A Full Guide to Group Travels
It is difficult to imagine a city like Valencia which would attract as many tourists as it does and would not have so much traffic for school trips, conferences, wedding parties and other groups of people. Choosing the right type of vehicle, the level of the experience of the driver and his or her familiarity with the routes in Valencia and surrounding regions is really important in this case and has to be considered thoroughly.
This guide is devoted to the peculiarities of finding a proper coach for a group travel and booking the appropriate vehicle in Valencia. It includes types of coaches you may need, possible destinations for group travel from Valencia and other tips on hiring a coach.
Why Size Really Matters
There is no need to order the largest vehicle for everybody, since the number of people and their luggage are usually much smaller than on buses for public transport. Minibusses for 8 to 16 people are recommended if you are a couple with children, a small company or if your goal is to go to the airport or to any other place.
The midi-buses seating 16 to 33 passengers are used very often for school, tourism and other kinds of groups and for those who want to get married and organize wedding ceremonies. This kind of vehicle is comfortable and easily passes through Valencia and surrounding area because it has enough space, air conditioning, reclining seats and other comfortable conditions. And if you travel as part of a conference group, cruise group or a sports team, you may need to book a coach for 33 to 57 people, which usually provides facilities such as onboard toilet and luggage storage.
What a Professional Operator Offers
The process of choosing an operator is really simple, but a professional operator offers many advantages in comparison with a novice one and knows some nuances about operating vehicles in this region and city. First, a professional operator knows exactly what streets have to be avoided, especially for coach driving. The information about the loading zone at the City of Art and Science and around the cathedral is needed for the tour guides to use all the opportunities on their tours.
The second important point is that a professional operator knows the schedule of roads in the Valencia region: he is able to plan a route to avoid Valencia rush hours around the Ronda Norte and Sun, etc. All drivers must have a special license which allows them to drive this kind of coach and the Spanish regulation requires rest period under EU regulation 561/2006, if you have a long journey, what is very important for scheduling. And, of course, it is necessary for any legitimate operator to provide an ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) roadworthiness certificate.
The third nuance is the availability of a backup driver and a backup vehicle in case something happens during your trip. It is particularly important for organizing transfers from cruise ships and to planes.
All these points are never mentioned when you are getting a quote. Nevertheless, they play a crucial role when choosing an operator.
Destinations of Tours from Valencia
Because of its good location, Valencia is the basis of many tours to nearby and even distant regions. The first among them is Albufera National Park, which is situated near the southern part of the city. Tourists prefer going there to ride boats on a lagoon and visit the rice-producing villages. Cullers is a popular tour destination in the southern direction with its beach and the castle. Sagunto in the north and Xàtiva to the Southwest draw the attention of tourists to the historical places and castles.
Peninsula is situated approximately to the north and its main attraction is the walled old town. Gandia in the southern direction is often chosen for beach days and corporate away days. Alicante and Castellano to the north-east may serve as destinations for longer tours. And closer, of course, is the transfer to and from the Valencia Airport (VLC).
If you choose the local operator who which often organizes tours in this direction, he will tell you more realistic timings, seasonal information and give you advice on how to find the best pick-up points.
How to Order the Best Coach
When comparing different operators, there are several direct questions that should be asked. How old is the fleet? Who are the drivers – subcontractors or employees? What should be done in case of breakdowns? And last but not least is the question of price – is it totally inclusive?
An operator who is open and ready to provide all this information is the legitimate one. When choosing the right size and the operator in order to make the trip successful.
