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10 Things to Know Before Chartering a Coach
- 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.
- Kraftours
has a nationally recognized maintenance program.
- Kraftours
is a member of the United Motorcoach Association. UMA membership
makes available services and maintenance for Kraftours equipment
nationwide.
- Kraftours
is proud to be insured by Lancer
Insurance Company, the premier bus insurance
provider in the U.S.
- Customers
are welcome and encouraged to visit our facilities and review
our equipment.
- The
deposit to book a bus is $100. Your deposit and charter
contract confirm your trip.
- Drivers
cannot drive more than 10 hours followed by 8 consecutive
hours off-duty.
- 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.
-
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 their profit.
- 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.
All motorcoach
companies are not alike:
When
deciding which company
to choose, remember that safety and comfort can be affected by many mechanical
components, driver training procedures and management systems, which can't
easily be see.
If the price you receive from
one operator is significantly or surprisingly lower than others
in the community, it may be because that company is saving
money through poor or inadequate preventative maintenance procedures.
Don't risk heartache to save a couple of
bucks!
Follow these guidelines and remember that safety
is a reputable company's first priority.
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Frequently
Asked Questions when chartering a coach.
Kraftours
Coach Features
Seating
Kraftours operates both 47 and 55 passenger coaches. Charter
rates are based on the seating size of the coach not the number
of passengers in your group. You may choose to hire a coach
with fewer than the maximum number of passengers. The price
is the same. However, the more passengers in the coach the lower
the cost per person.
Small Groups Need Big Buses
In most cases,
smaller buses cost the same, or almost the same as a full
sized coach, but lack all the conveniences, like a lavatory,
or underfloor baggage space.
Think about it:
The driver costs the same, the fuel costs the same, the
insurance costs the same, but with smaller buses, you may
not get the value and comfort as with a full-sized coach.
Why pay the same for less?
Other Features
All Kraftours Coaches
-
Coaches
can be fitted with tables for a small fee.
-
Other
features, amenities and services are available. Call our
office with your needs
How soon do I need to reserve?
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.
How can I pay?
We
accept checks and money orders provided we receive them at least one week prior
to the trip date. The rate quoted for all service is the
cash/check/money order price. We also accept MasterCard, or Visa with a
modest processing fee. We only
accept cash payments in person at our Tulsa offices located at
located at 4500 S. 102 E Ave.
When is the final payment due?
Your deposit ensures that you have a bus for the date that
you want. Final payment is due 14 days before departure.
Sales Tax:
There is no sales tax when chartering a coach.
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, or we can arrange this for you. The hotel will not likely volunteer a room
for the driver without someone asking.
On some long, one-day trips, when the group is occupied, as
at an amusement park for many hours, a driver's room may be
needed in order that the driver be well rested and safe to
drive the return trip, often late at night. These
accommodations are also the responsibility of the traveling
party.
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.
Tipping:
Gratuities for the driver and escort are NOT
included in tour pricing or charter quotes. Everyone
appreciates being recognized
for a job well done. Your generosity, what ever you decide,
will be greatly appreciated. Kraftours believes
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 as
does the restaurant industry.
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.
Driver Hours:
For every 10 hours of driving, or 15 hours of stand-by time,
Federal law requires 8 consecutive hours of rest for drivers. 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 stay within Federal guidelines.
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 driver?
No, our insurance policy only allows Kraftours coach drivers
to operate our coaches. This is what differentiates a
charter from a bus rental. Charters provide total
transportation services, not just a vehicle.