Frequently Asked Questions
1) Daily shuttles from Central Illinois to Chicagoland. Click "Tickets" to see times or purchase tickets.
2) Charters on motorcoaches with professional drivers. Click the "Charters" for info and fill out a quote request.
3) Full-Service Travel Agency. Click the "Tours" section to learn more about Peoria Charter Travel's vacations.
Navigate to the "Tickets" page to find time table PDFs for our schedule service.
Please call our 24/7 Call Center at (800) 448-0572 for available options.
Promo codes are sent out in our email newsletters and social media posts.
Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8am-4pm and Friday 8am-1pm. We can also be reached 24/7 by calling (800) 448-0572.
1) 55-56 passenger full-size motorcoaches with on-board restrooms
2) 38 passenger motorcoaches
Yes. Please read the "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information.
Peoria, IL, Urbana, IL and Chicago
64 vehicles of various sizes, models, and makes including MCI, VanHool, and Prevost
More than 100!
December 1941
You will receive your travel documents approximately 2 weeks prior to your scheduled departure. These travel documents will include airline confirmation (if applicable), hotel information, pickup information, day by day itinerary, and general information including what to pack and wear, weather, local currency, electricity, and more.
A new passport can take up to 8 weeks for processing.
Please check with your specific airline for current baggage allowances.
Approximately two weeks prior to departure, you will receive your travel documents. The travel documents include airline tickets (if booked with trip), hotel information, pickup information, day by day itinerary, and general information including what to pack and wear, weather, local currency, electricity, and more.
You may obtain passport application forms from your local county clerk office or US Post Office. Passport application forms may also be obtained online at travel.state.gov
Some tours require a visa. You will be informed if one is needed.
If you are traveling outside the United States, you will be required to present a passport. For international travel, your passport should be valid for 6 months after your travel ends.
Most airlines have a checked luggage policy which is a limit of 50 pounds per checked bag. Please check with your specific airline for current weight and measurement requirements
Please check with your specific airline for current checked baggage fees
One checked bag per traveler and one carry on and one personal item.
A tour representative will meet you at the destination airport once you've cleared through customs. You will be directed to the transportation area and driven to the hotel. You will meet up the tour guide once arriving at the hotel.
You will meet your tour guide once you arrive at the hotel.
Passengers are responsible for arriving on time for their flights. A tour representative will meet you at the destination airport once you've cleared through customs. You will be directed to the transportation area and driven to the hotel. You will meet up the tour guide once arriving at the hotel
Just like boarding an airplane or train, we require you to stay on the vehicle once you have boarded until the vehicle arrives at your destination. If you must get off the vehicle while the vehicle is still at the pickup location, by federal law, you must be un-checked in and take your luggage and all personal belongings with you. Any articles left behind will be considered abandoned and turned over to law enforcement. You must then re-check in with the driver and have your luggage reloaded once you return to board the vehicle again. The driver will always depart on time and will not wait for you. Do this at your own risk.
It is recommended that you take care of all your needs before boarding the vehicle.
Small animals that fit in a carrier may ride on Peoria charter buses only if a ticket is purchased for the animal. The animal carrier may be placed on a seat or on the floor in front of the seat. An animal too large to fit in a carrier or too heavy for the passenger to carry unassisted may not ride the bus. Animals are not permitted to ride in luggage bays. A driver may refuse to allow an animal to board in some situations (animal is aggressive, barking, causes severe allergic reaction, etc.)
Yes. There is no charge for a service animal to accompany it's owner on a Peoria Charter vehicle.
Please note: Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. In order to ride, these animals must follow the guidelines for pets listed above.
Children 2 years old and younger ride for free with a paying adult. One free child per paying adult. The discount is only valid if transportation is done using a bus. Discount does not apply if a shuttle van is being used. For more information or to see if a van or bus is being used for your trip, call our 24 hour call center at (800) 448-0572
Yes, bookings can be made with the 24 hour call center by calling 800-448-0572. Bookings over the phone have a $4.00 Administration Fee. Special accommodations are available for customers who are visually impaired. See "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information.
