Factors that Determine Bus Hire Rates
Planning a bachelor party, corporate event, or just planning a day trip with friends. How do you know what the bus hire rate will be as each requirement has its own attributes.
To make things easier for you, listed below are some factors that you need to keep in mind when planning on hiring a bus.
- Distance and Duration
Plan you trip so you understand the distance you need the bus to travel , which ideally means you need to know your pick up address and your destination address.
Bus hires are quoted by the hour, day, or kilometre depending on the distance of your trip. Normally, a 4 hour minimum is required, travelling locally is often priced by the hour, while long distance excursions are calculated per day or kilometre.
Note: Keep in mind like Airtravel changing dates, times and destinations will incur a cost, so planning is extremely important.
2. The Season
Like any other mode of travel , bus hire seasons are also something to keep in mind and as always , the earlier you book the better the deal. The laws of supply and demand affect all travel.
May, June, and July are the most expensive months for bus hires due to the end of school terms, graduations, family reunions, holiday, and more. Rates also tend to increase during public holidays, such as Christmas, New Years, and more. January, February, and August are slower and the least expensive months to hire a bus due to less demand.
- Your Pickup Location
Larger cities or cities that do not have much in the way of bus hire company choices, are always subject to higher prices. So if your pick up location falls under this category you can expect higher costs.
Keep in mind that if you’re planning on getting picked up in a different city than where the bus hire is originally based, you will be expected to pay for the extra cost for additional kilometres. Avoid any deadhead costs by renting a bus from a company that’s close to your desired starting location.
- The Type of Bus
There is a wide variety of bus hires to choose from, so it’s important to choose the best one for your group to ensure you’re not paying for additional seats or amenities you don’t need. For example, smaller groups will benefit using a minibus, while full-sized coaches are better for larger groups because they can fill up every seat.
If your group has 35 passengers or less, a minibus will be the perfect fit for you. Instead of spending an additional $100-$300 on a full-sized coach with empty seats, a compact minibus is the best way to save some money.
- Your Driver
With AECT, all bus hires are provided with a licensed, qualified and experienced driver.
If your excursion exceeds the regulated time, you are required to pay for a second driver. While your rate will increase, you and your driver’s safety will be the priority.
If your trip spans overnight, you are expected to cover the cost of your driver’s hotel. We suggest booking a room in a hotel with a 3-star rating or more to ensure complete comfort and good rest for a safe trip. A well-rested driver is an alert and focused driver and could you save you a ton of grief should anything go wrong along the way and the driver is not full rested
- Additional Travel Fees Along the Way
When planning your trip, be sure to research any additional costs on your intended route, such as toll roads, parking permits, and other transport fees. Most bus hire providers won’t cover additional costs outside the quote. Make sure to ask your reservation specialist about any specific policies, and always call any hotels or venues ahead of time to inquire about parking permits and specifications on coach parking.
At Australian East Coast Tours, we cater to bus hire requirements for all kinds of occasions, Theme park visits, weddings, retirement home day trips, corporate events, school excursion, church trip, sporting function, or more. Call us to see how we can help you with your bus hire!