Top 10 Things to Know Before Chartering a Coach

1. Charters are priced by the hour for local use or by the mile for out-of-town trips averaging more than 150 miles per day.
2. Kraftours has a nationally recognized maintenance program.
3. Kraftours is a member of the United Motorcoach Association. UMA membership makes available services and maintenance for Kraftours equipment nationwide.
4. Kraftours is proud to be insured by Lancer Insurance Company, the premier bus insurance provider in the U.S.
5. Customers are welcome and encouraged to visit our facilities and review our equipment.
6. The deposit to book a bus is $100. Your deposit and charter contract confirm your trip.
7. Drivers cannot drive more than 10 hours followed by 8 consecutive hours off-duty.
8. In addition to a coach and driver, Kraftours can provide a complete travel program for your group. Call our office at one of the numbers listed above to speak with our travel professionals about the special needs of your group.
9. Many companies on the internet advertising charter coach services are brokers. Brokers do not own any equipment. Brokers add a percentage to arrange trips for you. Kraftours deals directly with the customer; there is no middle man adding to your cost. Brokers add as much as 38% to the total cost of the trip as a hidden fee for thier profit.
10. You can access D.O.T. records to verify a company's ownership, safety rating and insurance by visiting www.safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx.

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Frequently Asked Questions (when chartering a coach)
When is the final payment due?
Your deposit ensures that you have a bus for the date that you want. Final payment is due 10 days before departure.

How soon do I need to book?
Book your coach as soon as you know the date you want to travel. Certain times of the year are extremely busy for bus companies.
A note to group leaders: whenever a trip idea is first presented to a group, many people are interested and excited. By the time payment is due, fewer may be genuinely interested. The most successful practice is to request a deposit at the time a trip idea is introduced to your group. This is a good gauge of real group interest.

Sales Tax:
There is no sales tax when chartering a coach.

How can I pay for the charter?
We accept checks provided we receive them at least one week prior to the trip date. We also accept MasterCard, or Visa. We only accept cash payments in person at Tulsa offices located at located at 4500 S. 102 E Ave.

Tipping:
Gratuities for the driver and escort are NOT included in tour pricing or charter quotes. Kraftours belives tipping is at the discretion of the traveler and based on the level of service provided.
How much to tip Is a good question for which our industry doesn't have a standard like the restaurant industry has.

According to the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, for both domestic and international tours, gratuities range from $2 to $8 per person, per day, for a tour escort or guide and $1 to $5 per person, per day for the driver. CNN Money, Emily Post Institutes "Itty Bitty Guide to Tipping" and tipping.org, suggest on a one-day trip for both escort(guide) or driver 10%-20% of the cost of the tour and for extended trips $1-$10 per day.

Everyone appreciates being recognized for a job well done. Your generosity, what ever you decide, will be greatly appreciated.

Driver Hours:
For every 10 hours of driving, or 15 hours of stand-by time, Federal law requires 8 consecutive hours of rest. If you plan on driving over 10 hours, a driver change is required. Kraftours can provide multiple drivers for extended trips. We can also help you plan your trip to keep within Federal guidelines.

Parking, tolls and other fees:
Parking, tolls and other fees are included in your charter contract price.

Hotel room for the coach driver:
On overnight trips, the customer is responsible for the driver's room. Most hotels will provide a free room for the coach driver when a number of rooms is booked for a group. Ask for the group sales manager at the hotel to ensure the coach driver's room is provided. The hotel will not likely volunteer a room for the driver. Remember, Kraftours can also arrange your hotel accommodations and almost any other service your group might need.

Alcohol & smoking:
Kraftours coaches are smoke free, to provide a healthy environment for all our travelers. Alcohol is allowed on coaches within reason, drivers are authorized to take any necessary steps to ensure the safety of passengers.

Can we decorate the coaches?
Yes, we allow the coaches to be decorated within reason and safety guidelines. We ask that no adhesive be used due to paint damage. We can provide suggestions as to what decorations have worked nicely in the past.

I have a CDL License, can I charter a bus without a operator?
No, our insurance policy only allows Kraftours coach drivers to operate our coaches.

• 10 Hour Rule. The coach driver cannot drive more than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty (except in emergencies)
• 15 Hour Rule. After 15 hours on-duty (driving and non-driving tasks), a driver cannot continue driving until 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time have passed.
• 70 Hour Rule. On duty time cannot exceed 70 hours for any period of 8 consecutive days.
  http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/hos-2005.htm

• All Kraftours Coaches are restroom equipped.
• All Kraftours Coaches have reclining seats
• All Kraftours Coaches overhead baggage compartment
• All Kraftours Coaches have spacious under floor baggage compartments
• All Kraftours Coaches public address systems
• All Kraftours Coaches AM/FM stereo radio
• All Kraftours Coaches have video systems
• All Kraftours Coaches climate controlled heating and air conditioning
• Coaches can be fitted with tables for a small fee.
• Other features, amenities and services are available. Call our office with your needs.