Car rentals, parking, and taxi rides can be quite costly when traveling around major cities. You can opt for public transportation, but we’ve found hotels that offer guests a lift to their destination—for free—and in some pretty spiffy rides to boot. See the savings for yourself; it might make sense to skip that taxi ride altogether.
The Hotel: W Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Wheels: The 300-horsepower Acura MDX’s take guests to destinations within a 5-mile radius of the hotel. Just dial the Acura Experience desk, reserve your personal driver and the fully stocked SUV is yours.
Room Rate: $249
Taxi cost from hotel to the Museum of Art: $6
Hotel parking fees:$30 per day
The Hotel: Gansevoort Park Avenue, New York City
The Wheels: A 2011 Porsche Panamera 4S sports car that fits four. In addition to schlepping guests between the midtown hotel and its Meatpacking District sister location,
free in-town car service is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Room Rate: $495 per night
Taxi cost from hotel to Macy's Herald Square: $6
Hotel parking fees:$50 per day
The Hotel: Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colorado
The Wheels: The hotel’s hulking Suburbans are just the right size to haul skis and snowboards to Aspen Mountain.
Room Rate: $199
Taxi cost from hotel to Silver Queen Gondola: $5
Hotel parking fees:$30 per day (part of “resort fees”)
The Hotel: The Hotel Granduca, Houston Texas (www.granducahouston.com)
The Wheels: A black Cadillac Escalade is available 24/7 to all guests for trips within a 3-mile of the property, including visits to patients at the Texas Medical Center.
Room Rate: $305
Taxi cost from hotel to Galleria Mall: $6
Hotel parking fees: $18 per day to self park; $22 per day valet
The Hotel: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
The Wheels: In the morning, a Lincoln Town Car carries you within a mile of the hotel. And from 5:30 to 11:30pm daily, the service does restaurant runs. Take your drivers’ biz card for a return pick up, as long as it's before 11:30 pm.
Room Rate: $375
Taxi cost from hotel to Fisherman's Wharf: $9
Hotel parking fees: $50 per day
The Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
The Wheels: In the morning, guests are shuttled via Lincoln Town Cars to meetings and shopping throughout the downtown Boston area and anywhere within a five mile radius. The cars are also available Friday and Saturday evenings.
Lowest Room Cost: $350
Taxi cost from hotel to Fenway Park: $9
Hotel parking fees: $30 per day
