Use a Booking Code to Upgrade Your Flight

If you are a frequent flier looking for an upgrade, try a booking code. By using Y or B, if there is a spot open in the next class, you will get bumped up. You will still pay the full ticket price but not the upgrade charge! When booking a ticket, ask for the upgrade. The day before your flight, check your status of your ticket. One hundred hours before the flight leaves, you should see your upgrade.

Use Kindness and Offer Your Seat Up

If you are a kind person, volunteer to let a family or friend fly together. This can score you an upgrade with the airline on the next flight. You could receive a flight voucher or the agent at the gate could bump you up.

Dress Stylish to Score an Upgrade

When Economy class is overbooked, agents at the gate will pick people to be moved up. Sometimes it’s depending on how you dress if you are chosen or not. Don’t forget your best manners when checking in on your flight. Flashing a smile and let them know you hope you will be considered for any possible upgrades. It may be possible for an upgrade for about one to two hundred dollars more and they would rather pass it on to you than a frequent flier.

Use Airline Reward Cards for Added Savings

US Airways and American Airlines are now merging together. This means you need to sign up for both of their rewards cards. US Airways is called Premier World MasterCard. Americans is Citi Select-AAdvantage American Express. Combining bonus miles when signing up, a flier could have as many as seventy thousand miles that can be used. The merger can take a few years. But can you imagine taking a vacation you dreamed of when it happens?

Stock Up On Bonus Miles to Grab Upgrades

Airlines are now selling miles with bonuses. If you purchased fifty thousand miles you might receive twenty-five or even fifty thousand more miles as a bonus. Use these bonus miles to upgrade your flight.

Hotel Upgrades

When the counter isn’t busy, ask the front desk clerk for an upgrade. When they know business is slow, it can happen. Request a higher floor with a spectacular view or other upgrades you know they have to offer. If you have a reservation on a room that is premium there is a better chance to be upgraded than a room that was already discounted.

Use Airfare Consolidators

Don’t be afraid to use an authentic airfare consolidator. There are plenty of sites that will offer discounted prices. These consolidators offer international fares for business and first class. How about flying business class for two thousand dollars to London instead of paying six thousand dollars? Be flexible on your days and time to get even bigger discounts.

Using a Limo Service

Royal Coachman is a limousine service that is ranked in the top fifty in the US. Based out of New Jersey, Royal Coachman offers services for all your group and corporate travel needs, both in the New Jersey/New York Metro area and worldwide.

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Travel Trend #1: Airport Nirvana from Terminal Hades?

As the airline experience itself continues to ebb and flow, airports are seeing a buzz of activity and are reinventing themselves around user experience and design.  The new normal as exemplified by Incheon International Airport in Seoul, Madrid’s Barajas Airport, or Singapore’s Changi Airport, are centered around innovations like airy, light-filled primary spaces, less-intimidating security and baggage claim areas, simple signage, solutions to satiate our need to be connected (free Wi-Fi as demonstrated by JetBlue, who also offers charging stations for phones and devices), and more shopping and dining options near gates. The more successful ones have become places where people want to spend time and have experiences and not just pass through, like Chicago’s O’Hare newly launched farmer’s market inside the terminal.

Travel Trend #2: Smart Mapping Your Way to the Right Addresses

After getting off that plane, ever have trouble finding a great restaurant’s location or even worse, an offsite office where you have a meeting? Now that smartphones are at the center of our lives, navigation, in all senses of the word, takes up a large part of our digital experience. Apple realized this, and booted Google Maps off the iOS ecosystem. That move, along with Apple’s subsequent missteps in its own mapping effort, touched off a wave of activity in the mapping world. The new Google Maps app for iOS 6, launched in early December, is creating waves and Apple is scrambling to catch up. Giants like Nokia, Microsoft, AOL’s Mapquest and startups such as Waze and Lumatic are building, launching and innovating. Even the incumbent giant Google is launching new functions—incorporating content from Zagat and Frommer’s into results—as it races to differentiate itself against Apple on all fronts.

