Booking a car service through Viator/TripAdvisor to take me from the airport to my hotel was by far the worst choice I have ever made. I routinely travel around the country and usually either take an Uber or a car service for airport transfers. I had hip replacement surgery seven weeks prior to the conference I was speaking at, so I thought using a car service would be the best choice. I booked the car through Viator since TripAdvisor had such a good reputation. I was using a cane, and while I was able to walk at a fairly normal pace, I definitely was not 100. I came down the escalator and saw the driver holding a card with my last name so I walk towards him and introduced myself. He asked if I had baggage and I explained that in addition to the laptop bag I was carrying, I had two bags that would be coming through the claims area. I started to walk to the carousal and realized he wasnt coming with me. I ended up securing my rolling suitcase and large garment bag, then slung the garment bag and laptop bag over my shoulder. I used the handle to pull the rolling bag with one hand and had my cane in the other. I approached the driver thinking he would offer to help, but he didnt. Instead of going to get the car and pulling it around, he had me walk with him, while I was carrying all my bags, to get to the SUV parked in the parking lot.
We finally started heading toward the hotel and the driver started telling me he would see how close he could get me to the hotel because the parades were blocking traffic. He literally pulled over and dropped me and my bags off on the curb and pointed in a direction and said youll have to find a way to get there. I was just under half a mile away from my hotel, on a cane, with luggage. I tried to walk a little way, but couldnt get far and had to rest in the lobby of a building. I tried to start walking with everything again and on,y got half a block. I went in the lobby of another building and contacted an Uber. The driver picked me up and explained that we had to go a longer way to avoid parade traffic, but it wouldnt be a problem getting to my hotel. The Uber driver was a godsend. Without him, I dont know what I wouldve have done. I spent the first two days of a five-day conference laid up in bed trying to manage pain and reduce swelling.
I have never experienced the lack of professionalism, extremely poor customer service, and complete disregard for safety as I did during the airport transfer I paid Viator for that day. I STRONGLY recommend NOT utilizing this service and warn anyone considering booking with Viator that you could face a similar experience, and possibly put you and your traveling companions in danger.