651-462-5466 / 612-333-5466 / 763-323-6636
quote leecasto@leeslimo.com
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Frequently Asked questions
Why should I rent a limo?
Safety is a big reason. DWIs are very expensive
($10,000-$20,000 I am told—more if your vehicle is
confiscated), and no one wants to cause an accident.
Team building and socialization are also important reasons.
Limousines are designed to encourage social interaction.
As your little ones grow older, events (such as dances
and banquets) come up where the young teens do
not want their parents driving them. They may be too
young to drive themselves. Even if they do drive, you
may prefer that they do not drive on, say, prom night.
Birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, retirements
—any special occasion is made extra-special when you
are transported in a luxurious limousine! Just for the fun of it!
How much does it cost?
The rate per hour varies, depending on the size of limo
(or the number of people it needs to accommodate),
the number of hours you book the limo as well as when
it is that you want it. So, in order to quote a price,
I need to know the size of the limousine, the number of
hours you want it for and when it is you want it.
We quote prices for the metro area, so if the pick
up or drop off are outside the metro, please let us know.
What do you have available?
Look at our webpage (www.leeslimo.com) for photos
of our limos. What ones are available on a certain date
will depend on the schedule for that date, so just ask,
either by calling us at (651)462-LIMO(5466) or
emailing us at leecasto@leeslimo.com.
Is a ten-passenger big
enough for ten people?
That depends on the size of the people. Unfortunately,
since people come in all different sizes, you don’t know
how comfortable it will be until everyone is in the limo.
Limos should really be sized by weight rather than
number of people, but no one wants to go there!
I believe the manufacturers allow about 17” per seat.
It is always more comfortable to have more room rather
than filling the limo to its maximum.
Can I drink in the limo?
As long as everyone in the limo is over 21, you can
bring alcohol into the limo and drink it. It is illegal in
Minnesota for a limousine company to provide
alcoholic beverages.
Can I smoke in the limo?
NO!! No smoking of any kind is allowed inside the
limo, but the drivers are happy to stop for cigarette
breaks, where you can get out of the limo and
stretch your legs.
Can you suggest a
restaurant or nightclub?
Yes, we can. Of course, we will try to find out what
your preferences are so that we suggest something
that you will like.
Do we get into a nightclub
with free cover charge?
That is really up to the club, but most clubs will honor
free or reduced cover charge if you come in a limo.
Some of the clubs require advanced notice. Sometimes
a club that usually offers free cover will not do so if
they have a special band or a drink special.
Do you have Hummer limos?
No. We have stretched Lincoln Navigator limos, that
some people think are Hummers. We prefer the
appearance and ride of the Navigators to the Hummers.
Navigators also are more environmentally friendly in
that the gas mileage is much higher for the Navigator
than the Hummer,
Can children ride
without their parents?
We leave that up to the parents. As far as we are
concerned, either way is fine. About one-third of our
work involves children. Children are favorite customers
of all of our drivers. Pretty much all our drivers are
parents; some of our drivers are teachers.
Do you provide
service to Wisconsin?
Yes
Where are you located?
Can I come and see the limo?
Absolutely! Please come and see the limo you are
renting (but always call first to make sure the limo is
here and someone is here to show it to you.).
Our office is located in Wyoming MN
(near Forest Lake). Our street address is
26237 Forest Blvd N, Wyoming, MN 55092.
Our main land line is (651)462-LIMO(5466).
Please note that the prices we quote work for pickups
and drop-offs in the metro area. Travel charges
may apply outside the metro area.
Directions to our shop:
Go north on 35E or 35W past the northern split where
the interstate becomes 35. The next town is
Forest Lake. Keep going north to the
Wyoming exit (number 135) for Viking Blvd. Turn right
at the top of the ramp to go east. Go three blocks to
a traffic light at Forest Blvd (Highway 61); turn right to
go south. We are located one-half mile south, next to
the Wyoming Motel on your left
(the east side of the road). We are across the road
from the southern water tower.
How do I make a reservation?
Can I make the reservation
over the Internet?
Yes, you can make the reservation via email, although
there will be a dialogue of several emails back and forth
to make sure we have all the information we need and
so that you understand about payment and other policies.
You can also call us at (651)462-LIMO(5466);
we answer phones from 9 AM – 9 PM. Please
leave a message should you get voice-mail--all
lines or staff may be busy.
What is the most
cost-effective way to go?
