When I was researching the logistics of a trip to London-- after I recovered from the sticker shock of how much a flight from America to England costs-- something dawned on me. "I don't know anybody in that part of the world." My budget did not allow me the sort of concierge luxuries one gets from hotels that have those mysterious "stars" glued to their sides, so I had to get a little creative.

And what person in their right mind would seriously consider traveling to a foreign country, and just getting into a car with a strange person who could have any sort of intentions? I actually had to do research before I knew that the garden variety British "cab" was black. In the States they're usually yellow (don't ask about the green ones). In short, I was feeling less and less confident about doing this sort of traveling without so much as a casual acquaintance 'across the pond.'

Then I did some more research, and I found out that there are two different kinds of cabs operating in London (my destination of choice). There are the kind called Hackney Carriage taxis (black cabs) that can just pick up anybody wherever, and don't really involve any particular scheduling. And then there is another option called Private Hire, or minicabs - that have to be booked in advance.

Now, when it comes to some things, I will splurge - and one of those things was what I would be doing when I got there (read: living it up). Being able to make arrangements ahead of time, and not just call some two-bit quasi-convenient company would be a definite plus, especially when I would certainly be... unable to string together coherent sentences.

And the search went on. Thoroughly baffled by the large number of, well, numbers necessary to dial someone in the UK, I finally stumbled on a company that seemed to have some good options for me.

They're called Leading Route Cars (to make it easy for you, click Heathrow taxi company), and they're the first private-hire taxi company I heard about when I mentioned that I would be needing a personal party chariot. Now, at first I expected to get to their site and see a picture of some yahoo standing proudly next to his dinky little vehicle. Sometimes it's good to be wrong.

It turns out they have all kinds of options, ranging from ordinary cabs to "executive saloon cars." I really had no choice but to e-mail them, just to ask about the executive saloon car. And even though I hadn't planned on leaving the city, it turns out they offer all kinds of travel options anywhere in the UK. If I'd known that, I would've planned to take my party on the road. I'll know better next time.