Tips for bus tourists. How to prepare for a bus tour - practical advice. Where do bus tours go?

1. "Love thy neighbor"

If 40-50 adults spend 10 days side by side in an almost enclosed space, then this could easily turn out to be a real reality show. In general, tourists usually have a lot in common: as a rule, most of them are intelligent, curious, and of average income.

The main thing is that everyone has the same goal - visiting the sights of any country. It would seem that finding a common language in such conditions is as easy as shelling pears, but that was not the case. Any imprudent movement by one of the vacationers, which creates some obstacles to the comfort of the other, can easily become a pretext for a cold war. Therefore the most important tourist advice when going on a bus tour, remember that every action should be carefully considered before it is taken. Being in a closed space with other people, you can not only care about your own convenience. If this is taken into account by the whole group, then the result of the trip will be the presence of a couple of dozen new friends and a truly unforgettable experience of the trip made with them.

2. Think through everything to the smallest detail

Tourists who go on a bus tour for the first time in their life usually have no idea what problems they may encounter during the trip. In order to avoid trouble, before traveling, you need to mentally imagine everything that you have to do on the way: sleep in an armchair, go on excursions, each time putting your appearance in order in advance, have a snack on the run, take pictures, contact your relatives by mobile phone and follow for personal hygiene and also, perhaps, desperately trying to find a hotel lost in an unfamiliar city. This tourist advice definitely worth learning, as early resolution of various upcoming problems will help you guess to buy an inflatable horseshoe-shaped pillow and a light blanket that will make your rest on the bus comfortable. You decide to choose comfortable shoes, wrinkle-resistant clothes and, if necessary, take woolen socks to alleviate the fate of your tired feet after returning from another many hours of excursion. You will take care of the supply of sanitary napkins for washing on the bus. In addition, during the trip you will not forget to recharge everything that runs on batteries as soon as you arrive at the hotel.

3. Do not abuse alcohol

Many Russian tourists are simply, but this is unacceptable on the bus. In extreme cases, if you don’t want to spend the entire trip absolutely without alcohol, it’s permissible to take a small flask of cognac or whiskey with you, but consume them in an amount of no more than one sip a day, as they say, “to sleep better.” Drinking more than this rate of high-grade drinks is strictly prohibited, since in the conditions of a bus tour there is absolutely no time to recover from this. Stops are always short and they occur no more than once every three hours, so you won’t be able to catch your breath in the fresh air. Don't expect other travelers to understand and express sincere sympathy - the most you can get for drinking strong drinks - a loud scandal due to the unpleasant smell of alcohol spreading throughout the bus.

4. Think your way

Another important tourist advice- before sending, do not be too lazy to search the Internet for complete information on each of the cities through which you have to go. Print out your plans, mentally mark the most interesting, in your opinion, places and sights. Of course, not all of them will be able to visit: unfortunately, for many reasons, for example, due to the long passage of borders, unfavorable traffic conditions and guides acting in their own interests, and not in yours, often free time intended for walking is significantly is shrinking. However, if you have an extra hour in Amsterdam or Paris, it is advisable to know in advance how you can really spend it.

5. Smile!

During the bus tour you will have plenty of reasons to smile. Always remember that positivity is the key to a successful and memorable trip. It is also worth noting that this tourist advice especially useful for those who travel to Europe for the first time, because it is customary to communicate with everyone with a smile on their faces. Of course, bad things happen from time to time, but if you are alive and well, and the cause of the blues is simple fatigue, do not let yourself lose heart. While traveling, you should always smile sincerely, but there is only one exception: you should not joke with customs officers, as they usually have a terrible “allergy” on merry fellows. They just because of your good mood can spoil the nerves for you and other fellow travelers.

6. Save, but in moderation

The vast majority of tourists who go on bus tours do not have huge amounts of money, but they are true fans of travel. If there is a high probability that you will not be able to return to those cities that are included in the route of the selected trip, then you do not need to save on visiting museums and additional excursions. Otherwise, you run the risk of returning home without learning absolutely nothing about the sights you have seen. But a variety of factories and shops, where guides will definitely call you for the world's cheapest perfumes and diamonds, are a great place to save money. If possible, just completely ignore the imposed shopping. If this is difficult - remember that all guides receive a percentage of such sales. You don't want to be profited from, do you?

7. Don't be late!

The schedule of any bus trip is very tight, besides, unforeseen delays constantly occur along the way - sometimes on an excursion, sometimes at a hotel, so all those who are late to the meeting point, as a rule, are expected to wait no more than 15 minutes. If you don't show up within this period, you'll have to catch up with the group yourself, so it's best to arrive on time. To anyone who suspects they won't be able to follow this advice to tourists, it is recommended to always have with you not only a detailed travel itinerary, but also addresses with phone numbers of those hotels where you plan to stop. In this case, it may be possible to avoid the terrible consequences of being late in the form of a financial catastrophe. You just have to pay extra for a train ticket to your next destination.

