Unless you are a millionaire, you probably don’t ride in a limo often. So when prom or a wedding comes up, there is always the question of whether you tip the limo driver. The answer is yes; limo driving is a service just like a taxi, so you should tip the driver based on his or her performance. Limo drivers are either paid by the fixed rate or hourly rate, which both equate to minimum wage. The next question is then how much should you pay the limo driver?

Do I Need to Tip a Limo Driver?

Before paying a limo driver call the limo company and ask them if gratuity is included in the bill. If the limo driver did his job then tip him a 15% to 20% of the total bill. If the limo service was poor, then tip the limo driver 5% or lower of the total bill. At minimum, a limo driver should be paid around $5-10 for short trips, regardless of the percentage. For trips over an hour, the limo driver should be paid a minimum of $10-20.

Be courteous to the driver and the car. If the car becomes a mess after you’re done, be courteous and pay a higher tip. Remember that cleaning the limo is often the driver’s responsibility. Also, you can tip based on the size of the car. If renting a smaller vehicle, you can tip 10% of the total bill. For larger limos, you can tip 15% of the total bill.

Additional Help

Now that you know the proper tipping procedure, you just need to find a limo driver. To get a limo driver, use TalkLocal. TalkLocal can connect you with up to limo drivers in your area, who will be available when you need them!

How Much to Rent a Limo for Prom

Prom, and the events surrounding it, is often the highlight of a kid’s high school career. If you’re looking to make the most of your prom night, then check out these top 10 things to make prom great. Everything should be perfect for this occasion, from the pre-prom dinner to the corsage, all down to the transportation. Transportation is especially important, as it seems nearly every high school student rents limousines for their prom night. If you’re one such student, you may be asking yourself how much you should pay to rent a limo for prom. There is no quick answer for this question. This depends completely upon you and your limousine mates.

Things to Keep in Mind When Renting a Limo for Prom

If you want to arrive at your prom in style, renting an elegant limousine may be on your mind. Generally, prices depend on the number of people in your limousine and the amount of time you require the limo to be present.

If you want to rent a stretch limo, costs can range from roughly $70-$110 per hour plus gratuity (which is usually around 10-20% of the total cost). A stretch limo is usually a stretched sedan that allows more legroom per passenger. These types of limos can usually hold around six to eight people depending on the degree of stretching. If you prefer a luxury SUV, these will generally cost a little bit more, usually in the $90-$150 per hour price range. These types of limos are ideal for groups of six or more (depending on the design) and are an even more awesome way of showing up at your high school prom.

Overall prices start going up depending on how many people you want your limousine to hold. Of course, this also means the price per person will be changing as well. Sometimes, having a larger limousine with more people can end up being cheaper per person. If you’re looking to rent a limo, the best way to do so would be to find out who would be interested in going in your limousine and then booking the rental as soon as possible. This may result in a reduced price if you book it early enough, and you won’t have to worry about any transportation issues until your prom.

Additional Help

All in all, renting a limo for your prom is an easy thing to do, and it can be fairly inexpensive if you do it early enough. If you’re interested in booking a limousine, consider using TalkLocal to find a reputable limousine rental company for you, as well as how much it would cost to rent a limo. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, limo rental companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly.

Prom is often thought of as one of the most special moments in one’s high school career. It signifies the end of senior year, the preparation of going to college, and the celebration of getting through 13 years of schooling. It is one of the last events where you will be celebrating together with all of your childhood friends, and a night for the girls to feel like princesses and the guys to feel like princes. If you’re looking to make the most out of your big night, then you’ll want to check out these top ten items to make prom great.

Whether your date is simply a friend or a girl/boyfriend, one of the customary traditions is to buy them either a corsage or boutonniere (depending on the gender). A corsage is a small floral arrangement attached to a band or bracelet and worn on the girl’s wrist. The boutonniere is similar to the corsage, except that the arrangement is attached to the tuxedo jacket instead of a band. Usually this floral arrangement matches the colors of the prom dress and/or the tuxedo’s bow tie and vest. You can purchase affordable corsage and boutonniere sets from Amazon for under $20. But who buys the corsage and boutonniere for prom?

Boutonniere & Corsage Traditions

For the girl, it is tradition to buy the boutonniere for the guy, and to attach it to the left lapel of his jacket for him, with the stem facing down. Get boutonnieres from Amazon for as low as $4.99. Similarly, it is tradition for the guy to buy the corsage for the girl, and to slide it onto her wrist at the same time the boutonniere is provided. Get corsages from Amazon for under $20.00. Traditionally, the corsage is placed on the girl’s right wrist so that both the corsage and boutonniere can be seen in pictures when the couple poses to face one another. The boutonniere and corsage exchange is one of the highlights of the night; one that brings on many camera flashes as parents and friends take pictures in the attempt of capturing this heartfelt and romantic memory for years to come.