In general, the larger the limo, the more expensive it is,
although the cost per person tends to go down. The ten
passenger size is particularly cost-effective as is the
18 passenger stretched Lincoln Navigator limousine
and the 23-25 passenger limocoach.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. There usually is a non-refundable $200 deposit
. The deposit goes towards the service you booked
but is non-refundable.
How do you pay for the service?
You can pay with cash when the driver first arrives
. You can pay by credit card, but we quote cash prices
which are discounted for cash. To pay by credit card
you would need to supply the driver with your credit
card so he/she can get an imprint and verify your signature.
You can pay for the entire amount due by check
if we receive the check ahead of time, but we do NOT
accept checks on the day of the run.
Do you charge overtime?
Yes, our drivers do not like to work for free.
Overtime is billed at the same rate that you booked
the limo, billed at quarter hour increments.
For example, if you go over 10 minutes, you should
expect to pay for a quarter-hour but not a whole hour.
Do you offer “split” service?
Depending on the schedule, we may be able to do
a "split" run for you to attend an event. We require
that you are out of the limousine for at least three
consecutive hours, and we charge a minimum of one
hour before and at least one hour at the end. A
different limousine may pick you up at the end part
of the run than you used in the first portion, so you cannot
leave anything (coats, drinks, purses, etc.) in the first limo.
The rates are different than for consecutive time but
it may be cheaper for you. We need a set pick up
time for he return, from which time we start charging
you whether or not you are in the limo.
What about safety?
We purchase our limousine from companies that crash
test their products for front, side and rear impacts.
We consider safety to be the most important factor
when purchasing any limousine.
Are you insured?
Yes, we are fully insured and permitted. Our limos
and drivers are inspected and reviewed annually.
Wedding questions
How can I use a limo
in my wedding?
The most common use of limo for a wedding is between
the wedding ceremony and the reception, when two
consecutive hours meets the needs of most situations,
unless there is a long time period between the ceremony
and the reception. The next most common time is after
the reception, either to shuttle guests to their hotels or
homes or to bring the bride and groom to where they
will spend the first night in their married life. Another
common usage is for the morning appointments. It is
your wedding--you should use the limo in the way
you want to use it.
What about wedding
photos with the limo?
Great idea! They look great and bring back
wonderful memories.
What size limo do I need?
A rule of thumb is to count the bride as two, due to the
size of her dress. A larger limo is more expensive
but is more comfortable and avoids wrinkling
your formal wear.
Who usually rides in the limo?
The most common use is for the wedding party.
Sometimes only the bride and groom and perhaps
the best man and maid of honor ride in the limo.
Sometimes a limo shuttles guests between the
wedding and the reception and their homes and hotels.
Can the flower girl and
ring bearer ride in the limo?
Yes, but don’t forget to count them in the number of people.
Is there an hourly minimum?
Usually, two to four hour consecutive hours. If the
schedule allows, we do deviate from the minimum
occasionally. You want to allow some “overlap” in
your timing so that the limo is there went you are ready
for it and, more commonly, you are not rushed if the
wedding and exiting from it take longer than
you are anticipating.
Do you provide champagne?
No. As long as everyone in the limo is over 21, you
can bring alcohol into the limo and drink it. It is illegal
in Minnesota for a limousine company to provide
alcoholic beverages.
How does the driver dress?
The driver usually wears a dark business suit.
Prom questions
Why should I rent
a limo for my kids?
Safety is the over-riding reason. Every year some
teens lose their lives while driving to or from prom.
Proms have become the “coming out” event in the lives
of our young. Your children are learning about
socializing properly in the grown-up world.
It can be quite cost-effective if a number of
couples share the expense.
Will the kids drink
alcohol in the limo?
NO! I can’t guarantee that alcohol will not be sneaked
aboard. We cannot legally search the students. But
we can require that all bags go in the trunk.
We can stop them if we find out that someone has
succeeded in sneaking alcohol inside the limo.
Why is it so expensive?
We try to keep prices as reasonable as we can.
It is one of the few times in the year when demand
exceeds the supply. We need the revenue to keep
our fleet up-to-date.
TOURS
What tours do you offer?
Lee's Limousine offers a variety of tours and is happy
to custom design a tour for your needs. These tours
take place in a luxury limousine rather than a standard
bus. The price will depend on the tour you choose, the
number of people in the tour (or the size of limo you need)
as well as when it is you want to do the tour. I will
describe our most popular tours below.