8. Be careful!

Travelers are constantly being targeted, waiting in almost any crowded place. Main tourist advice Those wishing to keep their belongings safe and sound throughout the trip - immediately after the start of the tour, part with the erroneous opinion "my bus is my fortress." When going out on excursions, especially long ones, never leave anything of value on the seats or any other easily accessible place. Thieves often sneak into the salons under the guise of unfortunate lost tourists who made a mistake on the bus and strayed from the group. Passport should always be carried with you, along with money and other valuables. Never leave wallets in transparent plastic bags or important documents inside inside out pockets. Remember - you can easily be the object of a "silent hunt", so do not fall for the tricks of scammers and sometimes check the presence of all your things.

9. Be realistic

This tourist advice First of all, it will be useful to those who are going on their first trip abroad. Remember why the cost of the booked tour is quite low. You should not count on luxury hotels with amazing service, because one night in them costs twice the amount that you paid for the whole trip. Usually, the selection of dishes offered at the buffet during the tour is quite enough to satisfy a tired hungry person, but it is sure to disappoint the gourmet. Do not think that all the amenities will be created for you when visiting the sights - your arrival at the Louvre does not mean that it is closed for all other tourists who want to see the Mona Lisa. Bus tours are very popular in all European countries, so get ready to wait in line for a long time and get used to the crowds of "comrades in luck".

10. Make the right choice

What will be your trip as a result, for the most part is determined at the very moment when you decide to buy a bus tour in any company. To decide which one, you should get on the Internet and find out about all the possible options. It is best to find independent forums with real reviews from those who have already been on your chosen trip, as you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you are interested in and get answers to them. At the same time, it is important to remember that you will not have to go with the travel agency itself, but with the accompanying group, and the final success of the planned enterprise depends on him by 90 percent. Find out in advance from other tourists the names of those guides that they really liked and, when you make a choice, try to ensure that you are under their care.

Many people are afraid to travel by bus for long distances, preferring rail or air travel. At the very least, own car. But traveling by train is expensive, flying involves a lot of extra transfer costs, and driving is exhausting (unless you're the driver).

Travel safety

1. Rate the route

If your path lies through not the most favorable countries, try to find out in advance which route you have to go. If during this period the buses crash into the abyss at regular intervals, there are robberies or other accidents, then maybe you should change the route to a safer one, or at least choose a daytime flight.

2. Choose your carrier wisely

Several transport companies work on the same route, the prices of which can vary significantly. What is the cost savings? Maybe due to the flat tires, no air conditioning and only one driver who will drive you all night without sleep? Or maybe your bus will stop in every village and pick up everyone who wants to, so that some people will constantly push around? Or does the route lie through minor freeways rather than high-speed toll roads, causing your trip to take longer? In any case, you need to think about what is more expensive for you - 20 euros or peace and security?

3. Luggage

If you have a lot of things, then divide them into three parts: money, documents, phone - in a small bag closer to the body; water, food, clothes for the journey - in a backpack or a small bag; everything else - in a suitcase or travel bag - in the luggage compartment. Always keep valuables with you, even when you go to the toilet. The backpack can be thrown on the top shelf or put under your feet. In this case, it can also be used as a soft footrest - it will help to change position.

It does not hurt to mark your backpack or bag - now many people have the same suitcases on trips, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is better to attach a badge of distinction to yours - a keychain or a sticker.

4. At the bus stop

If you want to get out and stretch, be sure to check with the driver for the duration of the stop. Remember the bus number and the place where it stops. When leaving the bus, take money and documents with you in any case (especially if you are traveling alone) - even if you went out to smoke. No one seems to have ever heard of theft among their fellow travelers, but local residents who were on duty at large stopping points or train stations, pretending to be passengers, sometimes clean the empty cabin.

