What you are going to find is that a bus charter service can be a great way for you and a group of people to easy travel together. One of the main reasons is the fact that you are going to find that this approach is considered one of the top choices is the fact that it is a cost effective solution. Of course, there are other reasons why some people will choose a bus service over venturing out alone.

Another consideration that people will make for this is the fact that the process of traveling long distances on ground can be exhausting. If you are going to take this route, the bus charter service is going to provide you with the chance to relax more during the trip, while a professional driver ensures that you get to your destination safely.

More importantly, there will never be a concern about people getting lost as everyone gets on and off the bus as they are accounted for. In addition to that, with a reduction in the cars being used for travel, everyone can reach a central point at the same time.

While you are considering a bus service, you will also want to note the fact that these companies tend to have less issues on the road as well. The reason is that they do hire professional drivers who have been trained for a number of different scenarios.

This helps to ensure that you do end up having a good experience when you are out traveling. In addition to that, you will find that the bus you end up renting is going to be well maintained as well. In fact, most of the companies are going to have a very strict approach that is taken to ensuring that their vehicles remain in the utmost condition as well.

During this time, you are also going to find that the more people you take with you, the cheaper your overall fares are going to be. That means if you fill the buses provided by the bus charter service, it will be far less expensive than some of the other options that are going to be out there. That will be an important factor for you to consider as you are looking over all the different options that you have.

Remember, the goal here is to find a safe and cost effective approach to all your traveling needs. Just make sure that when you are selecting any of these companies that you do focus on quality above anything else.

That is going to help to ensure that you are provided with an effective choice that will meet your needs and get everyone safely to their final destination in the process. After all, you might find that an ineffective bus charter service can take your vacation and turn it from a relaxing experience and make it one you wish would end.

Top Tips for Successful Luxury Bus Business Trip

It’s not unusual to find a company that has hired a coach to take its employees to a seminar, conference or simple social event but who have subsequently been disappointed with the results.

Here we’ll examine some of the common causes and their solutions.

Poor turnout / response to invitation

This is a commonly expressed frustration in many organising departments.

Ignoring mechanical causes (such as poor communication of the “we weren’t told” variety or insufficient notice) this is often attributable to:

• low morale in the company;
• a lack of interest in the event concerned;
• conflicting priorities (your event has been scheduled at a time which clashes with other things).

There is no easy answer to this and simply making attendance mandatory isn’t likely to be the answer. You may need to analyse the causes in more detail.

Dissatisfaction with the quality of transport

In the 21st century, professional people expect corporate transport to be modern and comfortable.

If an “old banger” of a coach arrives at the outset, then already your session is in trouble due to creating the wrong impression.

Be prepared to spend a little money here to get a comfortable limo bus.

Impacting personal lives

Today, most people expect and demand a professional / personal life balance.

So, anticipate dissatisfaction and disgruntled attendees if they’ve had to get up at 4am to make your planned departure time and/or they won’t be getting back home until the early hours of the morning.

A luxury coach might help alleviate some of this through comfort during the journey but it won’t, in itself, be the solution.

Impacting professional lives

On a similar theme to the above, asking people to get back very late to their homes, while expecting them to be back in the office at 8am and firing on all cylinders, is likely to be a recipe for ill-feeling.

Provide or arrange for refreshments

If people have been asked to get up unusually early and been on a coach for some time, then it’s really good psychology to provide (or stop for) some refreshments.

A little caffeine and a calories boost can ensure people arrive at the destination eager to get started rather than tired, jaded and looking for reasons to complain.

Railroading

Ideally, your corporate event should be so desirable by its very nature that your colleagues should be fighting for the chance to participate.

Only use “attendance is mandatory” approaches as an absolute last resort, as touched on earlier.

If you see a lack of interest and voluntary participation, something is wrong and a re-think is required. People typically don’t respond well to being forced to attend company events.

Relate to the wider world

Remember that a corporate event will be seen by many against a much broader backdrop of the wider business world you share with your colleagues.

So, expect a very negative reception for (e.g.) a company team-building exercise held at an expensive external venue, if just a few days before the company has announced major ancillary benefits cuts for employees due to the prevailing economic circumstances.

Day Trip to the Grenadines

There is no place further removed from the stress of every day life than a sail boat trip through the Grenadines. This archipelago of over 600 islands and cays, stretching from St. Vincent in the north to Grenada in the south, is still largely unspoiled by development.

We recently joined several of our great friends, along with several now new dear friends, aboard the sailing vessel Flagship under the command of legendary Captain Roger Bagga. Along with the ever-efficient first mate, Coastman, and the aptly named galley mate Angel (pronounced Ahn-jel) whose delicious fare is still a topic of discussion amongst our group, we were well looked after for the entire day.

Our party of ten left Barbados via a private plane for the 100 mile, 50 minute flight to Union Island (population 3000) which is located at the Southern end of the Grenadines island chain. The plane flies at a mere 10,000 feet providing breathtaking photo ops from the window.

