Standard Motorcoach

How Many Seats Are on a Charter Bus?

A full-size charter bus seats 56 passengers. That is the figure to plan around, and it is exactly what a Village Travel Standard motorcoach holds. Coaches with extra legroom or a different seat model can come in slightly lower, which is why our Deluxe coaches run 52 to 56, but 56 is the number the industry builds toward.

So a group of 50 fits on one coach with room to spread out. A group of 60 needs two. And a group of exactly 56 fits, though we usually suggest a second coach or a larger plan if you are that close to the line, because luggage and last-minute additions have a way of appearing.

Charter bus capacity is the first thing to pin down, because it decides whether you are booking one coach or two, and that is the single biggest line on any quote. So work out how many people a charter bus holds before you worry about amenities.

Smaller groups have options too. Our Executive Recliner coach carries 40 passengers with more room per seat, and our Executive Sleeper carries 33. Tell us the headcount and we will tell you honestly whether one coach covers it.

What You Get on a Standard Motorcoach

Passengers sit two side by side on each side of a center aisle, in reclining seats. Every Standard motorcoach is restroom equipped, with the restroom at the rear, so a long highway leg does not depend on finding a rest stop. Each seat has a reading light, a cupholder and overhead storage. 110-volt plug-ins keep phones charged, and a DVD system runs on at least four monitors down the length of the coach.

A PA system lets your group leader speak to everyone at once, which matters more than it sounds like it should on a coach carrying 56 people to three different stops. Luggage goes in the bays underneath, with ample storage for a multi-day trip.

Wi-Fi is available on select coaches. Not every coach in the fleet carries it, so if your group needs to be online for the ride, say so when you book and we will confirm what the coach assigned to you has.

Older Coaches, Same Safety Standards

Standard motorcoaches run 10 to 14 years old, and we would rather say so plainly than let you find out at the curb. What that buys you is a lower price on the same trip. What it does not change is how the coach is maintained or who is driving it.

Age matters far less than upkeep, and upkeep is not outsourced here. Village Travel employs its own mechanics and maintenance staff, so the people responsible for these coaches work for the same company that puts them on the road.

Every coach runs the same inspection schedule regardless of its age, and a coach that does not pass does not go out. That is the whole answer to the age question: an older coach that is well maintained is a better ride than a newer one that is not.

Your driver works for Village Travel too. Drivers are trained, drug tested and tracked under our USDOT safety record, and we run under federal passenger carrier safety rules. We belong to the United Motorcoach Association, the American Bus Association and the International Motorcoach Group.

If the age of the coach is the sticking point, book the Deluxe motorcoach instead. Every coach in that class is less than 10 years old. We would rather move you to the right coach than talk you into this one.

Standard or Deluxe: Which Should You Book

The two coaches carry nearly the same number of people. What separates them is age, finish and price, not connectivity: select coaches right across the fleet carry Wi-Fi.

• Standard motorcoach: 56 seats, 10 to 14 years old, restroom, reclining seats, cupholders and 110-volt power. The value pick.
• Deluxe motorcoach: 52 to 56 seats, under 10 years old, restroom, individual air vents, upgraded finishes and five or more monitors. The default pick.
• Executive Recliner: 40 seats that recline 4 inches further, plus USB at every seat and a cordless microphone. For business and team travel.
• Executive Sleeper: 33 wide seats that recline 8 inches further, three across instead of four. For overnight team trips.
• Wi-Fi is available on select coaches in every class, so it is not what separates them.

A Simple Way to Decide

Book Standard when the trip is short, the budget is fixed and the group will not notice the finish. Book Deluxe when the trip runs long, or when a newer coach and upgraded interior will be noticed. On a two hour ride to a game, most groups never register the difference. On an eight hour haul, they do.

Not sure? Compare all four coach types on our fleet page, or just ask us. We book both every week and we will tell you which one your trip actually needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

More answers live on our charter bus FAQs page.