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I am not surprised that some groups want to explore the cost of having a solo driver driving through the night. It does save some costs, especially with hotel stays for the group. However, there are some really good reasons to avoid it at all costs! Driving at night requires driving with reduced visibility. It goes without saying that you simply can't see as much at night and things can come up on you quickly. Low light conditions make it harder to see the road, other vehicles, obstacles, animals and pedestrians. Not to mention changing d epth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are negatively affected, which are crucial for safe driving and we all know what it's like to battle h eadlight glare. Drivers are far more likely to be tired which leads to much slower to reaction times. Drowsy driving can impair your ability to think clearly, reaction times, and driving performance, making it as dangerous as drunk driving. We all have an internal clock and our bodies will try to go to sleep during our regular sleep times. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 50% of all fatal vehicle accidents happen at night, despite only 25% of driving occurring after dark and with far fewer motorists on the road. So driving at night carries a far higher risk than driving during the day. It's not just yourself you should worry about. The likelihood of encountering impaired drivers (under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or drowsiness) is much higher at night. About one-third of all traffic fatalities involve a driver impaired by alcohol, with impaired drivers most frequently on the road between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends. It was an easy decision for us to now require two drivers in a team to drive through the night with our precious cargo. We often lose out on a trip because it comes at a higher cost than our competitor who will put some poor soul behind the wheel through the night as he/she tries to stay awake amid the constant drone of snoring passengers to make a buck. But hey, if something bad happens, the group can always say they saved a few dollars, right? It is hard to drive through the night...I've been there and it's a scary almost helpless feeling. There is no way that I would be able to sleep at night knowing my child was aboard a bus driving through the night with a single fatigued driver, no way. But I've seen first-hand some of the accidents in our industry that result in the loss of loved ones. If you can't afford safety and had much rather take the risk and save a dollar, then we're not the company you want to charter...we're OK with that! It's literally what allows us to sleep at night, no pun intended .

We wanted to share some thoughts on music playlists for your guests. Whether it's a wedding, funeral or corporate event, it's something we've seen have unintended effects in the past. From our experience, it's rare for all of your guests to appreciate the same music choices, and often, they'd prefer to use the travel time to chat with each other rather than listen to or focus on "your" playlist. We've actually had a number of instances where guests called us after the event, mistakenly thinking our driver was playing their own music and they wanted us to know that they didn't appreciate it. They simply wanted to talk to friends or family during the ride. Of course, we always apologize and explain that the music was a specific request from the chartering party, which is often met with "well, that would've been nice to know." So, if you do choose to have music, preempt the music with a pre-recorded message to everyone letting them know what's up or include a small note to your guests letting them know that the music playing was your personal choice is always a good idea.. A more mellow musical selection tends to be less problematic and definitely stay away from explicit lyrics and rap or country music.