Call the 24 hour call center at (800) 448-0572.
In ordinance with the State of Illinois law, passengers must be accompanied by an adult if they are under the age of 17.
Peoria Charter allows two (2) pieces of luggage per passenger stored under the bus for free.
Each customer may also bring one (1) small piece of baggage on the coach also known as "carry-on".
Carry-on baggage would include items such as a backpack, small duffel bag, computer bag, shopping bag, any bag larger than a Tablet.
Pillows, Laptops, sensitive musical instruments would not count as carry on and may be brought on board for no additional cost.
Suitcases or any baggage with wheels are not considered as "carry-on” items and must be stored under the bus.
Any additional baggage or carry-on will be $10.00 per item if extra luggage space is available.
If the driver deems that there is insufficient space available on the coach to safely store the extra baggage, then any extra baggage may be refused.
The maximum allowable weight for checked baggage is 70 pounds per individual piece of baggage.
Baggage must not exceed 63 inches when adding the total exterior dimensions of the piece (length + width + height).
If these quantities are exceeded, there will be a $10.00 charge for each additional checked piece, paid to the driver, if space is available.
All tickets are non-refundable. Tickets can be transferred up to two hours past the departure date and time specified on the ticket. We understand that sometimes it can be difficult to make a phone call whether your stuck on a plane or your phone is low on battery. For this reason we allow a grace period after a ticket departure time has elapsed. There is a two hour grace period for transfers applies to all stops. A transfer fee will be charged; please see our Terms and Conditions on Transfer Fee pricing and available options. Tickets can be transferred by calling the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 or online from your original boarding pass.
Please call the 24 hour call center and explain the situation to the customer service representative.
Call the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572. If space is available, you can use your credit card over the phone to purchase a ticket.
Yes. Please call the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 at least 48 hours before the departure time.
ADA Passengers who are able to board the coach without using the wheel chair lift and wishes to stow the chair under the coach as luggage must also call in 48 hours prior as Peoria Charter uses a variety of different size vehicles, some may not have the luggage space to store a collapsible or non collapsible wheel chair. In these situations, the passenger may be required to board a different run (without a transfer fee) or find a different method to transport the wheel chair in order to comply with Federal DOT safety regulations.
See "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information.
Customers can show the ticket on their smart phone or tablet to the driver. Call our 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 if you need another ticket sent to your email.
Yes. We recommend calling the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 to ensure there will be seats available to purchase.
The use of electronic cigarettes is not allowed.
Per Department of Transportation, anything containing a lithium battery - such as but not limited to a motorized wheelchair/scooter, motorized bicycle, laptop, etc. - cannot be stored in the luggage bay below the vehicle. If the lithium battery can be removed from the device and brought into the cabin of your motorcoach where temperatures are more regulated, then the device can be stored in the luggage bay below.
Per DOT, you may not bring a loaded firearm into the vehicle; however you may transport an unloaded firearm if it is placed in a locked case to be stored in the luggage bay. Inside the case, the firearm must be in its safety position, unloaded, and all magazines must be unloaded and ammunition must be separate from the weapon.
The first step is to get a price quote. Visit the Charter page on our website, find the link: QUICK QUOTE, click that and complete the requested information. It will be emailed to our Charter department and someone will respond to you within 24 business hours. You will receive a price quote in your email. If you want to accept the quote and have the charter booked, just reply to the quote telling the sales representative to book the charter.
Bookings are based on availability; many of our busy days sell out months in advance. However, if available, Peoria Charter's will meet your needs with just 24 hour notice. All trips must be paid in full prior to departure. Only cash, credit cards, cashier’s checks and money orders are accepted
We ask for the trip itineraries to be emailed to us at least 10 days prior to the trip leave date. It can be emailed to your Charter Sales Representative.
