When it comes to renting a charter bus, it’s honestly the best way to transport a large group of people at a reasonable price. People actually rent charter buses for various reasons too. Charter bus rentals are great for family reunions, sports teams, school trips, and church trips but before you decide to rent a charter bus, there are some things you want to think about first.
Cost and Safety: The Top 2 Concerns Among Travelers
Things like safety and cost are the two big ones that people tend to be concerned about the most. Well, as mentioned above, renting a charter bus is the most affordable way to transport large groups. There are of course other things that play into the cost of everything like:
- Where you’re traveling to
- How long you’ll be there
- Number of people going
- Round trip or one way
- Size of the bus
Now those are just some of the things that go into calculating the cost of renting a charter bus but the prices vary, so knowing that information as soon as possible will give you a better idea of what the cost will be.
As far as safety, people get a little nervous about renting charter buses because they think they need to find someone to drive the bus. One of the greatest aspects of charter bus rentals is that it comes reserved with a driver. To drive a bus that large requires training, education, and a special license, so have no fear that you have to try and ask your uncle who USED to drive trucks to see if he knows how to drive a bus!
To put your mind at ease even more, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that motorcoach companies must comply with ALL federal regulations and any company that doesn’t do so can face criminal or civil penalties.
Consideration 1: Bus Amenities
Bus amenities might not sound like a thing of importance for some people but for some, it can be one of the most important aspects to whether or not someone will even go on a trip. One of the most important perks of charter buses is that they offer ample legroom so you can get the image of cramped road trips out of your head… riding in a charter bus is nothing like that. Some of the amenities that typically come with charter buses include:
- TVs
- Air conditioning
- Restrooms
- Storage space
- Wifi
With lots of charter buses, these amenities come as standards.
Consideration 2: Special Needs Accommodations
If there is anyone on your trip that has special needs such as wheelchair access or any other type of handicap needs, you need to find out if the bus company you’re using will be able to provide the right type of bus and accommodations to meet the needs of those individuals with special needs.
Even special needs like language barriers should be looked into and made known up front before reserving a bus. If you tell the bus company that there are people on the trip who don’t speak very good English, they might be able to provide you with a bilingual bus driver.
Consideration 3: What You Can Bring On the Bus
Finding out what you can and cannot bring on the bus is a very important factor to consider before going on the trip. Most charter buses don’t allow pets but may have special considerations if the pet is a service dog. For the most part, you can bring snacks and food on the bus but some buses won’t allow coolers on board or will only allow certain size cooler. This is something you definitely want to get a clear understanding of up front and make sure all the passengers understand as well.
Consideration 4: Emergency Procedure for If the Bus Breaks Down
This is something you don’t want to happen on your trip but in case it does happen, it’s always helpful to know that the bus company you go with has a contingency plan in place for it. When choosing the right company, you want to make sure they have a live dispatch service that’s open 24/7 because accidents on the road can happen at any time. If there’s a bus company that doesn’t have this contingency plan put into place, you probably shouldn’t go with them.
Overall…
There are so many options out there for you to use for your transportation accommodations but when it comes to transportation for large groups of people, your best bet would be to go charter a bus. They come with amenities that you won’t find in regular cars, it’s very affordable, and most importantly, it’s safe! So take a look at your options and do your research. Once you’ve done that, get your group together and see the world through the windows of a charter bus for your next big group trip!
