Working with Charter Buses

Make renting charter buses easy, enjoyable and inexpensive

Charter bus lines are a great way to get your employees or customers to a destination. They can ride in style on board coach buses, and you have direct control over the departure times and the itinerary.

Working with charter buses is usually a straightforward experience. Private bus companies have a great amount of experience dealing with businesses and try to make chartering a bus as simple as possible. Still, you will want to be sure you:

1. Get a reservation for the date and time that you want;

2. Avoid paying extra fees to charter bus providers;

3. And have a positive experience with the charter bus driver.

 

Reserve charter bus services

When making reservations for charter bus services, be sure to reserve well in advance, especially for summer weekends, and be prepared to make a deposit. Charter bus quotes are usually not available online. Typically, you will have to speak to a representative about the exact details of your trip before getting a charter bus quote. Call around to at least three charter bus companies to compare quotes.
Try: United Motorcoach Association provides a checklist of important items to consider when reserving charter bus service. To make a reservation in your area, visit TEOCO for a local directory of coach bus lines.

Avoid having to pay charter bus lines extra fees after the trip is over

There's nothing worse than finding out after the fact that you have to pay extra fees to the operator of the charter buses. These additional fees are usually a result of a trip that takes longer than scheduled or damage to the bus due to rowdy passengers. Be sure to reserve enough time for your trip and have your group leader keep the passengers under control, especially if alcohol is being consumed on the trip.
Try: BusRates.com has an excellent list of all the components that go into a charter bus quote. This will help you understand what is included and what could turn into an extra cost. The Bus for Sale Guide discusses the importance of scheduling your trip so you don't wind up paying extra fees at the end.

Get along with the drivers on board the coach buses

When you're on your trip, have your group leaders make friends with the bus drivers. Drivers of charter buses are typically friendly people who have a good knowledge of the local area and enjoy giving out advice about restaurants and attractions. Also, be prepared to tip the driver if he or she provides exceptional service. A dollar or two per passenger per day is a good amount.
Try: Charter Bus America has a list of bus rental tips, many of which can ensure you will have a good relationship with your bus driver. For a suggested tipping scale, check out Kraftours.

 

• Charter buses usually hold between 45 and 55 passengers. Groups smaller than 30 may want to rent a mini-bus.
• Alcohol is often allowed on charter buses, with permission from the coach bus line. Glass containers are usually not allowed.

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