Who Buys What for Prom?

Now you know who buys the corsage and who buys the boutonniere, but what about everything else? There are pre-prom pictures, after party expenses, limos, and other necessities. Who’s going to pay for all of that?

¹ The cost for the dinner depends on occassion. If the couple goes to a restaurant for dinner, then traditionally the guy pays. However, if dinner is a catered event, either by family or friends, the couple should expect to go Dutch.

² Although a guy traditionally pays for the limo, the couple can go Dutch, especially if they are sharing the limo with friends.

³ Guys traditionally ask girls to prom; therefore, they usually pay for promposals. However, in the case of a girl asking a guy to the prom or a same gender couple, the burden of a promposal falls on whoever invites someone to prom.

Additional Help

There are so many details that go into preparing for your prom. Check out these top 10 items that can help make a good night great. Still need to book transportation to dinner and the dance? Try using TalkLocal to find a limousine company. TalkLocal is a FREE service that will connect you with top-quality, reliable limo companies in your neighborhood, within minutes. All you need to do is enter in your specific needs, location and availability, and TalkLocal will contact multiple companies, who will then call YOU directly, ready to help. Save time and stress by letting TalkLocal search for the perfect, most affordable limousine for your prom night!

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Your girlfriend is returning home from a trip and you are really excited to see her; why not surprise her at the airport? Whether she is just getting back from a semester abroad or took a week-long trip to her grandparents, learning how to surprise your girlfriend at the airport will give you a very happy and appreciative girlfriend.

The first thing you should do is get her a bouquet of flowers. Whatever flower you choose is sure to make her happy, so don’t worry too much about the type. You could even surprise her with some of her favorite things. Some ideas could be her favorite candy, some of her favorite snacks, or even a stuffed animal.

Presentation is key, so put a little effort into your looks and wear a nice shirt instead of a t-shirt and jeans. You want to look polished and at your best, so get a haircut, shave, or wear contacts instead of glasses if that’s what your girlfriend likes. Also, a little cologne doesn’t hurt.

If you want to take things a step further, make plans for what you two will do after you pick her up from the airport. Make reservations at her favorite restaurant, or take her out to a movie. You could even hire a limo service to transport you from the airport to wherever you decide to take her. This will definitely earn you some “brownie points.”

If you’ve planned out your surprise but you don’t want to waste time shopping around for the right limo service, try using TalkLocal. TalkLocal is a free virtual concierge service that connects you to local professionals in your area within minutes. Don’t waste your time contacting multiple businesses when TalkLocal can do it for you.

How much does renting a limo cost for prom? Depending on whom you talk to, prom is the most important night in a teenager’s life and, as such, prom should be perfect. You spend hours figuring out the best way to style your hair, which corsage or boutonniere to purchase, what extras you’ll need to make prom awesome, how you’re getting to the prom, etc. The price can vary drastically due to a variety of factors, including demand, the type of vehicle, and the amount of people you plan on transporting in the limo. You’ll most likely want to weigh each of these factors against your budget and choose whatever is the best value amongst all of them.

Rentals during the weekends (which prom most likely is on) will cost more due to higher demand. This is a factor that you most likely won’t be able to change, but be wary that due to prom season, many other people will want to rent limos as well. You’ll want to rent your limo as far in advance as possible and, most likely, have a minimum rental time of 4 to 6 hours. Many limo services offer prom specials that allow you to split the time. For example, if you have a 4 hour rental, you’ll have the vehicle for 2 hours before prom and then 2 hours after prom. If they don’t offer this type of deal, you may have to rent the vehicle for the entire evening, including wait time while you’re at prom. You’ll also want to ask your limo service provider exactly when the clock starts ticking on your rental. Some companies start the clock when they pick you up; others start as soon as the car leaves the lot. Make sure to factor in how much time you’ll need for transit, giving yourself buffer time if your date or friends aren’t ready on time. You don’t want to go overtime and have a huge surcharge on top of all of your other fees. Get a watch and never lose track of time, even if your phone dies. Watches on Amazon start at $2.96 as of April 26, 2016.

The type of the limo will also drastically impact the cost. Renting a Hummer limo will cost far more than renting a regular stretch limo. You can expect the Lincoln Town Car price to be around $80 an hour with gratuity while a stretch Hummer limo will usually cost more than twice that. See the above table for a more in depth description of how much each type of rental will cost. If you have enough people, a party bus may be an even more economically friendly choice since you can split the cost with friends. Just make sure that your vehicle has enough room to seat everyone comfortably. Poofy dresses take up more space than average, and could quickly turn your lusciously large limo into a clown car. Speaking of clown cars, your limo service provider will not allow you to go over the maximum vehicle occupancy level. That means that if the maximum number of occupants is 25, you can’t squeeze a 26th person in, so someone will just have to ride without their date. If at all possible, check out the vehicle before you sign an agreement, asking the make, model, and year of the vehicle. Except for a vintage or classic car, a lower price suggests that it’s an older vehicle. And it would suck if your horse and carriage for the evening turned out to be a plain, orange pumpkin lead by mice.