Royal Coachman offers a convenient android and iPhone app for all your ground transportation needs with just one touch. You can download them for free here:

iPhone:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/royal-coachman-worldwide/id528538726?mt=8

Android:  http://www.appszoom.com/android_applications/transportation/royal-coachman-worldwide_ciivr.html

Travel Trend #3:  Wi-Fly The Friendly Skies?

This year saw many airlines experimenting with digital devices as the in-flight media consumption platform, or digital-enabled delivery of content services, on to users’ own devices. Tons of new investment is going into this upcoming new trend, from large incumbents to startups to even roll-up shops taking up the charge on the delivery side. Forward-looking airlines are rolling out Wi-Fi across short- and long-haul routes like there’s no tomorrow.

In –flight consumption patterns are beginning to look much like on-the-ground habits: Mixes of open-Web content-plus-services mixed with on-demand entertainment as well as live television channels.

The one constant trend that will continue to maximize your travel experience in a positive way is booking your ground transportation and limousine service needs with Royal Coachman.  We offer door-to-door limo service in the New Jersey/New York Metro area, as well as many other global destinations.  One call does it all, with exceptional and dependable service. Give us a call today toll free 800-472-7433 or 973-400-3200 or make a reservation online at www.royalcoachman.com.

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As professionals, you know that the only way to accommodate a traveler’s last minute plans – so that their expectations are met – is by knowing what their preferences are and having preferred relationships in place with a limited number of suppliers that are as equally familiar with your traveler’s needs and your corporate policy and requirements. A well-documented  traveler and corporate profile are often the most important tools travel planners/bookers have at their disposal.

In addition to up-to-date, complete profiles, there are other things that you might want to take advantage of to help you better manage what can be a very stressful activity:  finding last minute air, hotel and chauffeured ground transportation reservation confirmations for your constituents, no matter how much, or how little, time you have.

One of the keys to any trip is getting your traveler to/from the airport for all of their arrivals and departures.  Never mind getting them to/from their home airport, what about each of their destinations? The key to being able to pull qualified, vetted chauffeured transportation providers out of thin air on a tight schedule is by using your preferred vendor to book all segments of the traveler’s trip. Your chauffeured ground transportation partner knows the best companies in each local market, they also know what your traveler prefers and what your corporate policies and mandates are.

Most importantly, providing your traveler with a single telephone number – regardless of where they are – for service 24/7, you can eliminate out-of-policy bookings and ensure that your traveler is traveling in a late model, safe, licensed and insured vehicle.  There are no shortcuts in ground transportation management.  Find a partner that understands that KNOWING that a fleet is safe, reputable, authorized to provide service and properly insured against risk.  Not only that, they will provide guaranteed reservations, email immediate confirmations and monitor the traveler’s trip from beginning to end.

Royal Coachman offers all aspects of ground transportation, from limo service to airport shuttle service and mini bus rentals.  Give us a call today for your ground transportation consultation.

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Royal Coachman is offering the ultimate gourmet experience, with round trip travel between  New York or New Jersey and any of the participating restaurants in Restaurant Week.  Enhance your gourmet experience with one of our chauffeur driven sedans, or consider hosting an event with friends and reserve one of our motor coach mini buses and enjoy Restaurant Week with your friends or family.

This has become one of the most popular times to dine out in New York City, so you can imagine how busy valets will get. Whether you’re thinking of bringing a private group for an amazing dining experience, or just looking to take that special someone out on a date that they’ll never forget, you’ll want to make sure to book your private car or limousine with Royal Coachman soon! With hundreds restaurants participating all over the city, which will cover cuisine from all around the world, you’re going to need more than a day trip or even just a weekender to take advantage of these great specials.

