RSSLimo News | San Francisco Travel Blog - Part 11
Lincoln Navigator SUV Limos Very Popular With Chinese Buyers
Newly affluent Chinese buyers have been clamoring for luxury items as their country’s economy has grown and the surging popularity of limousines is no exception. The market for new and pre-owned Lincoln Navigator SUV limos is especially strong, and dealers claim that they cannot get enough of the vehicles to satisfy demand. On average, used Lincoln Navigator limousines sell for around two million yuan or around $313,000 in U.S. dollars. New models can sell for much more.
Chinese buyers looking to make an impression on their friends and business rivals pursue the longest Navigator limousines possible and prefer models that are 36 feet long or longer. Many of these used Lincolns come from limousine services here on the west coast, as Ford Motor Company does not currently have any Lincoln dealerships in China. While that may change in the near future as Ford responds to demand in this emerging market, selling these high-profile limos is currently a seller’s market, and this is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
Salesmen at the most prestigious luxury car dealerships in Beijing sell an average of one Navigator limo a day, and many say they could sell more if they had a steadier supply. SUV limos with dance floors, disco balls, stripper poles, laser light systems and other highly desired amenities are the most difficult to find and usually ignite bidding wars among buyers when they become available.
Competition for Lincoln Navigator SUV limos can be somewhat fierce here in the Bay Area as well, as our guests reserve these popular models for a wide range of different special occasions, including the following:
- Weddings
- Concerts
- Sporting events
- Bachelor/Bachelorette parties
- Sightseeing tours
- Birthdays
- Proms
- Anniversaries
- Many other special occasions
Reservations for our San Francisco Navigator limo rentals fill up quickly for the most popular nights, weekends and holidays. If you’re thinking about renting a SUV limo for an upcoming event, it’s best to make your reservations as early as possible. To reserve your preferred model, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 to speak with one of our reservation specialists. They will be able to answer all your questions and help make your San Francisco limousine experience extra special! Call us today!
Obama Campaign Bus Stocks Beer Brewed in White House
One of the more interesting developments during this year’s presidential campaign is the news that President Obama stocks homemade beer to enjoy on the campaign trail. Given the extraordinary security measures and amenities inside the president’s campaign bus, you couldn’t call it a party bus. Yet, we were pleasantly surprised to learn of his fondness for homebrews. During a recent stop at a coffee shop in Knoxville, Iowa, Mr. Obama chatted with a man, and when the conversation drifted to beer, the man was very pleasantly surprised with the president and offered him a cold one from his private supply.
When the press corps learned about the president’s offer, they asked White House spokesman Jay Carney a flurry of questions about what kind of beers were available. Carney reported that White House brew masters brew light and dark beers for the president and confessed that he had tried the lighter beer and found that “it is superb.”
The Obamas served their White House Honey Ale, made with honey from the first lady’s hives in the White House garden, at last year’s Super Bowl party. Insiders say that the president also served White House Honey Ale last September to Medal of Honor recipient Marine Sergeant Dakota Meyer, who had requested to have a beer with his Commander in Chief. Presidents Washington and Jefferson also made their own brews, but Mr. Obama is believed to be the first president to brew at the White House.
Here at NLS Limo, we like a well crafted beer as well. We enjoy drinking one or two after a day or evening of transporting our guests, and we enjoy stocking our San Francisco party buses and luxury coaches with our guests’ favorite beers for concerts, weddings, sporting events and other special occasions.
We may be San Francisco’s premier limousine service, but we never lose sight of the fact that we are in the hospitality business. We go to great lengths to help our guests get the most from their experience in our party buses, luxury coaches, limousines or other luxury ground transportation. Want to surprise your friends and family with their favorite beers and other adult beverages during their San Francisco party bus or luxury coach rental? Simply call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 to let us know what you would like! We will do whatever we can to make it happen!
Make Plans to Attend This Year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
People here in the Bay Area are very familiar with the wealthy and exclusive enclave of Pebble Beach. Nestled on the California coast just south of Monterey, Pebble Beach is home to seven golf courses, including the beautiful and notoriously difficult Pebble Beach Golf Links. However, when classic car enthusiasts like us think of Pebble Beach, we’re not thinking about fairways and putting greens. We’re thinking about the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the world’s best classic car shows.
