The half-term holidays are perfect for a much-needed family getaway. International travel can be costly, but travelling within the UK is a budget-friendly alternative that is equally fun! While London boasts plenty of public transport options, if you’re heading away from the capital, does it really make more sense to take a train or bus versus renting a vehicle? We’ll take you through the benefits of a car hire, particularly when travelling as a family this half-term holiday.
Greater timetable flexibility
Don’t be beholden to timetables; get about where you want, when you want. One of the obvious benefits of car hire is getting to create your own timetable. Factoring in inevitable train and bus delays (or even cancellations) can mean missing your connections. Being in charge of your timetable gives you a level of control, flexibility, and calm. Spend more of your holiday relaxing and less of it searching for your next bus or train.
Convenience
It goes without saying that a hire car is often more convenient than public transport. It allows you to travel directly from point A to B. Public transport means walking a distance and changing buses, trains, or trams to get to your destination. Cruising in a rental vehicle allows for spontaneity and the ability to explore hidden gems. With public transport, there’s a level of rigidity with schedules and pre-purchasing tickets.
Customise your adventure
Speaking of following your own itinerary, you can venture further off the beaten path. The more remote attractions are more difficult to reach by train than by car. Public services are often less reliable, take too long, or are costly. Taking a one-off taxi or Uber can also be prohibitively expensive. By taking a hire car, you can more easily venture out to the cute and quaint countryside market towns and villages.
Comfort
Travelling with kids on public transport can be hard. You stress over ensuring everyone is aboard with luggage stored in the limited time that the train is at your station. You then have the hours-long task of keeping them entertained and quiet for the benefit of other passengers. The influx of crowds during half-term time means that stations are more chaotic than normal. Finding a seat together as a family is unlikely, and sometimes you won’t get seats at all.
When you hire a vehicle, you travel in comfort, avoiding these additional stressors. Entertaining the kids becomes easier too, as you can play travel games and carry additional toys. Check out our suggestions to keep the little ones happy on the drive.
No more hauling heavy luggage on and off shelves and luggage racks either. Stow them away quickly and easily, and breathe easy knowing you won’t be separated from any of your luggage…or children, for that matter!
Accessible
Quick stops at each station make getting aboard the train stressful. It’s made more challenging when trains and buses aren’t properly equipped to meet family members’ accessibility needs. Sometimes you have to make specific arrangements more than 24 hours in advance. The benefit of car hire is you will be able to meet your passengers’ accessibility requirements and mobility needs.
Safety
By hiring a car versus taking public transport, you can better control your environment and who inhabits that space, especially around your children. By relying on public transport, you may have to walk through unfamiliar surroundings to get to your destination; a potential safety hazard.
Money Saving
Ticket prices spike when booking for the week of half-term. Even the cheaper but inconveniently late/early trains can be the price of a plane ticket. Multiplying that cost by each member of the family means it’s not always more cost effective to use public transport. If you’re going to pay out, shouldn’t it be more convenient? Hiring a car just makes better travel sense!
Looking for more money-saving tips for your holiday? We’ve got you covered with these travel tips.
The Smart Choice for Half-Term Travel
The benefits of car hire are numerous, from travelling on your own timetable to allowing you greater spontaneity with your adventures. It also provides greater accessibility for all passengers and greater levels of safety than public transport. Being more convenient, comfortable, and affordable, the choice is obvious. So, this half-term, consider the many advantages of car hire and embark on a hassle-free, fun family getaway.
Don’t know where to start looking for a car hire? Not only do we have a wonderful fleet of vehicles to accommodate your half-term holiday needs, but we also have this handy article walking you through everything you need to know about the booking process.