Most people choose a vehicle by guessing the number of seats. A better way is to work through four things: how many people, how much luggage, what the journey is like, and what the occasion needs. This guide walks through each so you can decide with confidence, or send us the details and we will recommend one.
Step 1: count people honestly
Start with the real headcount, including children and anyone who might join at the last minute. Then add a little breathing room. A vehicle that is completely full is fine for a short hop but uncomfortable over a long motorway run. As a rough guide, our chauffeur cars suit one to four passengers, our minibuses seat 12 to 19, and our executive coaches seat 33 and 57.
Step 2: think about luggage separately
Seats and luggage space are two different limits. Four adults with four large suitcases can fill a saloon boot; a group of twelve heading to an airport can fill a minibus before every seat is taken. If anyone is bringing sports kit, instruments, pushchairs, wheelchairs or a lot of shopping, mention it when you enquire. It is far easier to choose the right vehicle at the start than to rearrange on the day.
Step 3: match the vehicle to the journey
- Short, formal or high-profile journeys (a business meeting, a wedding, an evening out for a few people): a chauffeur car gives the most comfort and the best arrival.
- Group days out and airport runs for families or friends: a minibus keeps everyone together, so there is one pick-up, one drop-off and nobody left behind.
- Large parties, school trips and long-distance travel: a coach carries the whole group in one vehicle, with space for luggage underneath.
- Several stops or a split group: two smaller vehicles can sometimes work better than one large one. Ask us and we will talk it through.
Step 4: consider the occasion
The same group can need a different vehicle depending on why it is travelling. Ten colleagues going to a client dinner may prefer an executive minibus; ten friends on a hen weekend may be happy with any comfortable minibus; ten guests arriving at a wedding may want a car for the couple and a minibus for family. If the occasion matters as much as the journey, choose for the occasion.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking for the number you hope will come rather than the number who have confirmed.
- Forgetting the driver does not count as a passenger seat, but luggage often does.
- Choosing the largest vehicle by default. A coach for twelve people is more than you need.
- Leaving it late. The most suitable vehicle on a busy date goes first.
How to get a recommendation
Send the date, the pick-up and drop-off addresses, the number of passengers, and a note of the luggage. We will suggest a vehicle and send a quote. There is no obligation, and every booking is quoted individually.