This annual event occurs on the third Sunday of each August and features the kind of classic cars that make aficionados swoon. This year will mark the 62nd anniversary of this marvelous event, but this show is definitely not designed to attract everyday car enthusiasts. Advance tickets sell for $200, but sticker shock has not been a problem for event organizers, who say that the car show attracted 15,000 people last year. This year, organizers have announced that they will award prizes to the top three cars in at least 20 categories. Winners will then compete for the coveted Best in Show award.
The ticket price alone would tell you that this is no ordinary car show, but to get an idea of how exclusive this annual event truly is, consider the automotive marques (brands to us ordinary collectors) that will be honored at this year’s show:
- The Mercer automobile, which was manufactured in Trenton, N.J., from 1909 to 1925 and will have 12 entries
- Eight Fiat automobiles, all manufactured in 1913 or earlier
- Eleven very rare automobiles designed by Jacques Saoutchik, a Ukrainian-born custom carmaker who crafted automobiles in Paris from 1906 and 1955
- Nine Shelby Cobras made between 1962 and 1966 by Carroll Shelby, the stuff from which car lovers from a certain era’s dreams are truly woven
- Ten one-of-a-kind American sports cars built prior to 1968
- Fifteen custom Rolls-Royce limousines built between 1924 and 1937 that were once owned by Indian Maharajas
In addition to that phenomenal list of vintage automobiles, there will be dozens of other superb antique cars for attendees to see and appreciate.
If you’re thinking about adding that feeling of timeless elegance to an upcoming special event, consider renting one of our San Francisco antique cars. We have a very respectable selection of vintage cars and are always in the market for models we can lovingly restore and add to our collection. Browse the pages of our site to see the Bay Area antique car rentals that are currently available. If you have questions or would like to make a reservation, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
Bentley Introduces Diamond Jubilee Limo to Honor Queen Elizabeth
Legendary luxury automobile manufacturer Bentley Motors has announced that it plans to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign with a series of special Bentley limousines. Bentley has crafted only 60 Mulsanne Diamond Jubilee Edition limos, one for each year of the Queen’s reign, and they are valued at over $1 million each. These limited edition Bentleys are designed by Bentley’s Mulliner division, the same craftspeople that created the State Limousine presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.
The release of these limousines was timed to coincide with the recent opening of one of the world’s largest Bentley dealership in Beijing, as most of these exclusive limos are expected to be sold to Chinese buyers. The Mulsanne Diamond Jubilee Edition limousines feature several unique, handcrafted features that pay tribute to Her Majesty, including the following:
- Gold stitching and custom embroidery on each headrest
- Veneered picnic tables in the rear cabin decorated with gold overlay depicting the royal carriage used on special occasions
- Matching seat cushions with the same embroidery and gold stitching as the headrests
- Two stainless steel treadplates featuring the famous "Bentley Mulliner, England" script and "Diamond Jubilee Edition"
- The full complement of state-of-the-art Bentley limousine amenities
If you know a lady who deserves to be treated like a queen, but you don’t have the means to buy one of these limited edition limousines, we humbly offer a very viable and affordable alternative. Rent one of our San Francisco limousine or Bay Area classic limos, and allow us to provide her with a royal treatment she will never forget!
We have a huge selection of luxury vehicles that are perfect for treating that special lady in your life. Consider our San Francisco limo rentals for the following:
- Sightseeing tours
- Nights on the town
- Birthdays
- Anniversaries
- Concerts
- Wine tours
- Other memorable occasions
Call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 for more information about each of the Bay Area limos in our fleet, and ask about money-saving monthly specials and limo packages. Our limo rentals also make great gifts! If you know someone who could use a break from her everyday grind and deserves to be treated like a queen, give us a call and let us take care of the rest!
