Charter Services
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Charter Services |
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Let the fun begin! There are so many types of
charter trips we provide to We at Best Tours and Travel realize there are many details and specific needs of every group requiring personalized transportation services. You always have the option of having us plan your trip from beginning to end or you can do everything yourself exactly as you want it. With this in mind, we have created this comprehensive page to provide you with the tools necessary to create your quote and book your trip. To choose the type and size of luxury motorcoach for your charter, see our Motorcoach Fleet here. Best Tours and Travel's Charter department has over 30 years of experience conducting private charter services in the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico. We customize each charter to the customer's specifications. Best Tours and Travel has the most resources of any charter bus company in the area. If you have a very large group to transport, we are the ones to call. Our charter department can arrange a single day trip or a multi-day trip for conventions, vacations, and special events. Our charter department provides services to all types of groups, organizations, and businesses. Best Tours and Travel is completely School Pupil Activity Bus (SPAB) certified by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to provide transportation to public schools. We have an exceptional reputation for customer service, attention to detail, safety, reliability, and friendliness. Below is a partial list of the types of charters we routinely provide. This list is to provide you with an idea of the scope of our services, if your particular travel plan isn't included, don't fret, give us a call and we will be happy to help you.
Rates: There are many factors taken into consideration when creating a quotation for charter services. If the trip is going to be primarily driving with little stand-by time for the driver, a quotation based strictly on mileage may be used. If your charter is primarily a local shuttle with several hours of standby time, your quotation my be based strictly on hours. In most cases, a combination of hours and mileage is used to determine the quotation. We make every effort to be competitive and apply any applicable discounts that may apply. We do offer a 5% cash payment discount to all customers. We automatically include this discount in your quote, so if you plan to pay by credit card, please be sure to remove the discount and add 5% to your total quote. We also have generous discounts for booking more than one bus on either a single trip or on multiple dates. We also offer special discounts to non-profit groups, please consult with your charter professional for availability. Quoted rates generally do not include meals, lodging, or gratuities unless specifically added. Best Tours and Travel would be delighted to handle all of your needs in one complete package so you don't have to be concerned about any of the details. It is customary to tip the driver for a job well done. Gratuities are generally 10-15% or can be $2/passenger for extended trips. This gratuity can be paid in cash by the customer at the conclusion of the trip or can be added to the price of the charter. Trip Planning: There are many factors to take into consideration when planning a charter trip. Time management is crucial. Our team of experienced charter professionals are an excellent resource in completing the details. The more organized you are; the smoother your trip will be. To complete your charter booking, we require an itinerary. Your itinerary is an estimated time schedule so it is clear what your plans are and when we need to be available to you. We have provided a sample itinerary for your reference here. It is important to adhere to your itinerary as closely as possible. If your trip greatly exceeds your itinerary, you could be charged for the extra time. We do not charge groups for delays outside of their control such as driving conditions based on traffic and weather. Always plan to have your group ready early. There are always a few stragglers that are always fashionably late and that quickly undermines your schedule. We suggest being 30 minutes early and we routinely plan to have the bus at the pickup location 15 minutes prior to departure. It is also a good idea to provide your group members with a copy of our Travel Tips page so they can be prepared. You must also be sure to take into consideration the limitations on driver hours. The Federal and State government places on-duty hours restrictions on all drivers. Each driver can have a maximum of 16 hours of on-duty time then must be off for a FULL 8 hours before returning to the coach. Further restrictions apply to SPAB trips which only allow the driver to be on the road for no more than 10 hours during the 16 hour period. One of the more common mistakes made by travel planners is fitting their trip departure and return within 16 hours. You actually have less than 15 hours to work with. You must also take into consideration the time it takes for the driver to inspect the bus prior to leaving the yard and driving time to your pickup location. There is also the drive back to the bus yard, fueling time, and post-trip inspection time at the end. Pre-trip inspections, fueling, and post-trip inspections take approximately 1 hour. You will have to estimate each trip to the bus yard which is from the pickup/drop off location to the south city limits of Fresno and Freeway 99. We understand that changes occur and that your itinerary may need to be modified. Itinerary modifications may be made, but MUST be submitted to your travel professional IMMEDIATELY. We request that no itinerary changes be made 72 hours prior to the trip. You must also keep in mind that any itinerary changes you make that change date(s), time(s), hours of service, bus sizes, etc. may change the cost of your charter. If you try to change the date of your trip, we may not be able to accommodate your change if it is on a date we are sold out. Completing a Charter: In order to properly complete your charter arrangements, a telephone call or visit to our Fresno office is necessary. You should book your charter at least 45 days prior to the trip. We frequently have sold out dates during the month, so reserve your bus early! Beginning the process electronically from the website or Email is a great first step, but personal interaction is needed to complete the final details. Below is a comprehensive list of information to have ready when calling:
Amenities: It is extremely important to us that you have a safe and enjoyable charter experience. We want you to be comfortable and enjoy the ride. If your group wishes to have refreshments or snacks during the trip, you are welcome to bring them yourself or we can provide them for you at an extra charge. The only restriction we have is there can not be any glass or leaking containers, kegs, or items that would require extra cleaning. Below is a partial list of the items we routinely provide to our customers at their request. Please contact your charter professional if you have any special meal or snack needs. Prior arrangements must be made before alcoholic beverages can be brought aboard the coach.
Lodging: Charters that will require an overnight stay are common and require some additional coordination. The customer has the option of arranging their own hotel accommodations or having Best Tours and Travel do it for them using their world-wide relationships to get he best rate. It is also the customer's responsibility to provide appropriate private hotel lodging for the driver. Driver accommodations do not need to be at the same location as the group, but our policy does require it be within 10 miles of the group. Please keep in mind that lodging for the driver must be able to accommodate parking for a large motorcoach.
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various groups, it is difficult to list them all. If you want to treat
your group to a night on the town including a concert, we can do all of your
planning and have your reserved tickets ready. Our passengers have so many
fond memories of the great time they had on one of our trips. Best Tours
and Travel would be honored to do the same for you!