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The world of travel transportation is not what it used to be. And in many cases, that’s a good thing.

Most travelers don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the actual vehicles that will transport them from point A to point B, but maybe they should. After all, it’s common to spend more waking hours in a plane, motorcoach or car than any other single place during the course of a trip.

Here are five key trends in transportation to keep an eye on when planning trips:

Wi-Fi Everywhere

The prevalence of internet-connected phones and tablets has helped spur the build-out of wireless internet (Wi-Fi) service everywhere. The demand for Wi-Fi has prompted many motorcoach companies to install internet service on their buses. If your travelers want to share their photos and videos in real time, free Wi-Fi service is something you should insist on when booking a motorcoach.

Smaller, Nicer Vehicles

The traditional 50-seat motorcoach made a lot of sense for travel planners who could reasonably expect to fill the entire vehicle. But as groups continue to get smaller and travelers seek more intimate group experiences, a full-size coach may not always be the best solution. Some manufacturers have begun introducing smaller vehicles that are perfectly equipped to handle 15 to 25 passengers and cost less than full-size motorcoaches.

Airline Difficulties

Air travel is perhaps the most customer unfriendly it has ever been. With the availability of open seats at an all-time low, planners are finding it more difficult to book flights for entire groups. If you are considering a group trip that includes air travel, work with a professional tour operator who can manage the airline challenges for you.

Ride Sharing

Uber and other ridesharing services have revolutionized local transportation around the world. Where travelers once had to rely on costly and inconsistent taxi service for impromptu trips, today they can hail private car rides using smartphone apps, often more easily and cheaply than with taxis. If your travelers enjoy free-time exploration in major cities, make sure that they are familiar with these services.

Bus Shuttles

Traditional group tours entailed one motorcoach taking every passenger in a group to the same place at the same time. But as tourism continues to trend toward customization and free time, tour operators and transportation providers have begun using motorcoaches as shuttle vehicles to take group members to and from various attractions or restaurants throughout the course of a day.

Brian Jewell

Brian Jewell is the executive editor of The Group Travel Leader. In more than a decade of travel journalism he has visited 48 states and 25 foreign countries.