RSSDestinations | San Francisco Travel Blog - Part 18
San Francisco’s Neighborhoods: Pacific Heights
If you want to see San Francisco as it is portrayed in the movies and on TV, then make your way to the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Here you will find the city’s famous streets lined with Victorian mansions, not to mention the very best views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The neighborhood today remains rather residential and has a tendency to favor all things luxurious. That being said, it is a great day destination for those looking to do some upscale shopping and people who simply like to eavesdrop on ‘how the other half lives’.
Alcatraz Island
One and a half miles from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco amidst the playful call of sea lions waiting for the next fish to be thrown lies the less playful island of Alcatraz. It’s somewhat menacing view is a landmark attraction for the city of San Francisco and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Every day hundreds of tourists line up at Pier 33 to take the ferry ride across the bay and soak in the history and mystery that the island provides.
Concertgoers Stranded When Party Bus Fails to Appear After Concert
A party bus is perhaps the ultimate vehicle for concert transportation. With plenty of room, wet bars, mood lighting, stripper poles and many other amenities, there is no better way to get to and from a concert with friends and family. At least that’s what 38 Californians thought when they rented a party bus for a recent Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias concert at the Staples Center. They reserved The Super Sexy Party Bus from a local party bus provider to transport them from Thousand Oaks to downtown Los Angeles and home again so they could all concentrate on having a good time.
"They had what looked like the best party bus on the market," said passenger Bruce Barrios. "It looked like a night club on wheels."
"It had four great neon light-up stripper poles and a disco ball," said passenger Suzie Hayden.
The evening of fun, music and merriment got off to an inauspicious beginning, however, when the party bus arrived two hours late. Making matters worse, the air conditioning on the party bus was not working, and it wasn’t long before the guests were quite uncomfortable in the sweltering heat.
"I thought I was going to die," said passenger Marco Jimenez.
The lateness of the arrival of their party bus also caused the guests to miss a big chunk of the concert, which was already well underway when they arrived at the Staples Center. After the concert, the guests were outraged when they gathered at the predetermined pickup point only to find that their party bus was gone, along with the belongings they had left on board. Their calls to the party bus provider went unanswered, and the group ended up having to take cabs to get back home.
The guests complained to the Public Utilities Commission, which oversees all for-hire ground transportation companies in California and learned that, while the bus and the limousine service that owns the party bus are in compliance with CPUC regulations, the limo service has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau. That’s not very sexy.
If you’re looking for an ethical, affordable and professional San Francisco party bus provider that is also in full compliance with CPUC regulations but takes much better care of its guests, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936. We have become the Bay Area’s premier limousine and party bus provider by providing super-clean and comfortable luxury vehicles for our guests at the best rates in the area. Add in our superb customer service, and you and your guests are guaranteed to have a wonderful time! Our party buses are perfect for concerts, sporting events, pub crawls, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties and many other special occasions. Call us today!
Dutch Company Announces Submersible Limousine for Ultra-Wealthy Clientele
Because it is our mission to bring our readers all sorts of limousine news from the sublime to the ridiculous, we thought we’d share this limo news item out of the Netherlands. A Dutch company called U-Boat Worx, which manufactures custom submarines, has announced that they have created the world’s first “subsea limousine,” the C-Explorer 5. This underwater limo was unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show this past September and seats up to four guests, including the chauffeur.
Aimed squarely at customers at the higher end of the income bracket, the C-Explorer 5 retails for around $2.4 million and is designed for intrepid owners who want to explore depths down to 1,000 feet below sea level. It is capable of reaching speeds up to 3 knots, or 3.5 miles per hour and is equipped with high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that can power the limo up to eight hours. This limousine closely resembles the remotely operated vessels (ROVs) that researchers use to explore the ocean’s depths but on a larger scale. A pressurized steel and acrylic sphere protects the occupants, and the sphere is framed by a steel cage and outboard pontoon-like structures, which house the thrusters and stabilizers.
