RSSThings To Do | San Francisco Travel Blog - Part 69
First Street-Legal All-Electric Limousine Goes on the Auction Block
Some months ago, we blogged about the first street-legal all-electric limousine, a Nissan Leaf limo made for a hotel in Nashville. That custom limousine must not have delivered the expected boost in reservations, as it is now listed on eBay with a starting bid of $50,000 and a Buy It Now price of $57,000. The Nashville Embassy Suites Hotel owns the limo, which seats eight people and was built by custom luxury vehicle manufacturer Imperial Coach Builders, based in Springfield, Missouri.
According to the builder, they intentionally kept most of the Leaf’s features as intact as possible while extending the subcompact by around eight feet and adding around 400 pounds to its weight. They shifted the limo’s battery pack to the rear for better balance, stability and performance and added customary limousine amenities such as these:
- High-end audio system
- Flat-screen TVs
- Wet bar
- Plush seating
- Mood lighting
- Other luxury amenities
Regular readers of this blog know that we often write about all things weird and wonderful in the automotive world, and the first all-electric limo was no exception. While we do offer San Francisco hybrid rentals in our fleet of vehicles, we prefer to keep our Prius and Camry hybrids separate from our Bay Area limousine rentals. Each fills a very important niche for our clients, and, while an all-electric limo certainly piques our curiosity, we won’t be placing a bid on this limo any time soon. We suspect that Embassy Suites commissioned this custom limo to generate interest and perhaps enhance the hotel’s credibility with environmentally conscious guests. We also suspect that guests’ reactions to the limo were lukewarm, which lead to it being auctioned to the highest bidder.
Electric vehicles are a very responsible and practical way to run errands and provide everyday transportation to work and other destinations, but our guests do not rent our limousines, party buses and other luxury vehicles for daily transportation. They rent them for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, concerts, sporting events and many other special events that transcend the everyday. It is our job to ensure that their experience enhances their special event and makes it more comfortable, luxurious and most important, fun! If you are looking for the Bay Area limousine service that has the best selection of luxury limousines in the San Francisco area, you have come to the right place! Browse the pages of our site to check out images of the many options in our fleet, and, for more information and to place your reservation, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936.
Rent One of Our San Francisco Limousines for a Sightseeing Tour!
Are you expecting a visit from friends or relatives and need a fun, luxurious and affordable way to show off our beautiful Bay Area? Rent one of our San Francisco limos, and treat them to one of our sightseeing tours! Renting a Bay Area limo for sightseeing instead of doing the driving yourself makes sense for many reasons such as these:
- Allowing you to focus on your guests
Renting a San Francisco limo for your sightseeing tour allows you to enjoy the ride as well! Instead of driving everyone from one destination to the next, you can focus instead on being a gracious host and catching up with friends and family. - Not having to deal with traffic
Why not leave the driving to the pros? Your chauffeur will know the best routes for taking in the sights and getting around traffic snarls, and you can enjoy not having to drive for once. - Giving your visitors a special experience
Surprising your guests with a limo ride for their sightseeing tour will surely be an experience that they will never forget! Everyone likes to be pampered, and riding in a limousine is the ultimate in luxury and comfort. - Relaxation
Imagine resting comfortably in the back of your limo, sipping a glass of your favorite beverage and taking in the San Francisco skyline. Or the Golden Gate Bridge. Or cruising along the coast. The possibilities are endless! Instead of dreading traffic and parking, you’ll be relaxing in the back of your limo and having a wonderful time!
We have lots of money-saving sightseeing tours from which to choose, or you can also create your own itinerary and show off your city and area with your own custom sightseeing tour. For more information about your San Francisco limo and sightseeing tour options, or to ask about creating your own tour, just give us a call today at 800-339-8936. We will be happy to answer all of your questions and make every effort to accommodate special requests. Call us at NLS Limo today to find out why we are the Bay Area’s premier limousine service!
