We are value-hunters and pretty fussy when it comes to renting a limo. We only do it once or twice a year and only for special occasions. Over the years we've had fantastic experiences, terrible experiences and quite a few in between. Unfortunately, our experience with Labresse was pretty terrible, and I feel the need to warn others away. There are some great car services in this town but based on our experience last weekend, Labresse is not one of them.
I felt I had developed a nice relationship with Sally, the lady who answers their phones and coordinates the rentals. I talked to her three or four times and we exchanged three emails, the last two confirming our 5:00pm pickup time. At 5:15pm, no limo, we called and she said "He's scheduled for 5:30pm". Okay, that's infuriating. We HAD to be on time - 9 people with a special dinner reservation and then tickets to a ballet recital. We had no leeway, hence my almost obsessive communications with Sally confirming the times. She said "He's coming up 249", which means at least 15 minutes. 5:30pm: no limo, i called again, "He's coming down your street". 5:43pm he shows up. Even if he'd been scheduled for 5:30 he was late. We piled into a very old limo, although nice in appearance. It had been updated somewhat but still probably 10 years old or well worn. Worse, the AC barely worked, so here we are with 9 people in nice dress clothes packed into this limo and sweating in the July 96-degree heat.
When we arrived at our restaurant (Osaka) we had time for just one quick sushi roll and one drink each, then we had to bolt. Our poor guests had come 1,500 miles for this evening and we had 20 minutes for dinner.
Bad enough - this would warrant a 2-star rating, but then our driver turned out to know less about Houston's roads than some of our out-of-town visitors. I had to guide him turn by turn, which I really hate in a limo. Isn't a carefree ride what you're paying your $80/hour for? Then it got weird. We made it downtown and I gave him the street and the cross streets and he headed AWAY from them. I got him back on track, told him "Take a right on Preston". At the very first street (not Preston) he said, "Here?". . "No, not here - Preston". Next street: "Here?". "NO, not here! PRESTON!" The street signs downtown are huge, it was broad daylight. What the HELL?
In the end Sally gave us profuse apologies and said she wouldn't charge us for the 40 minutes overtime we ran. So we spent $450 for a 5-hour reservation that was wrong in almost every way.
Sorry Labresse. There are too many limo companies in Houston to take a chance on ruining another special occasion. read more
