Ride in Style with Love City Limousine Service

 

Trunk Bay is seen from inside her company’s Ford Excursion SUV, which is complete with a bar, strip lighting, two DVD players and even a starlit ceiling.

Iris (Edis) Santos was turning heads all over Cruz Bay on Monday, May 7, from the front seat of her new black Ford Excursion.

Santos, who has worked at the Cruz Bay Post Office for 14 years, is branching out on her own  in a new limousine business which is sure to be a huge success.

The idea for Love City Limousine Service came to Santos one afternoon while sitting on the corner.

“I was just sitting on the corner one day and saw a couple pass by in a safari taxi on the way to their wedding,” said Santos. “They were just being blown about by the wind and I thought they should be in a closed vehicle. They came all the way from the states to get here and they didn’t have any air conditioning or privacy.”

“I just came up with the idea for a limo service then,” Santos added.

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“Your Ride is Our Pride,” says Love City Limos owner Iris Santos, above, with her new SUV at the Trunk Bay overlook.

 

More Than A Year of Work
From the initial moment of eureka, Santos has worked hard over the past year and a half to see her idea come to fruition. She has partnered with entrepreneur Lisa Mosley, who owns the Caribbean-inspired shoe and clothing company Sandal Solé ® LLC and is the project manager for Love City Limos.

“One of my employees works with Iris at the Cruz Bay Post Office and knew that we were able to provide a lot of services,” said Mosley. “It’s been a real pleasure working with Iris and I just want to see her be successful.”

After conceiving the basic business idea, Santos ruled out traditional limousines because of the  terrain on St. John.

“I settled on the Ford Excursion because we live on St. John and there are so many hills,” Santos said. “There is always so much wear and tear on vehicles here but the SUV will be able to handle it. It will be able to go up and down the hills with no problem and it’s a really comfortable ride.”

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Iris Santos, center, poses with her Project Manager Lisa Mosley, left, and one of her drivers Mr. Benjamin.

 

More Than Just Weddings
The limo service is available for all sorts of events from airport transportation and North Shore excursion tours to nights out on the town and weddings.

“We cater to our clients’ needs,” said Santos. “No job is too big or too small. We can pick people up at the airport or cruise ships or take them to dinner for anniversaries or any special occasion.”

“This service is not just for weddings,” she added.

Santos does, however, offer special wedding packages which are sure to be a big hit with brides and grooms. The platinum package includes six hours of service, a customized “Just Married” magnet, complimentary champagne and engraved champagne flutes, red carpet service and bridal party gifts.

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Sandal Sole’s USVI Bridal Collection Gifts

 

Bridal Gifts And More
Through her partnership with Mosley, Santos is offering unique Caribbean nation flag shoes, bags and sunglasses curtesy of Sandal Solé® as bridal party gifts.

Gold and silver wedding packages are also available as well as basic limo rentals, which require a three hour minimum.
The luxuriously roomy Ford Excursion can accommodate up to six people, and includes a privacy glass, starlight ceiling and two televisions, a  15-inch flat screen plasma and a five-inch flat plasma screen television with a single CD and DVD player.

Crystal Champagne Glasses
Other amenities include a powerful Pioneer sound system, a bar area with fiber strip lights, a full length “J” seat and engraved Mikasa crystal champagne glasses and bucket.

Also a driver – a role which Santos will not fill – dressed in a suit and cap will shuttle clients to and from their special event.

The role of entrepreneur is a new one for Santos, a mother of four who will keep her position at the Cruz Bay Post Office.

“I didn’t think it would happen,” said Santos. “It makes me feel great and a bit overwhelmed. It just makes me think, ‘look what you can do.’”

Love City Limos has a few big fans already, Santos added.

“My kids are so excited,” she said. “My son wants me to take his second grade class for a ride. They just love it.”

“Your Ride Is Our Pride”
Santos’ motto “Your Ride is Our Pride,” says it all, she explained.

“I would really like to take care of the community and everyone will have that exclusive service,” Santos said.

“Our motto simply means that our goal is to provide comfort, class, atmosphere and affordable competitive rates to all of our customers,” said Mosley.

Confidentiality is another important feature of Love City Limos’ service, especially on such a small island where it’s difficult to keep anything truly private.

Lips Are Sealed
“What goes on in the limo stays in the limo,” said Santos. “That is another reason why I don’t want to drive. I’m not going to be involved with that.”

If the heads turning in Cruz Bay recently were any indication, the public seems to love the new Ford Excursion on island and Love City Limos’ first wedding is scheduled for May 19.

Also, with the St. John Festival fast approaching, keep Love City Limos in mind for the ultimate ride to Carnival Village.

For all reservations and bookings call (340) 777-RIDE (7433) or 877-232-7388. Check out Santos’ Web site, expected to be complete soon, at www.lovecitylimo.com.