We have always made an effort to work with our clients. If you can’t get a final itinerary done 10 days in advance, we ask that you at least send us the information including times for the first and last day of the trip.
We have always made an effort to work with our clients. If you can’t get a final itinerary done 10 days in advance, we ask that you at least send us the information including times for the first and last day of the trip.
Peoria Charter operates more than 60 vehicles and drivers at multiple locations. Our Dispatch Department must have time to analyze each trip. Trips fit together like a puzzle. Drivers are under strict DOT driving rules that only allow them to drive a set amount of hours in a day. If you send your itinerary late and your plans won’t allow for a driver to remain legal we must make changes, we need time to do this. If we don’t have the time, we may have to cancel the trip.
Yes. Your start and end times must be known by us in advance so that plans can be made and any conflicts can be addressed. We must also be able to know if the times are different than what you indicated in the first quote request.
Charter Bus Drivers are not the same as Uber Drivers, there is more that goes into taking a bus to places, planning has to be done to look for obstacles to a route including bridge height and weight limits. A bus can’t easily make adjustments if put in a “tight spot”. The Dispatch team and drivers need time to plan the best routes.
Peoria Charter drivers are instructed to stay on main highways and interstates. Only when necessary, to reach destinations, can they access smaller, two-lane roads. We will not use rural routes as the main route for travel for many factors including; safety, slowdowns from slower moving vehicles/farm equipment, railroad crossings, low underpasses, and small town speed limit reductions.
The legal limit for a driver in a single day is 15 hours of on-duty time.If a driver is taking your group, for instance, to a baseball game and will sit and wait for 6-8 hours, they can go off-duty, the hours they wait don’t count towards the on-duty time. During these times, the driver can not be utilized or access to the bus is not available to the group or the driver is required to go on-duty. The time it takes for the driver to get from our garage to the pickup/drop-off location does count towards the 15 hours.
A single driver can legally drive up to 10 hours, this is all electronically monitored. When planning a trip, figure the actual hours to be 8 to account for any unforeseen circumstances or slowdowns. If you have a destination 10 hours away, one driver can not do that. If a driver were to reach the 10 hour mark while still driving, they are legally required to pull over and turn off the bus. You are stranded. The time it takes for the driver to get from our garage to the pickup/drop off location counts towards the 10 hours.
A bus travels at a slower speed than a car, which is what Google is basing its drive time on. To estimate the drive time for a bus, divide the total miles traveled by 58 mph. At Peoria Charter we use specific routing software that looks for the best routes for a bus for longer-distance trips, these may not always match Google. You can use Google, but please don’t plan your stops on the way before talking with your Sales Agent as your route may differ from ours.
Cancellations by Customer: Cancellations made at least 30 days prior to departure will be refunded in full. 1-29 days prior to departure will be charged the deposit amount. If a charter is canceled the day of departure, any expense incurred by Peoria Charter will be charged to the customer. Cancellations by Peoria Charter: Peoria Charter reserves the right to cancel or sub out any charter up until the departure date.
Yes. Fuel surcharges are based on the following sliding scale. Surcharges will be added to the net rate of the charter (less driver gratuity). While a percentage based surcharge does not always correspond perfectly to the actual fuel cost of a specific trip, it is quickly becoming a standard in our industry and we believe it is the best and most effective way of assessing the additional costs of fuel. Surcharges are based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly U.S. On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices for the East Coast region. Price of Diesel (per Gallon) Fuel Surcharge Under <$3.50 = 0% (No Surcharge) $3.50 - $3.84 = 1.5% $3.85 - $4.19 = 3% $4.20 - $4.54 = 4.5 % $4.55 - $5.49 = 6% $5.50 - $5.99 = 8% $6.00+ = 10% *If necessary, surcharges above these rates will be determined as needed. Deposit is a minimum of $200 or 15% of total charter amount, whichever
Customer is responsible for the driver(s) overnight room accommodations, unless you and the company have agreed in advance that the company will provide the driver’s room and bill you for the charges. To ensure proper rest, each driver must have a private room with private restroom/shower accommodations. Expect to spend $125-$175 per night for each driver room. Should the room not be acceptable to the driver, Peoria Charter will place driver in another hotel and bill customer for the cost.
