Make the Smart Move. GoMotorcoach!

Sep 23

SAFETY – WHY IT MATTERS

Most people will assume that the company they travel with is safe. Let’s face it, someone in an office with an education has hired this person to be in this position of driver, right? We mindlessly jump into a taxi, bus, airplane without thinking about the credentials of the person who is ultimately responsible for our lives during the time of our ride.

The internet is a great tool when it comes to checking into the safety record of a transportation company. One search on Google can provide you with a wealth of information – both good and bad.

Start with the source. The company’s website should provide you with a ton of information regarding their services, vehicles, maintenance and safety training. Reputable companies love to brag about their safety records. They should also have a link to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website (FMCSA) which rates each company and shows any accidents or violations.

Next, check out the company’s social media pages. See if they have any complaints and how they handled them. Did they ignore it or respond? Do you feel satisfied with the response? Are they we represented and do they seem to match your group? For instance, if you are looking for corporate transportation for an upcoming convention, and the company you are looking to hire only shows party buses on their social media sites, you may want to think twice about hiring them.

Lastly, ask around. Nothing is better than word of mouth. Do you know anyone who has used the company before? How was the experience? How did the drivers act? Were they kind, knowledgeable and professional?

Before you hop on a bus, plane or taxi – do a little research – it could save you some headaches in the end – and maybe your life!

Sep 11

Must-Have Trip Essentials

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

Getting ready for a trip is almost as fun as going. Everyone has those essentials, things they can’t live without, even for a few days. We have taken the liberty to put together a short list of items that every road trip must not be without!

1. SNACKS

Snacks are a must for any good road trip, and there are many ways that groups go about planning their snacks. Some groups plan a snack pot-luck. Group members each bring a different treat to share so that everyone can enjoy. Other groups like to create a snack theme to go along with their trip destination. Even more groups have an “every man (woman or kid) for themselves” where you eat what you bring and trading with your seat mate is an option only if you both agree it’s a good trade. No matter how your group decides to handle the snacks we know they are a must-have.

2. ENTERTAINMENT

Every good bus trip needs good movies and music. Ever get excited to watch a movie on a long plane ride only to be disappointed that you can’t see the tiny video monitor five rows ahead? This won’t happen on a motorcoach. New coaches offer large, flat screen monitors, making viewing easy. Pass the popcorn – it’s time for the show to start! Do you need any ideas on what movies to show? Check out our list of great group movies HERE for ideas.

Music is also a necessity for any great bus ride. It’s easy to lose yourself in thought while looking out the windows and listening to your favorite music. We have created a great playlist for your next motorcoacch trip. Click HERE to check it out!

3. CAMERA

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Snapping a few photos and telling your story are a great way to keep the trip going long after you return home. With a camera on every cell phone, it’s easy to edit and share pictures all along the way. Make sure you let people know where you were, why this was a great photo opp. and any other important details you can think of. Don’t forget to take a few good selfies as well!

Although it’s important to take lots of great photos, don’t forget to look up once in a while and just see things with your eyes. Create photos in your mind. This is an important part of the travel experience!

Incorporating these few must have items to your trip will not only help make it a success, but also a memory to last a lifetime. Happy Travels!!

Aug 22

Fantastic Fall Foliage!

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

Spring isn’t the only time for new beginnings! Autumn boasts many changes, including the beginning of a new school year, football season, and of course the beautifully colored leaves.

We are blessed in the United States with an abundance of beautiful places to see the view the fall foliage. From sea to shining sea, here are a few of our favorite locations for your groups to view the changing leaves!

North:
Wisconsin: Door County boasts over 300 miles of shoreline has it all when it comes to fall beauty. Lake Michigan, miles of hiking, biking and great views of the leaves.

East:
Vermont: Vermont’s Route 100 is a major north-south route, winding its way from Stamford to Newport. The farther north you travel, the less crowded you will find it, leaving you and the leaves with peace and beauty.

West:
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon: With breathtaking scenery year-round, adding in fall colors is the icing on the cake. You will have beautiful views by following either I-84 or the old Historic Columbia River Highway.

South:
Ellijay, Georgia: Located 80 miles north of Atlanta on the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Celebrate fall in the Apple Capitol of Georgia with 10 apple orchards.

An easy, affordable and enjoyable way to see all of these sites is by motorcoach. Motorcoaches offer panoramic views of the landscape, without worrying about directions. Many companies offer tours during the fall season that highlight their specific geographic areas. Call your locate motorcoach operators for details and tour information.

Jul 22

Two Must-Haves for Itineraries

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

A good itinerary has two things. First and foremost, addresses for the driver. If your group is traveling to a large city, there may be multiple hotels with the same name. Having addresses for the driver saves time, questions and headaches for everyone on the trip.

The second is activities that appeal to everyone. Sound impossible? It isn’t. With a little research and pre-planning, even the pickiest group can have a great travel experience!

