While some people love getting behind the wheel of their car or RV, and while air travel can’t always be avoided, bus travel is one of the fastest growing forms of transportation in the country. That’s because unlike flying, traveling on a motorcoach can actually be comfortable.
It’s no wonder charter bus transportation is the preferred form of travel for so many schools, sports teams, church trips, and sightseeing tours all over the country. In fact, if you’re coordinating an upcoming group tour or trip, charter bus services almost certainly offer the most cost effective, not to mention comfortable, travel option available to you.
Top Tips On Chartering a Bus
- Like other forms of transportation, the best way to save money on charter bus transportation is to plan ahead. Most importantly, it means booking transportation months ahead of your departure date, then working with your chosen charter bus service to try and arrive at a fair price for the trip.
- Make sure you inquire about all the types of motorcoaches available for your group. Depending on the size of your group, you may be able to save money by booking a smaller bus. Larger groups could benefit by arranging travel in one large motorcoach. Additionally, always inquire about bathrooms, storage, and wheelchair accesibility.
- Remember that not all charter bus companies are created equally. In many regions of the country you can find cheap, discount bus companies. Unfortunately, these charter bus lines usually rely on unqualified drivers and an aging fleet. To have the best travel experience possible, you’ll want to rely on a service with a proven reputation for mechanical excellence and professionalism.
- If you’re traveling with children or teens, look for charter bus transportation with DVD players aboard the bus. As anyone who has ever been in charge of a group of young people knows, if you don’t give them something to do, they’ll find something themselves.
- Go over every stop of your itinerary with the charter bus company to come up with a detailed schedule. The more details you provide, the more accurate your quote will be and the fewer surprises you’ll encounter en route.
- During your trip, appoint one or two group leaders to be the point of contact for the group. You don’t want passengers distracting or bothering the driver, so designate several point people to field questions and concerns along the way.
Anyone involved in the transportation industry learns this lesson the hard way, but you can’t plan for everything. Unexpected traffic, inclement weather, and car sickness can all cause unwanted headaches. Still, with the proper planning, there is no reason you can’t have a wonderful trip!
