When many of us think about going on a trip, we often think of driving to our destination, flying if it’s a particularly long journey, or maybe, if we’re feeling adventurous, taking a train. While any of these can be good options for a trip, a chartered bus or charter bus tours has several advantages over all of them. Charter bus tours, and buses in general, certainly aren’t a new phenomenon. With horse drawn buses being used as early as the 1820s, yellow school buses appearing in 1939, and the 24 bus route in London remaining unchanged from Hampstead Heath to Pimlico since 1910, we’ve all used a bus at one time or another. However, charter bus tours are still an often overlooked mode of transportation that can be ideal for any large group. Here are just a few reasons you might want to think about chartering a bus for your next road trip.

If you are attempting to organize a large road trip with multiple cars, it can all easily devolve into chaos. Car caravans consisting of even two or three cars can quickly turn into logistical nightmares, regardless of how much planning and organization you do. Even if you think you’ve got a clever system of walkie-talkies worked out to help you stay in touch, something always comes up that will throw a wrench into even the most meticulously planned caravan. With charter bus tours, you don’t have to worry about organizing several vehicles, as most coach charter buses can hold up to 50 or 60 people.

With rising gas prices, many people try to stay away from automobile based travel for their trips. Perhaps opting for a plane or train instead, thinking they could save a few bucks. However, chartering a bus is almost always cheaper than a car, plane, or train. Airlines have been steadily raising their prices with the cost of gas, and booking a large block of seats might raise rates even further. However, with a charter bus tour, you may pay a flat fee, or be charged by the mile. Depending on how long your trip is, one of these option could be more expensive, so check with your companies rate policies before you charter your bus.

Now, one might think that the relative inexpensiveness of charter bus tours might at least have the disadvantage of being less environmentally friendly. After all, a bus is a large vehicle that uses a lot fuel. However, buses are more eco-friendly than any other form of motorized transportation. And recently there has been a growing interest in buses powered by alternative fuels, such as hybrid electric buses, fuel cell buses, electric buses, and buses powered by compressed natural gas or bio-diesel. But even buses powered by good old fashioned gas use less energy per passenger than trains, cars, or planes.
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