One way you can help make everyone – no matter what their age or interests – excited about the itinerary is to have multiple choices. You could have two to three different activities planned at the same time. Participants would be able to choose what activities they wanted attend, making it easy for everyone to have a good time.

Here are some great ideas of multiple choice activities:

Shopping
Brewery Tour
Historical Site visit
Museum tour
Zoo trip
Winery Tour
Concert
Go Kart Racing
Ropes Course
Cooking class
Craft class

The list can go on and on. You dream it, you can add it to an itinerary if it’s available in the area you plan on traveling! Ask members of your group for ideas of what they may want.

On a trip to Atlanta, GA, our group planner had an array of stops planned – both to and from our destination. We had groups who went whitewater rafting, one group stopped at a race track, and we all enjoyed visiting the Coca-Cola museum. It was a fun trip, with lots of activities to choose from and that made it special.

Planning a large group trip may seem like an impossible task. Don’t fret! Ask your motorcoach sales associate for help! He or she is an expert at group travel and chances are, your group isn’t the first to travel to that destination. Your sales representative may have lots of ideas and area knowledge and can help plan your itinerary.

Jul 10

Chartering a Motorcoach 101

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

For most people, chartering a motorcoach isn’t an everyday task. Where do you begin looking and how do you know you are getting a good and reputable company?

There are many questions, and we will attempt to give you a little guidance and help you find a perfect fit for your group.

First, how do you begin? Many details may still be up in the air when you first start planning, but think about what you do know and start with that. For example: Let’s say your family is planning a large get-together in Chicago next spring. Your group has between 30-40 people who plan to travel together and stay at the same hotel. Your group will need shuttling to and from group activities for the three days during the event. You know the dates, the hotel and the number of passengers. That’s a pretty great start.

Next you will want to begin looking for a motorcoach company in the general area you are coming from. There are many great charter bus directories like BusRates.com who can help narrow down the search, and give you a bit of information on the companies in that area. Keep in mind the amenities your group may want. Is having a restroom on board important? Will you need Wi-Fi? What about outlets? Websites like BusRates.com have that information available, making it quick and easy to narrow down the results.

Choose a couple of companies to contact and CALL them. Although it’s easier to fill out their online quote request, you will get a better feel for a company in general by calling and speaking to a sales representative. You are under no obligation to book at that time, but a good sales rep can give you pointers and tips you may not have thought of. He or she does this everyday and can help guide you through the process.

At the end of the day, it’s really quite simple. You do a little research to find a coach company. They help you the rest of the way, leaving you to have a fun, relaxing travel experience.

Jun 26

Ahhhh, Summer!

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

There is no better way to celebrate summer and our nations birthday than a road trip to some unusual All American places, with friend/family, on a motorcoach.

This great nation of ours is home to thousands of great travel destinations that would make a memorable vacation for any group. Below you will find our Top 5 Places You May Not Have Thought Of As A Summer Destination list. Enjoy! #GoMotorcoach

5. Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska. Many have heard of England’s Stonehenge, but have you heard of Carhenge? Thirty-eight, gray spray painted cars placed as a life size replica of the ancient formation. Created by artist Jim Reinders in 1987, Carhenge now boasts 80,000 visitors per year. It’s free to the public and open year round.

4. The World’s Largest Twine Ball in Darwin, Minnesota. In 1950, Francis Johnson began winding twine for 4 hours per day until the he passed away in 1989. What resulted was a 17,400 pound ball of twine that was nearly 40 feet in diameter. Darwin, MN celebrates each August with its Twine Ball Festival in which visitors can create their very own twine balls. The attraction is open year round and free to the public.

3. The Desert of Maine in Freeport, Maine. Enjoy camping, hiking and a tram tour of Maine’s very own Sahara-like desert. Scientist believe that a glacier left this 300-acre stretch of sand, that was buried for centuries, until poor farming techniques exposed it in the 1800’s. The park is open May through October with admission cost of less than $10 per guest.

2. Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida. For over thirty years, Ed Leedskalnin carved his castle out of solid coral, using only basic hand tools. Leedskalnin who was only 5 feet tall and weighed 100 lbs. worked mostly during the night, to prevent prying eyes from seeing his creations. The castle consists of over 1000 tons of coral and has a 9 ton revolving gate.

1. Marfa Lights in Marfa, Texas. On clear nights, onlookers can oooh and ahhh over the mysterious lights that appear over the Mitchell Flats. Scientists have yet to explain why the light phenomenon happens. Some say the lights are car lights and others say they are alien spaceships or ghosts. Whatever they are, each Labor Day, Marfa celebrates the lights with the three-day Marfa Lights Festival. Enjoy music, food, craft and art vendors and a night parade during the festival.

May 28

The Summer Road Trip.