Nebraska Man Selling Huge Collection of Antique Cars to Focus on Finding a Wife
Jerry Andreasen slowly built one of the country’s best collections of antique cars over several decades, but now the man is planning to sell all of them to focus on finding a wife. The 74-year-old from Omaha, Neb., says that he has never been on a date and wants to focus on finding someone to spend the rest of his life with. He claims that he was so obsessed with collecting antique automobiles for his collection that he never had the money or the time to find a wife.
“I spent so much time working and getting my cars, I never got married,” Andreasen lamented to a reporter. “I’m going to look for a wife, and I don’t care if she already has a half-dozen kids. I’d put all my money into cars. Whatever I’d make, I’d turn around and put it into cars. But I’d never do it again because I never had time for anything else. I’ve never been on a date.”
His collection is quite impressive with over 90 antique automobiles and motorcycles amassed over 45 years. He had planned to open his own museum at some point to showcase his collection, but those plans never materialized, and now he’s selling everything, including parts that he bought over the years to restore these classics. Many of the cars and motorcycles are inoperable, but that isn’t expected to dissuade other collectors who will be descending on a farm near Benington, Neb., for the sale.
Auctioneer Gabe Petersen said it is the biggest collection of antique cars his business has ever sold at a single auction.
“We’ve never sold that many, that old before,” he said. “It’s kind of a hodgepodge with a little bit of everything for the casual and serious collector as well.”
Andreasen hopes that this auctioneer and sale will bring a tidier sum than the sale he held last year to sell off some of the jewels of the collection.
“I sold off my choice cars last year, and the auctioneer practically gave them away,” he said. “That man didn’t know a pickup truck from a car. The guys this time know what we’ve got here, and they’re excited. People who build street rods are going to have a ball.”
Some of the highlights of this year’s sale include the following:
- 1918 Buick Truck
- 1938 Lincoln Zephyr
- 1963 Falcon Ranchero
- 1960 Austin Healey 3000
- Austin Healey Sprite
If we were a little closer to Nebraska, we’d be heading to this sale for sure! As you probably know, we’re very proud of our collection of Bay Area antique car rentals and are always on the lookout for new beauties to add to our collection. We’re crazy for cars of all kinds around here, but there’s a special spot in our hearts for rarities like these. If you feel the same way about old cars and would like to rent one for an upcoming special occasion, just give us a call at 800-339-8936! From antique Rolls-Royce limousines to vintage Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Plymouths and more, we have several classics from which to choose. Call us at NLS Limo for more information about each of the San Francisco antique cars in our fleet, and reserve yours today!
Neighboring Businesses Feud Over Parking and Wedding Limos
Las Vegas has been the destination for quick weddings and divorces for a very long time. Wedding chapels here are almost as common as casinos, and wedding limo rental companies do a very brisk business keeping up with demand. However, an escalating feud between neighboring businesses may cause some limousine services to think twice about transporting happy couples to and from the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard. The Chapel is located next to a Super 8 Motel, and, since the motel changed ownership last year, there has been a series of conflicts over the use of a common driveway, parking, signage and other issues. The conflicts between the businesses have been frequently heard in city planning commission meetings, and recently, things have soured to the point of litigation.
The animosity escalated sharply recently when the motel began towing the cars of chapel clients who parked in spaces reserved for motel guests. One of the towed vehicles belonged to a rabbi officiating a wedding, causing a scene in the parking lot between business owners and wedding attendees. Ilan Gorodezki, the new owner of the motel, reports that the roots of the problems began long before he owned the business. The previous owner of the motel let the property become decrepit. Needing the parking space, chapel owners regularly let clients park in the motel lot.
"They are a successful business and I have a lot of respect for them," Gorodezki said. "But for years they were doing whatever they wanted and they can’t do that anymore."
Gorodezki has also lodged official complaints with the city over wedding limousines that park across the only entrance to the motel lot, preventing potential motel guests from entering the driveway. His attorney claims that the limos are essentially "imposing a death sentence" on his client’s motel because drive-up traffic is an important part of his client’s livelihood. Last Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest days of the year for the chapel, Gorodezki painted a red line across the shared driveway and partially blocked it with his car, preventing chapel owners from using most of the driveway to enter the lot.
