Do you know a GREAT car service that goes from SFO to Sonoma County?

September 19, 2023 9:06 PM

Looking for a full-service, hassle-free car service that can do a one-way run from San Francisco International airport to Sonoma County. Difficulty level: must accommodate one infant car seat, one booster seat, one adult human, and a reasonable amount of luggage.

Due to a late-breaking change in travel plans, my wife will be solo parenting our 8yo and 1yo on a flight that arrives at SFO around 8:30pm. She will be travel-weary, towing two kids (one in her arms), and lugging luggage. I would like to arrange for a reliable, easy, friendly, convenient, full-service car service that can take one adult, one infant-seated infant, and one car-seated kid to our home in Sonoma County, CA - about a 65-minute drive.

The ability to accommodate the infant car seat and the booster seat is absolutely essential. Maybe even a company that provides their own such seats for kids? (I'm not yet sure if we're planning to bring our own carseats - a major hassle in itself.)

It would be great for the airport pickup to be hassle-free, and for the driver to assist with luggage. Payment (including tip) in advance would be great.

It's not exactly a "money is no object" situation, but I'm willing to pay a little more to hire a service that will make this trip as painless as possible. The 8yo will be no problem, but the baby and the luggage make this somewhat tricky.

If you have any specific recommendations for services (and/or drivers), I'd be grateful to know them. Thanks!

posted by Dr. Wu to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

In my experience, Carmel Limo can handle this, and will provide the appropriate car seats...though it won't be cheap.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:37 PM on September 19, 2023

I don’t have experience with Five Emerald Limo but their site does mention infant and booster seats available.
posted by Gusaroo at 9:44 PM on September 19, 2023

Any CA car service will be fine to accommodate car seats. There's no exception to car seat laws for hired cars in CA, at least for the 1yo, so they've got to let you install it if you've got kids and might in fact refuse to drive if the kids aren't in car seats.
posted by potrzebie at 10:40 PM on September 19, 2023

(I'm not yet sure if we're planning to bring our own carseats - a major hassle in itself.)

side note: I'm not sure how your wife will handle getting luggage, an infant in arms, a walking small child, and two bulky carseats through the airport (unless she is perhaps an octopus?), so I'd look for a service that can provide the seats.
posted by praemunire at 7:49 AM on September 20, 2023

Adjacent to your question: I’d skip bringing the booster for the 8yo unless the 8yo will commit to carrying it, but bring a car seat on a car seat cart (which can double as a stroller when used at reasonable walking speeds) for the 1yo.

You’re wise to think this car situation through - good foresight.
posted by samthemander at 8:34 AM on September 20, 2023

These guys did a good job picking us up with car seats ready to go. They were chintzy car seats, but it was nice having them pre installed, and the drivers were nice.
posted by earthstarvoyager at 8:52 AM on September 20, 2023

For your consideration, there are booster seats that are more travel friendly.
posted by oceano at 2:15 PM on September 21, 2023

Thanks, everyone! Good ideas here.
posted by Dr. Wu at 8:47 AM on September 22, 2023