If you’re catching a flight anytime soon, it’s essential to consider how you will get to and from the airport itself. In this article from our team at 7 Plus Travel, you can find out everything you need to know about minibus transfers before you book a vehicle for your next journey.
What is a Minibus Transfer?
A minibus transfer is a shared or private transport service designed to accommodate groups of people, offering a comfortable yet cost-effective alternative to public transport and individual taxis. Minibuses are ideal for families, corporate groups, and event guests, ensuring they can easily travel to key destinations, including airports.
The Benefits of Booking a Minibus Transfer
Minibus services are popular for good reason. In this section, you can discover the key advantages of booking a minibus transfer for your next trip, helping you to decide whether these vehicles are right for you and your needs.
Cost-Effectiveness
One of the biggest advantages of choosing minibus transfers for your next trip is their cost-effectiveness. Sharing a ride with your group can reduce individual travel costs, as separate vehicle hires are no longer needed. Additionally, if you’re travelling as a group, you can easily split the cost of the minibus transfer, making it a budget-friendly alternative to taxis or private hires.
Convenience
Unlike public transportation, which requires you to be at a specific location at a specific time, minibus transfer offers direct pick-up and drop-off. With a minibus transfer, you can be picked up from your chosen location, including your home or office, and taken straight to the airport without the need for stops or further travel.
Comfort
Public transportation is not often focused on providing comfort, making for bumpy and unpleasant rides. Luckily, minibus transfers make the perfect alternative, as they offer spacious seating, plenty of leg room, and smooth drives. At 7 Plus Travel, our vehicles are tailored to you, even allowing you to have the music of your choice playing during your ride.
Time-Saving
Public buses often have several stops along the way, adding time to the journey, whereas minibus transfers will take you straight from your pick-up point to your intended destination. Similarly, if each individual in your group uses a different method of transport, there’s a strong likelihood that they will each arrive at separate times. A group solution like minibus transfers ensures you all make it to the airport, together.
Choosing the Right Vehicle Size
To ensure your minibus can meet your needs perfectly, you will need to choose the right vehicle size. Different group sizes require different vehicles, so it’s important to consider how many people will be travelling with you and how much luggage they will be bringing.
Assessing Group Size
Minibuses come in various sizes, allowing you to pick a solution that works best for you and your group size. Below, you can discover three different minibus sizes to choose from, each available here at 7 Plus Travel.
12-Seater
These minibuses are best suited to small groups, perfect for family trips or small corporate events.
16-Seater
These are perfect for medium-sized groups, including trips with the extended family and team-building events.
22-Seater and Above
These are best for large groups or events, such as guests travelling to weddings or school trips, or for larger corporate events.
Luggage Considerations
While a minibus may fit your group, luggage is still a key consideration that shouldn’t be overlooked. If your destination is a three-week stay, for example, your luggage is likely to be considerably larger than that of a 48-hour trip. Make sure your minibus can accommodate your luggage as well as your guests to ensure a smooth journey.
Understanding Luggage Capacity
As mentioned above, luggage needs to be taken into consideration when you think about hiring a minibus for your next journey. Here, you can learn about luggage capacity regarding transport solutions, helping you to choose appropriately and ensure your minibus service can accommodate your luggage.
Standard Allowance
Generally, each person travelling to the airport will have a piece of hand luggage and a suitcase. Minibuses are typically equipped with large boot spaces that can accommodate these standard allowances comfortably.
Excess Luggage
If you have more than one piece of hand luggage and a suitcase per person, this can qualify as excess luggage. If you have more than the standard expected amount, it’s best to notify your minibus service provider, as they will be able to recommend the best vehicle for your trip.
Special Requirements
In some cases, you may have special luggage requirements that you need to let your minibus transfer company know about before booking. Special luggage could include golf bags, skis, prams and wheelchairs. Letting your minibus company know early on can ensure that the minibus is appropriately sized.
Booking Best Practices
To ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience when booking your minibus transfer, there are some key best practices that you should follow. Discover them below.
Advance Booking
Booking in advance is the safest way to get the vehicle you’d like at the time you need. Peak times, such as summer holidays or the winter festive period, can increase the number of people hiring minibuses to take them to the airport. This can reduce minibus availability, so booking in advance can help to secure your trip.
Provide Key Information
Before booking a minibus transfer, it’s important to make sure you provide your provider with entirely accurate information. Make sure you let your provider know key facts, including the luggage you’re bringing, the number of people coming, and your intended destination. This can help to prevent misunderstandings and complications. Underestimating the number of people needing to travel using the minibus can lead to the stressful process of arranging last-minute travel.
Confirm Amenities
If there’s something you would like in particular from your minibus, it’s best to confirm the amenities included when booking your trip. Whether you need air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, USB plugs or specific seating arrangements, confirming the amenities that are included with your minibus before you book can prevent any surprises.
Payment Terms
Before deciding on the minibus service you are going to book, it’s important to ensure you understand the payment structure, including deposits, cancellation fees, and full payment deadlines. This will help you avoid any unexpected costs or incur any extra charges.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Journey
Once your booking is complete and confirmed, there are some practical steps you can take to ensure your journey to the airport is as smooth as possible. Below, you will find three of our best tips at 7 Plus Travel.
Arrive Early
Being at the pick-up location ahead of time can ensure a timely departure. Arriving early can help your driver keep to their schedule, and helps to avoid any delays or unnecessary stress for you and your group.
Stay Informed
Keeping the contact details of your minibus transfer service company can help you quickly get in touch if there are any changes to your plans, including an emergency. Similarly, keeping your phone to hand allows your minibus transfer driver to get in touch with you if they need to provide any updates.
Communicate Your Needs
If you have specific needs, requirements or expectations for your minibus transfer, it’s best to let your minibus hire company know beforehand. Whether it’s for a stop along the way or specific music preferences, letting your provider know can help you ensure they can accommodate your needs.
Why Choose 7 Plus Travel
As a trusted provider of transport solutions, 7 Plus Travel can make your journey to the airport simple. Below, you can discover the reasons why you should consider choosing our minibus transfer services at 7 Plus Travel.
Experience
We have years of experience in providing reliable and professional minibus services in Luton and its surrounding areas. Our fleet of vehicles is regularly maintained to help us ensure each trip we offer is smooth, comfortable and enjoyable for our customers.
Variety
At 7 Plus Travel, we take pride in providing a range of vehicles to our customers, allowing them to find the best solution for their needs. Whether you need a 12-seater minibus for your family holiday or a 22-seater for your next corporate event, our airport transfer vehicles can ensure travel is simple.
Reliability
At 7 Plus Travel, we take pride in offering reliable, punctual services. Our drivers are experienced and knowledgeable, helping us to ensure you arrive at the airport in time for your flight.
Arrange Your Next Trip Today
Booking a minibus transfer to the airport is about more than just reaching your destination, it’s about travelling comfortably and stress-free. Visit our website to learn more about us at 7 Plus Travel or to book your airport transfer today. Whether you need a Gatwick, Luton, or Heathrow minibus hire, we’ll ensure you get to your destination on time and in comfort.
Get in touch with us at 7 Plus Travel today to book your minibus transfer!
