Your Guide to Planning a Party Bus/Event

Good times are meant to be shared, so when your party grows bigger than your personal car, you need a Party Bus! Planning a romantic evening, then consider a luxury limousine. 

Platinum Party Bus knows what a great experience looks like, because all of our vehicles have been built to facilitate the perfect wedding, birthday party, prom transport, Blossom visit, wine/beer tours and more. That’s because they’ve been custom built, using input from our customers. Our chauffeurs are PAX-certified to offer both safety and service. Still our knowing, doesn’t make your task of planning an event any less daunting. That’s why we’ve put together this easy to follow, five-step guide to help you through the process. 

1) WHY THE EVENT AND WHO WILL BE THERE? 

So, why are you having this event? Is it a bachelor/bachelorette party, or a business outing with clients? To know your attendees is the first step to researching and deciding upon the scope of what needs to be planned. In other words, are you looking into dates of sporting events, great venues for a night on the town or planning an intimate evening for two? 

With that decided, it’s time to settle on a date, time and sites included as part of the event. In your mind, take a head count of attendees, too. You’ll need that to book your vehicle once you’re through the overall event. 

2) WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE VENUE/ITINERARY FOR THE EVENT?

Your next step is to determine an itinerary of what happens from the time the party bus picks up guests until the evening is over. Not only is this key in getting determining the size bus you will need, it will help you to calculate the time needed to get everyone together, to accommodate any drive by places you want to include before arriving at your destination, and to build in some “fudge” time so you can arrive in plenty of time to avoid having to rush on arrival. To do this, make a list of places you plan to visit and the approximate time you calculate it will spend at each of these “side trips.”

Then take the time you’ve estimated, and allow 30 more minutes. That’s to account for potential traffic issues, last minute construction detours, or just lingering a little too long at a site. 

This level of detail will also make it easier for your party bus company to review and calculate cost of the rental, which takes into consideration time and mileage. Many don’t realize that larger vehicles may have to deviate from direct routes since routes may be inaccessible to larger commercial vehicles which have wider turning ratios and are heavier than passenger cars. 

3) HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IN YOUR PARTY BUS GROUP?

Key to booking the right vehicle is the number of people in your group. This is easy if the event is a wedding, but becomes more challenging if the event is one where size can be flexible, like just about anything ranging from prom night, to sporting events, to bachelor/bachelorette parties, wine/beer tours where last minute no-shows are more common. 

Narrowing your group size to confirmed attendees will not only allow you to better calculate the size vehicle needed, it will help you to estimate any added costs you will have should you decide to onboard refreshments and entertainment. It’s wise to develop your list of those being invited to the event. Then, send each an e-vite and request an RSVP (or payment, if sharing expenses), prior to booking your transport vehicle. 

Whether your final group size is 2, 10 or up to 31, Platinum Party bus has luxury vehicles to fit your group. By viewing our party buses here, you can see vehicle exteriors as well as interiors. Take note, because if you’re shopping around, not all companies offer the same level of newness/quality of vehicles or amenities in their packages. For example, Platinum vehicles are replaced every three years, and have many built-ins like ice chests and glass holders. Buses are detailed before each run, and audio/visual equipment is state-of-the art. 

4) GOING ABOUT RESERVING YOUR PARTY BUS 

Now for the easy part! Visit the website of the party bus company you’ve chosen and complete the reservation form typically found there. Use the material you’ve previously gathered to plug in information requested, like date, location(s), times, number of attendees to quickly receive a return text or call with a specific price quote. 

Once receiving the customized quote, confirmation of vehicle availability on your date and desire to book — it’s time to place the deposit to lock in your reservation. 

5) GETTING READY FOR THE BEST PARTY EVER! 

Each transport company has a little different protocol for signing contracts, final payment and onboarding of your refreshments, snacks, party supplies and music. Your booking agent will supply that information when you secure your date/vehicle. 

Enjoy your special outing and remember to tip your driver to show appreciation for outstanding service, since gratuities are not included in most contracts.