Charter Bus Types 101

We understand that many of our customers do not use charter buses frequently and have little knowledge of the many charter bus options available to them.  Therefore, we are bringing you a series of short posts about different bus types.  We will go in depth about the types of sizes, models, and brands that are in the industry so you can find the perfect bus for your group.

Each bus has its own particular uses for different types of trips and groups.  As the charter bus experts, The BusBank wants to make sure we are giving you, our customers, a good base of knowledge to understand what types of buses there are and how they fit your group trip or event.

The first type that we will be discussing is the mini coach (or mini bus).  Next, we will describe the standard deluxe motorcoach. To wrap up the series, we will go into luxury coaches such as executive and entertainer coaches.

After reading each of these posts, you will have a bit more information on the many charter bus options available to you. We hope that this will help you better understand ground transportation.  Please feel free to reach out to us with questions at getaquote@busbank.com.

NASA Space Field Trip!

There are few things that will astound your students more than a trip to NASA. Besides offering free year-round field trips, the NASA Glenn Visitor Center will give your students the opportunity to learn about a variety of space related topics, including: the personal lives of astronauts, the inter-workings of the solar system, the International Space Station, and much, much more!

Here’s why a trip to NASA definitely needs to be on your list for this year’s field trips:

• The Visitor Center auditorium offers plenty of interactive presentations. Who needs boring lectures, anyways?

• There’s a scavenger hunt. Field trip groups of all sizes have the option of participating in a scavenger hunt throughout the exhibit area! Just make sure to plan this ahead of time so that the Visitor Center is prepared.

• NASA provides teaching material for students and teachers alike. There’s handouts for the kids and supplemental lessons for instructors.

• Specialized programs are available for various grade levels and age groups.
  • Kindergarten – 2nd Grade: “Living in Space”. Kids learn the basics of day-today astronaut life.
  • 3rd Grade – 4th Grade: “Planets”. Students are introduced to the solar system and learn about the differences and distanced between the planets.
  • 5th Grade – 6th Grade: “Principles of Flight”. Upper elementary grades learn about airplane flight through models and flight exhibits.
  • 7th Grade – 12th Grade: “International Space Station”. Middle and high school students learn about life on the space station as well as the findings of space station astronauts.

Don’t let travel stress get you down! Charter Bus Rentals are the the most cost-efficient and professional way to travel. Contact an account executive to plan your NASA travel itinerary according to your group’s specific needs.

BusBank Presents – 2011 Chicago Summer Festivals

When summertime hits the Windy City comes alive. Chicago summer festivals are some of the best in the nation, and if you’ve never experienced one, then it’s time to start planning! Not sure which warm-weather fest is up your alley? Check out these top picks:

• Taste of Chicago – June 24th – July 3. It’s the most scrumptious feast in the Midwest. Over 50 restaurants (including Eli’s Cheesecake and the Billy Goat Tavern & Grill) offer signature dishes at this 10 day Chicago festival. Music groups perform and theatrical troupes entertain. And of course there’s food galore.

• Gold Coast Art Festival – July 9th – 10th. Art lovers across the nation congregate to view works from over 450 artists from around the world. This year, the festival takes place in Butler Field and Grant Park and features food vendors and live music.

• Lollapalooza – August 5th – 7th. The best musical acts in the world all gather for this extended weekend festival. This year goes above and beyond with talent like Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Muse, Foo Fighters, Eminem, Green Day, and more.

• Chicago Air and Water Show – August 20th – 21st. You’ll wanna bring your sunglasses and binoculars for this one. It’s the oldest show of its kind and features U.S Airforce Thunderbirds, The Golden Knights, and the U.S. Army Parachute Team. Plus, the whole show is free!

• Chicago Jazz Festival – September 2nd – 4th. For over 30 years, the Chicago Jazz Festival has drawn talent from local and international musicians. This year, the festival will take place in both Grant Park and the Chicago Cultural Center and will feature headliner Nicole Mitchell as the festival’s artist in residence.

Group transportation to Chicago is a cinch. Contact The BusBank to learn how Charter Bus Rentals are the most cost-efficient and reliable way to travel!

Visit Anaheim, CA

This one’s for all those west of the Mississippi… (and those that realize it’s worth the drive, no matter where you live).

Craving some some face-time with Mickey Mouse or Minnie? If transportation costs to Florida’s Disney World rival airline tickets to Japan, then you may be better off heading to Mickey’s western stomping grounds. Head to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

Hankering to watch some live baseball, but a little far from New York or Boston? No sweat. Head to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.

