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See Chicago in a Charter Bus
July 2, 2016
Chicago is a huge, old city with rich and great history. Similarly to most big cities, Chicago too has a problem with traffic jams that don’t sit lightly with neither locals nor visitors. However, the absolutely horrible traffic has never posed as an obstacle to those who are looking to explore all the amazingness that comes with the city: wonderful architecture to admire, history to learn, preserved hang out spots of old-school Chicago bad boys (yes, you still can have a drink there) and everything else in between.
Sightseeing is a very popular touristic activity in the “Windy City” and pretty much anyone who pops over for a visit gives it a try. It is not uncommon for the locals to enjoy a little sightseeing as well which is why renting charter bus transportation in Chicago makes for one of the most popular activities to try. Tourists adore Chicago because of its cultural attractions, shopping, and fascinating architecture. It is a crossroad of contemporary architecture and art: architects such as Bertrand Goldberg and Frank Lloyd Wright and big names like Picasso and Chagall have left their mark in this very city, making it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The sports arena is also very strong and popular, with the Chicago Bulls in basketball, the Chicago Bears in American football, and the Chicago White Sox in baseball. So, if you are a sports fan, you know what you’ll be adding to your must-see list!
The Art Institute of Chicago is a high-class world-famous museum with an enormous number of artworks. Its collection is encyclopedic and includes pieces from a variety of periods – from Ancient and Byzantine works to the American and European modern and contemporary art scene. Apart from the phenomenal collection of paintings and sculptures that include photography, decorative arts, architectural drawings and much more, the Institute has a very famous collection of impressionists as well.
Millennium Park is a downtown square with music pavilion, modern sculptures, public interactive works of art and 2.5-acre garden. It is the perfect spot for cultural programs, tours, and family activities.
Michigan Avenue is the major commercial boulevard in Chicago and one of the most glamorous streets in America. The famous section of Michigan Avenue is the Magnificent Mile, the part of the street with numerous museums, restaurants, hotels and luxury shops. Main attractions along the boulevard are the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Water Tower, John Hancock Center and the Tribune Tower.
It can take a lot of time to visit all of these magnificent places. That is why when you are going sightseeing in Chicago your only choice should be a charter bus. The drivers are professionals who know the city and know how to find their way around it. Sure, you can rely on maps to give you a hint of the route to take but driving, parking, and handling Chicago traffic do need an expert, really. So, why not relax, book a black car service in Chicago and enjoy every second of it – especially if you’ve got a larger party going with you! Opting for a charter bus not only eliminates stress, walking for miles, queueing in the heat and getting lost but actually injects every tour in Chicago with excitement, relaxation, and a chill mind. Honestly, what better way to see the Windy City than have someone drive and show you around, right?
The Most Dangerous Bus Roads in the World
July 1, 2016
Going to an exotic, dangerous faraway place can definitely be thrilling but taking a chance without doing a proper inspection of the area you are visiting isn’t that smart a move, especially if you’ve got to use local transportation, rent a truck or a bus or go by car.
The roads to everywhere can be very dangerous, and this time around – we’re singling out the most dangerous bus roads around for you to be aware of:
Here’s the list of The Most Dangerous Bus Roads in the World:
North Yungas Road, Bolivia
The first on the list is the notorious Bolivian North Yungas Road, also known as The Death Road. It is a 40-mile road connecting the Bolivian capital of La Paz with Yungas in the Amazonian rainforest. The road is extremely dangerous with approximately 200 to 300 people dying each year on the road.
The Death Road of Bolivia was built in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners, cut into the steep cliff side at places. While one side of the road is compact rock, the other one is a 600-meter deep abyss.
Spanning on only 3.5 meters width, the road has some sections unpaved and unprotected; the fact that humid Amazon winds bring a lot of fog and heavy rains to the area doesn’t help the already dangerous terrain. Avalanches and tumbling rocks are yet another danger of the road, with small waterfalls sporadically raining down from the cliff sides.
Given its notorious reputation as one of the most dangerous roads in the world, the place attracts extreme sports enthusiasts; this is why it is not uncommon to spot groups of cyclists along this road, especially downhill bikers. It is said that there have been around 13 cycling deaths so far in last the 10 years.
Special driving rules apply to the Death Road of Bolivia: in order to have a better view of the edge of the road, drivers are required to drive on the left. Descending vehicles don’t have the right of way and are obliged to move to the outer edge of the road. For the passing can be negotiated safely, the vehicles must stop. The government of Bolivia is working on improving road safety and building alternative roads that are much safer to drive on.
James Dalton Highway, Alaska
Approximately 414 miles long, the James Dalton highway starts from the Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean down midway through the state to Fairbanks. The road is challenging and can be very dangerous because of the extreme Arctic weather, huge potholes, gravel road and small flying rocks carried by fast winds that can hit your car. It’s one of the most isolated roads, and within 240 miles of that highway, there are no gas stations, restaurants, motels or service of any kind. Accidents are common and the nearest hospital could be dozens of miles away, which makes it even riskier.
