Practical Tip: Two-Hour Drive
Most day trips are going to involve some time on a motorcoach, but nobody signs up for an activity like this because they’re looking forward to the ride. Try to keep your day trips to within a two-hour drive of your home base. Any longer than that will begin to feel tedious, especially at the end of the day, when tired travelers must endure a long ride home.
Practical Tip: Hours of Service
To offer as much value as possible, you might be tempted to pack a day-trip itinerary tight, with an early-morning departure and a late-night return. Before you get too far, though, check your proposed itinerary with your transportation provider. Federal hours of service rules limit the amount of time a driver can be on duty, even if they aren’t driving the whole time, and you may need to adjust your plans to conform to these regulations.
Practical Tip: Avoid Traffic
Nothing can torpedo a day trip quite like a traffic jam. Traffic is the bane of life in big cities, and if your itinerary calls for departing from or traveling to a metro area, you would be wise to account for traffic in your planning. It’s best to plan travel so you’re not on the road during the crush of morning and evening rush hours. If you simply can’t avoid these times, make sure you build enough travel time into the itinerary to account for the traffic.
Practical Tip: Onboard Hospitality
Since your group will be spending some time on the motorcoach for a day trip, most likely in the morning and the evening, consider adding some touches of hospitality to make that time more enjoyable. Come to the departure with coffee and pastries for everyone as they board the bus, and stock a couple of coolers and baskets with soft drinks and snacks. If your group enjoys beer or wine, offer some for the ride home.
Practical Tip: Create Community
One of the best aspects of group travel is that it creates a sense of community among participants. It can be difficult to create that same environment on a day trip, though, when there isn’t much time for people to get to know one another. So be intentional about helping people make connections. Make a point of having a conversation with everyone in the group, and try to introduce people who don’t know each other but may have common interests.
