take a crowd with you

There are several ways to take a large group on a trip. The first and most obvious method is to have everyone ride in cars. The second option, good but limited, is to rent one or two 15-passenger vans. The third, possibly the most expensive, is to rent a bus. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages.

Individual cars and carpools are best with small groups. When there are no more than eight people and they all want to do different things, there still may not be enough time for everyone to do everything. In this case, it is best to take several vehicles so that people can do the things that interest them most.

Renting a 15-passenger van, on the other hand, is cheaper than any other option when a group is larger than nine people. It allows more people to be transported in a vehicle, which reduces the cost of gasoline, as well as the number of insurance policies required. There are other benefits too: These vans have more room for whatever people think they need to bring, whether it’s a first aid kit or even a full-size dog carrier.

Bus chartering allows the largest number of people to travel. However, it is an inefficient option unless there are at least twenty people involved, preferably more. Buses require special training to operate them safely. This is why renting one usually also involves securing a driver.

The main thing to be sure of, when organizing a trip, is to know how many people are going. This will affect not only the number of things planned, but also the type of vehicle used. Cramming a dozen people into a sedan would be miserable for everyone involved. Expecting five people to go around in their own bus would be just as ridiculous.