Maximal update

Festivals are an awesome way to escape reality and have an unforgettable time with friends. However, getting from A to B is not as easy as it used to be. This year it’s extra important to book your bus tickets early. In this blog post, we’ll outline why you might end without a proper travel option for your festival.

Since the covid-19 pandemic, the touringcar sector in North Western Europe has faced a serious crisis, with a shortage of both buses and drivers. The pandemic caused early retirement of drivers and many people that needed a bus all at the same time right after everything went back to normal. Also, the war in Ukraine has led to high fuel prices and inflation. Earlier before we explained how we dealt with the bus crisis after the pandemic was over. Due to these factors, the cost of buying and hiring buses has increased significantly, ultimately resulting in way higher ticket prices for you and other festival-goers.

The prices of bus rental

Amount of buses available to rent

Maximal Trips has experienced this firsthand. Last year, we saw price increase of up to more than 200%.  Too many travellers decided to wait with arranging their bus trips. As a result, we had to get extra buses at really high prices. This year, we’ve seen a raise in early bookings, but it already seems there will be a shortage again. You can imagine our bus partners prefer working with clients who book and pay the buses earlier on beforehand and give the bus company more certainty.

Taking a break during one of our trips

Booking your bus tickets early has never been more important. With the shortage of drivers buses will sell out faster. You may even risk being left without transportation. In the most pessimistic scenario, we will need to cancel your bus trip because we are not sure of having enough people to join the ride. We try to prevent doing this at all times. It is crucial to secure your seat on the bus.

By booking early, you can get more value for your money, secure your seat, and avoid paying more. With the rising prices, we may have to increase prices even more than currently planned. If you wait until the last moment you are likely to face even steeper price increases than those seen last year. As the saying goes, “The early bird catches the worm.” So, don’t wait until the last minute to book your bus ticket.

The price jump of bus tickets

The decline of available bus tickets

Booking early helps Maximal Trips plan better. We can make the necessary arrangements, such as scheduling the buses and hiring the right amount of staff, to provide you with the best possible experience. Booking late might ultimately cause cancellations of bus trips, although we always do everything to prevent this situation.

Majority books earlier: bus trip guaranteed

Majority books late: risk of cancellations 

In conclusion, festivals are awesome, and traveling to them with Maximal Trips can make them even better. However, with the current crisis in the touringcar sector, it’s important to book your bus tickets early to secure your seat and avoid paying higher prices. Don’t wait until the last minute and risk being left without a ride. Book your tickets today, and let Maximal Trips take care of the rest.

With this blog we’ve tried to give a little insight in the current situation for us in particular and for the festival scene in general. Although you might not have got what you wanted, please know that we are doing everything to keep the festival scene alive and as vibrating and energizing as it always has been. Do contact us if you have any further questions.