11 April
Despite all the current gloom and bad news, it has been a busy week, both for bookings and new enquiries. We have had another busy holiday weekend with several airport runs to Gatwick and Heathrow. There is a party to meet at Southampton as they return from a world cruise on the P&O Aurora, a group to take to Watford Football Club and some French language students to meet at Ashford International Eurostar station and transfer to their host families around East Kent. Plus some wedding guests from Eastwell Manor, a beautiful local period hotel that is a superb wedding venue, to local hotels and clients private homes.
New enquiries recently have included some day tours for a major hospitality company. This was for Hastings to Battle, Bodiam, Tenterden and Rye and a second tour for Hastings to Canterbury and then on to Dover Castle. A local independent driver asked us about looking after some of his American clients as one person in the party is very tall and one of our people-carriers has exceptional legroom. A family from Hong Kong found us via www.Click-a-Cab.co.uk (also www.TaxiAshford.co.uk) and confirmed our services for return travel between Heathrow and their parents home near Ashford. Previous clients booked for Ashford to Dover Cruise Terminal in September, another regular client rang to check our availability for Gatwick in June, and an outstanding quote confirmed for 6 people to Gatwick for their holiday in August.
21 April
Great news - the Hyundai passed it Compliance Test this morning. This is an MoT by another name and all our cars undergo these tests every 6 months. Even when the cars are brand new these tests are compulsory before a fare-paying passenger can be carried. The Volvo passed its test a couple of weeks ago and the VW Caravelle shortly before that. So all of our main vehicles are now fully-tested and ready for the summer.
The past week or so has seen us take a couple to Gatwick for their retirement holiday in Barbados, a group to Wye College for a wedding, collect a couple of ladies at Gatwick and take them to Eastwell Manor for a conference and some Chinese students from Heathrow to their private schools across Kent. But not all of work is within Kent and the South-East. Recent enquiries have included Sussex to Lancashire for a wedding and back again two days later, and a group from Weymouth to the Ashford Eurostar terminal and return. Finally a regular client asked us to meet his flight from South America at Heathrow, take him to the kennels near Ashford to collect the family dog and then drop them both at Ashford station. Unfortunately we were already busy but another driver from our network was available (and also a big dog-lover).
07 May
Tuesday 11 May sees some interesting jobs. We are collecting some high-powered American travel agents from their hotel in Mayfair and taking them to their cruise ship, the Seaborne Pride, at Dover. Darren is busy the same day collecting another group of American travel agents from the Seaborne Pride and taking them to various hotels around Heathrow and Mike is collecting some American tourists from the same ship for their flight home from Heathrow to the USA. There have been several groups of French language students recently transferring between Ashford International station (Eurostar) and their host families around East Kent and Thanet. Two groups of ladies, one on a night out to a local restaurant, the other to Gatwick for a girls break on the Costa del Sol. Another group were on a Ladies Night at a big hotel in Maidstone and have already asked us about using us again. We took some regular clients to Gatwick for their flight to Crete to meet their new grandson and met clients at Heathrow as flew in from Hong Kong, Nairobi, Croatia and Germany.
New enquiries included one from another driver to provide a second vehicle for a group going to Ladies Day at Ascot in July and another for a hen night in Maidstone which we declined as we don't do hen and stag nights or nightclubs.
22 May
Bank Holiday weekend and its very busy. Cruises are very popular this year - one couple to Heathrow this morning for a flight to Copenhagen to join their ship, another couple to Dover for a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords, a family to Heathrow to meet their ship in Barcelona and another family to Southampton Docks. Business travellers arrived back at Heathrow this morning en masse ready for the Bank Holiday weekend! Eurostar kept us busy with families from local hotels to Ashford International for the Disney train, meet a couple at Ashford International and take to Canterbury and meet a business traveller at Ebbsfleet International. Unusual jobs included meeting clients at Headcorn airfield as they arrived by private plane then taking them to a social function at Leeds Castle and also meeting a record producer from a Los Angeles flight at Heathrow.
We have had a number of enquiries recently for 9, 10 and more seats. We don't have any vehicles of this size but we can provide two vehicles (or more depending on the numbers in your party) and this may not be more expensive than one big vehicle - and there will be more luggage space!
30 May
Its looking busy for the summer. Lots of enquiries and quotes for Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow suggests that families are starting to book their summer holidays. Also enquiries from people visiting England. One American group from Heathrow to Ashford. Another American family to meet from their cruise ship at Dover and take to a hotel in London, possibly with a tour on the way. A group of businessmen to transfer from East Kent to Barnsley in South Yorks. We also collected a local family and regular clients at the new Ocean Terminal at Southampton after their cruise around the Norwegian Fjords on P&Os latest ship, the Ventura. Two groups of overseas students to return to their private schools in West Kent, East Sussex and Ramsgate.