Deposits apply to non-contracted customers of Peoria Charter. A minimum of $200 or 15% of total charter amount, whichever is greater will be required to hold a reservation. Deposit amount(s) are listed in the confirmation letter and are due along with a signed copy of the contract seven (7) days after booking. Charter(s) are subject to cancellation without notice if deposit(s) are not received within this time. Last-minute charter contracts must be paid in-full immediately.
Times are very important to us. Having your trip’s times in advance, we are better able to offer you an accurate price quote, and if contracted, are able to plan in advance how to use the bus/driver most efficiently. If you send your final itinerary to us and there are large variations in the times from what you first sent us, it can cause us to have to adjust the pricing of the trip or even cancel the charter due to our inability to cover the change, the latter is a rare occurrence, but it can happen.
Yes. Peoria Charter takes safety very seriously. Our rules are meant to reduce the likelihood of an accident or passenger injury due to driver fatigue. Peoria Charter will not drive between 1am-4am, this means that a driver can not “clock in” to the Peoria Charter garage until 4am to start their pre-trip bus check and must “clock out” by 1am to end their day.
Peoria Charter will not drive between 1am-4am on extended through the night trips. For example, you can't leave Peoria at 6pm, drive non-stop to Florida or anywhere else that is more than 7 hours away. You could leave at 6pm and drive until about 1am, stop at a hotel and resume the trip the next morning after the driver has 9 hours off, which includes 30 minute post and pre trip bus checks.
A good rule of thumb is to figure 1 hour of travel for every 60 miles. If your trip will begin it's non-stop return at 10pm and you are 200 miles from your destination, 200/60=3 hours 33 minutes. You should expect to arrive at the destination by 1:33am, 33 minutes past our deadline.
If your final drop won't be until 1am, this information will need to be included when you ask for a price quote. Your Charter Sales Representative will plan that the driver will need to overnight in a hotel before returning to the garage and calculate the price based on this fact.
Yes. Some of our coaches do offer a wheelchair lift. If you require this, you will need to let your Charter Sales representative know when you initially reach out to us. Since not every bus has a wheelchair lift, we can not guarantee one, unless it was reserved at the time of booking.
Yes. One wheelchair will reduce the number of available seats on the bus by 6.
Yes. 2 is the maximum number of wheelchairs that can fit.
Yes. Our coaches do offer WIFI service
Small animals that fit in a carrier may ride on Peoria charter buses only if a ticket is purchased for the animal. The animal carrier may be placed on a seat or on the floor in front of the seat. An animal too large to fit in a carrier or too heavy for the passenger to carry unassisted may not ride the bus. Animals are not permitted to ride in luggage bays. A driver may refuse to allow an animal to board in some situations (animal is aggressive, barking, causes severe allergic reaction, etc.)
Yes. There is no charge for a service animal to accompany it's owner on a Peoria Charter vehicle.
Please note: Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA read more click here. In order to ride, these animals must follow the guidelines for pets listed above.
Customer who are visually impaired or have a disability that prevents purchasing of tickets through PeoriaCharter.com can call the 24 hour call center at 800-448-0572 to book a ticket. Please let the call center employee know that the website cannot be used due to a disability. The Administration Fee for booking over the phone will be waived.
Peoria Charter is fully committed to providing all customers with disabilities a pleasant and convenient experience. Our drivers and customer service representatives are available to meet the needs of customers with disabilities. The types of assistance that we are more frequently asked to provide involve boarding and de-boarding, luggage, transfers, and stowage and retrieval of wheeled mobility devices. This service is provided during transfers, meal and rest stops and other times as reasonably requested. We are happy to assist you whether you are traveling alone, using various wheeled mobility devices, or being accompanied by a service animal.