The owners of the chapel claim that causing patrons to use only the narrow north part of the driveway on their property is dangerous, as it forces wedding limo chauffeurs to make sharp U-turns into the narrow driveway.
"What is a wedding without the limo business?" said John Krieger, the chapel’s attorney.
The owners of both businesses have filed lawsuits, and now the matter will be decided in Clark County District Court. They claim they have explored every opportunity to resolve the conflicts but now feel that litigation is their only alternative.
If you’re planning a wedding in the Bay Area and are shopping for San Francisco wedding limousine services, you have come to the right place. We have been the Bay Area’s premier wedding limo provider for years and offer a wide range of limousines, party buses, SUV limos, luxury coaches, classic cars and other vehicles. Our rates are very affordable, and our customer service is the best in the business. For more information about your wedding limo options, availability, and our wedding limousine packages, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936.
Dubai Transportation Officials Work With U.S. Agency to Improve School Bus Safety
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is working with our country’s National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) to improve school bus safety for Dubai’s schoolchildren. These two transportation organizations have created a formal partnership to share information and develop safety measures and are planning a joint school transportation summit next year in Dubai. Here at NLS Limo, we have been following developments in this partnership, as we also transport schoolchildren. Our Bay Area school pupil activity buses transport kids from all over the area on field trips, overnight learning excursions and other educational expeditions. Our buses also transport children on trips to baseball games, amusement parks and other fun destinations because kids learn best when teachers and administrators strike the right balance between work and play!
Alexandra Robinson is the NAPT President and Executive Director for Pupil Transportation of the New York City Department of Education. She and other administrators are excited about the future of this collaborative effort.
"NAPT is privileged to join with the Emirate of Dubai in the interest of helping them and others in their region learn from our experiences operating yellow school buses," she said in a recent statement.
Her counterpart, Mr. Essa Al Dosseri, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at RTA, also stated his enthusiasm for the partnership.
"This agreement is the result of many years of working informally with NAPT. Together, we are taking the next step to bring the best practices in school transportation to individuals, businesses, governments and related school transportation service providers in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) as well as other countries. The conference we are planning will be a unique learning experience for transportation professionals around the world."
At NLS Limo, the safety of our guests is and always has been our first priority, and that is especially true about our youngest guests riding in our San Francisco school pupil activity buses. We outfit each bus with the latest in safety equipment and allow only our most experienced drivers to take these assignments. If you are a teacher or school administrator who is planning a trip for your schoolchildren soon and you need safe and reliable bus transportation, please contact us today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 for information.
Rent a Bay Area Limo to Head to Wine Country This Year!
Grape growers in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys are reporting that this year’s crop is shaping up to be exceptionally good. If you’ve been thinking about heading to California wine country to taste some of the world’s best wines, why not rent a San Francisco limo and make a fun, affordable and luxurious day of it? Instead of fighting traffic to and from your favorite wineries and limiting your love for great wine by being a responsible driver, leave the driving to the pros instead, and have a great time with friends! Grape growers and wine producers would love to have you visit their facilities, sample some great wines, eat at the superb restaurants nearby and bring home a case or two to enjoy at home.
Sonoma County Wine Grape Commission member Nick Frey says that this year’s combination of consistently warm days and cool nights has been ideal for grape growers.
“It’s just about been ideal. The crop looks good and really growers have had very few problems this year,” Frey said.
He added that this year’s Pinot Noir grapes are having an exceptionally good year.
Jon Ruel of the Napa Valley Grape Growers is also excited about this year’s crop.
“This year with the nice weather in May and June we have a nice crop out there,” he said. “It’s much improved over last year in terms of quantity, but I wouldn’t say it’s going to be an above average crop either. It looks about normal.”
Champagne lovers are also in for a treat, as the sparkling wine grape harvest is looking good. Growers are planning on beginning that harvest sometime in mid-August, with the majority of the crop being picked shortly after Labor Day.
If you’re looking for an excuse to get out of the city for a while and enjoy a day in the wine country with friends and family, rent one of our Bay Area limos, SUV limos or other luxury options, and have a blast! Call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 for information about your rental options, and ask about our wine tour packages to save even more money. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of room in the trunk for cases of your favorite wines. Cheers!
