Picnic in a Limo

For a change of pace, try renting a limousine and eating a picnic lunch while being driven around in style. Or have the limo drive you to a nice park and eat lunch there, or drive up to your favorite hot dog stand and order two chili dogs while your limo waits. Or forget the food and have each other for lunch while the limo drives you around town.

COST

You will need to determine what type of limo you want to rent. Do you want a stretch limo or a Town Car (luxury sedan)? Are you looking for a Lincoln, Cadillac, Mercedes or Rolls Royce? For the luxury sedan, expect to pay $35 to $55 per hour. For six-passenger service, expect to pay $40 to $75 per hour. For the eight passenger stretch limo, you might pay $50 to $100 an hour and the Rolls Royce might set you back $150 an hour.

The price is going to vary from city to city, on the time of day and time of year, on how many of the limos they were actually able to start that day and how many drivers showed up to work sober enough to drive. If it's prom time or Mother's day, the prices will be high, if it's a Tuesday afternoon and they've got five limos sitting on the lot doing nothing, you can and should make a deal.

When you are renting a limousine, the best price is not always the best deal. Lower-priced limo services have been known on occasion to use older vehicles that are poorly serviced and chauffeurs whose condition is equally fragile. They may quote a lower price but then tack on additional costs at the time payment is due. Then again, the same can be true for any limo company. When making your reservation ask for a set or "all inclusive" price.

Most companies have a minimum rental time of two to three hours. Under certain conditions you may be able to hire a limo for an hour.

Assuming the service is decent, tip the limo driver between fifteen and twenty percent of the cost of the rental unless the tip is included in the price you were quoted. Be sure to ask.

(One of the authors of this book drove a limo during graduate school. Yes, it is possible to hold together the transmission of a stretch limo with a coat hanger and paper clips. But don't let that stop you from having a good time. Plenty of his customers had a great time and never knew he was sweating bullets thinking "Holy Mother of God, how am I going to get this clunker up that hill?")

HOW TO FIND A LIMOUSINE RENTAL COMPANY

Call the concierges at better hotels in your area and ask who they suggest for limo rentals.

Check the yellow pages under "limousine." Also try your local tourist office or visitors center. On the internet, www.411limousines.com has a state-by-state listing of limo companies.

INQUIRE AHEAD OF TIME

Ask if you can have your picnic lunch in the limo. There shouldn't be a problem, but some companies might not allow it. If you are having wine with your meal, check with the service ahead of time. Some companies have "no alcohol" rules, while others will fill leaded glass canisters with your favorite booze.

DON'T STRETCH YOUR LUCK

Always write down the name of the person who you made the reservation with, the exact rates you were quoted, and BE SURE to call the morning of the date to reconfirm your reservations.