Renting a bus for vacation – is it a good idea?
Going on vacation with several cars can be unprofitable and troublesome. It is worth considering renting a bus. Is it a good idea? Let's check.
If we use the research conducted by SW Research, the Market and Opinion Research Agency, as many as 70% of Poles spent their holidays in 2018, and almost half of them spent their holidays abroad. The most popular holiday destination was Croatia (22.6%). Next were: Greece (18.6%), Spain (15.2%), Italy (14.9%), Germany (11.6%), the Czech Republic (10.3%), Turkey (9.5%), Egypt (6.2%), Great Britain (4.2%) and other countries (24.5%). Sometimes it is impossible, but in many cases, e.g. when on holiday in Bulgaria, renting a bus can be a very interesting option.
Of course, a bus will also be suitable for a holiday in Poland. Here, more than half chose the Baltic Sea (52.6%), followed by: mountains (22.3%), Masuria (18.8%), other Polish cities (11.2%), lakes (5.6%) or other places (3.9%).
It is worth emphasizing that an increasingly large group of tourists are taking their own means of transport on vacation. In Poland, nearly 70 percent of all tourists choose a car or van. When traveling abroad, 1 in 4 tourists decide to do so. Traveling with a family by car is usually not very comfortable, and sometimes the vehicle is not even able to accommodate 6-7 people, so renting a van is an interesting and increasingly popular alternative. Larger groups of friends also regularly use this means of transport.
Renting a bus is certainly an excellent option for larger groups of friends and larger families that cannot fit in one passenger car. Even a 5-person family, if it has five seats in the car, does not have to feel comfortable at all, especially on longer trips. Tourists who like spontaneous trips and do not have planned holidays also use bus rental. For people who value independence and freedom in organizing their free time, a bus for rent is an excellent choice.
Renting a bus for vacation is therefore a good idea for medium and larger families, and at the same time different groups that have a lot of luggage and accessories. If a group of tourists needs at least two passenger cars, renting a bus is an excellent and cheaper alternative.
The most frequently rented for vacations are 9-seater vans. They allow for the installation of bike or ski racks, i.e. accessories that tourists like to take with them on vacation. A 9-seater van can also be equipped with smaller extras that will ensure a comfortable and safe journey, such as a child seat or GPS navigation. All of these extras can usually be found in the rental companies themselves, e.g. MobiCars.
Renting a bus for vacation also means no costs associated with using your own car. If we assume that a car can break down at the least expected moment, this is very important. Especially since the rented bus has auto insurance. Therefore, in the event of a collision, or even a failure that prevents further driving, the client will receive a replacement car.
When renting a van, aim for vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons and no larger than 9-seaters, such as Opel Vivaro and Renault Traffic from MobiCars. This is because of the regulations. Larger vans, with 10 to 17 seats, can be driven with a category B driving license, but one of the passengers must have the appropriate qualifications. Alternatively, renting a van with a driver is an option, but due to privacy, most tourists do not even consider this idea.
When renting, you should check whether the bus is in good working order and has a full insurance package, as well as tires adapted to the season. A guarantee that the rental company will provide the customer with a replacement car in the event of a breakdown will also be useful. Another big plus is 24-hour technical support.
The prices of bus rentals may also vary between different rental companies. In addition to the daily subscription, the amount of the deposit and any additional fees, such as paid accessories or bus rental abroad, are also taken into account.
Each van should be inspected thoroughly before signing the contract. The rental company employee should prepare a special protocol, noting all damage and imperfections. Otherwise, for abrasions, scratches, etc., which are noted during collection, even if the client is not responsible for them, he will have to pay out of his own pocket. During the inspection, you should immediately pay attention to the mandatory equipment. The van should have a warning triangle, a spare tire, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.
There is no doubt that renting a bus for your vacation is a guarantee of a much more pleasant journey than traveling by car. It remains to consider the price of the rental. How much does it cost to rent a bus and is it really worth it?
If you compare one van and two passenger cars, the larger vehicle is definitely better. Modern vans, such as the Opel Vivaro and Renault Traffic most often rented from MobiCars, burn about 7.5 l per 100 km. They are also treated as passenger vehicles for all tolls on motorways.
The price of renting a bus depends on the model, date and duration of the rental. The rule here is "the longer the rental, the lower the price per day". The cost is around PLN 180-280 per day. An additional fee may be charged for renting a bus abroad, but this is not a rule, and if the rental company applies it, the cost is a one-time fee and comes down to PLN 50-150. Accessories are also payable. However, it is important that the rental company does not limit the mileage limit in the contracts.
Renting a bus is an option worth considering, especially when traveling with a larger group, when one passenger car is not enough. A bus is spacious and comfortable, and at the same time much cheaper than a camper or a caravan.