31 May
The daughter of the family that we met at Southampton e-mailed asking to book us for a party of 6, again to Southampton, for Summer 2010!
19 June
First booking for 2010! The enquiry above confirmed for 24 July 2010 Ashford to Southampton for a cruise.
21 June
Our second 2010 booking! Regular clients to Gatwick in April for their Virgin flights to Havana in Cuba
30 June
WOW - what a month - our busiest ever! Sometimes hectic fitting it all in but we enjoyed it and we managed it to everyones satisfaction. There was a broad mix of holidaymakers to and from airports, meeting visitors to the UK at airports and transferring them to their families, other UK addresses and to cruise ships. Business travellers to and from airports and Eurostar stations. Foreign language students are now arriving regularly at Ashford International (Eurostar) station and there have been many transfers for them to and from their host families all over Kent and sometimes further afield. More corporate work with a group of overseas businessmen to Barnsley in Yorkshire and another to Thames Ditton in Surrey. We had a lot of work for a big wedding at Lympne Castle which included collecting guests from Denmark at Stansted airport on Saturday, a number of journeys with guests to and from the Castle for the wedding and reception on the Sunday and returning the Danish guests to Stansted for their flight home on Monday. As in previous months we did a lot of work for other drivers and taxi companies who appreciate our standard of service and the size and features of our people-carrier. AND July is looking like it will be even busier.
21 July
Yes, July is very busy with many people avoiding the 'UK staycation' and taking last minute holidays abroad. Big news is that Darren has ordered a new vehicle - another VW Caravelle but this time the more spacious long wheelbase version. Due for delivery in early September!
30 Aug.
July turned out to be even busier than June and August has also been very busy. Not as many holidaymakers as in other years, presumably due to the economic slowdown, but plenty of business from other areas that more than compensated. Shuttle services for wedding guests kept us occupied on many Saturday nights, including a friends daughter who got married. We took one happy couple to Chelsea Register Office for their wedding and then collected them from Gordon Ramseys' Chelsea restaurant after they had enjoyed a superb celebration meal. A special occasion was a neighbours Golden Wedding where we provided the transport to and from the party at their sons house in a nearby village. A regular supply of cruise passengers to transfer between Dover Cruise Terminal and usually either Heathrow airport or hotels in central London. Now that the school holidays are coming to an end, we have many Chinese students arriving at Heathrow to take to their private schools or host families around East Kent. More bookings confirmed for 2010. Darrens new long-wheelbase VW Caravelle people-carrier is now in the UK ready to be fitted with the DVD system before he collects it on 04 September.
05 September
September has started well with business clients starting to travel again after the holidays so many new airport bookings. Cruises are still very popular and we have provided the transfers for guests on the Crystal Symphony from Southampton to London and then back from London to Southampton with more guests for the next sailing. Regular clients took a mini-cruise on Fred Olsens' Balmoral from Dover. Another couple are booked on the new MS Splendida and we took them to Gatwick airport for their flight to Genoa to meet the ship. Mike had a job from Ashford to Manchester recently for a TV company and there has been a flurry of enquiries for other long-distance journeys. These include a party from Ashford International (Eurostar) station to Wimborne in Dorset after a birthday celebration at Disneyland Paris, a couple from New Romney to Scarborough for a family holiday and an overseas student with a lot of luggage from Ashford to Edinburgh University. We are happy to do this type of work, please phone 01233 500464 to discuss your requirements or e-mail us at AcademyCars@ntlworld.com.
16 September
Darren has collected his new car and it is now fully licenced by the Local Authority. It looks almost identical to the old one but is the longer wheelbase version so has more luggage space. Same high specification with DVD system, fold-out table/desk, climate control, privacy glass, etc.
Last weekend we took the student with a lot of luggage (60kgs, largely in one huge suitcase!) to Edinburgh University. The organisers were so pleased with the ease with which we did this that they have booked us to take another student to Bath University plus other work.
17 October
Despite the downturn we continue to get busier. Business from our connection with Click-a-Cab (www.TaxiAshford.co.uk) is increasing and visits to our own web-site, www.AcademyCars.net, are at record levels. New enquiries have included several companies and other business organisations asking us to provide their transfer and travel requirements and to set up accounts. Holidaymakers and business travellers keep us busy at airports and Eurostar terminals plus students from their private schools to host families for the half-term break. Darren has even had enquiries for a group of business people to southern Ireland and back and also for a funeral!.
This is Darrens brand new longer-wheelbase VW Caravelle 6-seater people-carrier.
