Sensory-Sensitive Travellers: Quiet Rides

Different people need different things, and it's worth being specific rather than general. No radio or music. Low or no conversation beyond a greeting. Dimmed interior lighting where the car allows it. A driver who confirms the destination once and then leaves you in silence rather than making small talk for the whole route.

None of this is unusual to ask for, and none of it changes the price or the route — it's simply a preference the driver can be briefed on before they arrive, rather than something you have to explain while jet-lagged in the arrivals hall.

The booking form has a notes field, and this is exactly what it's for. Say plainly what would help — "no radio, minimal conversation please" is enough. It reaches the driver before pickup, so the car is already quiet when you get in rather than you asking a stranger to turn something off.

If you're travelling with someone who can advocate on your behalf, or booking for a family member, the same field works — note it as you would any other preference, and it's treated the same way as a request for a particular car seat or luggage space.

Flight tracking means your pickup time follows your actual landing time rather than a scheduled one, so there's no rush to reach a car the moment you clear the doors — the driver is told to expect you and waits. Your driver's name, phone number and licence plate are sent to you before pickup as well, so you can recognise the car and the person before you need to say anything at all.

If something isn't working once you're in the car — the temperature, the route, anything else — you can say so to the driver directly, the same as you would with any car you'd booked yourself.

If you're booking a departure transfer as well, the same note works both ways — add it to that booking too rather than assuming it carries over automatically, since each trip is booked and confirmed separately.