Holidays in the UK, who’d want them hey? Well, us, quite frankly. Sure, we’re not blessed with a daily dose of sun, and sure, we don’t boast the very finest of the continental culture which we’ve taken for granted for so long, and sure, our cuisine isn’t the most lauded or applauded, but our shores still have plenty to offer.
Some of the best bits of a British holiday are most brilliantly realised on an old school, family friendly camping trip. We get to deploy our stiffest upper lip at the inclement weather, we can luxuriate in some Great British bangers thrown on the barbie, and we’re able to curtain twitch at our neighbours from a whole new vantage point; through the netted entrance to our tent.
In all honesty, camping in the Great British countryside does genuinely have plenty of upsides, blessed with picture-perfect villages, stunning natural scenery and a can-do, anything goes spirit that fits the rustic alfresco vibes perfectly.
If you’re planning on taking your family on such a trip this summer and you’re looking to reduce the stress levels, then have you considered hiring a minibus for such an adventure? Doing so can make the whole trip run much more smoothly, and with that in mind, here are 5 reasons to hire a minibus for your next family camping trip.
LESS STRESS WITH KIDS
‘Are we there yet?’ Well, no, we’ll never get there, because life is an existential journey whose only true destination is something we’re not going to go into right now, darling. But anyway, no. We’re not there yet.
Long road trips, especially with kids can become tiresome in an uncomfortable vehicle, but that isn’t something you’ll have to worry about in a minibus, which provides ample space, excellent seating, and versatility – meaning your children don’t have to sit next to each other if they don’t want to.
Anyone with a large family knows that comfort in the car is paramount to any journey, whether short or long. There is nothing worse than uncomfortable, irritable and whinging children (and grownups) in a small space while on a road trip or family journey. Talk about killing the spontaneity of the open road!
This can be eliminated by considering a spacious and comfortable minibus with adjustable seats, air conditioning and additional safety features.
YOU CAN MAKE IT A GROUP HOLIDAY
A holiday with just your family can, well, be a little boring (sorry if you’re reading this guys!). You do spend every day together after all.
After a while on the road, the kids miss their friends, you miss having time without your kids, and everything starts to feel a little claustrophobic. The great thing about hiring a minibus, however, is that when using one, things can easily be made into a group holiday, with friends onboard and fun to be had.
As the experts at theminibuscentre.com point out, generally in the UK, larger minibuses can accommodate up to 17 people, plus additional space for four wheelchair users, with all the accessibility equipment coming as part of the package. This means your camping holiday can be a broad, exclusive one.
While a group holiday probably means more children, it also means more adults. You can even take it in turns driving the minibus with other adults in the group, giving you some much needed relaxation time! Alternatively, you could, of course, take a load off entirely and hire a minibus with a driver. What luxury!
Read: 7 IDEAL tips for planning the perfect family road trip
RAINY DAYS ARE A BREEZE
If you’ve ever camped in the UK, then you’ve no doubt spent plenty of time taking shelter in your car, all crammed together and a little bit soggy while the seemingly never ending deluge continues outside.
Sure, you can pretend you’re enjoying it, perhaps even turn the radio up extra loud and have a singalong, but being cold and wet in a car isn’t fun, let’s be honest.
Should a storm strike on your family camping trip when you’ve got a minibus close to hand, you can simply decamp to the safety of the vehicle with enough room to stretch out until the rain passes.
You can even host a tea party, enjoy your dinner in safety, or play a few board games to pass the time, all with enough elbow room to avoid any grumpiness in the little (and larger) ones!
YOU CAN PACK EVERYTHING YOU NEED
One of the hardest parts of packing for any family holiday is deciding what to take and what not to take. Prior to parenthood, no one warned us about the amount of stuff you’d need to get through just one day with kids. Let alone, a whole damn holiday with the family. And on a camping trip, the need to find room for ‘stuff’ is amplified tenfold.
Not with a minibus. Overhead storage bins are perfect for ping pong rackets, a boules set, and other sporting equipment that will keep the kids entertained, and, more importantly, tired out.
In addition, smaller storage is available under the seats, as well as larger storage options in the back, the whole family will be able to enjoy travelling without being packed in like sardines among all of your bags.
YOU CAN TRAVEL IN STYLE
Goodbye Eye Spy; hello, proper in-vehicle entertainment!
Whilst we wouldn’t dream of knocking all the old-school games we used to love playing in the car, if you’re keen to diversify your entertainment options onboard, then you’ll be pleased to hear that you can rent minibuses that are appointed with all the latest tech.
Think high quality music systems, built in TVs, a coffee and drinks machine, mini fridges, drop down screens with gaming options, swivelling leather armchairs…the works!
Sorry, we got a bit over excited there. And we think you might too, if you hire a minibus for your next family camping trip. Bon voyage!