If you are planning on traveling a far distance with the limo or plan on picking individual people up, it may cost extra because of the gas expenses and longer travel times. The cost per person will also change depending on the amount of people you’re willing to travel with in a limo. As previously stated, be cautious about trying to overfill a limo as, often times, a 10-person limo refers to 10 small or average-sized people sitting closely together. You may want to subtract 1 or 2 people from the maximum number of occupants, depending on the size of the people and how comfortable you want to be during the ride.

As you’ve learned from the above chart, the larger and/or more luxurious the vehicle is, the more it costs to rent. When budgeting and trying to calculate your final price, don’t forget these common fees. Many companies charge a 20% service fee, which usually covers a 10% tip for the driver and a 10% for administration costs. There’s usually a fuel fee as well, which is anywhere between 5% and 10%. Companies also charge extra if they leave the designated area in which they service. If any of your destinations require a toll, expect to be charged for that as well. Some companies even go so far as to charge a per-stop fee, usually $15-30. One fee that you can avoid, however, is one for overtime. The price for going overtime varies by company, but is usually 50-100% more than the hourly rate.

To put things into perspective, here’s a real life example. Renting a limo for 6 hours with a 20% service fee, 5% fuel fee, that stops at a restaurant, prom, and ending location costs a little over $1,000; $1,035 to be exact, not including a cash tip for the driver, which is customary. If you were to get the same limo with a 4-hour prom deal, it would only cost you $710 before tip. Now you know how expensive a limo rental can be, but do you know who’s supposed to pay for it? Find out here.

Note: The prices in this table are based on the times shown, a 20% service charge, 5% fuel fee, and 3 stops at $20 each. This table is only a guide and prices may vary depending on local market pricing, taxes, tips, etc.

No matter which vehicle you choose, you’re sure to have a fantastic night. To make your night even better, check out these top 10 items to make your prom great. If you’re looking for a prom limo right now and don’t know who to call, use TalkLocal to connect you to the highest quality limo company in the area in just minutes. It’s free, easy, and you’ll have a limo booked for prom in no time!

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There are many things you can to do to impress your clients when they’re traveling to visit you.  It’s incredibly important, especially in the corporate field, to take care your most important business clients and connections.  Impressing them will almost guarantee that they’ll want to work with you and continue to do so in the future.  Keep reading for more information on how to impress your clients when traveling.

Arranging appropriate and high quality accommodations

Your business clients’ accommodations should be one of your highest priorities.  As you continue to engage with them in both businesses and casual encounters, pampering your clients will make sure that they will be impressed and enjoy your company.  Make sure they have access to the highest quality facilities and always be available if they ever need anything. This is an easy but incredibly important way to maintain your important business relations.

City hot spots

While you’re most likely engaging with your clients in a professional manner, make sure that they still enjoy the trip as a whole and invite them to join you for a night out in the city.  This will make sure that you bond with your clients on both the professional and personal levels.  Treating your clients like VIP’s will ensure that they reciprocate the care and the feelings in your relationship.

Don’t ever make them wait

You should always be acutely aware of their needs and their schedules.  You should always build your schedule around your client’s schedule, making sure that they have a driver/car at the right time, that they arrive at meetings on time, and that they have a way back to the hotel if necessary.  Having a smooth day is one of the best first impressions that you can offer a client.

Car services

Offering clients that are flying in from out of town with a limo ride from the airport is also one of the easiest but best first impressions you could offer.  Ensure that the limo drivers are friendly, courteous, and on time for your client’s arrival and departure.  Limos are immediately perceived as a symbol of good will and partnership, so make sure you don’t forget this step.  TalkLocal can help you find a high quality limo service in your local area to make sure your client has the best of time.  You’ll be impressing your clients and closing that deal in no time!

Ever wonder if the limo you are riding in has limo safety regulations that are up to date?  Good news – all limousines licensed for hire must pass an annual safety inspection.  In addition, limo drivers must pass many tests, both driving and written. Check out these limo safety regulations for more information.

Ensuring your safety:

Taking responsibility for your own safety is key to staying safe while having a great time.  Limos are known for being used for special occasions and fun times.  Ensuring your safety is important, and this is why limo safety regulations are enforced.

