Charter Bus vs. Amtrak: Planning Your Holiday Transportation

The hustle and bustle of traffic is going to get a lot crazier in the coming weeks. The holidays are nearly among us, and as a premiere Atlanta bus charter company, we know that means millions of people across the country are going to be buying tickets to visit their loved ones. Needless to say, making reservations now instead of later is highly recommended as there is no guarantee that you will have a seat, whether that is by bus, train or airplane. Speaking of which, if you have not already decided what mode of transportation to embark on, you may want to spend some time mulling over the options.

The answer is clear for very long-distance trips that require the shortest amount of commuting time. You can certainly go coast to coast in a few hours by way of air travel (just in time for holiday dinner), but it will cost you a pretty penny. All major airliners hike their rates this time of year, as it is a peak traveling period, and very few allow you to purchase tickets too far in advance. Unless your plans are set in stone and you can buy early, be prepared to fork over more for the ride. That leaves a couple of choices for public ground travel: railways and Atlanta bus charter (among other cities).

Rail or Atlanta Charter Bus?

The Amtrak network is vast and continually growing. Most major cities are railway-accessible, which means more residents have convenient access to the system. To be clear, 500 cities in the continental U.S. are served by Amtrak, since its inception in 1971. Despite the millions of people that can ride the railway and the affordable fares this mode of transportation offers in comparison to air travel, bus charters are the better option in all important aspects.

The first is the cost to ride. Passengers pay less than they do on Amtrak. A recent study by M.J. Bradley and Associates in preparation of the meeting between the American Bus Association Foundation and a few other organizations found that charter buses cost 25% less with respect to capital and operating costs. In terms of versatility, the charter bus companies provide their services to 2,800 cities, nearly six times as many as Amtrak.

The latter may not even be available where you live, which could make the decision an easy one! The bus charters in Atlanta that Samson Trailways provides, like our fellow providers, are designed for passenger comfort. Our buses are not meant to be a form of public transit per se, but rather a mini-escape that you can enjoy while in route to your family. You won’t be crammed alongside other riders and will have access to many modern amenities, including air conditioning and TV.

If you are interested in renting a bus charter in Atlanta, give us a call. We can get you to your destination in no time, and promise the trip will be a pleasant one.