31 October
Its been an interesting couple of weeks. Several new business clients, both individuals and companies. And more business for overseas students. A company that specialises in placing overseasn students in ptivate schools rang and asked if we could assist with transfers between these schools and the London airports. They were delighted when we advised that we had been doing this type of work for several years and immediately gave us several transfers over the following days as students flew home for the school half-term break. We also have more transfers for them this weekend as the students return to school. Other drivers are also regularly on the phone. It used to be that they would ring asking us to cover some work for them when they were overbooked. Now we have drivers asking if they can join our network and have we any work that they can do for us? The Hyundai passed its 6-monthly Compliance Test recently, and had a major service shortly before that, so is set for a busy winter period.
08 November
Business is coming in from several new areas. First the new high-speed train between St. Pancras and Ashford is a huge success. This new service takes only 37 mins. instead of just over an hour for the 'fast' train and even longer for the services that stop at every station to and from Charing Cross and Victoria. A family recently used the new train, often called the Javelin, and booked us to drive them to their friends house not far from Hastings as this was quicker than catching the London-Hastings train. The Christmas season is under way with clients booking us for seasonal celebrations in Tenterden, Canterbury and the Dorchester Hotel in London.
30 November
The end of November is generally quieter than most of the rest of the year and this year is no exception. There are many enquiries for journeys to restaurants and other venues for work and private Christmas celebrations. Bookings for overseas students from their private schools to airports to fly home for the holidays are being confirmed. An unusual job recently was to take a party of Canadians from Ashford to the pretty village of Chilham, then on to Canterbury where they visited the Cathedral, had lunch and explored the city centre before returning to their hotel in Ashford in the late afternoon. Heathrow transfers recently have included a couple on their way to see Tony Bennett in concert in New York, and a family also flying to New York for a couple of days sightseeing before meeting the QM2 for a cruise to the Caribbean. We are getting more enquiries and bookings for long distance transfers. Mike took some ladies from Ashford to Birmingham and has a booking for Deal to Warwick and return over New Year and we had a recent quote request for Ashford to Blackpool.
02 January
Well most of the holiday season is now over. Just the returning overseas students to transfer to their schools and universities over the next week or so. This includes journeys from Heathrow to Ashford, Ramsgate, Dover and even Exeter. Other work over this period has included a group of teachers from Hythe to St. Pancras and back as they caught the Eurostar to celebrate New Year in Bruges, an elderly lady home to Salisbury, a previous client to Heathrow for Christmas in South Africa, some lorry drivers to Stansted airport for their flights home to Riga in Latvia and a lady from Switzerland from the Ashford Eurostar to Thanet for Christmas with her parents. There were also several members of a huge family group from around the world as they got together for a big family Christmas. And an emergency job for a tour operator as their arrangements went awry and their coach didn't turn up. We transferred several of their guests home to Thurrock, Benfleet, Canvey Island and Southend whilst Darren took others to Basildon, Felixstowe and Norwich. Bookings are already being confirmed for summer cruise transfers.
22 January
The snow caused some chaos but hopefully that is all the snow for this year. Many journeys, particularly business trips, were re-arranged for other dates and some clients opted to go the airport the day before their flights and stay in an hotel overnight to be sure of being at the airport on time. A very sensible idea. The winter cruise season is well under way as clients fly out to Miami and the Caribbean to meet their ships. Summer cruise enquiries and bookings are coming in regularly. Enquiries involve Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports as well as central London for transfers to Dover Cruise terminal. There was also a two car job with our friends at airporttaxis4u.co.uk who had a group to bring back to Ashford after they had watched Saracens play Toulon (including England star Johnny Wilkinson) at Watford Football Clubs ground at Vicarage Road.
12 February
The first line of the entry above was wrong - there has been more snow! Fortunately we haven't had any cancelled bookings this time although we have declined some enquiries due to uncertainty over whether we could complete the proposed journey safely. Enquiries for the summer are buildin up, especially from cruise clients to or from Dover cruise terminal. An American travel company contacted us about using our services for their cruising clients. This will involve transfers between Dover and either Heathrow or Gatwick airports and also central London. Repeat bookings remain a major source of business. Recent bookings include previous clients flying to Los Angeles to meet their cruise ship and another couple flying to the Caribbean on a sailing holiday.
06 March
The snow seems to be finished for this year and normal service has resumed. Business clients are travelling again and holidaymakers are confirming their transfers for this summer. Cruises again are extremely popular, with great excitement at the Disney Magic sailing from Dover this summer for the first time. In 2011 Disney will have their new ship permanently based in Europe We have many clients to transfer between Heathrow and Dover, with several also taking in a few days in London. Transfers between Dover Cruise terminal and the Eurostar station at Ashford International are also in high demand. The recent school holiday also brought some interesting work, including a family to and from Butlins at Bognor Regis.
Paul has joined our network of drivers. Although new to this business he has an excellent attitude and his Chrysler 300C saloon (below) has been a big hit.
