Happy Holidays From IMAGE Rent-A-Car

-One great idea is to ship your gifts. With so many security regulations these days, you may have to unwrap your gifts to get through the security checkpoint. Plus, with many airlines having additional baggage fees, it may be cheaper to ship them to begin with. Many shoppers are turning to online stores and this time of year you can find a lot of free shipping deals. Rather than shipping gifts to your house, avoid the hassle altogether and ship them to your holiday destination.

-If you’re planning to fly, it might be a good idea to pack light and carry on your luggage. That way, you can avoid the possibility of losing your luggage, not have to bother with any additional baggage fees, save on check-in time and give yourself additional flexibility.

-So many travel problems occur when you miss your connection, get stuck in an unfamiliar city or have to rebook your flights. If you book a direct flight, you won’t have to worry about missing connecting flights and a good suggestion is to book the earliest departing flight possible.

-The day before and after a holiday are the most expensive times to travel. The reason for this is obviously because they are the busiest times as well. Allow for more flexibility with your travel dates so you can not only get a better deal, but also avoid the crowds.

- Rent a van and avoid the hassle of finding transportation around town. Just be sure to get a map of the city you are visiting so you’ll have a better idea of where you’re going. If possible, try to make car rental arrangements in advance.

-You’re always told to arrive at the airport early, but this statement is never more true than during holiday travel. With the added crowds, it’s important to arrive at least two hours before your departure time to allow for waiting at security checkpoints.

-Don’t forget to bring any important phone numbers that will help with your travel. For emergencies, it’s always important to bring the phone numbers of family members, but don’t forget the number for your travel agent, airline, rental car company or anyone else who may be able to help relieve headaches along the way.

For more information on car rentals during the holiday season, contact Image Rent a Car today or Image Van Rentals!

While gas prices are falling, the recession is causing a lot of cost conscious consumers to stay home this holiday season. According to a AAA survey, the number of people expected to travel 50 plus miles during the holiday nationwide is expected to drop by 1.4 percent in comparison to last year. Consumers are finding ways to cut in any way possible to ensure they have enough money for presents under the tree.

Even with the recession, an estimated 41 million people nationwide are still making plans to travel, with 81 percent of those travelers driving. U.S. airlines are taking a major hit. According to the Air Transport Association of America, this is the first time in seven years that the airlines have seen a drop in Thanksgiving travelers. This doesn’t mean that airports aren’t going to be busy around the holidays. If you’re planning to travel by air, you’ll still want to show up early for flights.

It’s no wonder so many people have decided to drive rather than fly this year. Currently, the national average gas price is $1.698. Look at this number in comparison to the highest average price that was recorded back in July at $4.114. It’s hard to believe that less than six months ago we were paying over double what we are paying today.

During the fuel spikes, several airlines began charging customers for luggage. Then the economy tanked, gas prices went down and many of the airlines never lifted the additional fees. And even with the lower gas prices, air passengers should expect to pay about 8 percent more than last year for tickets, according to an AAA report. However, you can find some airlines slashing fares to combat the weakened economy. If airlines are going to keep charging fees and don’t plan to drop prices, driving is looking like a pretty good option.

If you’d like to travel this holiday season and have time to drive rather than fly, it might be worth considering. With lower fuel prices and the potential to have less people on the highways, this is a good year to hit the road. A nice option for those driving long distances is to rent a car so you don’t have to put mileage on your own vehicle. Or, event better, rent a van and you’ll have plenty of space to stretch out during your long drive. Plus, if you’re traveling with a large family, you can rent a 15 passenger van and carpool to save on gas.

For more information on car rentals during the holiday season, contact Image Rent a Car today!

If you have been tasked with planning a birthday celebration, graduation, bachelor or bachelorette party, hammering out all of the details can be a difficult and stressful experience. If you’re planning a party with multiple destinations or would like to spend an entire weekend celebrating, finding transportation for the entire group should be top priority. Your best bet for an extended celebration might be renting a large van for the group to commute around town during your stay. Or, if you’re just needing transportation for an evening, you may consider a shuttle service. 

