I try not to use my blog as a place to complain, but I experienced such a frustrating experience the other day that I decided it would make for a good blog. As I mentioned in my blog last week, I traveled to Sicily (more about the trip next week) and returned on Wednesday. I flew into JFK airport and had hired a car service to drop me off and pick me up from the airport. I have flown out of JFK only twice in my life and honestly am not certain of how to get from our office in Yardley, PA to the airport. Knowing that, I knew it would be easier to use the service. I had no problems going to the airport last Friday – the driver was on time and got me there quickly (as fast as Friday afternoon traffic in Staten Island and Brooklyn allowed). I wish my drive home had been so efficient. We flew from Sicily to Milan on a 6:25 am flight and then from Milan to JFK on a 10 am flight. When I arrived at JFK (12:45 our time)  I was tired and eager to get home.  Needless to say, the driver was a bit late, in a different pick up spot than I had been told and I only found him after calling the company’s dispatcher. As soon as I got in the car, he asked me what route he should take. I recommended the turnpike to 95 and he called to get directions. After sitting through traffic in the Holland Tunnel, he stopped to get gas which took 20 minutes because he was wandering around the parking lot. Then, after a bit, he told me we were on 95 and asked me to let him know which exit he was supposed to get off. I remarked that we had a while and that were not even in Pennsylvania yet, but, he still asked me if he should get off at every subsequent exit. Each time I replied, “No, we have to get into Pennsylvania first!” Well, all of a sudden we are at a fork for the NJ Turnpike and the PA Turnpike. I had no idea where we were, he had no idea where we were. After arguing with me over whether or not it was I-95, he pulled out his personal cell phone and began calling a friend for directions. I got my bearings and got us back on a route completely out of the way. He continued asking me everytime we passed a turn or exit if he should go that way. My patience was wearing quite thin. We made it back to the office after what felt like the longest trip ever! Then, the driver asked me how to get back to New York – I directed him to 95 and was so happy to be home. Then, the driver decided to add that his GPS was broken and in his trunk – information that may have been useful before the trip started! I know it was only a small inconvenience that I needed to give the driver directions and we didn’t get so lost that I was hours out of the way, but I was tired and ready to get home. At the point I was at with the driver, driving myself would have been easier! I hired the driver for convenience – because I wanted to get in the car, relax and end up home quickly with little involvement in the process. And my experience certainly did not meet my expectations. However, later that night, when I was home, I felt bad about losing my patience with the driver – that was probably because I was home in my bed! Have you experienced similar problems with hired cars? Did I overreact? Let me know what you think and stay tuned next week for details about my trip to Sicily – an island with incredible sites and truly breathtaking scenery. -Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive