Last September, I almost ruined a weekend I had been dreaming about for months. My school friends — class of 2008 — decided to gather in Paris to celebrate 15 years since we went our separate ways. One thing led to another, and there were 14 of us. Having moved to Lyon a couple of years ago, I volunteered to be the “guide,” although my knowledge of Paris was quite limited — I had only been there three times. How it all turned out and how bus rent Paris became my salvation — read on in the article.
Bus Rent Paris: A Lucky Find
There were 14 of us, each with our own quirks. One brought a backpack full of camera equipment, another a suitcase with outfits for dinner, and the third lugged a cooler with craft beer from London as a “gift to the group.” Can you imagine how I had to deal with them? We agreed to meet at the Saint-Michel metro at 11 AM, but I quickly realized that dragging everyone through the metro to the hotel on Rue de Rivoli and then to the Eiffel Tower was a mission impossible. The forecast promised rain and only half of us had umbrellas.
Then I remembered once seeing a group in a minibus near the Louvre. I went to the BCS-Bus website, and their bus rental Paris service seemed like a light at the end of the tunnel. I booked an 18-seater minibus, and the driver was at the metro exactly at 11:30.
What Is a Weekend on a Bus Like?
You know how plans change on the go with friends. We wanted to start with Notre Dame, but someone wrote in the chat, “How about we go to Le Comptoir Général for a beer first?” Luckily, with bus rent Paris, this was no problem. I told the driver, and he immediately headed to the 10th arrondissement. Later, we planned an evening picnic by the Seine, and bus charter Paris came to the rescue again: we stopped by a bakery on Rue Cler, loaded a couple of boxes right onto the bus, and the driver suggested the best place to park by the river.
By the way, the 18-seater minibus was perfect: clean, soft seats and the climate control saved us from the heat like an angel. The Paris event bus rental driver, a local, knew where to park at key spots and even showed us a couple of quiet streets without crowds of tourists. If there were more of us, I would have taken a 60-seater coach, but for our gang, that would have probably been too much.
Initially, my main panic was about the luggage. A backpack with a camera, a suitcase with dresses, a cooler with beer — I was afraid it would turn into a circus. But rent a bus in Paris resolved all issues: the 16-19-seater minibus can take up to 15 bags of 23 kg each plus small items like backpacks. Everything fit without problems, the driver helped load the luggage, and we were off. For long trips, you can get a bus with a toilet or a fridge, but we were fine as it was.
How Much Did It Cost?
I was worried that a bus charter in Paris would be expensive. But the price depends on what you take:
- Minivan for 7 seats: budget-friendly for a small company;
- 18-seater minibus: slightly more expensive, but more comfortable (our case);
- 60-seater coach: for large groups.
They provide the exact cost after the request. I wrote where we were going and how many of us there were, and later received an estimate. Fuel and the driver are included in the price, but you pay for parking yourself — we were informed. That time, we each chipped in about 20 euros. It turned out cheaper than even taxis for everyone. I think there’s no need to explain the spaciousness and comfort of the cabin — it’s an incomparable difference.
Final Thoughts: What I Realised After This Weekend
If you are traveling with a large group, there’s no need to complicate your life. Paris is a magnificent city, but navigating its streets in a group is quite a challenge. Renting a sightseeing bus in Paris solves several problems at once, and I’m glad I found this option spontaneously. In the end, we spent the weekend without unnecessary stress and hassle, which means we did everything right.
