You may not have previously thought of it, but charter buses are an excellent way to easily and reliably travel in groups. Charter buses can be used for work-related outings, personal outings, or planned tours. Think about the hassles involved in getting a large group together and planning the travel arrangements. Perhaps the destination is a few hours away or there will be plenty of drinking involved. Charter buses can be the perfect solution.

Without charter buses on a group event, there is always the issue of how you are going to get everyone to the event in a timely and organized fashion. Anytime there are more than two or three cars involved you have to worry about caravanning, travel time, and others getting lost. With a charter bus, you all are together on the same vehicle, arriving on time, together. The use of a charter bus transportation service can be a real stress reliever.

When considering any particular charter bus transportation service for your next group event, always check their credentials of the company. It is required that all charter bus drivers be completely licensed and regulated to ensure the safety of all passengers. Feel free to check the safety record of the charter bus service against its competitors. You cannot afford to hire a charter bus transportation service that has a poor safety rating or has no credentials.

Another important factor to consider when hiring a charter bus company is to check out what they offer. Many such companies offer point-to-point bus services to and from almost any location you wish. Still others will allow for multiple pick-up and drop-off locations. These services often depend on the particular contract agreement you choose. Different charter bus companies use different bus models, so it is also wise to check out the amenities offered on each bus. Perhaps there are reclining seats, bathrooms, reading lights, and carry-on storage bins. It is important that you check for all of this.

Before you book any reservations with any charter bus transportation service, make a list of questions to be answered. Never sign up right away with the first bus service you deal with – it is best to do a little comparison shopping and go into the negotiations as an informed consumer. This is an ideal plan for any kind of shopping, not just charter buses.

When considering a charter bus company, you will definitely want to ask the following questions:

? What are your passenger capabilities?
? How many vehicles do you have and what kind?
? Are you licensed? Are you insured?
? Is a damage deposit required?
? Can you accommodate people with special needs?
? Are there any additional fees?
? How long have you been operating?
? What is your cancellation policy?
? Is there a mileage limitation?

Always be sure to ask these questions upfront so that you are not surprised later on. Getting charter buses instead of driving several cars to any event is economical, fun, and safe!

BY TRAIN

All trains depart from Hualamphong Station except the twice – daily service to Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi, and a couple of the Hua Hin trains, which leave form Bangkok Noi Station (also refered to as Thonburi Station). The “Information” booth at Hualamphong station keeps English language timetables, or you can try the State Railway of Thailand website (www.srt.motc.go.th) carries and English – language timetable and fare chart for major destinations. Tickets for overnight trains and other busy routes should be booked at least a day in advance (or at least a week in advance for travel on national holidays), and are best bought from Hualamphong. The clued-up English-speaking staff at VC Travel and Tour on the mezzanine floor of the station concourse (daily 5am – 8pm), above Coffee Bucks, sell all types of rail tickets at no commission, and can also book discounted mid-range accommodation at your destination. Alternatively, during normal office hours you can buy rail tickets from the clearly sighed State Railway advance booking office at the back of the station concourse (daily 8.30am-4pm).

BY BUS

Bangkok’ three main bus terminals are distributed around the outskirts of town. Leave plenty of time to get to the bus terminals, especially if setting off from Banglamphu, from where you need at least an hour and a half (outside rush hour) to get to the Eastern Bus Terminal, and a good hour to get to the Northern or Southern terminals. Seats on regular long-distance bused don’t need to be booked in advance, but air-conditioned ones should be reserved ahead of time either at the relevant bus station or through hotels and guest houses. Agencies sometimes provide transport to the bus station for an additional charge.
The Northern Bus Terminal or Sathaanii Mo Chit (departure info for both air-con and regular services) is the departure point for a few buses to the east-coast destination of Pattaya, Chanthaburi and Trat, through there are more regular services Thanon Kamphaeng Phet 2, near Chatuchak Weekend Market in the for north of the city; the fastest way to get there is to take the BTS Sky-train to its northernmost terminus, Mo Chit on Thanon Phaholyothin, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the bus terminal. Alternatively, you can take several city buses to Mo Chit, metered taxi and Tuk Tuk.
The Eastern Bus Terminal, or Sathaanii Ekamai, at Thanon Sukhumvit Soi 40, serves east-coast destinations such as Pattaya, Ban Phe (for Ko Samet) and Trat (for Ko Change). The Sky-train stops right by the bus terminal at Ekamai station, as do city buses, metered taxi and Tuk Tuk.
The Southern Bus Terminal, or Sathaanii Sai Tai Mai is at the junction of Thanon Borom Ratchonni and the Nakhon Chaisri Highway, west of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi. If handles departures to all points south of the capital, including Hua Hin, Chumphon (for Ko Tao), Surat Thani (for Ko Samui), Phuket and Krabi (for Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta), as well as departures for destinations west of Bangkok, such as Kanchanaburi, Regular and air-conditioned buses leave from different sections of the Southern Bus Terminal, and anyone there will be able to point you in the right direction for your bus. To get here, take city buses, metered taxi and Tuk Tuk.

BY AIR

Domestic flights should be booked as far in advance as possible, though tickets can be bought at the airport if available; the domestic departure tax is included in the price of the ticket. Thai Airways is the main domestic carrier and flies to over twenty major towns and cities; Bangkok Airways currently covers just a few routes from the capital, including Ko Samui, Ranong and Hua Hin. All domestic flights leave form Don Muang airport.

The fastest, most expensive way of getting to the airport is by metered taxi, which can cost anything depending on where you are and how bad the traffic is. If you leave the downtown areas before 7am you can get to the airport in half and hour, but at other times you should set off at least an hour before you have to check in.

Every guesthouse and travel agent in Banglamphu, and many hotels elsewhere in the city, can book you on to one of the private minibuses to the airport. Those running form Banglamphu depart approximately every hour, day and night, though you’ll get picked up from your accommodation, you should book yourself on to a minibus that leaves at least an hour and a half before check-in commences as it can take up to 45 minutes to pick up all passengers, after which there’s the traffic to contend with.

For more information

If you were lucky enough to be one of the children who rode the school bus to school each day, you probably weren’t even aware that others were envious. Kids who lived too close to catch the bus were often seen walking back and forth regardless of the weather.

Yet the children who did take the bus often complained about the noise, the size and the smell. School transportation has come a long way since the days of the standard yellow bus.

Today’s school transportation is varied and ranges from new, comfortable buses to full size vans. Depending on the number of students taking school transportation and the budget assigned to it, your child could be taking a more comfortable ride to school than you ever imagined possible.

One popular choice in the area of school transportation today is the full size van. These vans are equipped much like the family mini-van save for the fact that they can sit considerably more children. In some cases up to sixteen children can sit in a school van. These vans are normally driven by someone who has taken driving classes specific to the circumstances. They are equipped to deal with any emergencies that may arise.

Another form of school transportation today is charter buses. These are usually seen in some of the larger metropolitan areas. The buses are sent out when many children need to be picked up in a small area. There are too many students to fit on a traditional school bus so instead charter buses are hired. Again, the drivers are used to working with children so they are able to stay very focused on the task at hand while providing safe school transportation.

Old fashioned school buses have now been replaced with newer models that have important safety updates. Many schools now require that buses come equipped with seat belts. The children are instructed on how to safely use the belts and the driver makes it known that he or she will not proceed until every child is buckled in. This form of school transportation helps to remind the children of the safety of seat belts and also gives parents the peace of mind of knowing their child is going to get to class in one piece.

Regardless of how your child gets to school, you can be assured that the school transportation they are taking is just as safe as if you were to drive them there yourself.