Sending kids on a field trip is something that most teachers do regularly in school. Field trips serve to build team spirit, strengthen teacher-student connections, and make classes more enjoyable. It is critical to plan everything ahead of time and select an appropriate mode of school trip transportation.
Student bus rentals are a great way to keep your entire group together in one vehicle, boosting school spirit and encouraging budding friendships. When renting a school bus for a field trip, the primary considerations are comfort, ease of travel, and, most importantly, the protection of children. Hiring a charter bus for a field trip is a fantastic option, and here’s a quick rundown of things to consider.
Types of Bus
Here are the most commonly rented types of buses for school trips:
Coach Bus
The coach bus, often known as a “motor coach,” provides a variety of modern and, sometimes luxurious, features not seen in other bus rental alternatives. These amenities include air conditioning, power and AUX plugs, and high-speed WIFI. The coach bus has seating for up to 55 people and is ideal for transporting large groups of people over long distances. This is especially useful for student trips lasting more than 3 hours since they can use the extra hour or two on the journey to study or simply relax and watch a movie.
Minibus
Minibus rentals are suitable for smaller student groups travelling short distances or making frequent stops. The minibus is a very small vehicle that is built for efficiency and fuel economy. This vehicle, which has a configuration similar to that of a full-size school bus, can accommodate up to 21 people at a time. Due to their tiny size, minibus rentals are good for traversing congested cities, making them an excellent choice for sightseeing excursions.
School Bus
The school bus is a traditional rental choice for student groups of various sizes, from K-12 to college students. This vehicle has a capacity of 47 passengers and is ideal for short trips. The school bus is the most basic of bus types, having only the absolute minimum of features to securely and reliably transport your group from point A to point B. School bus rentals are meant to keep expenses low, providing a cost-effective choice for all of your student group’s outings.
Benefits of Renting School Bus
Convenient
Even the most seasoned teachers find dealing with a large group of children outside of a closed school atmosphere difficult. If your pupils are becoming concerned as a result of the ride’s inconvenience, the turmoil is going to explode.
Hiring modern coach buses for school trips eliminates this issue. You get soft and comfy seats, plenty of room for everyone, and exciting and lovely views out the windows. Almost every modern charter bus now includes a range of amenities. The most vital is a built-in toilet. Motion sickness is aggravating for anybody, but it’s especially so for children. If your bus has a toilet, you won’t need to make an emergency stop.
Trustworthy
When it comes to transportation, there are a lot of unpleasant circumstances that might cause you to miss your flight or even spoil your entire trip. The safety of children is, of course, the most important consideration. When planning field excursions, always use a professional bus company to reduce the danger of any kind of mishap.
Charter bus drivers are trained professionals, ensuring the safety and overall quality of the bus ride. Drivers arrive on the job well-prepared, with a thorough understanding of the route they will drive and the present road situation.
Clean and Hygienic
One child can make a mess, and a full class can make a disaster. This is why professional charter bus operators clean and disinfect their buses regularly to ensure that there is no risk to the passengers’ health, particularly children.
With COVID-19 tightened cleaning rules, bus companies for school field trips go above and beyond in cleaning their vehicles, so you can rest assured that the bus you’re about to board is spotless and safe for your children.
Enjoyable
Having a charter bus for a school trip just adds to the relaxed atmosphere and pleasant times with your peers during a school field trip. There’s plenty of time for youngsters to have a good time on the journey there and back. The trip will be remembered for its smooth ride and spectacular scenery.
Tips for Renting a School Bus Service
Charter buses for school trips can make your journey a little easier, whether you’re travelling with a school group or a summer camp. Here’s a list of useful tips to bear in mind when renting a school bus:
Look into your bus options
A school bus is a common and convenient mode of transportation for children, and it can be effective for short travels. Long-distance journeys or outings with hours of traffic can rapidly become uncomfortable. Consider renting a modern coach to keep the kids entertained and comfortable.
The size of your party will usually determine which type of charter bus is suitable for your group of children. Minibuses have fewer storage possibilities and do not have onboard facilities, so keep that in mind while choosing your bus model. If you’re travelling long distances and have little children who might require a potty break in the middle of the journey, a full-size charter bus might be a better option.
Think about safety and mobility requirements
While school buses are a safe and reliable mode of transportation, charter buses may provide both comfort and safety. Some charter bus models, like school buses, do not have seat belts. However, if you’re travelling with children and safety belts are a must-have item, let your reservation specialist know when making your reservation. Accessible transportation for persons with disabilities regulations can also be reserved to safely assist guests who are unable to transfer from mobility equipment.
Request amenities
Charter bus rentals can have several features that make travelling with children less stressful. To keep kids occupied and prevent the dreaded “we’re bored!” exclamations, you can select entertainment alternatives like WiFi and TVs with DVD players. To occupy young children, play a movie or allow older children to stream their favourite media on their mobile devices.
Inquire about your driver
If you have a large and rowdy group, you may want to choose a driver who has expertise in driving around kids. It’s best if you can find a driver who has special certificates or permissions required by your local government or school board, has passed a comprehensive background check, and has passed a drug test.
Consider your travel dates and locations
The availability of charter buses varies based on when and where you want to travel. The busiest seasons for parties travelling with children are spring and summer, which can cause charter bus availability to decline and rates to climb. During these busy seasons, you’ll want to stay on top of securing school field trip transportation. To ensure that you get the best sort of bus for your field trip, start the booking procedure at least 6 months ahead of time.
Plan ahead of time for payment
Although regular credit card payment is straightforward, reserving bus services may occasionally require purchase orders, contracts, or other documentation. Make sure to inform your reservation agent of alternative payment methods. Because processing these payments might take some time, plan your field trip or kid-friendly event as far ahead as possible.
Field trips play an important role in fostering school spirit. Parkinson Coach Lines is a reliable source of group transportation for educators and students alike. Call us at (905) 451-4776 to reserve your school bus in Toronto!