Bus trips are hot, as they have noticed at travel organization Solmar in Maarheeze. A few years ago, during the high season, fifty to seventy buses a week left for the Spanish sun. But due to the long lines and large crowds at the airports, more and more people prefer to go on holiday by bus this summer. As of this week, 100 departures a week. “It could be as many as 150, if there were no shortage of drivers,” says Marc Verkoelen of Solmar.
These are golden times for travel companies such as Solmar. Due to the uncertainty at the airports and the high prices, travelers are increasingly opting for a cheaper bus holiday. “There will certainly be more bookings,” says Marc Verkoelen of that organization. ”Twenty percent more than in 2019, for corona. That involves thousands of people.”
Collecting takes place in Maarheeze. Travelers come by car or train. Or they are on one of the buses that pick up people from all over the country. At the small bus station of Solmar itself, they have to choose the bus to their Spanish destination. No very long lines of people with suitcases here. Because they simply give those suitcases to the driver. Then it is boarding and disembarking hours later at the hotel in Spain.
“It’s a lot more relaxed and I still have my bags.”
Travelers visibly enjoy the convenience, such as Marianne Roos. “We first wanted to go by plane, but given all the long queues at Amsterdam and Eindhoven, we chose to go by bus. A lot more relaxed. And I still have my bags.”
Bianca de Bruijn is also satisfied with her choice of bus. “Some planes don’t come at all. Then the flight will be cancelled. So I’m glad we’re on the bus.”
“We are seeing a shift to other types of transport such as bus and car.”
The problems at Schiphol have loosened up a bit among travelers, they have noticed at the travel umbrella organization ANVR. “We are seeing a shift to other types of transport such as bus and car,” said spokesman Frank Radstake. “That started after the May holiday.” That holiday was extremely busy at Schiphol. And then came the announcement that thousands of flights from Schiphol will be cancelled.
At Solmar, Marc Verkoelen knows exactly what the needs of the travelers are. Every working day he gets on the phone with people who want to book. They can also come to him for a flying holiday, but this is more often not the case. “People are afraid that something could go wrong. We notice this in the requests for bus trips.”
He even gets requests to convert booked air travel into a bus trip. “We have that too. People who have booked a flight and who then go more for the certainty of a bus trip.”
