10 Tips for Safe, Fun Prom Transportation
Prom night memories last a lifetime, so take some extra time to choose a safe, reputable transportation provider like Shuttle Express. Parents, we make safety number one so you can rest assured your kids are in a professional, safe, insured vehicle when they leave your sight!
Here are 10 tips to keep in mind when you and your teen are shopping for prom transportation, some from the National Limo Association, with a few more from the experienced event sales team here at Shuttle Express.
- Be safe.
Make sure the company is registered, licensed with the state, and has the proper insurance. Shuttle Express is fully registered and licensed, insured with five times the amount required by law, and compliant in all areas of safety. We also have Drive-Cam units in every vehicle that ensure the safety of the guests and driver. Our efforts are worth it–our guests enjoy safe rides, and we have earned the top safety award in our national insurance group for six years running! - Get the vehicle you want!
Ensure the vehicle you choose has the space and features you want, preferably with one or two extra seats. Do not exceed the max capacity, because that will mean an uncomfortable night. If you have a large group, check out our larger “party” coach that seats 12-15 friends! Economical, comfortable, and fun. - Get the total price.
Compare apples to apples so you aren’t surprised when you get the final bill. Ask if a fuel surcharge, service fees, and gratuity are included, or are they telling you just the base price. Our Shuttle Express sales team will make sure you have all the facts. - Ask about extras.
Do you want ice and soft drinks, a preferred route, or additional stops? We’ll give you all the options, then we will help you decide on the details. - Set some ground rules.
Parents, you have the right to tell the chauffeured transportation company what will and will not be tolerated in the vehicle. For example, you can ask that the chauffeur keep the privacy screen down for the entire ride. If any of your rules are broken, the chauffeur can turn the car around and bring your kids home. - Give the transportation company a curfew.
That’s right, the chauffeur will abide by any rules you set, and will make sure to pick up and drop off your kids at a designated hour. This is a great way to ensure your kids make it home on time–no excuses. - Tell your kids to forget about bringing alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs on board the vehicle.
They will end up missing their own prom! Shuttle Express does not allow any alcohol in vehicles with minor guests who are not accompanied by adults. - Allow time to take lots of photographs.
You’re definitely going want some photos, so plan for everyone to meet at one location. Make sure the transportation company and the chauffeur have the address and directions. This will eliminate wasting time that can be used for taking pictures and having fun. Ask the chauffeur to position the vehicle to be a part of your teen’s pictures. - Extend the night.
Don’t forget that there almost always is a post-prom party. Remember to book the transportation for a few extra hours to ensure your teen has time to enjoy all the events. - Remember to sit back and relax.
A reputable company like Shuttle Express hires chauffeurs with proper training and licensing. These chauffeurs are used to transporting excited passengers all day long, so they know how to keep things under control. So, relax!
Kudos to SeaTac Airport for Green Efforts
We at Shuttle Express strive to be a “green” transportation option for our guests, working to reduce our carbon footprint in Seattle. So, when we heard that SeaTac Airport had earned a major accreditation for its environmentally-friendly measures, we wanted to give them a big shout out!
In September, SeaTac Airport was recognized by the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation Program for its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by 8% over three years, officially becoming the first airport in North America to do so. The amount of carbon emissions saved is equivalent to about 50,000 tons of CO2 annually, the same amount produced by 700 single family homes each year. That’s a lot of saved CO2, folks.
To earn this accreditation, SeaTac Airport implemented several major initiatives, including installing 576 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the airport and installing a centralized heating and air conditioning system. SeaTac has ongoing plans to continue to decrease their carbon footprint in the future. To read the full story, check out this Puget Sound Business Journal article.
Speaking of reducing emissions, over the past three years we’ve converted the majority of our van fleet to clean-burning propane, saving an estimated 1,525 metric tons of CO2 each year. Our Share Ride service itself is an environmentally-friendly choice, eliminating an estimated 1 million car trips in and out of SeaTac Airport every year.
Shuttle Express also does its best to stay green in other ways–we recycle more than 600 gallons of oil and 300 gallons of antifreeze each year. In addition, our three-bay wash rack uses recycled water.
So, rest assured your airport and airport transportation are working to keep our environment and our air clean!
