Travel by bus has two undoubted advantages: a huge network of routes and a very low price. The latter plays a decisive role. And here are some tips that will help you travel around Europe cheaply and comfortably:
European giants Megabus, Flixbus and Eurolines often hold promotions and sales, selling tickets with discounts of up to 80%, so it’s worth subscribing to their newsletter. Eurolines sells the Eurolines Pass for 15 or 30 days, which allows unlimited travel on their buses throughout all European countries except Finland. The price of the pass depends on the season, students are given discounts.
Unfortunately, all these giant carriers travel only within Europe. Ecolines, Lux Express and its subsidiary Simple Express carry from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to Europe. The largest of them is Ecoline, which travels to 20 countries and 205 cities. Lux Express – in the Baltic states, Poland and Germany. Ecolines has a constantly updated ticket section on its website with discounts for a dozen routes, and they also have a bonus program. Lux Express offers a loyalty program Pins.
Photo: ecolines.net
There are regional carriers in all countries, new routes and companies appear every year – it’s impossible to keep track of everything. If you are planning a complex route, then use bus ticket aggregators: Infobus, Checkmybus, Busradar. You specify the date and direction, and the system finds all flights that match the parameters. When a price and time that suits you are found, you are redirected to the bus company’s website, where you buy a ticket.
Remember that traveling by bus is long, boring and tiring. The chairs recline, there is a toilet and sockets, but unlimited Wi-Fi, blankets and good air conditioning may not be available. Always take a pillow, warm clothes, earplugs and something to entertain yourself with during the trip. And don’t forget that many European routes go along mountain roads and you may get motion sickness – stock up on medicine in advance.
If traveling by bus is not for you, you can always rent a car and create your own route. And on OneTwoTrip you can book hotels online all over the world. The service offers more than two million accommodation properties.