You can make your restaurant reservations here or by calling the restaurant directly. Then you will need to let them know you’re interested in the Restaurant Week menu. Once you know the number of people in your party and the restaurants you will be visiting, give Royal Coachman a call and let us do all the driving for you. So make your reservations today! Don’t miss this once a year opportunity for gourmet dining at affordable prices, and a luxury ride to boot!

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If the delay between flights will be a long one, use a limousine service from Royal Coachman to travel to a local hotel. You can usually obtain vouchers at the airport for certain hotels in the area, and your Royal Coachman driver will know where each one is located. Even if you happen to be stranded in the town where you live, a driver can take you to a hotel, which is more comfortable than going all the way back home.

If your weather delay will be long enough to spend time browsing the area shops, your Royal Coachman driver will know the best shopping areas to hit in the general area of the airport. This way, you’ll be close enough to get back for your flight, without being stuck in the terminal the whole time.

Spending time looking through various shops will give you and your family something to pass the time while you’re waiting for your flight, and make the time seem less stressful. Grab some snacks and puzzle books for any time you may have left to wait, if you decide to head back to the airport a bit early.

You may also decide to dine at a nearby restaurant while you’re waiting for that next flight to take off. Our drivers will know which restaurants will suit your needs the best, when you tell them what type of food you’d like to have. Then you can eat a relaxing meal, while your driver waits to whisk you back to the airport in time for your flight.

If you don’t have a long delay, perhaps there are a couple local attractions that aren’t a far drive from the airport. This could be the chance that you’ve always wanted– to see some of the sights. Whether they are museums or other indoor sites where you can spend time, or just landmarks you’d like to see from a limo, the time will be well-spent and it will be time for your flight before you know it.

No one likes to spend time at airports when their flight has been delayed, so these plans will help you pass the time in a much more pleasant way. Talk to your Royal Coachman driver to determine which places are the easiest to get to, depending on the amount of time you have to kill. You can see and do more things than you might think, given just a relatively short layover. It’s a lot more productive than sitting in the terminal and waiting for the weather to break.

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Whether you’re escaping with friends or business associates, there may be necessary errands that need to be run, just like any other weekend. But how much easier will those errands be if you have someone driving, while you relax with your family or friends on the way to accomplishing errands, or even enjoy a solo weekend away from it all?

If you’ve been looking at airline schedules and thinking about booking a flight, maybe you should think again about the best way to travel this weekend. If you have projects to finish up and the flight schedules are nightmares, not to mention high rates for last minute trips, there’s a better way to relax and still accomplish the things you need to do. You can find that way by calling Royal Coachman and getting a personal chauffeur for the weekend.

For a relatively low price, you can be driven wherever you have to go, and then wherever you want to be, for your weekend away. Our drivers are completely insured, licensed and bonded, and they are carefully screened before they are allowed to drive passengers.

You can arrange for your personal limousine service driver to arrive early at your home, just in case you want to get an early start. You can finish any errands you have to do, before the weekend is your own. You won’t even have to touch the steering wheel.

That last minute project you need for work on Monday can be done while your driver negotiates the way to your relaxing weekend. Turn up the music and sit back in comfort, and know that your driver has everything under control. You can stop whenever you like, for drinks or lunch or even just to stretch your legs.

You may find that a driver can get you where you’re headed even faster than a flight, with its layovers and late arrivals. Plus, you won’t have to go through the hassle of TSA checkpoints at the airport. If you’re flying for the weekend, you’ll have to pick up where you left off on that project every time you transfer planes or go from plane to taxi or shuttle bus.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of using our personal chauffeur services is the convenience of not needing to deal with all the hassles of modern air travel. At the same time, you can be sure that all your family members are taken where they need to be, whether they are traveling with you or have their own plans for the weekend. Using a personal driver is the ultimate in convenience, whether for a weekend or even for a day. Give us a call today to book your very own special weekend, in style.

