Fly or Drive? How to Decide.

You’re dreaming of a trip to a fantastic destination packed with performances and activities that your students will remember for the rest of their lives. But chances are, you haven’t spent much time thinking HOW you’ll get there – right? Transportation may not be the first item on your mind when you’re thinking through all the amazing things your group will do on tour, but deciding how you’ll arrive at your group’s destination is an important piece of the trip planning puzzle – and one we’re ready to help with.

For some trips, it’s obvious which mode of transportation you’ll choose – you’re not going to board a bus bound for Paris! But for many trips, the answer is a little less clear when you consider distance, cost and logistics. So today we’ll talk through the possibilities:

Driving

When most people think of a “band trip,” they envision a bus full of students bound for exciting performances. And for many groups, this traditional option makes the most sense, especially if the distance between the school and travel destination isn’t too far. But the motorcoach industry has experienced many changes in recent years, making longer trips more challenging:

• The industry is currently experiencing a driver shortage, creating a supply and demand issue with booking bus travel. There simply aren’t as many companies, busses or drivers available as there once were.
• Safety regulations have changed regarding overnight travel. Updated standards require drivers to drive in shifts, meaning overnight trips require multiple driver changes. Due to this change, most companies aren’t offering overnight bus travel anymore or charge higher prices.

Bottom Line: If you’re traveling within a smaller distance, driving can make the most sense.

Flying

Many groups have never considered flying, but we’re seeing more groups take to the skies than ever before. Here are some reasons why:

• Time – If your group only has five days to pack in as many incredible experiences as possible, you may not want to waste a full day or two of travel on the road. Flying saves precious time, allowing groups to maximize their days on tour.
• Cost – With supply and demand issues in the motorcoach industry, driving has become much more expensive than it was in the past. Flying may allow your group to maximize your time on tour, saving money on the meals and lodging that come with the extra travel days that a bus trip might require.
• Convenience – Flying can be much more streamlined than driving, as motorcoach regulations now require driver shift swaps and other changes. Since our team at BRT handles all the details when it comes to transportation, in many ways flying has become more convenient than driving.

Bottom Line: Flying is a great option and should be considered for any kind of trip, as prices and logistics for driving have changed so dramatically.

Regardless of which mode of transportation you choose, we handle every last detail of your trip, making it possible for you and your students to travel worry-free. To learn more about all the travel possibilities you can explore with your student performers, reach out – we can’t wait to hear from you.