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

Nothing says summer more than a road trip. There is something about the good old American road trip that’s romantic to us. Perhaps it’s the memories of us as children, piled in the back of our parent’s station wagon with no seat belts on, and if/when it was your turn to sit backwards you felt like the king of the road! Perhaps you were traveling with a group of family or friends, each of you in your own vehicles, driving for hours and only getting to meet and visit at a road-side gas station during bathroom breaks while your Dads fueled their vehicles. After the break, you would hop into your own car, and wait to chat until the next break time.

Fast forward to 2014 where you don’t have to wait until someone has to gas up or relieve themselves to talk to each other. When you choose to use a motorcoach, instead of separate cars, everyone can travel together, the whole time! Not only do you save time and money, but you save wear and tear on your individual vehicles.

Today’s motorcoaches are designed with your group travel in mind. They have plush amenities, including Wi-Fi on board and outlets. No more running into the gas station and begging for an outlet to charge up your dead cell phone. No more using your data plan up on the first day of the trip. We have you covered!

Here is the best part: You tell us what you want to do, where you want to go and what you want to see, we do the rest. Motorcoach companies are well versed in travel and can help groups of all sizes get tickets, hotels and meals all lined up – and if they can’t, they know who can.

Summer is almost here, don’t wait to plan that fun group getaway, call your local motorcoach company and begin planning your epic summer vacation today! Go Motorcoach and leave the driving to us!

May 13

Top Movies to Watch on your next Charter Bus Trip.

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

Nothing says road trip, like an awesome iPod playlist (stay tuned) and great movies to watch while on the motorcoach. Young and old alike can enjoy these great feature films.

1. The Muppet Movie: Nobody does a road trip like Jim Henson’s Muppets. Music, mayhem and all kinds of silliness, this classic movie is fun for the entire family.

2. Dumb and Dumber: Clearly not the smartest film on the list, but if you can keep a straight face as Lloyd and Harry bumble through America in their dog-shaped “shaggin’ wagon”, you need to pull over and have your funny sensor checked.

3. RV: Who says you can’t road trip and work at the same time? This hilarious movie starring Robin Williams will leave you laughing all the way to your destination – let’s just hope you leave your bus in better shape than they leave their RV.

4. Disney’s Frozen: The newest hit movie from the Disney company, the film tells the story of a fearless princess who sets off on an epic journey alongside a rugged, thrill-seeking mountain man, his loyal pet reindeer, and a hapless snowman to find her estranged sister, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

5. National Lampoon’s Vacation: Need we say more? Wanting to spend more time with his wife Ellen and their children, Clark Griswold decides to lead the family on a cross-country expedition from Chicago to the Los Angeles amusement park Walley World, billed as “America’s Favorite Family Fun Park”.

6. Rudy: What’s better than a feel good, sports movie where the underdog wins? Not. Much. That’s why Rudy earned a spot on our list. It is an account of the life of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles.

7. Princess Bride: This classic movie has everything. True love, sword fighting, giants, comedy, torture, screaming eels and a beautiful princess.

8. Finding Nemo: It tells the story of the over-protective clown fish named Marlin who, along with his friend, Dory search for his abducted son Nemo all the way to Sydney Harbor. Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and let Nemo take care of himself.

9. Mary Poppins: Disney at its best. The film, which combines live-action and animation, stars Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who visits a dysfunctional family in London and employs her unique brand of lifestyle to improve the family’s dynamic.

10. Tommy Boy: Knock, Knock…”Housekeeping, you need towel?” This movie is not only fun to watch, but you will be quoting it the rest of your trip. Chris Farley and David Spade make a great team when they join up to save the Tommy’s family’s factory.

Apr 22

Green Group Travel: It’s Easy Being Green!

Posted by admin | Blog | No Comments

There is a benefit to traveling with a group. Private rooms in restaurants, special behind-the-scenes tours only available to groups, and awesome experiences with friends just to name a few, but did you know that when your group travels by motorcoach, you are also being green?

That’s right! Today’s motorcoaches are the greenest, most efficient mode of ground transportation available – and it’s not close!

One full sized motorcoach removes up to 57 single passenger cars off our already crowded highways. That single motorcoach is 475% more efficient than a hybrid vehicle in regards to the amount of fuel used per passenger. That same coach provides over 206 passenger miles per gallon of fuel compared to 92 MPG for commuter rail, 44 MPG for air travel and 27 MPG to single passenger cars.

Not convinced? A single passenger car emits up to 400 pounds of CO2 per four hour trip –a motorcoach on the same trip only emits approximately 150 pounds. Now that’s GREEN!

Motorcoach companies nationwide are excited and proud to be the greenest transportation option for group travel. If your group is interested in going green, a motorocoach is the best choice.

« Previous Entries

Next Entries »

bus

Recent Posts

Motorcoach or Bus?

Picking a Safe Operator

Find an Operator Near You