–       While it is generally expected for passengers to move around in the back of the limo, to maintain your safety, it is advised to limit the amount of time not spent in a seat.

–       To insure additional safety, limo drivers are trained to drive smoothly yet efficiently due to the nature of free motion in the back seats of limos.

–       Alcohol is usually  not allowed in limos transporting people under the age of 21.

–       If there is alcohol involved during the ride, extra caution is advised to avoid accidents when opening bottles or cans in a moving vehicle.

–       Also, if there is an accident with glass, be careful and ask the driver for assistance.  Picking it up yourself may lead to an accident, especially if it blends in with the carpet.

–       When exiting the limousine, take caution because your step may be a little more unstable than when you entered the vehicle.

–       Be sure to take your valuables out of the limo and not to leave anything valuable in the limousine if you are visiting multiple places.

–       If you need to get fresh air during your trip, be careful of overheads or other cars if you stick any body parts outside the limo.

Now that you are all set on the safety tips and safety regulations of limos, use TalkLocal to connect you to a limo service in your area within minutes.

How much do limo services cost?  If you are interested in booking a limo service for a special event, make sure you do your research in order to find the best service at the best price.  This is usually dependent upon a number of factors including vehicle type, number of passengers, time and date and any additional fees.

1. Vehicle

Prices usually vary depending largely on the type of limo.  Newer limos will be more expensive than older ones, and more popular cars like Hummers will be more pricey as well.

2. Number of passengers

In general, the more passengers in the limo, the less cost per person.  For a large group of friends, it is smart to rent a larger vehicle so the cost per person is less.

3. Hours and week

Cost also depends largely on the hours of rental along with the particular week you are renting.  During prom season, costs might be more because of the large demand for limo rentals.  Costs of rental per hour also increase sharply during weekends because that’s when most formal events are.

4. Fees

There can also be additional fees associated with limo rentals.  These might include a mileage fee, or fees for drinking any food or drinks provided in the limo.

If you are looking to book a limo, use TalkLocal.  Simply enter a brief description of your service needs along with your location and availability, and TalkLocal will connect you to multiple limo rental services.  Within minutes you will be on the phone with a highly rated local limo company willing to help.

The term limousine refers to a luxury vehicle, generally longer than an average car, that is driven by a chauffeur.  Limousines are conventionally black or white, yet there is also a plethora of custom made limousines by various companies that can range in color, shape and amenities that may even include hot tubs or jacuzzis.  Limousines are by far the most expensive form of transportation and give off an image of wealth and/or power.  In addition to the wealthy users of limousines, people treat themselves to limousine transportation for special events such as weddings, proms and other extravagant parties. Politicians and other high ranked government officials are also frequent limousine users. What are the different types of limos?  Read on for more information.

Sedan limousine 

There are many different types of limousines that vary in size and other features.  The smallest limousine is the sedan limousine.  This limo is generally the cheapest to rent as it only fits 2-3 individuals comfortably.  This limo is generally most commonly rented for airport travel.  This type of limousine can also be used as an alternate to a taxi cab.  The most common sedan limousine is a Lincoln Towncar and is generally black.

Stretch limousine

Stretch limousines are similar to sedan limousines, expect they are longer.  There are three types of stretch limos that vary in size.  There is a six-pack, eight-pack and a ten-pack.  The stretch limousine is a good option for a smaller gathering.  Be aware, though, that even though a limousine may claim to fit 10 people comfortably, it may be a little uncomfortable and cramped.

Super stretch limousine

There are also super stretch limousines.  Super stretch limousines come in many different models such as Towncars and Bentleys, and they even come in SUV’s such as Excursions, Escalades, Hummers and more.  Super stretch limousines are a great option for parties where everyone wants to travel together.  These limos fit anywhere from 14-20 people comfortably.  Some models even include a fifth door for easier entrance/exit for the passengers.  There are many amenities included inside such as televisions, bars and exotic lighting.  Make sure you have a professional and licensed driver that you can trust because driving a lengthy vehicle is difficult to drive and turn.  Super stretch limousines are the most popular option and surprisingly one of the most popular colors are pink.

Party bus

Party buses have been rising in popularity recently.  Party buses provide the same luxuries as other limousines, yet they are large enough to comfortably stand up, walk around and stretch your bodies out.  These buses are ideal for partying on the go as many buses have dance poles in addition to lighting that is reminiscent of a club.  Party buses are the best option for fitting the most passengers as they can fit up to 44 people.

The price difference between a sedan limousine and stretch limousine are minimal, thus when booking a limousine for the airport or a business trip ride in a stretch limousine for an additional small fee.  If you are looking for a good limo service for an upcoming event, use TalkLocal.  This completely free service will connect you to up to three highly rated limousine companies in your area within minutes.