Antique Car Show a Must-See Event for Classic Car Lovers
California is a wonderland for antique car aficionados. The weather here is perfect for preserving classic cars and other automotive gems, and Southern California is the epicenter of the antique car universe. On the last Saturday of each month, car enthusiasts flock to the Fontana Car Show event held in at the Civic Center Campus parking lot. The show is free and attracts people from all over the country to view the classic cars on display.
"I really like coming to car shows," said classic car owner Diana Fiel of Rialto. "I like getting to see the beauty of antique cars."
Fiel is the proud owner of a lovely 1951 Chevy 3100 series pickup truck. She recently entered her truck in the show for the first time and says that she and other participants love talking to the people who attend the show and the attention that the antique cars receive. If you’re in the Fontana area on the last Saturday of the month, the show is open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and it’s a great way to spend the afternoon.
"There’s nothing like seeing classic cars up close," said attendee Gabriel Tellez.
We couldn’t agree more. In fact, the only thing better than seeing classic cars up close is being able to rent and ride in them! We have a very respectable selection of Bay Area antique car and classic car rentals, and they are available at very affordable rates. Our guests rent our San Francisco classic cars for a wide range of different special events, including these:
- Weddings
- Anniversaries
- Wine tours
- Birthdays
- Sightseeing tours
- Concerts
- Nights on the town
- Many other occasions!
For pictures and information about each of the antique cars in our fleet, please browse the pages of our site. If you have questions or would like to reserve one of our beautiful San Francisco classic car rentals for an upcoming special occasion, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936! We’re always on the lookout for new antique cars to add to our selection. Maybe we’ll see you at the next Fontana Car Show!
Limo Bus Decorated Like Pirate Ship Anchored Until Owner Gets Proper License
Billy Fox, of Dagsboro, Del., has crafted a one-of-a-kind limo bus to safely transport passengers who have had a bit too much to drink. The 14-seat Black Pearl is decorated like a pirate ship and offers free trips home to intoxicated bar patrons in and around Fenwick Island and Selbyville, only accepting tips and donations from grateful riders. Fox says he can afford to provide this service because his operation is subsidized by sponsorships from local businesses, especially bars and restaurants that rely on the limo bus to transport patrons home safely.
However, Fox recently restricted the Black Pearl’s range until he receives the proper licenses from the state to ferry passengers. When they learned about the limo bus, the Office of Public Carrier Regulation, a division of the Delaware Department of Transportation, contacted Fox and told him he would need to get his bus licensed whether he charged a fare or made a profit from his service or not.
"We want to comply and are going to comply," said Fox. "It’s so we can provide a service here in southern Delaware that everyone needs. It is a needed service."
The Delaware DOT told him that he could continue to transport guests between businesses that sponsor the Black Pearl, but he can’t transport passengers to their homes until he has acquired the proper license.
"We have not shut him down," said DelDOT spokesman Geoff Sundstrom. "In fact, he is operating between a number of sponsoring businesses. He’s required to meet the same state insurance and background check requirements that any other public carrier is required to fulfill."
Fox has begun the process of obtaining his limousine license but isn’t sure when it will be granted. He has to pay a $400 fee, pass a background check, complete a fare schedule, submit a petition, complete his license application, provide minimum insurance coverage and take some additional steps before the state agency will issue his license.
Fox said that he had not previously applied for the license because he never imagined that the Black Pearl would become so popular. His original plan was to promote local businesses and make area roads safer by discouraging drunk driving. Before he knew it, he was transporting a lot more passengers than he planned and knew that he would have to get his licensing in order sooner rather than later.
If you’re thinking about renting a San Francisco limo bus for a sporting event, pub crawl, concert, wedding or other special occasion and you want to have the ultimate designated driver, call us today at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to make a reservation. Our limousine buses are clean, very comfortable, affordable and feature lots of luxurious amenities to make your event truly memorable. We have lots of images of our Bay Area limo bus models on our site, so browse them at your leisure. If you have questions, just give us a call!
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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.