Hiring a minibus is a fantastic solution to the logistical difficulties of getting a lot of people from one place to another, both within the UK and into Europe. They are generally comfortable, have excellent on-board facilities and have adequate internal space for up to and over 24 passengers. Hiring a driver as well is what makes the difference between a fantastic solution and an unbeatable one.
There are many coach and minibus hire companies which will not actually hire out a vehicle without a driver. This mainly applies to logistics companies rather than vehicle hire companies. Those places where you can hire vehicles for private use of all shapes and sizes will probably not give you the option of a driver at all. For the coach companies, the main reason for not offering the service is the extra cost of insurance and liability if you are driving the vehicle yourself.
Driving a vehicle as large as a minibus (let alone a 94-seat coach) is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. With a totally different size and weight distribution, the reactions to control inputs are radically different and the surprises this will result in could easily become a major accident. Having a trained and experienced driver at the controls removes the risk and, thanks to extensive safety features fitted as standard (such as three-point seatbelts for all seats), minibus hire with a driver is one of the safest options for intercity or regional travel.
A professional driver also brings with them years of experience on the roads of Britain. Able to make use of lesser-known routes and local knowledge regarding roadworks and choke points, they can get you to a destination without depending on unreliable GPS systems or difficult-to-read maps. Their estimates of journey duration are far more likely to be accurate than the estimates thrown up by Google Maps.
Hiring a driver along with the vehicle removes a considerable amount of stress from a journey or trip. Any event which features enough people to fill a minibus is inherently stressful to begin with because the organisation required multiplies exponentially as more people join the trip. With a driver and the hire company's back-room staff handling some of the arrangements, though, all you need to worry about is having as much fun as you can. Sit back, relax, and leave the driving to the driver.
