| It's a familiar situation, a business traveler or | | | | Most reputable limo and car service companies do not |
| vacationing couple is headed for the Bay Area and | | | | pass this along to any customer. |
| reserves a car for airport pick-up. The car service | | | | It's All About Them |
| company quotes the rate for towncar service from | | | | Each Bay Area airport has its own way of operating. |
| an airport to San Francisco or Napa Valley - and of | | | | Here are some urls to help you plan your trip. |
| course there is a tax. But wait, travelers should be | | | | - SFO: Limousine transportation information |
| aware that there is no legal tax for limo and car | | | | - OAK: Shuttles, Limos & Taxis |
| service. Check with your car service before you | | | | - San Francisco Towncar: |
| make a reservation. | | | | - SJC: Mineta San Jose International Airport Ground |
| Using a limousine or towncar for the trip into San | | | | Transportation: |
| Francisco saves money for the traveler because | | | | Travelers Alerts |
| hotels can charge $25 to $85 dollars a day for | | | | Potential bottleneck: In November 2005 the San |
| parking in their garage. For someone attending a | | | | José City Council approved a $1.5 billion |
| convention or trade show garage charges can be | | | | implementation revision to the terminal area |
| avoided by reserving a clean Lincoln Towncar or SUV | | | | improvement program for the Mineta San |
| with a pre-screened, professional driver from | | | | José International Airport Master Plan. The |
| Quicksilver Towncar or another limo service. | | | | first major element of the new airport is the North |
| Then if the traveler wants to take a wine tour to | | | | Concourse, currently under construction, located |
| taste the chardonnays in Alexander Valley, or the | | | | between Terminal C (American and Southwest) and |
| costal Pinot's in the Santa Cruz Mountains, they can | | | | Terminal A (everybody else). This quarter-mile long |
| rent a car for the day for less that the cost of hotel | | | | "horizontal high rise" will have nine gates, new dining |
| parking. | | | | and retail concessions, and will feature a "paseo" |
| Truth About Car Service Taxes | | | | much like the downtown San Jose open air dining and |
| The fact is, there are no taxes on services in | | | | club strip. Mid 2008 is a generous estimate for the |
| California. This is something every traveler should | | | | completion date. |
| know. This includes Oakland Airport, San Francisco | | | | SFO new cell phone lot: SFO has added a new free |
| International Airport and San Jose Minetta | | | | parking lot where people can wait for arriving |
| International there are no taxes on limo or car | | | | passenger to call before going to pick them up. |
| services. | | | | Quicksilver Towncar Service has the same |
| Don't get scammed by your limo or car service. A | | | | arrangement with its drivers. For a map of the new |
| per passenger surcharge is prohibited by the P.U.C | | | | cell phone waiting lot go to |
| (California Public Utilities Commission) for limousine | | | | For business travelers or vacationing couples traveling |
| carriers. You are renting the whole car. | | | | to the bay understanding the transportation |
| The real PUC tax is small. The P.U.C. operating fee is | | | | trade-offs and knowing the law helps the smart |
| only 25 cents per $100.00, 2.5 tenths of 1 percent. | | | | traveler save money. |