Bus Tours In Style

Perhaps you have never taken a bus tour or you havent taken one in many years. You may not be aware that the bus companies that offer bus tours also use a variety of buses or motorcoaches that serve as transport for the bus tours. It is not one size fits all. The fleets of bus companies that provide bus tours include large motorcoaches, small motorcoaches and everything in between.

The larger buses are constructed to hold from 30 to as many as 58 passengers. These models include all sorts of features from AM/FM radio and CD or cassettes to DVD players with as many as four to six video monitors. Of course, they are all fully air conditioned with climate control and some include as many as 38 speakers for the audio system. The seating is plush too. Many feature theater seating and reclining seats as well as tables you can play cards on and individual reading lamps.

The newer motorcoaches this size, like Country Coachs Intrigue 530, even include a standard 32-inch HDTV in the front overhead which can be worked by a universal remote. And it is also equipped with three-position passenger seats with four-way lumbar adjustments.

The 2009 Tribute 260 includes a Kenwood® AM/FM radio and CD player with two living room speakers. There is also a mini home theater system with DVD and 2.1 surround sound; 12 cubic feet two-way refrigerator with icemaker and stainless steel door; six-way power adjustable driver and passenger seats with three-point restraint and adjustable arms; and a Garmin GPS navigation system with XM Smart Antenna and color LCD touchscreen interface.

These coaches are also handicap friendly which includes wheelchair accessibility and the ability to accommodate two wheelchairs in the seating.

Coaches used by Yankee Line, for example, are equipped with individual headsets too as well as individual tray tables and GPS enabled map viewing on the passenger video screens.

If your group is larger than 58 and is more in the range of 84, then there are double decker buses. There are closed and open top variations and they also feature overhead reading lights and vents, and CD player system with 39 speakers.

Perhaps a motorcoach with the capacity of 30 to 58 or as many as 84 passengers is larger than you require for your bus tours. Then there are medium sized motorcoaches that accommodate 18 to 28 passengers. These motorcoaches include climate control, DVD and TV monitors, cellular phones, reclining seats and overhead reading lights.

Many of these models have extra wide seats and include a galley with refrigerator, coffee maker, serving counter and storage drawers. And they also have oak fold down tables. And some VIP coaches have three flat screen televisions; DVD and VHS system with surround sound; kitchen with microwave and dining facilities as well as two refrigerators and conference set up with tables.

You find that coaches that can accommodate 18 to 28 passengers are too large? Then there are smaller vehicles that accommodate eight to 13 passengers.

These motorcoaches come with AM/FM radio, CD and cassette audio systems as well as video capability which includes a DVD player and color television monitors. Each seat has an individual reading lamp and luggage compartments are above the seats and under the floor. Many also feature reclining seats and climate control and are wheelchair accessible.

Vans that are constructed to accommodate nine passengers, some constructed by Mercedes, are equipped with air conditioning and full stereo system. And there are mini buses like the one made by Ford that accommodates 20 passengers and features upholstered individual seating and full stereo system.

Then if you are concerned about the environment, some bus tours companies include hybrid coaches in their fleet. A hybrid commuter coach manufactured by MCI® for example uses the latest clean-diesel engine technology. It is constructed in a fashion that allows the passengers to sit high above the traffic in plush forward facing, high backed reclining seats. Each seat has its own LED reading lamp and overhead airflow control.

So not only is there a right style motorcoach to accommodate your groups size, there is a right style coach to accommodate the specific trip -- whether short or long. If your group is inclined to favor following the universitys football team to state-to-state away games or provide children a means of transportation to an overnight or day camp or provide a group of shoppers the right accommodations to visit area malls, there is a motorcoach that is styled, offers the appropriate features and include the proper amount of creature comforts.

Or if you are inclined to join bus tours that visit historic sights, provide transportation to an event with some stops at points of interests on the way, travel to cities in a tour within a region, and more then there is the proper motorcoach.

So when booking bus tours take into consideration the fleet of the bus companies you are researching. Ask them about their fleet. This way you are assured to get the proper match of vehicle to group/trip.