Known as the crossroads of the Grenadines, the air strip at Union Island’s tiny airport is a thrill seekers delight when the plane swoops around a high rocky crag before descending roller coaster style onto the sometimes goat maintained runway.

Clearing immigration and Customs is a “hello and welcome to “Union Island”. We were taken on a 2 minute motorized tram (think Fantasy Island without Tattoo) ride to the dock for a warm greeting by Captain Bagga —- Bagga or Roger to his friends —- and champagne on ice. We breakfast on freshly baked banana, mango and coconut breads, local fruit and juices, with tea and coffee.

My good mate hears the champagne calling and barely two Bucks Fizz to our UK hosts, or Mimosas to the Americans, later the Flagship is under sail towards our first destination, Mayreau. Settling in on the spacious deck under a sky streaked with rainbows, there is Happy Island off the port side, a you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it man made island.

Local legend has it that a determined fellow named Shanti spent well over a year dumping palm fronds, rocks, conch shells and boat load upon tiny boatload of sand in order to create his own little untaxed piece of paradise. Beer and rum is sold daily to passing watercraft assuming Shanti has decided to open that particular day for business.

Mayreau and its Salt Whistle Bay is our first anchor. There is not much there save for a small 10 room inn called Salt Whistle Club and sailing yachts flying flags from around the world. The Salt Whistle Club is owned by the Canadian Potter family who some 30 years ago decided everyday concerns like wearing shoes, traffic, and the concept of hurry should be options rather than requirements.

250 residents inhabit this island with no general electricity, a single, unnamed village and, only 2 or 3 motor vehicles depending on who is telling the story. After a refreshing swim to shore and a brief tour of the 1 ½ square mile island, we signal Flagship that it’s time for a ride back to the boat in Coastman’s launch. One of our guests thought she saw what vaguely resembled the Professor and Mary Ann but we attributed her bemusing notion to Captain Bagga’s rum punch.

Several local Hairoun beers later, we set sail for the Tobago Cays, passing along the way a magnificent five- masted, 42 sail goliath of a sailing vessel, the Star Clipper’s Royal Clipper which originates in Barbados and other islands for trips throughout the Caribbean.

The Royal Clipper has the proud distinction of being the largest and only five-masted sailing ship built since her predecessor, Preussen, was launched at the beginning of the last century.

Flagship slices lazily into the channel of the Tobago Cays for a much anticipated lunch. Protected by a horseshoe shaped reef nearly 5 miles long, this is a place you already sense that you don’t want to leave. The inviting white sand and crystal clear waters are a snorkeler’s heaven.

A feeling of sun-drugged hypnosis prevails that is strangely calming. Visions of quitting everything and making this the escape you’ve always wanted gives way to yet another ice cold beverage from the reliable Coastman.

Lunch is announced and today’s epicurean feast includes fresh local spiny lobster, West Indian style spicy barbequed chicken and dolphin marinated in herbs and spices alongside breadfruit and plantains, accompanied by a delicious assortment of fresh salads, breads and fruits. Captain Bagga took the launch over to a nearby deserted islet and grilled the still moving crustaceans himself.

Several wonderful bottles of white burgundy made it all the more special. With sybaritic glee, we dig in to the sumptuous lunch display while anchored just off Petit Tabac. We are so close that you could almost hear Captain Jack Sparrow bellowing from the Black Pearl. Alas, no sightings of either Johnny or Keira. Petit Tabac was the setting for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

And there is a reason why St Vincent and the Grenadines was chosen as the surroundings send the senses reeling, pinging the mind searching for just the right description of the water’s color….blue topaz, no, aqua marine, maybe powder blue…If you cannot relax here you most certainly need a maximum dose of statins. This is the raw Caribbean without re-touched photos or cruise ship soldiers invading a different port each day.

After lunch, our group decides to pay a visit to Mopion. Almost an editorial cartoon caricature in real life, we set foot on what looks like a sand bar in the middle of the sea with its one man made palm tree. Not a bad location to be marooned for the day if the company is right.

You can hear Tom Hanks… WILSON! WILSON! Mopion is made up of the most incredible “soft sand” which more than one visitor has commented that it should be bottled and sold on some late night infomercial as a miracle elixir.

Really; grab a handful of the sand at the water’s edge and exfoliate to your heart’s delight while standing atop this tiny dollop of sand surrounded by gently lapping surf breaking over the protective reef..

Time seems to have passed slowly. After enjoying our afternoon tea onboard it was time to head back to Union Island for the return trip to Barbados.

There was no need to rush: it was our plane after all, and although we passed through a metal detector for security, the informal and friendly inspection is performed with one for the road, er, sky in hand. And we were number 1 and the only 1 for takeoff.

It was an uneventful trip back to Bim, or The Rock, as locals refer to Barbados. During the short flight, we exchanged cameras to view and comment on the digital images, usually to spontaneous laughter, promising to email one another the downloaded files.

Our pre-arranged mini coach was waiting for us curbside outside the arrivals hall. It was over. A great day, with great company. It is often said amongst the locals, that the worst Caribbean day is the best day in the rest of the world. We wholeheartedly agree.