San Francisco Limousine Rentals Make a Great Gift Idea
About this time every year, we remind our readers that our San Francisco limousine rentals make excellent stocking stuffers for the upcoming holiday season, especially for the hard-to-buy-for people on your Christmas list. Everyone has someone like this on his or her list each year, and agonizing over what to get him or her can suck the joy right out of the Season of Joy. However, we believe that we have the perfect solution! Rent a Bay Area limo, and give them a gift they will never forget. Here are just a few reasons why a limo rental is a great gift idea:
- One size fits all
For intimate groups of two to larger groups of 22 or more, we have a San Francisco limo option that will seat everyone very comfortably. No matter which of our Bay Area limo rentals you choose, you can be sure that they will have a wonderful time and receive our superb customer service. - Limo rentals are more affordable than you think they are
The San Francisco limousine market is very competitive, which is good, as it keeps rental rates low. You can browse the pages of our site for current rate information, and, if you choose an off-peak day or night for the rental, you may be able to take advantage of our specials. - They go well with concert or sporting event tickets
Adding concert or sporting event tickets to the limo experience is a great way to sweeten an already very nice gift. - They are great gifts for your best clients
Many of our clients who buy limo rentals as gifts each year are businesspeople who give limousine experiences to their best clients. If you’re looking for a new way to impress a big account, give us a call at 800-339-8936 and let us take care of the rest! - This is one gift they definitely won’t return
The day after Christmas is when people return ugly sweaters, unneeded foot massagers, unwanted kitchen appliances and many other gifts that they simply don’t want. If you give a San Francisco limo rental, you can be sure that this is one gift that won’t be returned or re-gifted.
If you have one or more persons on your list that make the season of giving into the season of dreading, we believe that we have a solution to that problem. Call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936 to make a San Francisco limousine reservation for them instead! If you have any questions or want to customize a limo experience, just let us know. We’ll be happy to help!
Need a Break from Your Routine? Rent a Bay Area Limo!
Alchemists used to say that they could transform lead into gold. Their claims may have been dubious, but we know a surefire way to transform the mundane into the extraordinary! Rent a San Francisco limousine from us, and treat your significant other to a limo ride down the lovely California coast. If you’re both tired of your routine and you could use a break to rejuvenate your lives, here is a proven recipe for success:
- Rent a San Francisco limousine
We have many different options for you, including stretch limos, hot tub limos, classic cars, antique Rolls-Royce limos and many more. We’re confident that you’ll find the perfect limo for the two of you from our huge fleet of luxury vehicles. - Have us stock your favorite beverages
It’s hard to beat champagne for these getaways, but we will gladly stock and chill your favorite alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for your lovely trip along the coast. - Lay in some provisions
Fruits, cheeses, antipasti trays, chocolates and other finger foods seem to work best for idyllic afternoons like these. It’s usually a good idea to avoid Philly cheesesteaks, monster burritos and other ambitious (and messy) undertakings, but go with your instincts on this one. - Arrange for a couple days off
Taking a couple weekdays off is a very good idea for these excursions. The whole point is to take a break from the everyday, right? Create your own weekend in the middle of the week with one day spent enjoying each other’s company in the back of your San Francisco limo and the other spent strolling around your favorite neighborhoods in our lovely city! - Get ready to be happy
If it has been a while since you did something fun and spontaneous together and you have forgotten why you get up and go to work every morning, rent a limo from us to rediscover why the two of you fell in love in the first place!
Renting a San Francisco limousine and taking a day or two to ride down the coast is a very effective antidote to the blahs. If you need a prescription for this serious but easily treatable condition, call us today at 800-339-8936 to speak with one of our clinicians. It may not be covered by your health insurance, but it is very affordable and has an incredible success rate. Call us at NLS Limo today to find out why we have become the Bay Area’s premier limousine service!
Vintage Mercedes-Benz Wins Best of Show at Concours d’Elegance
This year’s Concours d’Elegance auto show in Pebble Beach was a huge success, with top honors going to a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S. The Concours is the premier event of the year in the U.S. for serious classic car owners and fans of these superb vintage automobiles. The Mercedes awarded Best of Show at this year’s event is a gray beauty with maroon trim and custom bodywork by Jacques Saoutchik, a famous French coachbuilder. This year’s event drew 220 contestants from 15 countries and 33 states, who must pass very stringent entrance requirements. Other Best of Show nominees included a 1931 Duesenberg J Derham Tourster, a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Figoni Coupé and a 1935 Duesenberg J Gurney-Nutting Speedster.