Whether you are planning a trip out of town or looking to stay in your hometown to celebrate, there are so many options for group activities. Obviously, your activities will depend on your location, but here are some popular ideas:

• Paintball is a great group experience that’s sure to be a lot of fun. Of course, if this is a bachelor or bachelorette party, make sure it’s not too close to the wedding as those paint pellets sure sting and have the potential to bruise! If you are concerned about the pain or bruising that goes along with paintball, another similar option is laser tag.
• Scavenger hunts can add to an evening’s festivities. If you’ve hired a shuttle service, make a stop at a restaurant, planned activity, a couple of night clubs and then back to the hotel. Pre-arrange to have small gifts or slightly embarrassing activities planned for the person-of-honor at each location.
• Head to a karaoke bar and sing the night away with your friends. Just keep in mind that some karaoke bars are frequented by regulars and there is an etiquette that is followed by audience members and singers. Sit back and listen to a few of the songs before hopping on stage and belting out your favorite tune.
  Who doesn’t like a good go cart ride every once in a while? Find a local race track and bring out that competitive spirit. Many race tracks also have arcades and other entertainment nearby, so when you think you’ve had enough racing, head to the other attractions with the group.
• Play a sport – whether it’s football, hockey or golf, nothing is more fun than getting the group together and exerting some energy while you’re at it. Try finding something that everyone in the group can play. Or, plan an alternate activity for those who aren’t interested so they can still have fun while the rest of the group is participating in the sporting activity.
• If you’re interested in traveling to another city for your celebration, New York City parties are high on the list of top cities. Whether you party in Manhattan or The Hamptons on Long Island, New York City is a happening place and offers a lot to partiers with nightclubs for every taste, party boats, and more. New York also has more restaurants per capita than any other city in North America. If you decide that New York is your destination of choice, hire a shuttle service to take you around town and you won’t have the added stress of driving in the Big Apple.

Once you’ve selected your destination and decided on your activities, the bulk of your work is complete. Since you will have a large group, it is always smart to contact restaurants, nightclubs or attractions in advance to ensure that you don’t need to make reservations. If you’re planning an extended weekend celebration, you’ll also want to find a place to stay that will fit the entire group. House rentals are always a good option or you can reserve a block of rooms at a hotel. You’ll also need to line up your transportation, whether it be renting a van or hiring a shuttle service. If you are planning a van rental, be sure to designate a driver in advance to ensure the safety of you and your guests.

While it may seem like a lot of work now, it will all pay off in the end. Planning the party is the hard part, but once it’s done, you can sit back and have a blast!

I don’t know about you, but during these cold, winter days at times it seems like I’d do anything to just get away to a warm sunny climate.It seems winter days are so chilly and dreary, that a trip to south Florida sounds like just the thing to cheer the winter blues.Imagine the scene: stress-free travel planning, warm, sunny days, a BCS championship Orange Bowl game. Wait, a minute you may say. Stress free travel planning?! Isn’t that word an oxymoron you may ask yourself. My friend, if you book your transportationwith image-exoticcarrentals.comand make plans to stay at the Quality Inn in Ft Lauderdale, anything is possible.

The BCS Orange Bowl is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year.There are many celebratory activities planned. And let me tell you, they don’t call it the “world-class” halftime show for no reason.The halftime show itself is reason to go.But as an added bonus, you get to see two great college football teams trying to earn a championship. Bring back to your mind the image of the tropical climate and palm trees and the non-anxiety inducing trip planning. As they say in the south: Folks, it just don’t get much better than this.

“Wait, Let me get this straight.”, you may ask yourself.“This car rental company and the Quality Inn hotel chain will help me be able to enjoy my trip to the Orange Bowl without having to worry about travel plans and confirmation numbers?” image-exoticcarrentals.comis a company in which the only southern locations are in FL.What that means is that they are familiar with everything Florida, therefore ensuring you have a great time and hassle free rental. Quality Inn, Ft Lauderdale is the same story. Although they are a national chain, upon entering the lobby, you will find nothing but southern hospitality, ensuring your stay is the best you’ve ever had.