If the occupants happen to get a bit more adventurous than they planned, the vessel is capable of supporting the crew for up to 96 hours or even longer with the optional 16-hour batteries. The chauffeur controls the underwater limo through dual-2kWh thrusters and optional dual-1.2kWh thrusters for controlling side-to-side movement. Moving inside, the amenities are more practical than luxurious by necessity. The CE5 features LED lighting, air conditioning, bucket seats and underwater instrumentation. However, the CE5 does offer some cool amenities not found on most limousines: there is a smaller tethered ROV for exploring tighter spaces, an external arm, a high-definition camcorder and sonar equipment.
There is no doubt that this limousine is one of the coolest limos that we have seen, but it isn’t very practical. After all, where is the wet bar, moon roof, flat-screen TV, audio system, privacy screen and other luxurious amenities found in all of our San Francisco limousines? While this limo may be great for a specific kind of sightseeing, and a spectacular one at that, it would have limited range and appeal for most of our guests. If you want a San Francisco limo, party bus or other type of luxury transportation for an upcoming wedding, concert or other special occasion held above sea level, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936. Our Bay Area limousines might not be able to take you and your guests on an underwater adventure, but we’d be glad to transport you to the Aquarium of the Bay, Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences, Monterey Bay Aquarium or any other destination you’d like!
Organizers Planning Game of Thrones Bus Tours Next Year
Fans of the smash hit HBO series Game of Thrones will be able to ride through the Irish countryside and view the locations where the program is filmed. The third season of the epic fantasy series is now being filmed in Northern Ireland, and planners report that they expect to have the tour buses up and running by this time next year. Game of Thrones fans will recognize many filming locations, including the North Coast Harbor of Ballintoy, a backdrop for many episodes. Other popular shooting locations expected to be included on the tour are Larrybane Quarry near the Carrickarede rope bridge on the North Coast, Inch Abbey and Tollymore Forest Park in Co Down.
The announcement pleased many tourism officials in Ireland, which, like many popular tourist destinations, has taken a sizable hit in recent years due to the recession.
"We have been working with the various tourism bodies for over a year, we got in touch about setting up this tour. We are helping them in terms of resources and putting them in touch with the right people like the broadcaster and distributor. We are keen on the overall film tourism thing, not just Game Of Thrones," one tourism official said.
Here in the Bay Area, we’re very familiar with movie and television locations as well. Lots of films and TV shows are and have been filmed in San Francisco and the surrounding area, and many local landmarks are instantly recognizable around the world. We’re no strangers to bus tours either. Millions of people visit our area each year and find that tour buses are the most comfortable, practical and affordable way to get around for sightseeing tours, airport transportation and many other destinations.
If you need comfortable and affordable group transportation for a sightseeing tour, wedding, sporting event or other special occasion, call us today at 800-339-8936. We offer luxury motor coaches, party buses, VIP buses and many other options to accommodate groups of all sizes. Whether you live in the Bay Area or are planning a visit, you can rely on NLS Limo for the best selection of San Francisco tour buses in the area. Call us today, and don’t forget to ask about our tour packages!
Make Your Bay Area Party Bus and Limo Reservations Now for the Upcoming Football Season
Ah yes, it’s midsummer, when a young man’s mind turns to…football and the upcoming season! Fall is right around the corner, and local professional and college teams are already in summer camp, preparing for preseason games and a full slate of conference games. Whether you watch your football on Saturday afternoons, Sunday afternoons or both, there’s nothing like being at the game and celebrating with tens of thousands of other fans. If you have tickets for a game this fall and you want to celebrate in style, comfort and luxury, we have a great idea! Rent a San Francisco limousine or party bus from us, and leave the driving to the pros!