The people who attend this annual event pay top dollar for the privilege of witnessing automotive excellence firsthand, as general admission tickets cost $250 each. The event begins at 5 a.m., with the traditional parade of vintage cars onto the 18th fairway of famed golf course Pebble Beach Golf Links. Festivities continued throughout the day, with competitions in many different automotive classes. Later that afternoon, the owner of the winning Mercedes drove through thick smoke from fireworks to claim the top prize. Prize in hand, the owner shared a brief word with the audience about what helped his classic car stand out from the competition.
“It’s the whole package,” he said. “There’s not a bad line on this car. It was the sports car, the high performance car of its era, and then Saoutchik gave it style and grace. It has power and it has beauty.”
While many attendees only spend one day at the Concours, it is actually a weeklong series of events that include shows, tours, vintage car club meetings, races featuring vintage automobiles and one of the most prestigious classic car auctions in the world. This year’s auction set a record of $262 million in sales for 1,217 different lots on the auction block. The average sale price surged to $343,968 this year, up sharply from last year’s average of $233,950. Industry analysts said that the rise in average sales reflected recent trends in the classic car market, and they expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future.
If you love riding in classic cars but don’t have the means to buy one for yourself, we have great news! Our San Francisco classic car rentals are very affordable and let you enjoy touring the Bay Area for a fraction of the cost of owning one. If you have been thinking about renting a classic car in the Bay Area for an upcoming birthday, anniversary or other special event, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936 to reserve yours today!
We Have San Francisco Charter Buses for Groups of All Sizes
If you are visiting the Bay Area with a group of people or you live here and need a large, comfortable and affordable way to transport people, we have many different San Francisco charter bus options for you. While we are a limousine service, we also offer many other kinds of luxury transportation for groups of two to 200. Each of the charter buses is clean, spacious, luxurious and designed to make road trips fun! Our Bay Area charter bus rentals are perfect for the following:
- School groups
- Church groups
- Sporting events
- Concerts
- Convention transportation
- Sightseeing tours
- Weddings
- Casino trips
- Shopping excursions
- Overnight trips
- Amusement parks
- Many other groups and special events
Nearly all of them are equipped with amenities that make road trips fun and enjoyable, such as flat-screen TVs, audio systems, minibars, mood lighting, DVD players and other amenities. Depending on which model you choose, you can also enjoy plenty of storage for luggage, restrooms, captain’s chairs and tables for working and playing, karaoke machines, fiber optic lighting and other unique features.
No one in the area has a better selection of San Francisco luxury coach rental options including these:
- 12-passenger executive limousine buses
- 20-passenger party vans
- 20-passenger VIP bus with wheelchair lift
- 24-passenger VIP mini coach
- 47-passenger VIP coach
- 55-passenger VIP coach
- Many other options
No matter which Bay Area luxury coach rental you choose, you will enjoy an immaculately clean interior and a courteous, professional and knowledgeable driver to get you and your group to and from your destination in style. Whether you rent for an afternoon or a weekend, you’ll be amazed at how affordable luxurious group travel can be! Please browse the pages of our site for images of each of the charter bus rental options in our fleet and a listing of the amenities that each offers. For more information or to make a reservation, just give us a call at NLS Limo at 800-339-8936, and one of our reservation specialists will be happy to assist you!
Rolls-Royce Announces Changes to Ghost Models Including Sport Coupe
Legendary luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce has been making some bold moves recently with their updated Phantom models, and it appears that more developments are in the works for Rolls-Royce motorcars. Rolls recently announced that they are updating their Ghost models as well, with an announced three different versions, one of which will be a coupe with a 600-plus horsepower engine. Rolls-Royce sold 3,538 Ghosts last year, a remarkable 31 percent increase over 2010’s sales. With the new models, they appear to be staking a larger claim on the luxury market in the coming years.
Rolls has not released many details about the upcoming changes but have said that they plan to unveil the sporty two-door Ghost models at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The new Ghost coupe will be built to hold the road rather than glide atop it, with a lowered suspension, shorter wheelbase and sport-tuned traction control system to get drivers’ adrenaline going in tight turns. Rolls has not yet announced a price for the new Ghost models, but buyers with adequate means will surely be placing orders with their local dealers for this new roadster.
