Driver Ed Ryan stands next to one of the limos in the Hoyt Livery fleet.

Photo Credit: Jim Gerweck

Driver Ed Ryan takes many groups on shopping excursions to New York in the holiday season.

Photo Credit: Jim Gerweck

Despite the growth of online commerce, nothing quite compares to the reality of shopping, handling and trying on your purchases. And nothing quite compares to New York City, with the greatest concentration and diversity of shops in the world. If you can't find it in the Big Apple, you probably can't find it anywhere.

Unfortunately, nothing quite compares to the traffic in Manhattan, either, especially during the holidays. And parking in midtown? As a New Yorker would say, "Forgidaboutit!"

Mass transit is one solution, but taking the train creates its own challenges: getting from store to store, carrying an increasing load of bags, making your train and finding a seat.

That's why many a savvy city shopper has come up with an alternative that combines the best of both: hiring a limousine for a day trip to the city. Ed Ryan of Hoyt Livery in New Canaan says it's an increasingly popular option that makes shopping excursions not only survivable but also enjoyable.

"It will usually be a group of three or four who make it kind of a shopping party," he says. "They'll go to a couple of stores, take a break to have lunch, shop a little more, then head home before rush hour."

The whole process couldn't be easier. Ryan drops shoppers in front of a store, then parks until they call his mobile phone for pickup. They can deposit their packages in the trunk, enjoying the peace of mind that their purchases won't be left unattended while they're enjoying lunch at a midtown eatery.

Ryan said such excursions are a uniquely female phenomenon. "I've never taken a group of men," he says. "Shopping's just not a guy thing."