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Original poster

What do coach drivers do?

7 replies

PinataHeeHaw · 17/05/2025 18:05

I love a good coach trip, but often wonder what the drivers do once at location for the 4/5+ hours?

Are they given an allowance to buy lunch for example? Are they allowed to leave the coach and go for a wander themselves?

OP posts:
WayneEyre · 17/05/2025 18:09

I don't know but I'm interested! Nap maybe? It's quite a long day

Redheadedstepchild · 17/05/2025 19:07

I used to work for a coach company as a guide. Our drivers used to have a nap and go for lunch. We used to get a lunch allowance of 15€ a day - which I thought was pretty generous, considering it was fifteen years ago.

You could get a pretty good meal for that, back in the day. (I would argue that you still can now.)

If we were in a town that had some decent shops, I might do a bit of shopping but we had no real desire to mooch about and see the sights as we'd seen them a thousand times before.

At one point, I had a sort-of boyfriend who worked in a restaurant that was on one of the stops so I'd go and see him.

TheSeventh · 17/05/2025 19:10

I worked at a national trust property and we used to give the coach drivers a pass to the property and a voucher for a hot drink at the cafe. Most of the time they just went and hung out in the coach.

Original poster
PinataHeeHaw · 17/05/2025 19:25

Redheadedstepchild · 17/05/2025 19:07

I used to work for a coach company as a guide. Our drivers used to have a nap and go for lunch. We used to get a lunch allowance of 15€ a day - which I thought was pretty generous, considering it was fifteen years ago.

You could get a pretty good meal for that, back in the day. (I would argue that you still can now.)

If we were in a town that had some decent shops, I might do a bit of shopping but we had no real desire to mooch about and see the sights as we'd seen them a thousand times before.

At one point, I had a sort-of boyfriend who worked in a restaurant that was on one of the stops so I'd go and see him.

Ah that sounds lovely. If only I could drive. It's decent pay too I've seen.

OP posts:
Original poster
PinataHeeHaw · 17/05/2025 19:26

TheSeventh · 17/05/2025 19:10

I worked at a national trust property and we used to give the coach drivers a pass to the property and a voucher for a hot drink at the cafe. Most of the time they just went and hung out in the coach.

Ahh how lovely. All the freebies and seeing the country. Sounds like a nice job.

OP posts:
DinoLil · 17/05/2025 19:35

My friend's husband was a coach driver (since passed away). Apparently they'd get incentives for taking passengers to certain places, for example, a certain restaurant or tourist venue. They'd get a free meal and drinks in return.

When I was on a coach holiday a couple of years ago, the driver was 24 and absolutely AMAZING. We all tipped him loads at the end because he went above and beyond. One day excursion was near where his grandparents lived, so he dropped us all off and then went to see his GPs and did some gardening for them! Other drivers have been miserable as, and don't even let you know when pick up and drop off times are.

But yes, other than the fab 24yr old driver who joined us all on our excursions (he wasn't a guide, he just wanted to make sure us crumblies were all okay), on other trips, the drivers park up and have a nap or read the paper, etc.

taxguru · 17/05/2025 19:40

I've been on loads of coach trips and generally the drivers seem to spend most of any stops/stays with the coach. We've had to go back occasionally to get something we've left on the coach, like a bag or coat, and the driver has been there to open the door to let us on - usually either with feet up reading a paper or on his phone on the front row or back row! No doubt they do go off and do things like go to the loo, got and get snacks/drinks etc, but I don't get the impression that they're away from the coach for long at all.

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