No other Bay Area limousine service has a greater variety of luxury ground transportation options to choose from for groups of all sizes. For pregame and postgame transportation and luxury tailgating, choose from the following Bay Area Limos, party buses, limo buses, luxury coaches and other vehicles:
- Stretch Limousines (6-14 passengers)
- Hummer SUV Limos (16-20 passengers)
- Ford Expedition SUV Limos (12-16 passengers)
- Lincoln Navigator Limos (10-12 passengers)
- Ford Excursion SUV Limos (12-22 passengers)
- Limo Buses (12-32 passengers)
- Party Vans (16-28 passengers)
- Luxury VIP Coaches (47-55 passengers)
These are only a few of the many options for you and your friends and family to choose from for football game transportation. In addition to the best San Francisco Limousines, party buses and other luxury ground transportation options, you and your guests will also enjoy superb customer service, luxury amenities and many extras included at no additional cost.
Whether you’re a season ticket holder wanting a break from traffic before and after the game or a fan who seldom gets to go to games and wants to add luxury transportation to your game experience, you can rely on us to make your experience comfortable, memorable and affordable. To learn more about your luxury transportation options, amenities, rental rates and other information, just call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936! Here’s to a great season for all Bay Area football fans!
SFO Sees Record Number of Passengers in Last Fiscal Year
Officials report that passenger traffic at San Francisco International Airport surged to an all-time high for the fiscal year that ended this past June, with 21.4 million passengers boarding flights at SFO. The record eclipsed the old record of 20.2 million passengers set in 2000, and airport officials hope that this year’s passenger totals will be even better. Officials cited several factors that combined to set the new record, including these:
- Virgin America’s decision to make SFO their base of operations in 2007
- JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United increasing operations at SFO to counter Virgin America’s move
- Tough economic conditions that prompted airlines to move services from airports in San Jose and Oakland in order to consolidate operations and reduce costs
- Recent upticks in spending and investment by Bay Area residents and businesses
- The renovation of Terminal 2
Chamber of Commerce official Jim Lazarus was delighted to hear about the new record, saying that this is clear evidence that the area economy is improving after a rough stretch.
“Every recent economic indicator has been healthy, from falling commercial vacancy rates to more overseas visitors,” he said. “We’ve risen strongly out of the recession.”
SFO’s plans to expand even further in the next few years could boost passenger numbers further, with Terminals 1 and 3 slated for renovation and expansion.
SFO spokesman Michael McCarron said, “We have to make sure that we have the facilities to meet any kind of passenger boom that could be coming.”
If you’re looking for comfortable, affordable and reliable San Francisco airport transportation, you have come to the right place! We offer a wide range of SFO airport shuttle options for groups of 1 to 61 and above in our vehicles such as these:
- Town cars
- Luxury vans
- Stretch limos
- SUV limos
- Hummer limos
- Limo buses
- Luxury coaches
- Other luxury vehicles
Our Bay Area airport transportation rates are very affordable whether you need an airport shuttle for business, pleasure, group transportation or all of the above! For more information on rates, availability and the wide range of airport shuttle options available, please call us today at 800-339-8936. Call us at NLS Limo to find out for yourself why we are the Bay Area’s premier luxury transportation provider!
Baseball Fans, Rent a Bay Area Limousine or Party Bus for Trips to the Game!
Baseball fans in the Bay Area are hoping for another great season, and the way things are shaping up on both sides of the Bay, the playoffs are a very real possibility. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played, but both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s are off to a fine start. If they continue at their current torrid pace, they will be poised for the postseason. If you want to make a late season or postseason visit to the ballpark extra special, why not rent a San Francisco limousine or party bus to take you and your crew to and from the game in style?
Admit it, each time you go to the ballpark, you’re somewhat envious of the people being dropped off right at the gate by their limousine or party bus. These and other luxury vehicles attract attention wherever they go, and being dropped off in a limo a few steps from AT&T Park or Oakland-Alameda County Stadium has always been a pleasant daydream for most baseball fans. The good news is that daydream is a lot more affordable than you think it is, and no one has more luxury ground transportation options that NLS Limo!