Knock, Knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you on your way to book your trip yet?

Group Sports Teams have special needs and lots of flexibility. Image Van Rentals understands these needs from years of experience in managing sports teams and their Van Rental transportation travel plans.
Tournament directors, coaches, and players can be confident in knowing they will get the best prices, service, and value bar none. Image Van Rentals works hard to provide secure, reliable, and consistent travel options to help make the biggest success. That is why we cater to the Sports Team and giving them our outmost attention and VIP Service such as CurbSide Delivery of our Full Size Vans and Luxury Vans to the Airport Terminals in Orlando, Miami, New York, Ft Lauderdale, West Palm Beach Florida, Newark NJ,
Connecticut, Washington DC and more service areas added each month

Group Sports Teams & Tournament Travel Van Rentals

Call 1-888-718-0001 in NY
and in Florida 1-888-718-0005

Who is the program ideally suited for?
Scouting Groups

Church Groups

Nonprofit Organizations

Conventions

Family Reunions

Professional Associations

Student Group Trips

Sports Teams

Summer Camps

Political Campaigns

Image Van Rentals is the largest van rental company in the USA that is geared towards group transportation. Image is also convenient with locations in New York, NJ, CT and Florida. This enables IMAGE to provide curbside delivery to all area hotels and airports in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, PA, Washington DC, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach Florida*.

Their fleet includes conversion high top luxury van rentals, Mercedes Sprinter vans ( High Top 12 Person Vans ) and 15 passenger Ford/ Chevy Vans, all of which are well appointed with LCD video screens, game systems, DVD playback, iPod support, tinted windows, security alarm systems and more. Also available are optional GPS units and mobile broadband WIFI units for rent.

Image has worked with hundreds of sports groups, churches, schools, university’s, conventions, family reunions, music bands and cross country touring travelers. The Image low rates are available to all. Because we are run and staffed by efficient and professional team members, we understand the unique needs of GROUP touring business better then any other rental company, and are committed to providing the highest quality service to our clients.

For more information, or to make a reservation, please visit our website: www.IMAGEvanrentals.com or call: 1-888-718-0001 or 1-888-718-0005 in Florida.

* airports we service with van rentals: JFK LGA EWR MCO PBI MIA SFB ACY PHL DCA BOS

I don’t know about you, but I still have Halloween candy in the pantry. Suddenly I realize that the holiday season is upon us. First it’s Thanksgiving and then the next day (or so it seems!) is Christmas. Thoughts of What to make for Thanksgiving dinner, who to buy presents for, whose house are we staying all begin to bombard our minds. “How can I do it all” you may ask yourself.Between cries of “Are we there yet?” and “How Much Longer ?” You may begin wondering if it’s really worth it to drive every which way, keeping everyone happy in the 1^st place.Halfway to your destination, you may realize that you leftGreat Aunt Marge’s gift at home or that the mashed potatoes are still in the oven. While you can’t plan everything, you can plan for safe travel along your journey.

In addition to planning your travel route and planning for road conditions, safe travel begins with making sure everything is up to date and in working order on your vehicle.This includes checking tires, tire pressure, oil levels, belts etc. The list goes on and on. Since you already have enough holiday planning and arrangements to worry about, let safe travel be one less thing you have to worry about. Renting a van from Image Rent A Van will put your mind at ease.

Once you get to your loved ones house and endure all the cheek-pinching, story re-telling and turkey eating, you might realize that it’s not as bad as you had anticipated.Spending time with family and friends during the holiday season is special and makes us revel in the magic of the season.BUT, should there be just one-too-many cheeks pinched or embarrassing story told, rest assured that you can have a safe getaway in your vehicle.

