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Luxury Travel NYC
Fifth Avenue at golden hour with pre-war facades and a black sedan passing

AS-DIRECTED SERVICE

A Chauffeur by the Hour, at Your Direction

Keep a car and chauffeur with you for the afternoon, the evening or the whole day. Stop where you like, stay as long as you like, and step back into the same quiet cabin each time.

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  • 01

    One car, every stop

    No hailing, no re-booking. Your chauffeur waits nearby and returns to the curb when you are ready.

  • 02

    Plans that can change

    Add a stop, linger over lunch, skip the last appointment — the day flexes within your booked time.

  • 03

    Bags stay in the car

    Shopping, coats and briefcases remain with the vehicle while you move between doors.

As-directed

How hourly chauffeur service works

With as-directed service, you reserve a chauffeur and vehicle for a block of time rather than a single trip. The clock begins at your pickup and the chauffeur stays with you throughout — driving, waiting, circling when parking is impossible and returning when you call.

It is the most natural way to see New York on your own terms, because the city rarely runs to a neat timetable. A fitting runs long; a gallerist offers a private viewing; the restaurant can seat you an hour earlier. With a chauffeur by the hour, none of that requires a new booking.

  • Booking time: any minimum is confirmed in your quote, and may vary by date and vehicle class.
  • Extending: if the day runs on, ask your chauffeur. Additional time depends on availability and is billed as set out in your quote.
  • Waiting: in Manhattan, legal standing space is scarce. Your chauffeur may wait a short distance away and return on a call or message — this keeps the car close without blocking an avenue.
  • Ending elsewhere: the day can finish at a different address from where it began, such as dinner downtown after a morning uptown.

Ready to plan? Start an hourly request with a rough outline — we will help shape the rest.

A curving drive beside Central Park in early autumn with the Manhattan skyline beyond the trees

Ideas, not packages

Sample day shapes

Every day is yours to design. These outlines simply show how an as-directed booking tends to flow.

Madison Avenue & SoHo shopping

A late-morning start on Madison Avenue in the Seventies and Sixties, where boutiques sit close enough to walk between while the car shadows you along the avenue. Lunch near Fifth, then south to SoHo’s cast-iron blocks — Prince, Spring, Greene and Mercer — with purchases left safely in the vehicle. Finish with an early dinner in the West Village before returning to the hotel.

A Museum Mile day

Begin at The Met, cross to the Guggenheim or Neue Galerie in the afternoon, and finish at The Frick Collection on East 70th Street. The distances are short, but the car means you arrive fresh for each, with coats and catalogues waiting in between. See Private NYC Experiences for more itinerary ideas.

The roadshow day

Back-to-back meetings from Hudson Yards to Midtown East to the Financial District, with a chauffeur who knows the next address before you leave the lobby. Our corporate travel page covers multi-day and multi-vehicle roadshows.

Practical notes

Planning a good hourly day

A little planning makes the hours go further. Group stops by neighborhood rather than zigzagging between uptown and downtown; crosstown traffic in Midtown is often the slowest part of the day, especially on weekday afternoons and during holiday season.

What to share when booking
DetailWhy it helps
Start time and addressSets the clock and the first approach
Fixed appointmentsReservations and meetings anchor the schedule
Rough list of stopsLets us suggest an efficient order
End pointHotel, residence, restaurant or airport
Passengers and bagsDetermines the right vehicle class

If you only need a single journey, point-to-point service is usually the simpler choice.

Well suited to

  • Shopping days on Madison & in SoHo
  • Museum and gallery visits
  • Back-to-back meetings
  • Dinner followed by a show
  • Days with uncertain timing

FAQ

Questions, Answered

Is there a minimum number of hours?

Hourly bookings usually carry a minimum, which can vary by date and vehicle class. The exact minimum is confirmed in your quote.

Where does the chauffeur wait while I’m inside?

As close as local rules allow. In busy parts of Manhattan, that may mean waiting nearby and returning to the curb when you call or message.

Can I leave shopping bags in the car?

Yes. Your belongings stay with the vehicle and chauffeur between stops, though we recommend keeping passports and valuables with you.

Can I extend the booking on the day?

Often, yes, subject to the chauffeur’s and vehicle’s availability. Additional time is charged as described in your quote.

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