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Nov 10
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Holiday Shopping Made Easy!

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TeenHolidayShoppingHave you ever thought to yourself “Man, I wish I had more room in my car so that I could fit XYZ gift in it.”  OR, “It would be so cool if I could go to ABC Mall, but I am unsure of the way and I don’t have anyone to join me.”

Have you ever thought of joining a shopping tour?  Many motorcoach companies around the country offer shopping tours during the holiday season.  For a small fee, passengers can enjoy worry-free transportation to and from a very large, very awesome shopping destination.  The best part?  No space limitations!  That’s right!  You can literally shop ’til you drop and don’t have to worry about getting all those packages, boxes and bags on board!

  • What else can you expect?
  • Coupon books with loads of savings!
  • Some tour operators provide lunch for the group.
  • Multiple stops – including specialty boutiques.
  • Holiday light tours.

The list is endless!  Contact your local motorcoach company today and ask them what shopping trips they have available!  You might wonder, why you have never done this before!

Oct 30
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Ghosts, Goblins & More!

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ghostHalloween is the perfect time to experience a haunted tour.  Across the country, motorcoach tour companies are offering up this once in a lifetime (or past lifetime…) experience for you and your friends.  Below are a few of our favorite tours to consider.

  • LaZoom, Haunted Comedy Bus Tour (Asheville, NC): ‘Get on the Bus’ after dark and explore Asheville’s strange and sordid past with LaZoom.   Laugh and scream along as your adventurous tour guide uncovers mysteries, tells tales of murder, deceit, scandals, and ghosts, spilling Asheville’s blood right before your very eyes.
  • Ursula Bielski’s Chicago Hauntings Tours (Chicago, IL) Chicago Hauntings offers fully narrated, historically based ghost and paranormal tours to haunted spots throughout Chicago – some of our most common stops include murder sites, disaster sites, a serial killer’s body dump, gang sites, haunted houses, and abandoned graveyards. Passengers get off the bus to look for ghosts several times per tour – and sometimes they find them!
  • Banjo Billy’s Bus Tours (Boulder, CO): Banjo Billy’s gives history tours of Boulder and Denver, as well as brewery tours in Denver, from an old school bus tricked out to look like a traveling hillbilly shack.  Hear ghost tales, crime stories, and history while sitting on a couch, recliner or saddle as the bus rolls through the core of the cities.  You won’t forget this bus tour!
  • Gray Line Tours (New Orleans, LA): New Orleans has been referred to as “The most haunted city in America.” After this tour, we’ll let you be the judge! You’ll visit several haunted sites and hear about the stories featured on The History Channel and The Discovery Channel. Hear ghostly stories about our haunted hotels and the courthouse where our state supreme court is based. We even visit a former slave exchange. Each guide has researched these “other spirits” of the Vieux Carre, so no two tours are exactly alike.
Sep 11
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Must-Have Trip Essentials

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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.  SNACKsnackS

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.setra

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

cameraThey 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 11
0

Road-Trip Ultimate Playlist – 20 Songs to add to your trip!

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Every good journey deserves a great playlist to go along with it.  Each time you hear one of these songs, you will be reminded of the good times you had on your trip with your friends.  Below you will find a collection of music that will bring your group closer, keep your memories fresh and have everyone dancing and singing along!nTXk7aMTB

1. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson

2.  I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

3.  Holiday – Madonna

4.  Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz

5.  Life Is A Highway – Rascal Flatts

6.  Come Away With Me – Norah Jones

7.  Kokomo – The Beach Boys

8.  Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen

9.  (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles – The Proclaimers

10.  Runnin’ Down A Dream – Tom Petty

11.  Drive My Car – The Beatles

12.  No Sleep ’til Brooklyn – The Beastie Boys

13.  Country Road – James Taylor

14.  Closer to Fine – Indigo Girls

15.  Crazy – Gnarls Barkley

16.  Everyday Is A Winding Road – Sheryl Crow

17.  End Of The Line – Traveling Wilburys

18.  Shake It Out – Florence & the Machine

19.  We Gotta Get Out of This Place – The Animals

20.  Traveling Band – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Jul 22
0

Two Must-Haves for Itineraries

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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:

  • ShoppingGroups-and-Parties-Red-Kart
  • 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.

Jun 26
0

Ahhhh, Summer!

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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.

carhenge

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.

coral-castle-22.  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.

Jun 16
1

Don’t Overlook One Important Detail!

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Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that it’s a HUGE undertaking.  Once a simple and fast tradition has turned into a multi-day, big, expensive extravaganza.  In 2014, we have more media and ideas coming at us than ever.  Wedding websites show us all of the new and latest must-haves at our ceremonies and sites like Pinterest make the weddings of our dreams seem like a DIY reality.

With so many things to check off the to-do lists, don’t forget about one very important, usually overlooked part of the day: shuttling your guests between the ceremony, the reception and the hotel.  It may seem like a small detail, but it could make all the difference.  Your guests won’t have to worry about directions, travel time, getting a DUI ticket or worse.

According to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) website:

                “In 2012, 10,322 people were killed and approximately 345,000 were injured. Each crash, each death, each injury impacts not only the person in the crash, but family, friends, classmates, coworkers and more.  Even those who have not been directly touched help pay the $132 billion yearly price tag of drunk driving.”

It’s easy to eliminate the risk of drunk driving all together when you hire a motorcoach company to take care of you and your guests on your wedding day.  Let’s face it, that day is stressful enough.  Take the guess work out of finding a sober, confident driver and enjoy your day.

Motorcoaches come in so many sizes, it’s easy to customize to your specific needs.  Coach companies today have a wide variety of vehicles in their fleets from old fashioned trolleys to large, executive style motorcoaches.  Each company is different and fleet details vary, so make sure you ask questions when talking to your sales associate.

May 13
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Top Movies to Watch on your next Charter Bus Trip.

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2013-04-25 16.17.25Nothing 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
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Green Group Travel: It’s Easy Being Green!

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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?Kermitbanjorainbow

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.

 

Mar 19
0

Lasting Memories

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There are so many reasons to travel, so many places to see and experience, but I think that going together, with a group is the most memorable way to get there.

I remember in high school, our band and choir did a combined end of the year tour. We took two motorcoaches loaded down with band instruments, music stands and luggage. The buses were full of my excited band and choir mates, our teachers and a few parent chaperons.

What I remember most about that trip, is the laughter. I know what you are thinking – high school girls laugh at everything, and you are right to some degree, but this was different. It was like we are all in it together, the jocks, the nerds, the band geeks, the populars. All clique boundaries were thrown to the side for a few days and together we were on those buses making memories.

For me, it’s been over 20 years since that music tour and my high school friends and I still laugh about the things that we said or did on that trip. It’s funny how long something like that will stay with you. Yes, traveling by plane is faster for the most part, but can you make pit stops along the way and see places you might never have thought of? Traveling by plane is also less personable and comfortable. When you travel by motorcoach you get to know your driver, and he/she becomes part of your group.

The driver of our bus was named Chuck, and he loved racing. Because Chuck was such an awesome guy, we decided to make a pit stop in Indianapolis and tour the race track. Our group purchased him a shirt and I remember he was moved to tears because he was so touched that we thought so highly of him. Can you blame us? This man was sent out on a four of five day trip with a bunch of crazy high schoolers. I think a shirt was the least we could do for him!

Motorcoach trips = lasting memories, and that’s why I think group travel is better by bus.