We recommend the following limos and party buses for comfort and convenience on the way to and from the ballpark:
- 10 Passenger Stretch Limousines
- 14 Passenger Hot Tub Limousines
- 16 Passenger Hummer Limousines
- 16 Passenger Expedition SUV Limousines
- 22 Passenger Excursion SUV Limousines
- 12 Passenger Executive Limo Buses
- 18 Passenger Limo Vans
- 20 Passenger Party Buses
- 32 Passenger Limousine Buses
- 20 Passenger VIP Bus with Wheelchair Lift
- 47 Passenger VIP Luxury Coaches
Those are only a few of the many luxury options for you and your friends and family members to choose from when considering transportation to the games. They are roomy, very comfortable and affordable, and they offer luxury amenities to make your experience fun and memorable. For more information about these and other Bay Area limos and party buses for game transportation, just give us a call at 800-339-8936!
Our San Francisco Limo Bus With Wheelchair Lift is Perfect for Guests With Limited Mobility
For some guests, a stretch limousine, Hummer limo or other type of luxury transportation is impractical. For people who use wheelchairs to get around, these and most other kinds of San Francisco limousines are very difficult to get into and out of, which limits their options for luxury ground transportation. If you and your friends are heading to a sporting event, concert, family reunion, wedding, sightseeing tour or other special occasion and you need accommodations for up to two people in wheelchairs, our limousine bus equipped with a wheelchair lift is the perfect solution.
This Bay Area limo bus with wheelchair lift features lots of luxury amenities, including the following:
- Plush, comfortable seating for up to 16 guests and 2 guests in wheelchairs
- 24” flat-screen LCD monitor
- Superb audio and video systems with CD and DVD players, as well as an iPod docking station
- Huge windows for sightseeing
- Climate control
- Many more comforts to make your trip fun and relaxing!
The next time you need comfortable, luxurious and affordable ground transportation that can also accommodate friends and family members in wheelchairs, simply give us a call at 800-339-8936 to reserve our party bus with wheelchair lift. For more information about our affordable rates, availability and to make your reservation, call us at NLS Limo today to speak with one of our reservation specialists.
Party Buses and Party Vans Are Both a Fun Way to Get Around!
A lot of our customers in the Bay Area ask us about the difference between party buses and party vans. From a semantic perspective, vans are designed to move cargo, and buses are designed to move groups of people. Since we’re in the hospitality business and prefer to view things from that perspective, we can tell you that there really isn’t any difference between our San Francisco party buses and party vans. No matter what you prefer to call them, it doesn’t matter much to us as long as you call us when you need a party bus or party van in the Bay Area!
We often use these two terms interchangeably, and it can spark some lively debates among staff members. However, no matter which side of the debate they end up on, we all focus on the quality of experience that our guests enjoy while riding in them. Our guests rent our party buses for special events, such as these:
- Bachelor/Bachelorette parties
- Weddings
- Girls’/Guys’ nights out on the town
- Sightseeing tours
- Concerts
- Sporting events
- Pub crawls
- Casino trips
- Shopping excursions
- Airport transportation
- Many other occasions both practical and not-so-practical
While each party bus in our fleet is designed a bit differently to accommodate groups of different sizes with different amenities, our guests can count on the following luxury amenities no matter which party bus they choose:
- Wet bars
- Mood lighting
- Spacious and immaculately clean interiors with comfortable seating
- State-of-the-art audio and video systems with CD and DVD players
- Flat-screen TVs
- Privacy shades
- Much more!
No matter what type of party van you need or the type of occasions that you need it for, you can rely on us to make sure that you and your friends and family have a great time at a very affordable rate. Use your browser to check out images of the various party buses in our fleet and the amenities unique to each of them. If you have questions and/or want to make a reservation, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936. If you call them limo buses, that’s OK, too!
Call 1-800-339-8936 for your free quote
Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun.
I've used Nationwide 3 or 4 times now and have not once been disappointed. Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun. Staff always helps me pick the best option for my group and our budget.