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Jan 20
0

Who Needs A Treat?

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Every great adventure requires great snacks.  Everybody has their favorites, some being healthier than others, but with so many snacks out there, it’s difficult to choose just one.  Here are a few of our favorites!

Salty:

Potato chips are always a good snack.  Quick and easy, tasty and crunchy, they will give your taste buds exactly what they are asking for.  With literally hundreds of flavors to choose from, you can be assured that this snack is one that everyone will enjoy.

Most motor coaches have DVD systems with multiple television screens for playing movies.  What goes well with movies?  Popcorn!  Popcorn is a snack that is not only delicious, it’s cheap!  Pop some at home in the microwave before you leave and Voilà!  You have a yummy, inexpensive, filling snack to go!

Trail mixes offer something for everyone.  Most mixes include nuts, dried berries and chocolate or yogurt candies.  Be aware of other travelers who may have nut allergies.

Sweet:

Fruit is “natures candy.”  It’s easy to pack and filled with good fiber that will keep hungry travelers feeling fuller longer.  Fruit is a great go-to snack that anyone can feel good about indulging in!

If your sweet tooth needs a bit more than an apple, you can always choose candy.  Yep, we went there and although we don’t recommend gorging yourself on candy, a few pieces here and there won’t hurt.  Whether you enjoy chocolate candies or fruity ones, there are plenty to choose from.

Traveling by motorcoach is a great experience and the snacks you choose will only add to that goodness!

Jan 08
0

How To Find Group Friendly Hotels

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Hotel RoomFinding a hotel is easier than ever these days when you consider all of the technology we have at our fingertips.  Gone are the days of calling a travel agent and taking their word for it that you are getting a great deal at a great property.

Now you can read reviews, compare locations, amenities and room details.  Everything you need to make an informed decision is available – but why is it still so difficult?

Choosing a hotel for a large group is very different from choosing a hotel for an individual or family.  One has to think of all the group members wants and needs.  Some members may be elderly and need main floor rooms or access to elevators, some group members may be young and require some kind of entertainment like a pool or game room.  All group members will need to eat at some point – will the hotel offer breakfast or does it have a restaurant on site or nearby?

Remember three keys when choosing a hotel for your group: Location, Amenities & Group Friendliness.  If you keep these at the forefront of your mind – you will be in good shape!

One site we found that makes selecting a hotel easy is BusRates.com.  It’s not your typical directory site.  The team at BusRates has personally made connections with group sales leaders at many hotels throughout the nation.  This not only give you an advantage over the typical directory one-price-fits-all sites, it gives you a real, live human being to speak to.  A person who is on property and can give your group the individualized attention it deserves.

The site doesn’t stop there!  It has tons of attractions, events and restaurants they have determined are group friendly – and have the knowledge and ability to properly take care of large and small groups.  It’s basically a one-stop group-travel-planning stop!

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.

Jul 10
1

Chartering a Motorcoach 101

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family4For 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
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.

May 28
0

The Summer Road Trip.

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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!

Aug 05
0

WiFi Onboard!

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Many of the new model motorcoaches have wi-fi on board which can make your travel time more productive and comfortable! Make the Smart Move and climb aboard!

Aug 05
0

Family Reunions… Re-imagined!

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One of the biggest challenges with any large family reunion is often transportation. How do you move that many people around town? How do you get from the restaurant to the hotels? How do you all get to spend time together without spending your days stuck in traffic all sitting in separate rental cars? Motorcoach companies understand family reunions and we know that transportation can be the difference between an extraordinary event and just another few vacation days wasted. You see, reunions are better on a motorcoach because we provide movies for the kids, quiet space for the adults to connect, even Wifi, power outlets, restrooms and plenty of room to separate those brothers who just have never really gotten along. Call us today and let us help you put your family reunion in the fast lane to fun!