Business transfers from Deal, Kent: executive cars for meetings, offices and flights

Train or car from Deal?

Deal station has an hourly high-speed service to London St Pancras International by way of Dover Priory, and at peak times trains also run to Charing Cross via Tonbridge. For one person with a laptop bag heading to a meeting near King's Cross, the train often does the job.

A car earns its place when the trip is less tidy: three colleagues travelling together, a meeting a long way from a terminus, samples or a display stand to carry, a day that ends at an airport, or several stops in one day. It also starts at your door in Walmer or Kingsdown rather than on a platform, and works to the time you set.

Executive cars and what they carry

For most business transfers the executive car is the natural pick: up to 4 passengers with 2 to 3 large cases. A saloon carries the same number of people with 2 large cases, and an MPV takes a team of up to 6 with 4 or more cases, which helps when a stand and its boxes are going to an exhibition.

The back seat of a car is a quieter place than a train carriage to read through a contract, take a call or prepare for the meeting ahead.

Into London: routes, tunnels and timing

From Deal a London-bound business transfer leaves by the A258 or the A256 for the A2, then takes the M2 and the A2 into south-east London. For Docklands and the east, the Blackwall Tunnel takes the car under the river.

The Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels are charged from 06:00 to 22:00, and the weekday peak rate applies northbound from 06:00 to 10:00, the very window for a morning meeting. Tolls met on the journey can be added to the fare where they apply.

Morning traffic into London builds early, so plan the collection back from the meeting time with a margin for the approaches to the river. The fare does not change if the traffic is slow.

Flights for work: London City, Heathrow and Gatwick

On the published times London City is the nearest airport to Deal, at 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. Its drop-off zone allows a stop of 10 minutes at most, so travelling light helps. For long-haul, Heathrow is 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes away, and Gatwick 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours.

On the return, flights are tracked and the collection matches the actual landing, with no extra charge for a delay outside the traveller's control. The driver meets the passenger in arrivals with a name board, which matters when the traveller is a client who has never been to Kent: put their name on the booking.

By the hour or by the day

Some working days do not fit a single journey: a site visit in the morning, meetings in the afternoon, dinner in town. As-directed hire keeps a car and driver with you by the hour or for the whole day, so you go from one appointment to the next without booking each leg.

Tell us the start time, the first address and a rough plan when you book; the driver follows your directions through the day.

Booking for colleagues and visitors

An assistant or office manager can book for someone else online, by phone on 01843 247247, on WhatsApp at +44 7783 973058 or by email. Give the traveller's name and mobile number, the flight details if there are any, and the meeting or hotel address.

Visitors coming to see a business in Deal can be brought from the airport to their hotel, the Royal Hotel on Beach Street for instance, or to the clubhouse at Royal Cinque Ports if a round of golf follows the meeting.

The online system takes card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and Revolut, and the code ExpressTravelKent gives 10% off.

Licensed, insured and fixed in advance

Every driver holds a current private hire driver's licence issued by a local authority, which requires an enhanced DBS check. The vehicles are council-licensed private hire vehicles inspected by the licensing authority, with hire and reward insurance and public liability cover.

The fare does not change for traffic, roadworks or a diversion. Waiting beyond the free time, stops that were not booked, big route changes on the way, and tolls or parking fees where they apply can be added. Cancelling more than 24 hours ahead is free; later cancellations can cost up to half or all of the fare.