Limousine Tips
I think New York might be the limousine capitol of the United States. At night there are limos everywhere. That's good news for us. It means plenty of competition and great deals.
That also means there is a wide range of quality when it comes to renting a limo. I'll share some insider advice about what to look for when you go to rent one.
Limousine Brokers:
Did you realize there are companies out there that sell other companies' limousine services. They are called limousine brokers. Basically, they'll bill you for a rental, then arrange the actual service with an actual limousine rental business that acutally has cars & drivers.
They get paid one of two ways.
1) By overcharging you for the limousine
2) By getting a discount from the actual rental company.
Maybe this middle man is actually getting you a better deal than you otherwise would have. Not likely, if you shop around. Be advised that if they hire a dirt cheap service to do the job, you are taking the risk of something going wrong. Maybe they'll show up late or have a crappy car.
How do you spot a limousine broker?
- They usually have toll free numbers and advertise worldwide limousine services.
- They will advertise things like "We have a hundred limos in a hundred cities"
- There actually are several legitimate worldwide limousine companies that have cars in many cities.
- See if they have a local address. A local company should advertise a local address.
- Ask when you are booking the limo.
Stretch Limo
- Bring your driver's license. You should also consider bringing a copy of your birth certificate. Border security keeps getting tighter.
- Don't mess with the border guards. Don't be a wise ass. They take their jobs very seriously. They can & will ruin your night.
- Think twice about inviting your pot-head buddies. Border patrol has drug sniffing dogs. They are extremely sensitive. How bad would it suck if a dog caught a whiff of refer or something else? It could be the worst bachelor party of all time.
- If any of the guys have been convicted of a felony, leave them home. Crossing the border could be an issue. Although you might slip through, it is technically a crime to even enter Canada if you have a prior felony conviction.
