Perhaps you never thought you would need to type “charter bus rental service” into a search engine. That is, until you started planning that out-of-town corporate event and started wondering about transportation for all of the employees. Of course the option of taking individual cars is always there, but it is actually much better for the environment to take one large bus rather than 30 cars (even compact cars).
Transportation for corporate events isn’t the only time when a charter bus comes in handy. There are tons of reasons to look into charter bus rental, including school trips, wedding transportation, corporate event and guided tour groups. Trust us when we say that the time to rent a charter bus will come around sooner or later. When that time does come, here are a few tips that will help you choose the right rental service.
Amenities are Everything
One of the main purposes of hiring a charter bus company is to kick back and relax while you enjoy the ride. This can only be accomplished if the charter bus you rent has the proper amenities. Air con is obviously a must, as are comfy seats and a restroom on board.
But think of the other necessary amenities that will make the ride more enjoyable. This includes things like seats that actually recline, TV screens and DVD players throughout the bus, and you can even rent buses that have an onboard wireless internet connection.
Allowance of Food and Beverages on the Bus
Almost every charter bus these days allows you to bring your own food and beverages. However, it is still a good idea to check with the rental company beforehand. Ask about the specifics as well – chances are you won’t be able to bring booze onboard, but you never know unless you ask.
Just remember as you dig into that yummy homemade tuna salad that you need to be respectful. The bus is and everything within it (except your own personal belongings) is someone else’s property, so you need to treat it as such.
Consider Storage Space
Almost all charter buses have plenty of storage space for the luggage of 50+ passengers, but once again this is something you should check into. If you are renting the bus for a weeklong trip rather than a weekend getaway, then you’ll need quite a bit of storage space on the bus. Make sure ahead of time that this won’t be an issue.
Look into Safety Records
The safety of the passengers should be the first priority of the rental company and its drivers. The driver literally has the lives of 50+ passengers in his/her hands, so it is your job to check into the company’s value on road safety and traffic laws. The top companies will conduct annual motor vehicle records of their employees to ensure they have only the safest drivers on their payroll. They’ll also require drivers to attend safety meetings at least once a month.
