Willy goes to probate court, he had hoped for a good inheritance, but his uncle only left him a rust-bucket of a minibus. Willy (trumpet) and his friend Franz (slide trombone), are musicians with the Bambus (bamboo) Band. They are still planning to take their vacation trip to the south, to Trieste, Italy, and on to Yugoslavia, only now they will use their own minibus. Willy tells Franz, "under one condition: no women." Later, in the Bambus Bar, management holds a singing talent competition. Barbi Lothar wins 1st prize, Till Hartmann wins 2nd prize -- both prizes are the same: they each receive a voucher for a 14-day bus vacation trip to the south. Willy and Franz decide to take the winners with them on their vacation, in their own junk-heap of a minibus. Some friends of the winners join: Barbi insists she takes Harry with her as an escort, and Till will take his girlfriend Petra with him. Some band members also want to come along, too. And so this trip, originally for 2 persons, becomes a trip for 10 -- rather crowded for a small minibus, which will now be at full capacity.

The next day, just as the minibus is ready to leave, secretary Wilma (a friend of Barbi) joins the travelers, as does her boss Mr. Ratsam (who wanted to drive south, but his car broke down). After driving a long time, the gang pulls into a park, and they meet Mr. & Mrs. Stolze, and their "underage" daughter Anja (who is just a few days away from her 21st birthday), who is unhappy because her parents have arranged for her to marry John, who is a nice enough guy, but very boring.

Down the road, a big thunderstorm makes the group break into a huge bush-hut (the size of a barn) at night, and they play their musical instruments and dance. They play some lively dance numbers, like "When the Saints Come Marching In," rather loud. An indignant policeman, upset by their disturbing the peace, shows up and tells them to leave at once. Anja, running away from home in a car she borrowed, catches up to the minibus and joins the gang.

Harry's father Walter is worried that his son is traveling with so many young women, since he actually wants to couple him with the manufacturer's daughter Gina. In Trieste, eventually Harry falls in love with Gina. After some chaos, Anja's parents are happy to get rid of the fiance John, and agree to let Anja date Franz. Love is in the air, and the following lovers pair off: Willy & Barbi, Till & Petra, Mr. Ratsam & Wilma.