only in new york...
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Carnivore - hmm, interesting! they certainly didn't have that info at the childbirth class we took. anyways, since I am delivering in Manhattan, I would prefer to travel by car than by ambulance. also I don't want to get into medical emergency territory - I will hopefully have plenty of time to get there...
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PH_dreamin » Carnivore - hmm, interesting! they certainly didn't have that info at the childbirth class we took. anyways, since I am delivering in Manhattan, I would prefer to travel by car than by ambulance. also I don't want to get into medical emergency territory - I will hopefully have plenty of time to get there...
Sounds like a good idea. I'm also not sure if you can make the ambulance go inter-boro. -
just to update since we had a, um, trial run getting to the hospital last night. my husband called United and after a few frustrating attempts at not getting put on hold they said they'd come in 5 minutes. and they did! car was fine, but driver had some interesting ideas about the fastest way to get a woman in labor to Roosevelt Hospital (59th & 10th Ave). he quit the West Side Hwy in Chelsea and started up 10th Ave, which at that hour was clogged with exiting clubbers and other revelers, and mucho, mucho traffic. it got worse as we approached the Lincoln Tunnel! I was breathing, breathing, breathing. finally we pushed through. I didn't have the baby last night, but we would use United again given the same sitch, just be more forceful about the driver following the route that we would like!
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PH_dreamin » just to update since we had a, um, trial run getting to the hospital last night. my husband called United and after a few frustrating attempts at not getting put on hold they said they'd come in 5 minutes. and they did! car was fine, but driver had some interesting ideas about the fastest way to get a woman in labor to Roosevelt Hospital (59th & 10th Ave). he quit the West Side Hwy in Chelsea and started up 10th Ave, which at that hour was clogged with exiting clubbers and other revelers, and mucho, mucho traffic. it got worse as we approached the Lincoln Tunnel! I was breathing, breathing, breathing. finally we pushed through. I didn't have the baby last night, but we would use United again given the same sitch, just be more forceful about the driver following the route that we would like!
hurrah! take care of yourself and good luck!like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote -
INTERNATIONAL on Washington is the most reliable and honest I've found. 718-230-0808 Arecibo lies to you on the phone about how long it will take a driver to come (a couple of months ago, I took them out of my quickdial) and yes, Evelyn is not consistent enough.
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Subject: bad experience with monaco on washington!
I use Monaco Car Service fairly regularly as I live on the same block as they are located. They are generally okay, but yesterday I had a horrible experience! They apparently couldn't decide who was next to take a client and began literally fighting and cursing in front of me, while one driver actually dragged my bag away! I felt like I was being taken prisoner during this rather unprofessional argument. In any case, he refused to answer the base's calls while I was in the car and was text messaging while driving down eastern parkway to JFK. I told him to please keep his eyes on the road and not on the phone in his lap. He said eventually turned back and said "Thank you very much for your advice." I don't know if we had a language barrier, but he kept doing it! I was about to jump out of the cab! Finally he answered the base, claiming I never told him where I was going and that is why he never responded. Which is a total lie! I told him before I even got in the cab! My experience was reckless, unprofessional, ill coordinated, and downright scary. I didn't tip and frankly I may never use them again! -
No contest!!!!! It's Continental--at least in my experience, they come the fastest and tend to be polite and not cracked out. I agree about Areceibo--I have TWICE had drivers DOING DRUGS IN THE CAR!!!! There's this stuff the drivers sniff--it's a smelly liquid--I think something like "poppers." Anyways, totally vile and scary. Continental is 718 499 0909Folle dont je suis affolée,
Je te hais autant que je t'aime! -
Did you have the baby yet?
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Subject: damn!@!!
anniewilde » No contest!!!!! It's Continental--at least in my experience, they come the fastest and tend to be polite and not cracked out. I agree about Areceibo--I have TWICE had drivers DOING DRUGS IN THE CAR!!!! There's this stuff the drivers sniff--it's a smelly liquid--I think something like "poppers." Anyways, totally vile and scary. Continental is 718 499 0909
SOOOO unprofessional of Areceibo. Anyway, I am coming home around 8am on Thursday from the airport (JFK) Any idea how much that might cost to the neighborhood? Should I call a car or take a yellow cab? Thanks -
Subject: Re: damn!@!!
brooklynleather » [quote="anniewilde"]No contest!!!!! It's Continental--at least in my experience, they come the fastest and tend to be polite and not cracked out. I agree about Areceibo--I have TWICE had drivers DOING DRUGS IN THE CAR!!!! There's this stuff the drivers sniff--it's a smelly liquid--I think something like "poppers." Anyways, totally vile and scary. Continental is 718 499 0909
SOOOO unprofessional of Areceibo. Anyway, I am coming home around 8am on Thursday from the airport (JFK) Any idea how much that might cost to the neighborhood? Should I call a car or take a yellow cab? Thanks[/quote] a yellow will cost as much or less as a car. just direct them to take atlantic avenue.like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote -
Which area car services take credit cards?===
Doing just fine, thank you. -
a friend of mine uses an independent car service owner, Angelo Guzman, because he has his own car seat for her kids. he's really child friendly and reliable, so I'm assuming he'd be a good bet for a woman on her way to a delivery. his number - 917.892.2273. the only drawback is that he's on 17th street in Park Slope, so I'm not sure how long it'd take him to get to Prospect Heights in an emergency. hopefully, you'll have enough time to prepare for the hospital. good luck!
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Medusa » Did you have the baby yet?
yup! 12/20. it's a boy!
we used United to get to the hospital, around 5 a.m. that day. as I mentioned before, they don't take kindly to calls to "reserve" a car the night before, but when you call & need a car right away, they send one FAST. -
PH_dreamin » [quote="Medusa"]Did you have the baby yet?
yup! 12/20. it's a boy!
we used United to get to the hospital, around 5 a.m. that day. as I mentioned before, they don't take kindly to calls to "reserve" a car the night before, but when you call & need a car right away, they send one FAST.[/quote]
congrats and thanks for the tip on the fast service!like a smoked meat with an earthy youth overnote -
Side note: the only reason I ask about credit cards is because I mostly use car services for work...and I prefer to use my company card, rather than front the company money by paying cash. Last week, I called Carmel to take me to LGA because I knew they'd take AmEx. Ugh.===
Doing just fine, thank you. -
Updating in preparation for birth of my NEXT kid... What's the latest and greatest in car services in PH?
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After years of Evelyn's curt unpleasantness and fluctuating fares, Arecibo Car Service is excellent. Courteous and prompt and utterly reliable. If you use credit card, tho, be sure to tell them when you call for the car."My sole ambition in life is to toss an egg into an electric fan."
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I've been 99.9% happy with Areceibo. I live near Evelyn's base but they STINK, and Araceibo always shows up, and usually within the 5 minutes they say.Proud to be a naturalized citizen of the greatest city on earth.
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Thanks - so I shouldn't be scared off of Arecibo from the poster on Yelp who reported a couple of their drivers were snorting some kind of drug?
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I've used Arecibo to go to JFK and LGA probably every other week for the last five years--never had a problem. They always say "five minutes" and it's rarely longer than ten.
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We were going to use International (they've never ever let us down) but Dr Mrs J happened to cycle to the hospital that day. The only hassle was that I had to ride both bikes home after the birth, as we hadn't thought ahead to buy a baby trailer.The world will little note nor long remember what we say here. -- Abraham Lincoln
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