5 benefits of renting a 9-seater minibus for your trip with friends
Planning a trip with friends is one of life’s great joys – whether you’re heading to a music festival, exploring the coast, or setting out for a countryside weekend. And of course, one of the key ingredients for a successful group getaway is how you travel. Now, as you may have found before, coordinating multiple cars or navigating public transport timetables can quickly turn into quite the hassle – which is exactly when it can be so helpful to hire a minibus.
Personally here at Intack, we’d recommend our 9-seater minibus. Spacious, practical and cost-effective, it serves as a smart and social way to get everyone from A to B. Here are some of the top benefits!
Travel together without the hassle
When you’re travelling in a group, staying together is half the battle. With a 9-seater minibus, you can pile in and hit the road as one unit. That means no more worrying about people getting lost en-route, delayed by traffic in a separate car, or struggling to find parking. Let’s be honest, it’s also far easier to coordinate rest stops, meal breaks, and impromptu photo ops when everyone’s in the same car.
This saves you a lot of the logistics that normally comes with group travel that involves relying on multiple cars or public transport. (For example, trains and coaches might not even run directly to your destination, which means you could be left dealing with tricky last-mile journeys.) A single minibus keeps everything simple and efficient, so you can focus on enjoying the journey. It’s also far more sociable – the banter starts from the first turn of the key and continues until you arrive.
Save money on transport costs
A 9-seater minibus might look like a big car, but it can be surprisingly cost-effective – especially when you split the cost among the group. Fuel costs are shared, and you’ll only need to pay for one rental, one set of tolls and one parking space. Compare that to taking two or three separate cars, and you’ll see how quickly the savings build.
If you're going a long distance, you’ll likely spend less on petrol per person than you would on train fares – particularly during peak travel times. It's also easier to budget when you're working from a single hire price, rather than trying to calculate multiple sets of fuel and maintenance costs. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying and who owes what, which helps when organising group finances.
Keep luggage in one place
Let’s face it – people don’t always travel light. Whether it’s tents and camping chairs, hiking boots and waterproofs, or just a questionable number of snack bags, space can sometimes become a concern. That’s where the extra room of the 9-seater minibus can come in handy. With generous boot space and flexible seating arrangements, you won’t have to play Tetris every time someone wants to grab a jacket.
Even if you're not heading out with bulky gear, the benefit of keeping everything in one car is enormous. It’s far easier to unpack when you arrive, and there’s less risk of someone forgetting a bag in the boot of a different car. Plus, if you stop overnight or make a detour, you’ll always have quick access to your stuff – no faffing around trying to remember where something ended up.
Make the journey part of the fun
As we’ve touched on above, a group trip is often just as much about how you get there, as it is about where you’re going. A 9-seater minibus turns the road trip into a shared experience, with space to chat, play music, tell stories and laugh along the way. There’s something special about singing along to a playlist with everyone onboard, or taking in the views together as you cruise down the motorway or meander through country roads.
You can tailor the atmosphere to your group’s vibe – chilled acoustic, full-blown party, or anything in between. Shared playlists, car games, inside jokes and spontaneous singalongs all contribute to lasting memories. Being in the same space helps people connect in a way that separate cars simply can’t match; a place full of good energy and shared moments.
Take turns at the wheel
Then there’s the practicalities. One of the great advantages of group travel in a minibus is the ability to share the driving. On longer journeys, fatigue can be a real concern. Being able to rotate drivers helps keep everyone fresh and alert –and it’s also a brilliant way to keep the pace relaxed. If someone’s had a late night or just isn’t feeling up to a long stint behind the wheel, another friend can easily step in.
That flexibility leads to a much smoother and more enjoyable trip overall. Minibuses are straightforward to drive, and as long as you’re comfortable with a car that’s slightly bigger than your average one, you’ll find it easy to manage. You’ll just need to make sure that you meet all the requirements for hiring a van first!
And of course, if you do decide to go for hire a minibus – whether for a trip with friends or indeed anything else – that’s exactly where we can help here at Intack Self Drive. You can always rely on us to give you the very best prices on a comprehensive range of hire vehicles. If you’ve ever got any questions or need any advice, you can check out our recent post on what you need to know about hiring a minibus, or just give us a call on 01254 57811. We’re always happy to help!