Southern Connection Tours

We recently chartered 4 buses for a school field trip. The sales team that is in place now was very professional and friendly. Stacee was very helpful in the planning of our trip. The buses arrived on time, clean, and the drivers Sylvester Pue, Darwin McCray, Darnell Williams, and Gilbert Helm were very friendly and great with the kids. Yes, Buses are a little older but were clean and ran smoothly. I would highly recommend Southern Connections and will be using them again. more

I have used Southern Connections/Charter Ride for five years and have never had any problem whatsoever! Bus is always on time, great -friendly drivers, clean bus!! I would highly recommend them! We use buses often to bring groups into Columbia!! more

I used Southern Connections for a few years and there are some things I would like to address: - The ""other people"" Mr. Gainey trusted his company to were his wife and his daughter. Mr. Gainey still had the final say in the business operations. Sad that the last few years he was involved in the business, he simply stopped caring about it as much. - To Mr. Braught: If the people Mr. Gainey employed to run his business in his absence ""let him down and destroyed his mantra and nearly the company"", then why did you hire said people to work for you when you took over? - To Stpracecar, the gentleman that was told by Mr. Braught that ""several mechanics had been hired so that vehicle maintenance could be performed in house"": Southern Connections has always had in house mechanics on staff. (or at least since they moved their facility to the big building off the interstate) For those of you that like using this company, then good for you. It must be the rates or a certain driver (they do have a couple of good drivers) because it certainly is not the amenities of the buses (old buses with tattered seats), the rude service you receive when calling for an estimate (Carol), or the dishonest management. Pros: Some of the drivers Cons: Management, the good office staff is gone more

I have rode their buses and not that pleasant of an experience. I have not regretted finding better companies in the area who offer better service and we didn't worry about having a break down. Pros: None in my book... Cons: Read these reviews more

I am disappointed by this ratings forum. It seems that anyone can post messages to discredit those of us who have used this bus company, who know of improvements in equipment and also know the service has improved as compared to the previous management? What is the Frenchie29072 agenda? I am a person who gave the new management of Southern Connections Bus Company a good review. Clearly Frenchie29072 has a personal interest in slamming the company and it's new owners. Pros: Give these new managers a chance! Cons: Frenchie29072 has a negative agenda? more

The News reported no serious injuries from the accident, I'm thankful for that. Cons: Besides dishonest, many more

George Gainey started this company 13 years ago with customer loyalty and honesty as his mantra. When his health prevented him from being involved, he entrusted others to do this for him. These people let him down and destroyed his mantra and nearly the company. Pros: Working to exceed expectations Cons: Reviews based on the past more

I find it hard to believe that this company has turned around to a 5 star rating in such a short time. Notice the dates are just one day off from one another... Coincidence?? I would not be surprised that the positive ratings are from employees or the owner trying to fool people into doing business with them. Several of those listed as ""Friends"" I know for a fact are employees and I'm sure the others are friends or relatives, there is even a picture of a dog. I would not trust my friends or family riding their dangerous buses. Search DOT for their ratings too... not good. Cons: Many more

Hey... Mr. Frenchie29072? Before hiring Southern Connections, I went to their facility. I was greeted by a man who identified himself as the new owner. I asked about the company, prices and the services offered. As part of a long conversation, I was told that several mechanics had been hired so that vehicle maintenance could be performed in house. That is why I knew mechanical issues ignored under the old management had been addressed under the new management. So, I had educated myself about the company and had become more than just another passenger. I am sorry you did not have a good experience with the company but it could not have been recently. The new management has only been there for a few months! Pros: Best Local Bus is Southern Connection Cons: Nothing negative more

Our driver Deloris was friendly, patient, and welcoming to our group of high school students. She used her GPS to help us after the directions to one of the campuses was incorrect. Great day! I would use them again for a tour-especially if Deloris can be our driver! Pros: One of the best trips more

Our company booked service through Southern Connections for eight dates. On the second booked date we had several issues with the bus...poor air conditioning, bad smell, dirty bus with broken window. Complained to management and requested discount of 50% considering bad experience and we had to put our guests on this bus, but only offered $100. GM said several people had stayed on bus and possibly attributed to the smell! After our company decided we would not do business any longer with SC, but were going to use them for the next date (which was the following day), we sent an email explaining our troubles and our regret that we would not be able to continue with the future dates, the owner called our company at 5:30pm and said they would not provide the bus for the following day! Our company was left with no notice and no bus and apparently this was not the first time they had done this to someone! Pros: Friendly staff, except the owner Cons: If you complain, you may be walking! more

I used this company twice in the last three years. The first trip was to West Palm Beach with a group of teeneagers and adults. The bus they sent was very old. The air-conditioning broke down about 5 hours into the trip. The driver was very nice. He dropped us off at a mall in Jacksonville, Fl. and took the bus to be repaired. We were in the mall for 5 hours. There was never any call from the owner apologizing for the problems we had. Cons: Many more

I ordered a Charter bus for the week of March 5-8 for my 2nd grade students field trip. Well I called them in October 2006 to find out a quote and to get everything set up. Well the girl who I spoke to at first was very friendly and told me that Michelle would be calling me back. This is not the first time I have used this company so I knew to call in plenty of time ahead because they don't call people back right away. Well I waited for three weeks and finally called them, I asked to speak with Michelle. Michelle said that she did not have my information ready yet and she would call me back in a few minutes. I was very upset by this time. She didn't call that day, she called the next day and told me the price I agreed to it and told her to go ahead and send a contract to the school, so I could get a purchase order. It took her another three weeks to get that to me after I called several times. So after all that was finished and sent to me the school went ahead and sent the purchase order. Well on the day of the trip the bus was an hour late to arrive to the school which is only thirty minutes away, I had to call the company and find out what happened to the bus, they didn't seem to know that we even had a trip. I was irrate by this time. They hired another bus company to come get us so we were almost two hours behind schedule, but with Henderson Charters our trip went a whole lot better. The principal at our school will not use Southern Connections EVER again! Cons: Everything about the Company! It really stinks! more