-Jana Heinrichs, Sales and Marketing
Scary Haunts around the Sound
If you’re in the mood for some scary fun this week, we’ve listed just a few of the frightful happenings around the Sound! For more events, visit Best Events for 12 Months, a great resource all year long when you’re looking for something to do.
Don’t forget, Shuttle Express is standing by as your designated driver, whether you have a bus load of trick-or-treaters to drive around, or you and your friends want to crawl the pubs! We’ve got vans, cars, and coaches of different sizes. Call us at 425-981-7000, option 5, for hourly rates.
- Tacoma Haunted House – October 3 – 30, 2014 – Hell’s Gateway is a high-tech haunted house with three attractions at 2302 Fawcett Ave.
- Tukwila Haunted House – October 3 – Nov. 1, 2014 – Shadows Haunted Attraction has both a traditional dark maze and a group theatrical experience in Tukwila.
- Halloween at Wild Waves – October 3 – Nov. 1, 2014 (schedule) – Fright Fest offers entertainment, rides in the dark, a haunted house, and Booville for kids at Wild Waves.
- Kids’ Costume Party – October 31, 2014 (4 to 8 p.m.) – Kids 10 and younger will enjoy a haunted mountain, scavenger hunt, games, and trick or treat at the free Costume Carnival at Seattle Children’s Museum.
- Freaky Halloween Concert – October 31 – Nov. 1, 2014 – FreakNight is a high-energy music and dance concert with freaky entertainment in WaMu Theater at CenturyLink Field for party-goers ages 18 and up.
Enjoy the fun, and stay safe!
Game Day Transportation: You Cheer, We’ll Drive
Seattle is just days away from the Seahawks’ first regular season game! If you’re looking for convenient, hassle-free game day transportation for a large or small group, we’ve got a great solution. Our private service options include 55-passenger motor coaches, 14-28 passenger mini coaches, passenger vans, and town car/SUV/limo service. We’ll pick up you and your group at your chosen location, take you to the game, and be waiting for you when the game is over. So, skip the parking mess and try our private group transportation service.
It’s easy to book, just call us at (425) 981-7000, extension #5, or email us at sales@shuttleexpress.net. We’ll take care of the details and the driving so you can cheer on our favorite team!
Need Help with Large Group Transportation?
You’ve just been delegated the task of finding transportation for 50 co-workers from your office to a downtown restaurant, all at the same time. Need some help? As Seattle’s large group transportation experts, the Shuttle Express team coordinates large and small group travel every day! Here is advice from our seasoned sales coordinators to help make any large group transportation successful from the start.
- Plan ahead. Start looking for your transportation as soon as you have the details. Our fleet of 14-28-passenger mini-coaches and 55-passenger motor coaches gets snapped up quickly, especially during the busy summer season when tourists and cruise ship passengers hit Seattle. The earlier you get pricing and availability, the better.
- Provide details. Have as much information as you can when calling for quotes, including a basic itinerary and a general idea of budget. When our sales team has all the information, we are better able offer transportation options that work.
- Compare “apples to apples.” When considering quotes, make sure you look at all charges, including gratuity, fuel surcharge, and any additional fees so you aren’t surprised when the bill comes. And always ask about minimum booking requirements. Some companies require you to book three or four hours, even if all you need is a one or two hour transfer. The minimum booking time for our 14-55 passenger coaches is two hours, including travel time, so you don’t pay for time you don’t need.
- Check safety ratings. Safety is a critical when it comes to transportation. Check on the safety rating of any company you’re considering. We’re proud of our safety and driver training programs; we work hard at earning and maintaining the government’s highest safety rating.
- Be open to suggestions. Sometimes, two mini-coaches make more sense than one larger coach when transporting a large group, it just depends on your needs. For example, it may be more convenient for your group if departure times are staggered.
Need a ride? As Seattle’s local transportation experts, our professional, friendly drivers have been getting people to where they need to go for nearly 30 years, safely and on time. We’re best known for our iconic Sea-Tac Airport van service, but we do so much more—luxury cars, large and small coaches, private vans. We partner with corporations, hotels, meeting planners, or anyone who needs reliable, comfortable transportation with a friendly attitude.
So whether your company needs VIP black car service or group transportation for 50 of your favorite colleagues, our experienced, caring team will make it happen. Reach us at sales@shuttleexpress.net. We’re here to help!