City Lights and Sights
The City Lights and Sites Tour takes you on a
wonderful tour of many of the beautiful and historic
sights in the Twin Cities. It usually goes through
downtown Minneapolis (Hennepin Av., Nicollet Island
, the HHH Metrodome, the Target Center, etc.)
and downtown St. Paul (the state Capital, the Cathedral,
Rice Park, the Xcel Energy Center, Summit Av., etc.).
We can include the largest tourist attraction in the
US-the Mall of America--and go around some of our
beautiful lakes. We are glad to customize the tour to
any particular interests or spots you would like to see.
You can stop along the way if you wish (for example,
to shop at the Mall or for a cocktail at a favorite
establishment). The driver is the guide for this tour.
Midwesy Winery Tour
A typical Mid-West Winery Tour takes 5-6 hours,
picking you up at your home, and visiting 3-4 wineries
in the metro area. We have a northern tour and a
southern tour. The southern tour includes Alexis Bailey,
Falconers, and the Canon River Winery. The northern
tour includes WineHaven, the Chateau St. Croix, the St.
Croix Vineyards and if time, Northern Vineyards.
Alexis Bailey in Hastings is the oldest winery in the
wider metro area and is probably the most like a
California winery. It has a beautiful location with bocce ball,
vine-covered deck and park-like grounds. A very
scenic drive takes you to the family-run Falconers'
Vineyards in Redwing, where you overlook the
vineyard from the new wine tasting room and gift
shop. Located in historical downtown Cannon Falls
and tucked in a landscape of rolling, wooded hills,
meandering rivers and picturesque farms is the
Cannon River Winery, the last one on the southern route.
The northern is very scenic as well, going through a
more northern section of the St Croix River Valley. Wine
Haven is a ma & pa winery that has won over 120
national and international awards for its wines.
WineHaven, Chisago City, offers a number of annual
events, including a "Raspberry and Wine Festival" in
July, its "Annual Rhubarb Frenzy" in August, and its
annual harvest tour, "Fall Fever Day", in September.
The amazing and beautiful Chateau St Croix recreates
the atmosphere of an European winery and is probably the
most popular winery at present; it has a harvest festival
in September. This year we are adding an option for
a stop at Eichten's Market & Bistro in Shafer to
sample award-winning European cheeses--hand-made
right here in Minnesota. Northern Vineyards,
Stillwater, is a coop of 15 or so wineries in Minnesota
and Wisconsin. They offer a very interesting tour of
their winery throughout the year. The deck on the roof
of their store has a spectacular view of the St Croix
River and the Stillwater Bridge. The winery offers
music on their deck on Sunday evenings during
the summer and fall. The St Croix Vineyards is one
of the oldest wineries in Minnesota and is located within
an apple farm just outside Stillwater.
Haunted History Tour
The Haunted History Tour meets (usually at Forepaugh's
Restaurant or Irvine Park or the Landmark Center in St.
Paul) for a one half-hour discussion with our tour guide
on the history of St. Paul and its ghosts; you will also be
given background info about "ghostry". Then, the limo
arrives and the roughly two-hour tour begins. Our Tour
Guide guides you through the tour, through downtown
and down Summit Ave., pointing out the spots of interest
and telling you stories about them. From the city's oldest
houses to City Hall and the State Capitol, the tour
covers an engaging collection of tales about spirits,
poltergeists and haunting images. You'll learn about
Landmark Center's gin-swilling gangster, the Fitzgerald
Theatre's lipstick-loving soprano, Cathedral Hill's
boy on the banister and a host of other ghosts who
may be hanging out in local haunts. Weather permitting,
a portion of the tour on Summit Avenue is
a walking tour.
Gangster Tour
The Gangster Tour takes you to sites of gangster activity
in the 1920's and 1930's and tells the stories. St. Paul
was a safe haven for gangsters in the early 1900's. The
gangsters would check in with the local police, make a
contribution to the police retirement fund, and promise not
to commit crimes on the streets of St. Paul. In return, the
police would leave them alone; in fact, the police would
give them advance notice if they were to be raided so
they could get out of town in time. There are stories
of kidnappings, bank robberies and murder involving
criminals such as John Dillinger, Ma Barker, Machine
Gun Kelly and Baby Face Nelson. We offer two tours,
one of St. Paul and one of the northern suburbs,
primarily Mahtomedi. This tour lasts about 2.5 hours
and usually meets at Yarusso Brothers Restaurant in
St. Paul or Phil's Tara Hideaway in Stillwater.