And, as if you needed more convincing, here’s why Anaheim, CA is a top business and pleasure destination for young and old alike:

Anaheim, CA…

• …is home to the Anaheim Convention Center – a state of the art facility known for hosting the Winter NAMM Show, BlizzCon, and the Anime Expo.
• …features the Honda Center – an indoor sports arena that is home to the NHL Anaheim Ducks. The Honda Center is also known for holding World Wrestling Entertainment events.
• …includes the City National Grove of Anaheim – a live music venue that has featured artists such as Panic! at the Disco, Rob Zombie, The Fab Four, Marilyn Manson, and Paramore.
• …boasts the Disneyland resort – a world renowned resort known for the Disneyland Park and the Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland resort also contains the Downtown Disney District – an area with outdoor dining, shopping, and entertainment (including ESPN Zone and House of Blues).
• …features the Angel Stadium of Anaheim – known as “The Big A”, the Angel Stadium of Anaheim hosted the 1967, 1989, and 2010 MLB All-Star Games.
• …is home to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League Baseball Team – winner of the 2002 World Series Championship

The BusBank’s Charter Bus Rentals are the best hassle-free solution for all your group travel needs. Cost-efficient. Professional Service. Reliable drivers. Contact an account executive to plan your Anaheim trip itinerary today!

The BusBank Presents: Seattle Space Needle & Boeing Factory

Seattle is calling! Mountain views, gorgeous waterfronts, and a breathtaking cityscape draw tourists and corporate travelers from near and far. If you haven’t experienced summer in the Emerald City, then it’s time to pack your bags and head west! And of course, no trip to Seattle is complete without a stop at the Space Needle. While you’re planning your trip itinerary, check out these top ten fun facts about the Seattle Space Needle:

• The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair.
• It cost 4.5 million dollars to build.
• The design of the Space Needle was meant to reflect America’s ongoing outer space endeavors (although conspiracy theorists maintain that it’s purpose is to communicate with aliens…).
• The Space Needle is 650 high, 138 feet wide, and weighs approximately 9,550 tons.
• It can withstand winds up to 200 mph.
• Renovations on the Space Needle cost 20 million.
• At the top, the Space Needle contains a revolving restaurant.
• The Space Needle’s first manager was terrified of heights.
• Originally, plans for the Space Needle included nesting spots for storks at the very top of the structure. It was soon discovered, however, that storks would not nest at the top of the needle, since storks dislike Seattle weather.
• It is one of the top tourist destinations in Seattle and is one of the most widely recognized landmarks in the U.S.

Group travel to see the Space Needle is easy. Just contact The BusBank to learn how Charter Bus Rentals are the most cost-efficient and stress-free way to travel!

Customer Feedback!

The BusBank appreciates its customer and the feedback, stories and photos from your charter bus experiences.  This information is invaluable to us providing quality service to you as customers.

The BusBank prides itself on our high level of service and delivering The BusBank Difference.  Now in order to make this process easier for you as customers, we have a couple different places that you can reach us in addition to your account executives or by calling us at (866)-428-7226.

We love to see and hear about all of our customer’s travels.  Below are places that you can easily provide feedback, stories, and photos to us.

• Feedback@busbank.com is an e-mail address that you can send over your trip experiences, testimonials, and photos.
• If you have a Google account:  Our Google Place Page is a place that you can go to place a review of your trip experience.
• You can also reach out to us via our Twitter account Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm.
• Facebook is a place that we welcome you to place your photos of your trip as well.

We look forward to seeing and hearing all about your charters!

Charter Bus Availability Limited This Summer

Motorcoach travel is on the rebound this summer as the economy recovers.  This is great for cities and towns across the country, as it brings people closer to the sights and sounds that North America has to offer.  In recent months, The BusBank has received an increase in requests from customers looking for charter buses.  In addition, we have heard from many of our bus operator partners that they are beginning to sell out for key travel weekends.

Some reasons for the decrease in charter bus availability:

• Rising Gas Prices have made driving multiple cars less affordable than in the past. Gathering a group of friends to travel in a deluxe motorcoach together becomes a very cost effective method of travel.
• Airlines have “nickel and dimed” many customers with baggage fees, flight change costs and other charges that have made it a less affordable option.  These charges are not present when chartering a bus.
• Many motor coach operators have greatly reduced their fleet size or moved to doing more contract bus shuttle runs. This has lowered the number of buses available to customers.

All of these factors have added to making it important to book your charter bus earlier than past years.  We want to ensure that we have the right equipment available to your group. If you have an upcoming trip, don’t hesitate to Get A Quote today!