Published: May 20, 2008 02:10 am      

BUSINESS: D&F Travel is going places

With rising gas prices that could be putting a crimp in travel plans, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else do the driving?

Lockport has a “someone” that can take care of that: a chartering service called D&F Travel on Main Street. The location is the third office D&F Travel has opened, aside from the headquarters in Dunkirk and an office in Olean. D&F in Lockport opened in March and wants to get its feet wet with the tourism in the area, and by attracting groups and organizations.

“We want to try and promote the area,” said D&F Vice President Elizabeth McCulloch. “And get involved with tourism and all of the new things in Lockport.”

McCulloch, a Dunkirk native who has been living in Lockport for 12 years, said D&F Travel has been in business for more than 20 years. The company offers individual and group bus tours to Buffalo, Canada, New York City, Boston, Atlantic City and anywhere in the country, if needed.

“We can put together a package for a group, depending on what they want to do,” McCulloch said. “We can cater to their needs.”

D&F has 12 motor coaches that can hold up to 58 people. The buses also have bathrooms, a DVD and VCR player, radio and CD player and reclining seats.

Some of the package trips D&F offers include a New York City shopping trip where customers are gone just for the day and return later that night. It gives them about 11 hours of their own time in the city, before the return trip. Another popular package is also in New York, a trip that sends baseball fans to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx for a game.

“We’re selling that out quick, since this is the last year for the stadium,” McCulloch said.

And even though it is only a half an hour away, D&F also has a package to Shea’s Performing Arts in Buffalo to see the musical, “Wicked.” McCulloch said the bus ride still helps people by saving them money in gas and parking.

The Lockport office will hold an open house to introduce the community to the newest branch of the D&F Travel family.

“It’s a get-acquainted grand opening,” McCulloch said.

Those who attend can learn about some of the charter bus tours D&F can put together, as well as see one of the coaches. There will be door prizes, including a free New York City shopping trip giveaway each hour. The open house will be from 2 to 5 p.m. June 2 at the office in the Lockview Plaza, 21-41 Main St.

Customers are asked to call the office for hours at 433-7084.