With the popularity of app-based car services like Uber, many travelers are turning to this easy form of transportation before and during their trips. As a Los Angeles resident and frequent traveler, I’m always searching for new and more convenient ways to get to the airport. With the price of parking at LAX approaching $30 per day in some lots, I’m also always looking for the best value, as many of my trips are two weeks and longer. Toro Ride is an app-based car service currently operating in Los Angeles, offering more luxurious options than their competitors. With available cars like the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Bentley Flying Spur and Cadillac Escalade, they offer app-based convenience and service with a more luxurious, premium experience. After all, if you’re flying Business Class and staying at the Ritz-Carlton, you don’t want to roll to the airport in a Prius.
My Toro Ride
I used Toro Ride to get to and from LAX for my recent trip to Europe and the Cannes Film Festival. After signing up on the Toro Ride website, ordering the car was easy and the driver arrived on time with the car looking perfect. It was a Bentley Flying Spur and really made a great start to my European luxury adventure. It was great not to have to worry about traffic, parking or anything else, my vacation started the minute I walked out of my front door and the driver picked up my bags and loaded them into the car.
We stopped on the way to LAX to pick up my traveling companion and arrived on time. Pickup on my return to LAX was just as easy, as soon as I landed I went to the app and requested the car and he was waiting for me when I got out of baggage claim. The car was clean, as was the friendly driver, and there was water and magazines in the back. Billing is done via the credit card used when signing up on the website. Pricing was $300 roundtrip, but the Bentley luxury, convenient billing and personal service made it a no-brainer. Their SUV service is about $200 roundtrip and the full Rolls-Royce Ghost experience is about $450 roundtrip. These prices are based on traveling from my home in the San Fernando Valley to and from LAX and include all charges and gratuity. As a comparison, a cab from my house is about $160 roundtrip, including tips, and a standard car service, with charges, tip and hourly minimums would be about $200.
The service
Currently available in Los Angeles and coming soon to San Diego and San Francisco. Toro Ride offers town cars as their basic level, but excels in their luxury car selection. Premium cars like the Bentley, Mercedes S-Class, Suburbans and even armored vehicles are available. They are also the only company in Los Angeles offering car service in the amazing new Rolls-Royce Ghost, a car whose sticker price starts at $263,500.
My review
The service is a great, upscale alternative to cabs or Uber and delivers premium service to match their premium automobiles. I think the pricing offers good value for the money and the convenience of using the app makes it a better, easier alternative to traditional car services.
Freddy Sherman is a world traveler and editor of the travel blog luxuryfred.com. You can follow him on Twitter -@luxuryfred and check out his travel photos on Instagram – @luxuryfred.
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