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Reserve a small bus or sedan for your haunted group outing

If you’re looking for a fun outing during the Halloween season, consider exploring some of New Jersey’s most haunted spots from the comfort of a small bus or sedan. Having a professional driver to take you from haunt to haunt will free you up to enjoy time with the others in your group instead of having to focus on directions to the next location.

New Jersey has no shortage of haunted places to visit. There are more than 30 haunted houses and other spooky spots. You can organize your tour to include as many stops as you’d like. Below are a few places you many want to include.

Tent of Terror/Haunt for the Hungry

Do some good while you get your spook on! This is Halloween fun for the whole family. There are some parts of the haunted house that are suitable for younger visitors, but for those who want the full blood and gore – that is available as well. The mission of this attraction is to raise money to feed the hungry.

Haunted Hotel

Explore the haunted halls and 15 rooms where you never know what you’ll see around the corner. This is one of New Jersey’s most popular Halloween attractions, so you won’t want to miss it!

Corner of Chaos Haunted Maze

Some people might find it a bit scary to wander through any type of cornfield maze. When it’s a haunted maze, the spook factor goes through the roof! See if you can find your way out of the maze without being scared silly by some of the actors who are also meandering through the maze.

Madness of Meadow Lane

This haunted attraction features something to scare everyone: zombies, ghosts and talking skeletons are just a few examples.

The above is just a small sample of the many haunted attractions in New Jersey, so you can pick and choose the ones you’d like to visit.

Reserve a Car vs. Driving

Whether you are planning a family outing with the kids or something with a group of friends, reserving a sedan or small bus can make the excursion one to remember. If you’re taking the kids out for a haunted evening, they will enjoy the novelty of having a professional driver. If you’re going out with a group of friends, hiring a car means that there will be no need for a designated driver, so your entire group can enjoy a drink on your way to your haunted stops.

Make this Halloween’s scary outing one that your group will never forget. When you hire a sedan or small bus from Royal Coachman, you will have a professional driver who knows where all the best haunted hot spots are located. You can pick your destinations or ask us for suggestions. Either way, you’re sure to have an eerily memorable evening.

For more information or to reserve a small bus or sedan for your haunted outing, call Royal Coachman at 800-427-7433 or 973-400-3200. You’re sure to have a ghostly good time!

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1.  Set the Tone By Selecting the Best Venue

Make a list of the people to invite and decide where to hold the meeting or event. Think about the tone of the event or meeting before you decide on the venue.  Some possibilities include conference rooms (at your company, hotels or event centers) or a restaurant.  Thinking outside the box is a great stimulant for great collaboration–untraditional meeting spaces and social function sites will be talked about for years to come.  Meeting planners seeking a departure from traditional meeting facilities have a wide variety of creative venues to choose from depending on your region.  For example, in New Jersey, there are many unique venues, from the Atlantic City glitz to the more relaxed golf courses (depending on how good you are at golf, naturally)  Do you want to have a reserved or laid back meeting?  Your venue can dictate that tone very easily.

2. Use the latest technology to send invites and keep track of the RSVPs.

If you don’t want to go the traditional route of email, there are other ways.  There are so many wonderful online services that are available to send and keep track of invites and RSVPs.  Evite is one of the most popular services.  Using this service, you can create custom invites and can keep a list of important contact information.  Or, you can send a nice graphic invitation by email, branded to your theme or venue.

3.  Rehearse the Flow of the Agenda.

It’s vital that you have a good flow from agenda items  in order to have a successful and effective meeting.  Rehearsing it several times prior to the meeting or event start is a great way to not only make sure that everything flows well, but to acclimate any of the agenda participants to their roles. It also is helpful to anticipate any timing issues that may come up.

4.  Prep the Equipment.

After rehearsing your agenda a few times, it’s always good to have a “dress rehearsal” at the actual venue, which should include any and all the technology you will be depending on during your meeting or event.