New York, New York is one of the most requested cities among educational student tour groups, not only for groups within the United States, but also student groups from all over the world. This destination of choice is filled with world renowned museums, theater, cultural neighborhoods and attractions that can provide an educational experience only available in the Big Apple.

Rent a 15 passenger van and your group can ride in comfort while seeing the sites of this great city. New York has something for everyone and boasts more sites andattractions per square mile than almost any other location. One of New York’s highlights is that it allows students to see how diverse of a world we live in with neighborhoods reflecting many different cultures and heritages. Diverse neighborhoods in the city reflect Chinese, Italian, Russian, Turkish and many other cultures.

Whether for education or leisure, there is plenty for all ages to see and do. While most attractions do have parking fees, it may be more economical to rent a large van and pay for parking rather than everyone paying for subway rides around the city. One of the most popular tourist stops is Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Here your group will get a fascinating glimpse of the heritage of our great nation.

Of course, Central Park is a must see landmark. You can either walk through the park at your own pace or take part in one of the guided tours. If you’re looking to get a good glimpse of the entire city, visit Rockefeller Center where the Top of the Rock observation deck views rival those from the Empire State Building. Plus, while you’re at Rockefeller Center, you’ll also be able to check out NBC Studios.

New York City is filled with great shopping – from large department stores to designer boutiques, New York has some of the best shopping in the United States. If you want to keep the focus of your trip on education, visit any of the historic neighborhoods including Little Italy, SoHo, Greenwich Village and Chinatown to experience different cultures. Or, take a trip to one of the many world renowned museums including the Modern Museum of Art or American Museum of Natural History.

New York City is famous for the performing arts and a trip to the Big Apple isn’t complete without enjoying a Broadway play. But remember that Broadway shows aren’t the only act in town and you can find ballets and symphonies at locations such as Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts.

Regardless of what you choose to do while you’re in the city, a tour to this metropolis is guaranteed to make an impression on your group.

Flanked by gently swaying carpets of native grasses, you accelerate onto the A48. You’ve just left the historic town of Cardiff, and are ready for some relaxation after a day of exploring the waterfront and the town’s 2,000-year-old castle. It’s early autumn in the picturesque Welsh countryside, and the roof on your Aston Martin DB89 Volante is down, making the howling of the massive 6.0 liter V12 engine even easier to enjoy.

Perhaps more stunning than the bucolic surroundings is the fact that this 450-horsepower, 186-mph handmade brute isn’t even yours. It’s a rental—yours for just $1,111 per day.

Welcome to the rarefied world of rentable exotica, an infinitesimal portion of the highly competitive $21.5 billion-per-year rental car industry, where virtually any über-upscale car manufactured for sale is also available to rent—for business, leisure or both. But not to everyone, and for a price.

“A general rule of thumb for exotic car rentals is to price the daily rental at one percent of the sticker price of the vehicle,” says Chris Brown, managing editor at the trade publication Auto Rental News. “So, a Lamborghini Gallardo can rent from $1,600 to $2,500 a day depending on the area, and a Ferrari 360 Modena can run you about $1,000. Porsches will rent for less, but we don’t keep overall statistics on exotics as it is such a specialty market.”

In fact, according to the American Car Rental Association, these top-of-the-line and exotic vehicles represent such a tiny fraction of the millions of rentals each year that the ACRA doesn’t even keep track of such statistics, saying they are far too minute.

In the U.S. the trend of renting upper-echelon automobiles exploded along with the burgeoning disposable incomes of young dot-commers. But in Europe, it’s been happening for years, according to Graziella Zanoletti, president of Geneva-based Elite Rent-a-Car, whose 21-year-old company is among the oldest in the field.

“This is really not new here,” she says of her firm, which throughout the years has outfitted vehicles for the likes George Soros, Bill Gates, Richard Gere, the Ruler of Dubai Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum and the recently deceased Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates.

In the United States, most rental cars exist to get you from point A to point B. Peter Schroeder, a German CEO who on a recent business trip to Los Angeles couldn’t secure a car with navigation unless it was dubbed a “luxury” car. “It was crazy,” he says.