05 April
With Easter now here bookings for the summer are being confirmed at a much faster rate. Demand for transfers to and from Dover Cruise Terminal are in particularly high demand. These involve Heathrow and Gatwick airports, central London and also Ashford International Eurostar terminal. An agent for travel insurance companies has asked us to undertake transfers for stricken travellers when they arrive back in the UK and need transport on to their homes in East Kent. And there is a another new car on the fleet. Dave has changed his Renault Grand Espace and now has a Mercedes E-class saloon.
21 April
The aircraft are flying again and that is great news but it is not the end of the chaos. After several days of instant bookings for people arriving at Dover ferryport and Ashford Eurostar station, we now have to wait to find out when our delayed clients will arrive back in the UK. One couple interviewed for TV in Orlando, Florida claim that their return flight is not until 04 May! People who booked and paid us some time ago but who have been delayed on their return due to the flight ban will have first claim on our services wherever possible. The last few days have seen some unusual bookings and requests - Dover to Bristol airport, Birmingham airport, Stansted airport, even Newcastle airport plus two trips to Buckinghamshire and one to Sussex. More outlandish requests were to meet a group at Calais as they believed that it would be quicker and easier to get on a ferry with a car. It may have been easier but it certainly wouldn't have been any quicker and would certainly have been a lot more expensive. And there was a tentative enquiry from part of the Formula 1 circus to meet them in Rome and drive them back to the UK from there.
13 May
Now that the volcano ash problems have subsided, if not completely vanished, and the election is out of the way, bookings for the summer are coming in thick and fast. Endless trips to airports, particularly Heathrow and Gatwick. Regular cruise transfers between Dover and either Heathrow, central London or Ashford Eurostar terminal. There are many cruise lines using Dover now and their ships include the Crystal Symphony, Norwegian Sun and the Disney magic. Wedding requests are increasing, moving guests to and from the ceremony and/or the reception.
18 May
Our first quote for 2011!! A party of 10 travelling to Florida in March and needing two 6-seater people-carriers from Ashford to Gatwick.
21 May
Long distance and no availability. A travel insurance transfer was received today to take a party of senior citizens from Exmouth in Devon to Sittingbourne in north Kent tomorrow. Also an enquiry from a Florida-based travel agent to transfer their clients from a cruise ship in Dover to Oxford in July. On the subject of cruise transfers we are fully booked on some dates and are having to decline any further bookings. We hate having to let people down and will be looking for extra smart reliable drivers with high quality cars and people-carriers.
15 June
Cruise ships, holidaymakers, oversea students flying in and out of the UK. Just a few of the things that are keeping us very busy. Great excitement at Dover Cruise terminal last weekend as the Disney Magic arrived at the port for the first time. The Magic will be back in Dover several more times this summer before going back to Florida. From 2011, Disney Cruise Lines new ship, the Disney Dream, will be permanently based in Europe, between Dover and Bacelona, so Disney will become a regular summer sight in Dover. A new and popular idea for cruise ship clients is to combine a tour or sightseeing with their transfers. Canterbury Cathedral and Leeds Castle are the favourite places to see on the way to or from London or Heathrow airport. Overseas students have only just returned from the half-term break but we are already getting bookings for their end-of-term flights back home in July and also some for September and the start of the next school year. And we have our first booking for 2011 - regular clients off to Cuba over Easter.
10 July
With summer here and General Elections out of the way, new bookings are being confirmed on a regular basis. Weddings are very popular at this time of year and Pauls Chrysler is a favourite as a bridal car. Our people-carriers are also busy ferrying guests to and from the church and reception. Overseas students have been flying home as term ends at their private schools so there has been a lot of airport transfers for them. When they return in late August and September some will need transport to their new universities. Cruises continue to be big business in the travel industry. As well as the Disney Magic, we have had clients for the Crystal Symphony, Norwegian Sun, Ocean Princess, Oceania Regatta, Eurodam and several other ships at Dover and we have a booking for Southampton Cruise terminal soon. An unusual job rcently was with a group of cyclists taking part in the annual London-Brighton charity ride. We took them to the starting point in London and met them again later in the day at Brighton. It is over 50 miles from London to Brighton so huge congratulations are due to everyone who took part. The event is in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
26 July
Wow - what a weekend!! Dover to Heathrow and then Tunbridge Wells to Bristol on Friday, Ashford to Southampton on Saturday, Gatwick to Ramsgate on Sunday and Dover to Oxford today. And that isn't including other shorter journeys and the bookings that we had to decline as we couldn't fit them in. Other news - FlyBe have strated their new route between Kent International airport (Manston) and Edinburgh. For transfers between Kent Int'l and the Ashford area, including Ashford Internationa Eurostar terminal, please call us on 01233 500464 or e-mail AcademyCars@ntlworld.com