Please contact the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 at least 48 hours before departure to request a bus with an ADA wheelchair lift. Notifying us further in advance will help to ensure availability of our ADA Lift coaches. ADA Passengers who are able to board the coach without using the wheel chair lift and wishes to stow the chair under the coach as luggage must also call in 48 hours prior as Peoria Charter uses a variety of different size vehicles, some may not have the luggage space to store a collapsible or non collapsible wheel chair. In these situations, the passenger may be required to board a different run (without a transfer fee) or find a different method to transport the wheel chair in order to comply with Federal DOT safety regulations. See "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information. All Peoria Charter drivers are trained to operate wheelchair lifts on ADA coaches. The maximum wheelchair lift capacity weight is 400 lbs (Wheelchair + passenger). In order to ensure the safety of all passengers on board, we ask that the wheeled mobility device be secured by the driver to the floor while the coach is in motion. This will help avoid any uncomfortable movements or sliding during transportation.
Please let the charter representative know at the time of booking that the coach being rented needs to be ADA Lift Equipped. Please contact the charter representative for an accurate carrying capacity for a lift-equipped coach. Each ADA equipped coach can only accommodate two passengers traveling in a wheeled mobility device. All Peoria Charter drivers are trained to operate wheelchair lifts on ADA coaches. The maximum wheelchair lift capacity weight is 400 pounds (Wheelchair + passenger). In order to ensure the safety of all passengers on board, we ask that the wheeled mobility device be secured by the driver to the floor of the coach. This will help avoid any uncomfortable movements or sliding during transportation.
Peoria Charter personnel can assist with getting on and off the bus, including help with luggage and storage and retrieval of wheeled mobility devices. Please ask your driver or a customer service representative at the terminal for assistance and remind the driver during your trip if you require assistance. PCC will grant all requests which are reasonable and safe.
If a customer decides not to travel in his/her wheeled mobility device, it may be stored inside the bus if it fits and can be safely stowed. Peoria Charter drivers are only permitted to lift 50 pounds. In a case where a wheeled mobility devise is over 50 pounds, an ADA Lift equipped bus is needed. Wheeled mobility devices that cannot be safely stowed inside the bus will be placed in the baggage compartment, if possible. The maximum dimension of the baggage compartment is 33" x 33" x 48". The maximum weight limit for storing a wheeled mobility device is 50 pounds. Please allow sufficient time for stowing any wheeled mobility devices. This will assist in preventing delays in the departure of the bus.
You may travel alone only if you are able to travel independently and do not require assistance of a personal nature such as help using the restroom, dispensing medication or constant care during travel. Peoria Charter is not equipped to provide this type of assistance. If you require assistance that we cannot provide, you may wish to include a personal care attendant (PCA) in your travel plans.
Peoria Charter will assist you with any reasonable request during a stop. You should remind the driver that you need assistance and the type of assistance you require.
At Peoria Charter, customers with disabilities accompanied by a legitimate service animal are welcome. The service animal is the responsibility of its owner and must be under the control of its owner at all times whether by leash, harness or carrier. The service animal must ride in the bus within the customer’s space. The service animal may not travel in the aisle or occupy a seat. Peoria Charter reserves the right to refuse passage to any service animal that poses a direct threat to the health and safety of other customers or PCC personnel.
Portable oxygen and respirators may accompany you on Peoria Charter Coach. A maximum of four (4) canisters may travel with the customer - two (2) aboard the bus and two (2) in the baggage compartment. The maximum dimension for each container may not exceed 4.5" H x 26" L. Customers are responsible for ensuring that they have enough oxygen to complete their travel and are responsible for making arrangements for refills while en route. Oxygen canisters stored in the baggage compartment must be in protective cases with safety caps on the valves.