Anyone who organises a trip for an association, a CRAL (a company social and recreational club), a senior citizens’ centre or a parish group knows the situation well: a fixed date, a number of sign-ups that keeps changing until the last week, and a destination that has to suit people of different ages and walking speeds. Day trips by coach in Lazio solve the most awkward part, because nobody has to drive, look for parking or chase train times. What remains to decide is the destination, the vehicle and the departure point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Todde Bus has worked in Rome since 1956 and with coaches since the 1980s, with a bus and coach rental service in Rome<\/a> for groups, schools and companies. Below we go into the destinations groups ask us for most often and what changes, for each one, in the way the day is organised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tivoli is the classic trip you can do in a day without rushing, but it has a logistical quirk. Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) is down in the valley, outside the town; Villa d’Este is inside the historic centre, up the hill. If the group wants to see both, the coach shuttles between the two, and it is best to decide the order of the visits in advance according to the booked entry times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Castelli Romani, the hill towns south-east of Rome, the day is often built around lunch. Frascati, Castel Gandolfo, Ariccia and Nemi have historic centres with narrow streets and small squares: a 54-seat Gran Turismo coach<\/a> drops the group at the edge of the town, while a minibus gets closer. For a senior citizens’ centre this difference matters more than travel comfort, because it shortens the uphill walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a group of 25-30 people, the choice between a minibus and a 36-seat bus depends on how many towns you want to visit. If the programme includes three stops in three different villages, a more agile vehicle saves time at every manoeuvre: this is one of the practical differences between a minibus and a Gran Turismo coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a classic combination for cultural associations, and one of those that need the most attention. Orvieto stands on a rock plateau: before the trip we check the council rules on where the coach can drop the group off and where it can park during the visit, because the most convenient spot is not necessarily a permitted one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Civita di Bagnoregio the village can only be reached on foot, across the bridge, and an entry ticket is required. The information point is in Piazzale Battaglini in Bagnoregio: from there to the start of the bridge you go by shuttle or on foot through the town. People who have difficulty walking need to know this before signing up, and the organiser does well to state it clearly in the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combining the two destinations on the same day is possible, but only with realistic departure times. If the guided tour in Orvieto is booked for the morning, the coach leaves Rome early and lunch should be set halfway between the two stops, so that delays do not pile up in the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sperlonga, with its white village on the headland and the beach below, is a destination for late spring or early autumn. In high summer the roads to the coast fill up, especially at weekends, and a group returning on a Sunday afternoon should allow for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this trip the Gran Turismo is the most suitable vehicle: the journey is longer than to the Castelli, and on some models the on-board facilities are convenient for a mixed group. The luggage hold underneath takes cool bags and beach umbrellas without cluttering the seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The practical rule is to start from the number of people and then look at the destination. Our fleet of more than 100 vehicles, all owned by us, covers every size:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a group of 60 people, the answer is not always a bigger coach. A Gran Turismo plus a minibus, or two 36-seat buses, often works better if the destination has narrow roads or small car parks. When the group is small, consider a minibus with driver in Rome<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pick-up point in Rome affects the success of the trip as much as the destination. Every extra stop to collect people in different neighbourhoods delays the departure, and in the historic centre tour coaches must follow the ZTL, permits and parking areas<\/a> that set where they can stop (the ZTL is the Zona a Traffico Limitato, the restricted traffic zone). For a neighbourhood association the best solution is usually a single meeting point, easy to reach and with room for everyone to board calmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stops along the way should be listed in the quote request. Small changes on the day, such as an extra stop or a delay of 15-20 minutes, are handled directly with the driver. If, on the other hand, the return slips by an hour because lunch runs long, the extra hourly rate applies, and it is already set out in the quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For trips that go further afield, to Umbria or Tuscany, the driver’s driving time limits<\/a> come into play and shape the departure and return times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For groups with a religious destination we also organise pilgrimages by coach from Rome<\/a>, with dedicated programmes and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To prepare a written quote we need only a few details: the date, the departure time, the pick-up point, the destination with any intermediate stops, the number of participants and the expected return time. If the number is not final yet, give us a range: it lets us suggest the right vehicle and change it if sign-ups grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The quote includes driver, fuel, passenger insurance and maintenance; tolls and any extra routes are listed separately. Our hourly coach hire rates in Rome<\/a> give you an idea of the figures before you ask, and they are always indicative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On timing: in a normal period 2-3 weeks’ notice is enough. For spring trips, when schools, parishes and associations book the same weekends, it is best to move 2-3 months ahead. If you are preparing a trip for the first time, our checklist for organising a group coach trip<\/a> helps you not to forget anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay trips in Lazio: Tivoli and the Castelli Romani<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio: a day in the Tuscia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sperlonga and the Pontine coast: the late spring trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which vehicle to choose for a group trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Departure, stops and return: how we plan the day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to request a quote for a group trip from Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n