Ken Lees Posted 24 April , 2004 Share Posted 24 April , 2004 Can anyone tell me of any company in England that will hire a minibus for a trip to France? I have telephoned a number of companies with a view to organising a self-drive trip for myself and a number of colleagues in late September, but so far we haven't found one that will hire for going abroad. Any Pals recommend a company? Thanks, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john kemp Posted 24 April , 2004 Share Posted 24 April , 2004 KEN, What part of the country are you in and how many of you are going ? JMK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 24 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 24 April , 2004 John, About 10 of us (yet to be confirmed) and we are in Lancashire. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 25 April , 2004 Share Posted 25 April , 2004 The major companies (Avis , Hertz etc) used to be fairly relaxed about continental hire - but loaded their pricing greedily to compensate for the additional risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 You have obviously considered it but think again about a train to Dover, travel as a passenger on the ferry & pick up vehicle in Calais, it's real easy, I have done it & must be cheaper cause of expense of van on ferry. + you get steering wheel on the right side for France. Passing in a low powered wrong side steered vehicle sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Mackenzie Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Ken. Have you seen this earlier thread on this? Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Any Pals recommend a company? I can tell you one to avoid! Dreadful experience. It is sound advice to treat the trip as two trips: get to the ferry one way or another, and get a vehicle in Calais. Try the obvious big providers if you want the security of pre-booking. Anyway, good luck, nothing like a trip to the bottlefields [sic] in a bottlebus full of good friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 26 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Thanks Paul, The cost of about 10 of us travelling by train to the ferry would be prohibitive, so that is out. Additionally, we need to consider everyone getting to the point of departure. Neil, Thanks for reminding me about this thread. I will make sure I get the legalities right as everyone on board will belong to the legal profession in one way or another I'm still making no progress with companies who will hire us a vehicle, though. Regards, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Oh, and I forgot. Ten is a tricky number: many companies have top limit nine including driver if memory serves. Leave wife behind, save the nagging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 26 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 26 April , 2004 LB, I am offended by your remark about leaving the wife behind. How could you even think that I might take her? There you go, that should split the fire from the PC machine gunners! Ken In my own defence I would like to add that my more-than-supportive wife accompanies me on two or three trips a year to the Western Front and shows a tolerance above and beyond, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Well said, sir! My wife is my permanent companion on the bottlefields: carries telephoto lens, note book, maps ............. and a better minibus driver than me. However, I am a much better navigator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 I would much prefer the company of Chester world famous messenger dog, airhead, errr, airedale I mean of the year! My kitties got no interest in travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 Try KVR, Kenilworth Van Hire (that's Kenilworth as in Warwickshire). We used them for the Pals tour to Verdun, and for WFA branch trips and have done for almost 10 years. They do a 17-seater LDV minibus at reasonable rates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ypresman Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 TThey do a 17-seater LDV minibus at reasonable rates. Don't you need your PCV (Bus, coach license) for above 16?(15 + driver =16). A lot of the minibus companys are now really expensive, but we are quite fortunate here in east Anglia to have a couple of good firms who do it. Alternatively, you could try your local papers for 'man with van' adverts, as we, also, have done this a couple of times.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 26 April , 2004 Share Posted 26 April , 2004 No, 17 seater can be driven on ordinary licence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 27 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2004 Thanks gentlemen, I'll follow up these suggestions. I have just had a response from a company called EasyRent, who are quoting £624 for a 15 seater (extra room) Fully Comp. Insurance to cover driving abroad and unlimited mileage. It won't cover us for breakdown "over there" but I believe we can add the bus to one of our own breakdown services? Now I have a benchmark, I will see what else I can find. Regards, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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