On the day of the meeting or event, arrive early and have everything set up.  If it’s a large room, consider the arrangement of chairs and/or tables.  If your event or meeting is a relatively small one, with breakout group, you should consider clusters of small groups around tables.  If it’s more concert-venue focused, you will want all eyes up front.  Make sure your laptop or projector is properly positioned and synched with the overhead screen.  Check the lighting to make sure they are focused properly, and that the microphones all have full powered batteries and/or all connecting cords are in place.

5. Assign Clear Roles and Responsibilities

Even the best venue and technology won’t save a meeting that lacks direction. Assign clear responsibilities to speakers, moderators, and support staff. Make sure everyone knows who introduces topics, who keeps time, and who answers questions. When each person understands their role, the event moves with purpose instead of hesitation.

Strong preparation separates a forgettable meeting from one that drives results. When you choose the right setting, use smart tools, rehearse your agenda, and test every piece of equipment, you remove uncertainty from the equation. That preparation allows you to focus on what truly matters—engaging your audience and achieving the goals that brought everyone together in the first place.

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Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias look out at fans after the announcement of their co-headlining summer tour together, April 30, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Credit: AP)

Two of the biggest names in contemporary popular music – Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez, will share the stage at the Prudential Center in Newark, July 20th and 21st. For the best luxury ground transportation to either show, book your reservations with the one of the finest chauffeured limousine services in the world, the New Jersey-based Royal Coachman.

Both of these huge international pop stars are touring together for the first time ever. The pair announced their tour in April, and their first two concerts were recently held in Montreal.

The son of Latin Music icon Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias has become an even bigger star in his own right. The international Grammy Award winning star is now the biggest Latin recording artist in history and has  68 number one songs on Billboard’s Dance charts, such as his 2001 romantic ballad, “Hero” and the pulsating dance single “I Like It” two years ago. Enrique has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and an eye popping more than one billion views of his videos on You Tube and 28 million fans on his Facebook page. He has won an astounding 135 music awards including 16 Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, a Latin Grammy and a Grammy Award and recently passed the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, for the most #1s on the Billboard Dance chart.

Jennifer Lopez or just simply J.Lo. has been very successful in music, movies, dancing and businesswise. She has appeared in over 25 major motion pictures including “The Wedding Planner,” “Maid in Manhattan,” “Shall We Dance” and her 1997 breakout film role, “Selena.” Ms. Lopez has sold over 60 million albums worldwide and in May was ranked #1 by Forbes Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the World, above such megastars like Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, who rounded out the Top 5. Among her biggest music singles are “I’m Real,” “All I Have,” “On the Floor” and her first #1 hit “If You Had My Love” in 1999.  The electropop hit “On the Floor”, the lead single on her latest album Love?, is her biggest hit to date and the #1 most viewed You Tube video by a female singer.

With these two music superstars performing together, chances are that no one will be sitting in their seats most of the evening. The shows at the Prudential Center are the only two held in the New York City area and an unknown number of celebrities are expected to attend. Make arrangements for your elite ground transportation to one of the biggest music events of the year in New Jersey by going to Royal Coachman’s official website at https://www.royalcoachman.com.

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Rocket Park for the Astronaut in You

It is a 5,000-square-foot exhibition on the grounds of the New York Hall of Science. It features two newly refurbished icons of the U.S. space program—an original Atlas booster with a replica Mercury capsule and an original Titan II booster with a replica two-man Gemini capsule.

Science Demonstrations for the Mad Scientist

Learn about the exciting properties of chemistry, physics, biology, and more right with their slate of 15-minute demonstrations. The goal of these demonstrations is to engaging, explain and make science come to life. There is a weekday and weekend schedule that can be found on their website. The week of April 6-15^th they plan on operating under the weekend/holiday schedule as school is out.

Special Events to Note

In addition to their regular offerings there is always some type of special event going on for the kids that you don’t want to miss.

Don’t miss out on this unique New York experience and get your science on. And give us a call to get you around all the traffic and to these fun events stress free!

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