Winery Tour
questions
Where are the wineries?
There are wineries throughout Minnesota, with
concentration in the far reaches of the greater metro area.
We have a northern tour and a southern tour. The
southern tour usually includes Alexis Bailey outside
Hastings, Falconers in Redwing, and the Canon River
Winery in Canon Falls. The northern tour usually
includes WineHaven near Chisago City, the
Chateau St. Croix north of Saint Croix Falls, the St.
Croix Vineyards outside Stillwaater and if time,
Northern Vineyards in downtown Stillwater.
Does Minnesota really
have decent wines?
Yes! Try them!
Christmas Lights
questions
Can you see out the windows?
All our limos have custom installed side-window-defrosters
to enhance your viewing. The defrosters do not work
perfectly, but they work very well. When riding on the
freeway, the temperature difference between the inside
of the limo and the air blowing outside the window is
so great that the windows will frost over. But once we
are driving in the neighborhoods looking at the beautiful
Holiday lights, the defrosters clear the windows rapidly.
Where are the lights?
We have been doing Christmas Light Tours for many
years. Every year we revise our tour to reflect where the
lights are that year so that we can give you the best
tour possible. We are always glad to customize our tour
to your wishes, but left to ourselves we will take you
where the lights are most concentrated, so you can see
the most in the shortest amount of time. In recent years,
the best concentration of neighborhoods is south of Saint
Paul, including areas of South Saint Paul, West Saint Paul
and Inver Grove Heights. Downtown Saint Paul is
always very nice.
Will we see Santa?
Probably, on most tours--almost certainly on weekends
after the middle of the month. We also offer a Santa
Tour of the lights, where Santa (and usually Ma Claus
as well) ride with you and guide your tour of the
beautiful lights. Children of all ages (even Uncle Bob
and grandma) enjoy the company and jolly-ness of Santa!
Do you do anything
special for the holiday season?
The limos will be decorated for Christmas, and Christmas
music will be playing on the CD player. We provide
Christmas cookies for a small snack. When possible,
a fireplace video will be playing on the TVs. The Light
Tours are a wonderful way to celebrate the season
with family and friends.
How much does it cost?
The rate per hour varies, depending on the size of limo
(or the number of people it needs to accommodate), the
number of hours you book the limo as well as when it is
that you want it. We offer a discount period where prices
are really good. The discount period is Monday through
Thursday the first two weeks of December and after
Christmas. You actually get a better tour on a weekday
(as opposed to Friday or Saturday) because it is not
as busy at the popular light displays.
Does the cost of energy affect
how good the tour will be?
You see more LED lights and fewer plastic figurines.
But the tour is still very wonderful—most people think it
is getting better every year!
Miscellaneous
What are the qualifications
needed to be a limo driver?
In order to be certified as a limousine driver in Minnesota,
you must have a clean driving record, a clean criminal
record and a DOT Health Card (which you get from
a medical doctor--it certifies that you are medically
competent to drive passengers). You must provide us
with your criminal record check, which you get from the
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul at 1430
Maryland Ave. E. Our insurance company will run your
driving record. Our insurance company wants you to be
over the age of 25 and to have at least three years of
commercial driving experience.
Besides good driving habits and records, you must also
have advanced people skills, or you will not like the job.
Customers are of all ages, including the elderly and
young children, and you must be good at interacting
will all of them. You spend most of your time dealing
with people --not driving.
How do I start my
own limo company?
I would recommend that you start out by taking a job
driving limos, so you can learn more about what the
job really involves The limousine business is one
of the worst businesses for companies going out of
business quickly. The main reason for this is that it is a
business where you lose your private life, because you
need to be available on the phone at virtually all waking
hours, and it is a lot of work, with very little glamour.
You spend a lot of time cleaning up after people.
As in any job where you meet the public, you need
endurance for being nice to people who you think are
not respecting you. Finding and maintaining good drivers
is the biggest problem for companies that survive for
over a year. It is hard to find and keep good employees,
and a bad driver will damage your business more than
you yourself can. From a financial point of view, the
overhead expenses are huge and usually underestimated
by people starting out in the business. These expenses
include car payments, repairs--interior & exterior
as well as mechanical, insurance, payroll and advertising.