These cars are different. With an average cost well into six figures, these are the very crème de la crème of the automotive world; they come with virtually every gadget and gizmo and can be had for a price—and with more than a few restrictions and requirements.

In Europe, for example, Sixt, an ever-expanding German-based agency, rents the blistering 12-cylinder Mercedes Benz S600, but not to those under 30 and only if they’ve had a driver’s license for three years. Furthermore, two credit cards are required as part of the security deposit, and you can’t take the vehicle to countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and others, for fear that they might end up on the black market—or in a chop shop—somewhere in the Ukraine or Moldova.

Similarly, when you rent an Audi A8 Quattro or Mercedes SL500 from Auto Europe, you may not drive it to “Eastern Europe,” according to a spokesperson. For most, however, these limitations are few and who, after all, wants to drive to Bulgaria when you can thrash about along the high-wire blacktop connecting Cinque Terre?

In fact, an informal and decidedly unscientific survey found that most people rent these cars do so for the self-indulgent pursuit of being seen—especially in their local haunts or by people whom they are trying to impress, say business associates. Either that or because they’ve dreamed up a special weekend getaway for someone they’re with or wishing to court.

Other, more-pragmatic types, according to New York City-based Gotham Dream Cars’ CEO Noah Lehmann-Haupt, rent before deciding whether to purchase. “A large portion of our customers, in addition to those who rent for fun and those who get gift certificates for a spouse or loved one, are people who are actually considering buying these supercars,” he says. “And since most dealerships won’t allow extended test drives, our customers prefer spending a few thousand dollars before putting down $200,000.”

Their choices? Anything from the fiery Ferrari F430 to the dignified Rolls-Royce Phantom, which comes with a chauffeur. The price for all this indulgence? From $1,750 for a day in the Ferrari. Or the Rolls Royce “Roller,” offered through the Madison Chauffer Service, which costs $5,400 for 12 hours.

For sheer beauty, few if any locales can beat the Côte d’Azur. At Elite Rent-a-Car’s Monaco branch, one of more than 12 locations the 21-year-old company has throughout Europe, you can get behind the wheel of the Lamborgini Gallardo Spyder or one of two sharp-suited, full-size SUVs, like the Porsche Cayenne S or the Range Rover HSE, and head for route D2566, a stunning ribbon of asphalt high in the Maritime Alps that stretches from Monte Carlo to the Col de Turini. If that’s too far south, ask for the Bentley Continental GTC at Excellence Luxury’s Paris office and head to Alsace and the stunning Route du Vin.

But according to Zanoletti, president of Elite Rent-a-Car, a luxury rental is more than the car. “A top rental is more like a personalized service. You could be driving away with anything from a Mini Cooper S or the MG 55 or the Range Rover Sport,” she says. “What really makes the difference is the customized service, be it door-to-door delivery, 24-hour on-call reservations or whether the fleet has something that sets it apart.”

These four-wheeled beauties aren’t limited to those living or traveling to Europe and the U.S. In Melbourne, Australia, Sports Car World Rentals offers a Ferrari 430 Spider and a Lotus Elise, while across town exotic car rentals serves up a roster of Porsche 911s.

Or, perhaps an exotica from yesteryear is more your speed. The Historic & Classic-car Hirers Guild (HCHG), the largest purveyor of classic cars in Britain, offers motoring enthusiasts an Aston Martin DB6 (James Bond’s car in Thunderball), a 1972 and 1979 Rolls, a 1972 Alfa Romeo GTV, a 1933 MG J2 convertible and a Jaguar E-type.

In Florida, New York and the Tri State area, Image Rent a Car has a large fleet of luxury and exotic cars to choose from. Curbside delivery is just one of the extra amenities they offer. Image Rent a Car can also help you give the perfect gift to your favorite gearhead. Let them help you select an exotic or luxury car rental and surprise that special someone. Call Image Rent a Car at 1.888.718.0001