Your Total Guide to Group Excursions in Andalusia
There are few cities in Andalusia that host as many groups on various excursions, trips and outings as Granada does – from school field trips to tour groups, from wedding parties to conferences and corporate visits. Hiring an appropriate type of transport plays a decisive role and makes an actual difference in the quality of group transportation, because such elements as size of the vehicle, experience of the driver and his/her local knowledge play quite an important role in it.
In this article you will learn what you need to consider when hiring coaches for groups in Granada, which vehicle types exist and what destinations are mostly chosen by travelers and tourists.
Why Vehicle Size Is an Important Issue That Can't Be Overestimated
As was mentioned above, not all groups are supposed to get a vehicle of the same type and size. If the size is overestimated – then it will mean that your budget will not be used economically, but underestimated size will lead to the lack of necessary space for the luggage or even passenger comfort.
Minibusses with seating capacity for 8–16 passengers will be the best solution for small families, tours for a limited number of tourists or for airport transportation. In terms of navigation, it is easier for those vehicles to pass the narrow, hilly streets of the Albaicín and approach the Alhambra, where coaches cannot reach. If you have a medium-sized group, the size of the vehicle will range from 16 to 33 passengers – and those are the most popular and frequently hired ones. Usually these are comfortable vehicles equipped with air-conditioning, reclining seats and an additional luggage compartment. The largest coaches with seating capacity for 33 up to 57 passengers are usually hired for bigger groups of tourists or for conferences. They often provide an on-board lavatory, additional luggage compartments as well as a Wi-Fi or P.A. system.
A reliable service will first discuss the luggage needs, presence of any problems with the mobility of your passengers and the frequency of making stops with you – and only then recommend a vehicle size for your trip, and will never push a customer into buying the vehicle with maximum capacity.
What Makes a Difference When Hiring an Experienced Operator?
Any company can hire a bus for your trip. But the professional coach-hire service has some specifics which appear only with years of practice of running routes in Granada.
The thing is that it is very important for any operator to have knowledge of the local roads and access restrictions. It means that a reputable operator knows, for example, that access to the Alhambra is restricted and the vehicle must be either parked in advance or transferred to a shuttle minibus inside, knows which of the Albaicín and Realejo area streets can be passed only by minibus and how to organize departure times taking into account traffic jams in Granada – especially in Ronda Sur. The drivers themselves should have a professional license and not just the usual driving one, and comply with special rules regarding rest periods in case it is required, according to EU Regulation 561/2006. In addition, vehicles themselves should pass the ITV test (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) on the roadworthiness and a legitimate operator should have all the documents regarding it. Moreover, the contingency plan and having additional vehicles and drivers is especially important in cases when a trip involves time-sensitive transportation – for example, the flight connection or entry in some places with limited access.
These points do not usually feature in quotation of prices and are the key features which separate professionals from amateurs.
Popular Destinations for Coaches from Granada
Granada is located in such a way that it provides the possibility to visit both mountains and the coast easily from this location. So the Alhambra and Generalize, situated within Granada, will be your favorite destination, but it should be taken into account that there are some access restrictions which need special arrangements from your operator. Another most requested destination is Sierra Nevada – 45 minutes from Granada, and it is quite frequently chosen by various groups both for ski trips in winter season and for the sightseeing of the mountain landscape in summer.
As for the destination near the sea coast, Costa Tropical towns like Almuñécar and Salobreña, which are about an hour away from Granada, are the most popular daily destination because of the subtropical climate there. Other popular sea destinations for coaches are Nerka, situated 1.25 hours away from Granada and famous for its caves and Old Town. If we are speaking about distant destinations farther from Granada, then Córdoba (which is an hour and a half away), and Seville (which takes a 2.5-hour journey from Granada) are the places that are most often combined for various tours of different Andalusian towns. Close to Granada, there is transportation for arrival and departure from Federico García Lorca Granada Airport, as well as a connection from Málaga Airport.
A reliable operator who regularly runs all those routes can give realistic timings, take into account weather conditions and seasonal traffic, as well as help you to choose the most suitable pick-up points.
Selection Criteria for Coach Hire Companies
If you want to compare offers and make sure that you have chosen the best offer – it is better to ask some clarifying questions. You will want to know about the age of the vehicles in the fleet, whether the drivers are employees of the company or contractors, what will happen if something goes wrong on the road, whether the price you are offered includes all the costs including tolls, parking and lodging of driver if it is a multi-day trip, etc. A reliable operator will not hesitate to give you answers and will also not refuse to show you documents confirming insurance and licensing of the vehicles.
For groups traveling to Granada and other Andalusian towns, it is very important to choose an appropriate size of vehicle and an experienced operator that operates in this area.
