Be a smart consumer when renting a limo
By Lyndsey D’Arcangelo | posted on September 19, 2011 at 10:53am
Renting a limousine for your wedding involves more than just selecting a means of transportation. It’s about traveling in luxury and comfort with some additional bells and whistles to keep the bridal party entertained while you make your way from the church to the reception and everywhere in between.
The best limousines offer plenty of high-tech amenities, like plasma screen TVs, DVD players, surround-sound systems with theater-quality speakers, satellite radio and video game consoles.
Limos can also feature mirrored ceilings, crystal chandeliers, blinking lights, full-service bars, refrigerators, laser light shows and neon tubing. Most are upholstered in leather or other expensive materials.
From stretch SUVs to luxury liners, limousines come in all shapes and sizes. But the hottest limousine at the moment is the limo bus.
“Limo buses are a lot of fun and economically viable,” said Donnie Snell, operations manager of Zoladz Limousine in Depew. “You can stand up, walk around and interact with everyone inside the limo bus without feeling cramped.”
According to Snell, his fleet’s 20-passenger limo bus is the most popular. At $9.95 per person, the bus comes with a leather interior, carpeted floors, 42-inch flat screen TVs, DVD and CD players, iPod hook-ups, a walk-in bathroom, laser and strobe lights.
“It’s like a nightclub,” added Snell, who also has a 30-passenger limo bus, which at $11.95 per person has the same amenities as the 20-passenger limo bus but with more room to move around. (Pricing varies, depending on which company you choose and the size of the limo bus.)
Limousines also come in makes such as Lincoln Towncar, Hummer, Jeep, Cadillac, and more. The stretch limousine car is the most common style, but Mike Smith, owner of Affordable Limousine in West Seneca and Elma, knows that every couple wants something different.
“Sometimes the bride and groom want a luxury car, other times it’s a limo SUV,” he said. “It all depends on personal taste and style.”
Affordable Limousine offers a 14-passenger Lincoln Towncar limousine with a three-bench design and a split seat. For $80 per hour, the limousine comes with leather seats, surround sound system and a laser light show that changes colors.
The 10-passenger Dodge Hummer limousine is also available for $90 per hour and has fiber optic lighting, laser light show, CD and DVD players, plus a full bar.
Absolute Limousine in West Seneca carries a unique 10-passenger Chrysler 300c Deluxe limousine. “It’s the first limo of its kind on the East Coast,” said owner Bill O’Neil. “It was built with comfort in mind,” and comes with a 15-inch flat screen TV, premium sound system, CD/DVD player, mirrored ceiling, color-changing neon lights, an ice chest and glasses. The package rate for a four-hour, Saturday wedding is $395.
Every limousine company has different packages and rates. The cost often depends on the size of the group, the size and make of the limousine, the allotted time, and additional amenities. It’s always best to get a few quotes before you make your final decision.
Lyndsey D’Arcangelo is a book author and freelance writer from Eden.