You may need deep pockets to own a Rolls-Royce, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the classic look, feel and ride of a Rolls limousine. In addition to our San Francisco limos, party buses, limo buses and other luxury vehicles, we also rent Bay Area classic Rolls-Royce limousines for very affordable rates. These timeless classics have been lovingly restored and are very popular choices for the following:
Renting one of our Bay Area Rolls-Royce limos for friends and family is also a great gift idea for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and other special occasions! To learn more about our affordable rates, availability and to reserve your San Francisco Rolls-Royce rental, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
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!
China Cracking Down on Unlicensed Charter Bus Companies
Chinese transportation safety officials recently announced that they are cracking down on unlicensed charter bus companies after a series of tragic bus accidents involving illegal bus services. Zhao Ruihua, deputy director of road traffic safety for the State Administration of Work Safety, told reporters assembled at a press conference that the Ministry of Transport will issue or renew charter licenses only after a careful screening process that will ensure that a bus charter company screens its drivers properly and has a good safety record. He said that bus companies that operate with forged or blank licenses and bribe officials to look the other way during inspections impede his agency’s efforts to make China’s roadways safer for everyone.
Many tour bus charter companies in China use fake charter licenses or illegally operate in provinces where they have not received licenses. Officials now say that with stepped-up enforcement, illegal charter companies will be subject to steep fines of up to ten times the value of any revenues they obtained illegally. Senior government officials forced the transportation agency to get tough on illegal operators after receiving stern criticism from the public and some media outlets after recent high-profile bus accidents.
So far this year, there have been at least 15 major bus accidents involving illegal bus charter companies that have killed more than 235 people and injured hundreds more. Many of the accident victims are tourists from other countries bringing much-needed revenue to many of China’s impoverished provinces. One transportation official said that new regulations would make it mandatory for official guides to ride on each bus. The guides would be responsible for ensuring that the bus operator was properly licensed and that all safety protocols would be observed.
Here in the Bay Area, we also gets millions of visitors from all over the world, and many tour groups enjoy the comfort and convenience of our San Francisco bus charters for sightseeing trips, airport transportation, sporting events and other destinations. If you’re looking for a Bay Area charter bus company with an exemplary safety record, outstanding customer service, clean, comfortable luxury coaches and very affordable rates, call us today at 800-339-8936. We may be named Nationwide Limousine Service, but we offer luxury tour bus rentals, limousine buses, VIP coaches and many other kinds of luxury group transportation. Call us at NLS Limo today for information about rates, availability and the many options available to you and your group.
Study Finds Toyota Prius Preferred By Wealthy Californians
A recent study conducted by car-price-information company TrueCar.com cross-referenced tax data and auto registrations in California’s ten wealthiest zip codes and found some surprising results. The website based its research on more than 1,000 tax returns in each of the ten zip codes and found that Toyota Prius hybrids ranked very favorably with luxury Mercedes-Benz models as the most popular cars with rich buyers.
TrueCar.com analyst Kristen Andersson suggested that a new segment of the car market may be emerging, the eco-luxury segment.
"For affluent buyers who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury," she said in a recent interview.
How popular are Toyota Prius hybrids? Consider that Prius hybrids are the most popular vehicle in Century City, which is California’s fifth-wealthiest zip code, where residents report an average income of $751,000 per year. The next three most popular cars owned by people in that zip code are Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans, C-Class sedans and BMW 328 sedans, respectively. Closer to our base in San Francisco is Ross, CA, the tenth-wealthiest zip code in the state, where residents earn an average of $497,000 annually. The Prius reigns supreme in Ross also, followed by Mercedes E-Class and GL-Class sedans, respectively.
Car buyers from all income levels have turned the Toyota Prius hybrid into one of the best sellers in the country. Through the first seven months of 2012, Toyota has nearly doubled Prius sales over the same period the previous year with nearly 143,000 hybrids sold.
Here at NLS Limo, we understand why Prius hybrids are so popular. They may not be as roomy or comfortable as the luxury vehicles in our fleet, but they are very reliable, consume very little fuel and are perfect for running errands in the Bay Area. If you are one of the many people in the Bay Area who doesn’t own a car but likes to rent one occasionally for day trips, shopping and other uses, call us today at 800-339-8936 to ask about our San Francisco Prius Hybrid rentals. Our Prius rentals are very affordable and are perfect for getting around the city when you need your own transportation for a morning, afternoon or the whole day!
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.