Tips for Renting a Limousine for your Prom

Teenagers put a lot of preparation into their prom night plans. Transportation to the big event is an important detail that can add to the magic of the evening, or cause serious problems. Here are some tips parents and prom goers should review if they are using chauffeured transportation:

1-Couples who rent a limousine as a group typically see the best value for their money. It is best to calculate the cost per passenger when assessing which vehicle to choose. Established companies provide pricing on-line, to make it easier for you.

2-When you rent a limousine for a high school prom, you're usually buying 4 or 5 hours of service. When the group 'goes over' the allotted time there are additional charges. Keep on schedule by minimizing the number of pick-ups and drop-offs for your group. Have everyone from the group meet at one central location for pre-prom pictures. It's a great way for the parents to meet and take pictures of the entire group.

3-Reputable limousine companies are more than happy to provide a contract for you to sign. This outlines both parties' rights and responsibilities. The contract protects prom passengers by guaranteeing vehicles, hours of service and professionalism. Also, ask the limousine operators about their insurance coverage; companies that carry the minimum may also provide the minimum in service.

4-Choose your group wisely. Remember that the passenger who signs the contract is responsible for any damages caused by group. Make certain that the people in your group are trustworthy and conscientious. Smoking or drinking alcohol in the limousine will end the night early for your group.

5-Reserve your limousine early! Most proms are scheduled in a six week period from mid-May to June. Demand for limousines is high during this period. Reserving early gives you the best selection.

6-Ask around! Maybe there are some recent graduates you know who've used a limo for their prom. First hand experience with a limousine company is a great way to find a good provider. If you call a limousine company and they are booked the night of your prom, ask them for a referral. Limousine companies know the other reputable players in town, so use them as a resource.

7-Look for value, not the cheapest rate. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Buffalo Limousine is a good place to start your shopping for prom night transportation. Prom pricing is available on-line here; Images of the fleet are seen here.

Niagara Wine Tasting Events

Looking for something unique to do in May? Buffalo Limousine suggests that you check out the Wine and Herb Festival going on at select Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries. We'd love to take you there in a sedan, limousine, or limo bus driven by one of our chauffeurs. See below for more information on the festival:

WINE AND HERB FESTIVAL
Four weekends in May
May 3/4, 10/11, 17/18 and 24/25, 2008
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy these Wine and Herb pairings (available only to pass holders):

Marynissen Estates Winery 2003 Cabernet and Oregano Niagara College Teaching Winery 2006 Gewürtraminer and Cilantro Palatine Hills Estate Winery 2007 Chardonnay and Parsley Peller Estates Winery Ice Cuvée and Chervil Pillitteri Estates Winery 2006 Pinot Grigio and Fennel Reif Estate Winery 2006 Gamay Rosé and Lavender Stonechurch Vineyards 2005 Shiraz and Garlic Chives Strewn 2006 Cabernet Rosé and Caraway Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery Strawberry Wine and Mint Cattail Creek Estate Winery 2007 Sauvignon Blanc and Savory Château des Charmes 2006 Aligoté, Estate Bottled and Thyme Coyote's Run Estate Winery 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay and Lemon Basil Hillebrand Winery 2006 Trius White and Tarragon Inniskillin Wines 2004 Inniskillin Reserve Pinot Noir and Dill Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery 2005 Proprietors' Reserve Meritage and Sage Joseph's Estate Wines 2005 Riesling and Lemon Grass Konzelmann Estate Winery 2006 Shiraz and Basil Lailey Vineyard 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon and Rosemary

Advance Ticket Price: $25 until April 30; $30 as of May 1. Plus applicable taxes.
Tickets may be ordered online at www.niagaraonthelake.com or by calling 905.468.1950.

Lower Airfares Attract Canadian Fliers to US Airports

Posted below is an excellent article on why Canadians are heading to Buffalo for cheaper airfares. I've included portions of the article, but the entire piece is well worth reading:

Fare Better South Of The Border

By TED JACKOVICS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 13, 2008

TAMPA - When Kimberly Hartley wanted to fly between Toronto and Tampa to attend a conference here in January, the best round-trip airfare she could find cost $1,185 on Air Canada.

Then, Hartley researched fares between Buffalo and Tampa and found one for $475 on Southwest Airlines.

So Hartley did what an increasing number of U.S. and Canadian travelers are doing. She bypassed the steep charges that the Canadian government adds to flights using Canadian airports.

Airports in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y., have emerged as gateways to the burgeoning Toronto-Hamilton, Ontario, corridor, while airports in Burlington, Vt., and Plattsburgh, N.Y., are marketing themselves as alternatives to flying into Montreal.

Families Can Save A Lot

But the cost savings can mount, especially for parties larger than a single traveler.

"It is not unusual for families to save $800 or more on tickets to or from places like Tampa," said C. Douglas Hartmayer, director of public relations for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which oversees the Buffalo and Niagara Falls airports.

The savings also matter to business travelers like Hartley.

"Should I pay more for a little more convenience," said Hartley, a Pinellas County tourism consultant who lives 30 miles west of Toronto in Oakville, Ontario, "or should I take an easy drive and get a less expensive fare?"

If you live in Ontario and are flying out of the Buffalo airport, check out our main web site for the cost of airport transportation service from your door to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Niagara Falls Videos

A question for our international web surfers...Are you considering a trip to Niagara Falls? There is so much to do, that you might find an overview to be rather helpful.
I've scoured the You Tube site to bring you the best videos about the Niagara region, and compiled them here. The videos are a mixture of home made and professional productions. By looking at the title I've provided, you can quickly decide if the video is of interest.
Enjoy, and remember that any of the attractions you see here can be incorporated into a custom Buffalo Limousine tour.

Stretching Your Euros

Thanks to our slumping economy, now is a great time for Europeans to find tremendous values in the United States. According to the USA Today, Europeans are flooding cities such as New York, looking for values:

"Weak dollar draws more European visitors in 2007
The USA received 1.5 million more visits from overseas last year than in 2006 as the weak U.S. dollar lured more Europeans interested in exercising their increased buying power.
Last year, the USA received an estimated 23.2 million visits from outside North America, up almost 7% from 2006, according to a U.S. Department of Commerce estimate.
Visits by Western Europeans, the largest source of visitors, were up 8% for the year, and the news Tuesday suggested they continue to have a strong motive for visiting the USA: record strength of the Euro.
The Euro surged Tuesday to an all-time peak of $1.4982 before closing the trading day in New York at $1.4967."

Niagara Falls, NY offers real value for your Euro. Consider that the US dollar has decreased in respect to the Canadian Dollar, leading to extra incentive to stay on the US side of the border.
Here's an example of 2 adults and 2 children buying tickets to board the Maid of the Mist Boat attraction (tickets can be purchased in the US or in Canada):

CANADA: 2 Adults + 2 children = $45.60 CAN, or 29.88 Euros
USA: 2 Adults + 2 children = $39.60 US, or 25.83 Euros

In this example, you save nearly 15% by touring on the US side of the Falls. There are more examples of this. Please check our main web site for more information on visiting Niagara Falls, regardless of which side you choose!