The majority of our business is conducted on major roads, interstates and state or county maintained roadways. From time to time, I am challenged with looking at a private site directed by our clients by using Google Maps or Google Earth. Oftentimes I can tell a great deal from the topography and layout that this is something that we can work with. Sometimes not. When I am unable to get a feel for the location, a site inspection is necessary. This is for several reasons. First, we don't want to compromise the safety of the passengers. If I had a nickel for every time I have been told "we have tractor trailers in here all the time", I'd be a rich man. Someday I'm going to say, "great idea, let's bring your guests in by tractor trailer!" To date, I haven't had the courage. However, our vehicles are wrapped in glass and susceptible to limbs breaking the windows or worse. The safety of your guests should be your number one concern. Second, we don't want to tear up your property. A 25 ton vehicle stuck on private property makes a mess getting it out. It's not pretty. It also usually prevents the group from getting back on time or not getting back by way of our vehicle at all. You don't want this and neither do we. Third, we don't want to tear up our vehicles or have them damaged in any way. Not only does it usually take them out of service for the short term, the client ends up with the bill if a site inspection hasn't been done and fixing these vehicles is not cheap. A small bit of damage will usually cost $2000 or more. Finally, it's just embarrassing and inconvenient for everyone involved including us. We want things to go smoothly and preparation is key. If it's not going to work, you want to know up front. If it can work, you want to know how so that you can make it happen. Site inspections do that for you. Site inspections are a cheap insurance policy against embarrassment or much worse. We can always take the group to the street address of the location and drop on the street, but going onto a property is at the driver's discretion without a site inspection and drivers will rarely risk it. This leaves you with a bus load of guests having to walk (sometimes in the rain) to get to where they need to be. They also have to get out to the bus at the end of the evening. The example I am about to tell you IS 100% true and it is a worst case scenario. The names have been changed to avoid further embarrassment, but it illustrates what can happen when site inspections aren't done. We were contracted to provide transportation for guests attending a dinner party at a beautiful home out in the country. The hosts (we will call them Bob and Betty) were showcasing their home and property for about 30 dinner guests (mostly couples). They wanted to make an impression on their guests. We told them that they could pay for a site inspection and plan ahead of time as their home did not appear to be accessible by motorcoach. Bob and Betty were not interested in investing in a site inspection and said "we have trucks out here all of the time, your driver will see that he can get in and out with no problem." Despite our best advice, they flat out refused the site inspection. We told them that we would guarantee to get their guests to the entrance off of the state maintained road and ONLY if the way was clear the driver would proceed further...they were sure of their opinion and agreed. The evening of the dinner party there was a slight drizzle. When we arrived with the group, sure enough the driveway had a large hump just inside the entrance which would cause the bottom of a bus to get stuck, but a truck would have the ground clearance to proceed. The driver informed their guests that it was as far as he could safely go. The guests would have to walk the remaining 150 yards to the home on a wet gravel and dirt drive. Bob and Betty used their car to shuttle a few of the guests and the remainder had to get their nice shoes and pants a little wet and a little muddy. At the end of the evening, the rain had increased dramatically and their guests could not walk in the downpour, so Bob began shuttling guests in their car from the house to the motorcoach 2-3 at a time. That was the only solution for the first 3-4 trips until Bob's car slid into the ditch next to the driveway and got stuck. Bob abandoned his car and ran in the pouring rain to get Betty's car and began shuttling again. Because of the stuck car, Bob could not turn around at the end of the drive, so he had to back all the way up the drive in the rain to go back for guests each time. The loading time for departure took almost an hour because of the shuttling and mishaps. This also resulted in additional time charges. Bob and Betty ended up paying for overtime vehicles charges, a tow truck and a landscaping crew to repair the beautifully manicured driveway. They inconvenienced their guests and embarrassed themselves, but they did save the cost of a site inspection. Don't be Bob and Betty.