Karakoram Highway, Pakistan
Known as the “Friendship Highway”, this adventurous road connects two countries, China and Pakistan. Proclaimed to be the highest paved route on the planet this road passes across Karakoram, Himalaya, and Pamir mountain ranges. Landslides, floods, avalanches, and snowfalls make Karakoram highway one of the scariest roads in the world. Karakoram Highway is thought of as one of the scariest and most wonderful sights in the world. For those who are brave enough to go mountain climbing and explore similarly dangerous sports, this road is everything. However, for those less enthusiastic about potentially facing death – the road is nothing but a big, scary construction leading to the other side. The road is 1,300 km (800 mi): Pakistan: 887 km (551 mi) and China: 413 km (257 mi) long and only paved on the Chinese side. Karakoram Highway construction started in 1959 and was completed 27 years after – in 1986. It is absolutely breathtaking, and pictures don’t do it justice; still, this road is not for the faint-hearted and novice drivers or those with the faint of lungs and legs. The fact that 810 Pakistani and 82 Chinese workers died during the road construction doesn’t really make things better, does it? If you can, stay off it.
The Stelvio Pass, Italy
As one of the highest paved roads in Europe Stelvio Pass is a masterpiece of engineering skill with a breathtaking sight. It is 47 miles long road located in Italy between Stilfs and Bormio. The main challenges of this road are: 2.757 meters elevation and a 15-mile serpentine section with 48 turns of which some are 180-degree corners. Although the nature surrounding this road looks absolutely spectacular, only one wrong move could have you end up over the cliff.
The road is also known for Stelvio Bike Day, which is organized each year in September and on that day path is occupied only by cyclists. Riding down the hill is also fun but you have to be extremely careful about who’s riding/driving towards you. Obviously, there is always a shot at dying in a dreadful crash off a mountainside, but if you are careful enough and watch for every single corner – that won’t happen.
Jalalabad–Kabul Road, Afghanistan
Kabul-Jalalabad highway with a distance of around 40 miles is an extremely challenging road to master, whether you are traveling by bus, track or a smaller unit like a minivan or a car. With a length of 143km, this national highway is linking Kabul and Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Due to its very challenging construction and a number of reckless drivers, traffic accidents happen pretty much on daily bases resulting in a high number of injuries and deaths. Some say that the numbers of accidents with fatal outcomes are so common that the Afghans stopped counting. Sharp turns, cliffs, narrow paths that go up to 600 meters over the Kabul canyon are just a few segments of what makes this road so dangerous. During severe weather conditions, the highway is usually closed, and vehicles can wait for hours.
The road is of utmost strategic importance; it is intended for facilitating humanitarian aid, trade, the return of Afghan refugees and reconstruction efforts. The highway was a great standard asphalt road back in 1969 when it was completed but it has deteriorated into a gravel road, making virtually every journey tortuous and long. When the climate is bad during dark and wet months, the road is a nightmare for drivers. It’s comforting that the road reconstruction is now in the works, with the European Commission (EC) giving funds for its construction and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Authority (Sida) leading the design work.
The most expensive buses on the planet
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the most expensive buses?
It wouldn’t be surprising if you went in the direction of leather seats, comfort, luxury, a dining room, TV room and a number of other seemingly rich elements! One would think the most expensive buses are everything we’ve just described but it turns out – there is so much more you can get. How about a parking spot for your Aston Martin inside the under-luggage compartment? Yes!
Well, these are the buses that are on our list, starting off with:
The Vantarre Platinum Plus costs around 2.5 million dollars and offers a spacious and ultra-luxurious bus that has king size beds (yes, plural) and a plasma TV for the price. State of the art technology, gorgeously done interior and of course a massive liquor cabinet.
The Prince Sultan Bin Fahds bus was designed specifically for a prince (just as the name suggests) and is super luxurious bus that includes an enormous lounge and a royal suite as well as a bedroom with luxurious beds and seating options. How delightful!
The Volkner Mobile performance bus is priced the modest 1.78 million; it has spectacular sleeping and living areas, a garage for your car, and it comes with a few plasma TVs and entertainment units.
The Country Coach Prevost with a price of $1,000,000, isn’t intended for bumpy terrains or venturous use. It’s ideal for people who wish to enjoy high class traveling between cities. This elegant vehicle is equipped with porcelain-tiled floors and cedar wood cabinets and walls. There is an entertainment system and elegant bedroom lined with noble quartz. There are also separate bathrooms for travelling comfort.
The Foretravel IH-45 is an expensive luxury bus with unique, custom-made design. It is equipped with many luxury components that distinguish it from the competition, including a 20,000 kilowatt generator, four roof A/C sections, a Knoedler seat and a steel fabricated walls and floor.
Among others of the most expensive buses in the world are The Monaco dynasty 45p, Newmar King Aire, Entegra Coach Cornerstone 45DLQ and Prevost H3-45 vip.
So, if you have a couple of million dollars lying around and you want a luxury bus with bedroom a walk-in kitchen, and such details, one of these might be the choice for you.