If you're chartering a motorcoach you already know it's an inexpensive and easy way to see the countryside. They are the least costly way to travel. Yes, least costly than planes, trains and automobiles! Sorry John Candy. This means that it’s easy to find budget friendly charter motorcoaches that will take you anywhere you’re wanting to go. However, it doesn’t mean there aren’t additional ways to save money when you charter. Below, you’ll find our top money saving tips on chartering a motorcoach. Charter In Advance Sometimes booking in advance can help save you money. This is especially true in peak season, which is when more people are looking to travel. By reserving charter motorcoaches months ahead of time, you’ll have a better chance of receiving a lower rate than you would by doing so as time gets closer. Weekday Travel If your group can travel on a Monday, Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday you're already ahead of the game. Weekdays are often less expensive, less crowded and you'll find better availability. Your and everybody' mother wants to go on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If you can swing it, you'll save your wallet. Don’t Pay For More Than You Need Most people are inclined to overestimate the space and features they need on a trip. Bigger luxury Motor Coaches may be great but depending on your budget and the size of your group, you may end up paying for much more than what’s necessary. For shorter trips, you may be able to rent a smaller bus. For longer periods of travel, you should reserve a bus that fits your needs exactly, without overestimating or underestimating. Add Your Numbers If you book a bus that seats 50, you’ll want to get as close to that number of passengers as possible. Otherwise, your cost per person is going to be more. Obviously, you’ll save more by getting an exact head count ahead of time. But if that isn’t possible or you have to book a bus that’s bigger than the group you currently have, you’ll end up saving more by adding more to your party! Ultimately, the bus is going to cost the same total price, but it will cost less per person if you ensure you’re at close to full capacity. A' la Carte Some motorcoach companies allow you to pay only for the amenities your looking for. For example, if you are travelling with a group of adults with data plans on their phones, don't pay for Wifi. If you're on a short trip and don't need a restroom, you might secure a lower priced vehicle without one. Most companies just charge everyone for the amenities whether they need them or not, but a company that is looking out for your bottom dollar and needs will allow you to pick and choose your extras. Remember, ALWAYS ask for ways to save money. Any company can just be interested in your money and won't bother finding opportunities to save, but a company that wants to be your resource when you need them will let you know the inside scoop on how to save money. It's just good business!

ANY school can save money on their trip. They just have to be flexible and they have to ask. What we mean when we say this is the school needs to keep an open mind about changing the details of their travel to save what may be a considerable amount of money. We will give you a common example. In our area, we do a great many school field trips. In most cases the teachers who call in for the quotations are requesting trips almost exclusively for Fridays. Friday is always our busiest day of the week and the date seemingly every other school wants to go as well. Despite the fact that availability is already limited, there is no room to discount rates because we have other clients who will pay full rate just to be able to travel on that busy day. Beside the fact that Fridays are generally marked up anyway. When a teacher can move a field trip from a Friday to a Monday for example, we have more leeway to consider a discount. The bonus is that the venue is usually less crowded as well. In some cases, this adjustment can net as much as 25% off of normal rates! Another consideration for money savings is to pay for the driver's room on a multi-day trip. Typically the bus company will build this cost into the charter, but the group is always able to pay for this themselves. In some cases the hotel will provide the driver's room for free. In other cases the group can at least get the same discounted rate for the driver. This is typically not a huge savings, but every little bit helps. There are many other ways to save, but the point we are trying to make is that it never hurts to ask. Don't be afraid to ask your representative or the person quoting the trip for you if there is a way that you can save money on the charter bus portion of the trip. A great company will always look for ways to help their clients (even if they're not getting the business). After all, if they get you the best deal or solve your problem, they can retain your business at the same time. It's a WINN-WINN for everyone!

As our larger cities become increasingly busy, groups often overlook local travel options once they've arrived. While every city is unique, New York City and Washington D.C. serve as excellent examples where it's often more efficient to plan your visit around walkable areas. The time spent waiting for a bus (since they can't park and wait), loading, and navigating through traffic and red lights can often be longer than simply walking. Walking offers the flexibility to stop and explore interesting sights along the way, provides great exercise, and can be a significant time-saver. This is why we're seeing more groups now planning their days accordingly. For instance, on a recent trip to New York, a group traveling with us planned their first day in Midtown. They were dropped off at Rockefeller Center for lunch and a tour, then walked to Radio City Music Hall and Times Square. They had dinner at The Hard Rock Cafe, with all locations within walking distance. This allowed them to maintain their own schedule without being limited by the motorcoach. The same applies to Washington D.C. The National Mall area is very walkable, and you'll often discover things you wouldn't typically see from a vehicle. Additionally, a significant benefit of walking is the cost savings. Motorcoach companies always account for extra driver time, fuel, and parking. However, if they can park and pick up at the end of the day, it could save you a couple of hundred dollars or more. So, the next time you're planning a trip to a heavily populated metropolitan area, consider walking. It's a smart way to get around efficiently, get some exercise, and save money in the process!