Comfort

1. Choice of location

Near a window or aisle? Many choose a place near the window for the sake of beautiful scenery. In addition, the surface of the window gives you the opportunity to lay your head on it and sleep. However, at night, you still can’t see any beauties, and the curved neck begins to numb after half an hour, so all the advantages of a window seat may turn out to be insignificant. But near the aisle you will have more space and even be able to stretch your legs.
Front or back? If a seat on the bus is of great importance to you, inform the travel agency in advance.
The front seats are the most comfortable: often there is a special table that can be used for its intended purpose, or you can put your legs on it while sleeping. Unfortunately, these seats are not always on sale - they go to the accompanying or second driver.
Remember that at the very rear seats you cannot recline, there are more shaking and often it is hotter there due to the proximity of the engine. But often only 2 or 3 places are sold for this “five”, so there is more space.
In the middle of the cabin, it can blow from the second entrance door, because it is always open at stops. But in some models of the bus in the places on the left immediately after the front door there is more legroom and there is an additional table (as in the front seats).
Near a man or a woman? If there is no seat numbering or free seating on the bus and you yourself can choose where to sit, then first of all evaluate the overall adequacy of the fellow traveler, and then its size. Sitting all night next to a body that has spread out over a seat and a half can only be wished upon an enemy. And gender is a matter of taste. 🙂

photo: bus interior

2. Light and sound insulation

If any sounds annoy you and you can’t fall asleep due to someone’s conversations in the neighborhood or flickering headlights, you need to bring earplugs and a night mask with you - these simple and inexpensive devices will help reduce noise and light levels and fall asleep peacefully.

Music also helps. Take the player with you and you will not be disturbed by extraneous sounds.

in the photo: travel set - mask and pillow

3. Blanket and pillow

Modern buses are equipped with air conditioning, but even it does not save sometimes at night from the cold. Often the temperature in the cabin is different: the front is always cooler (and the driver often opens the window), the rear is almost always hotter because of the motor. Passengers also have different preferences: one is blowing, the other is hot. Therefore, you need to take extra care of yourself.

Be sure to bring a pillow with you. Yes, it is comfortable to sleep on a large and soft pillow, especially if you lean it against the window, but it is a little problematic to carry it around on a trip. A donut pillow (inflatable or stuffed) is better, it supports the head well and does not numb the neck during sleep.

It is wise to take a thin blanket or blanket with you on bus tours. You can wrap yourself in it and no drafts are afraid of you.

photo: how to prepare for sleep on the bus

4. Clothes and shoes

It takes quite a long time to travel by bus around Europe, and you will have to not get out of the bus for 8-10 hours during the day and sometimes at night (with the exception of sanitary stops). Therefore, clothing should be comfortable, not restrict movement. Sweatpants or leggings (for girls) are well suited, you can easily bend your legs in them and the belt does not press, unlike jeans. In the summer, have a change with you: shorts in case of heat and long trousers for the night.

To make your feet less swollen, it will be good to change into shoes that are more comfortable than boots or boots. It is also useful to put on clean warm socks at night - you will have more room for maneuvers in them - you can put your feet on the seat (especially important if it is free nearby), and the smell will not irritate others. And to move around the cabin or go outside, you can use slippers or flip flops.

Pictured: Comfortable travel clothes

Meals on the bus

1. Drink and toilet

“First I drink, then I pee, but I smile all the time.” An old ad, but the question is always relevant. You can't travel without water. At least a small bottle, but be sure to grab it: while sleeping while sitting, you will involuntarily open your mouth and your tongue will dry out. It is wise to take a few sips, and not drink half a liter, otherwise you will encounter another problem.

Not all buses have toilets. Sanitary stops are often made every 3-4 hours. Usually they look for gas stations along the route, where there are several booths. Unfortunately, in some countries there are not many such places and you have to spend a lot of time draining. However, if the bus has made a stop, it is better to get off so that you do not need an emergency one later.

Try not to eat untested or spoiled food during the journey, so as not to suffer later with the intestines. Neither you nor others will like it.

At gas stations in Europe, as a rule, there is a cafe and a shop. Just do not go far and for a long time - the bus will not wait, and you will have to catch up at your own expense.

2. Food

In no case do not take with you fatty, liquid, perishable foods, as well as foods with a pungent smell - bacon with garlic, fried chicken, etc. Believe me, this greatly annoys the passengers around you and the general mood in the cabin deteriorates sharply.

We recommend sliced bread, fresh cucumbers (whole, better preserved), cherry tomatoes, dry sausage, homemade pies are good. On a long journey, instant soups in jars can be useful (boiling water at gas stations is free). From fruits it is better to take apples or tangerines. They are much less of a problem: they are easy to clean, do not wrinkle, do not cause bloating.

Don't take the seeds! They have a lot of rubbish. Better nuts and dried fruits.

Sometimes at gas stations you have to pay for a cup of coffee, so if you have your own instant coffee or tea, it's better to take a couple of cups with you. Boiling water will be provided free of charge.

A useful accessory on a bus tour is a plastic tray. Like in the dining room. It is easy and safe to serve lunch on the road on it: you can carefully lay out everything, cut it, and if something spills, then not on your knees.

In the photo: the right food for the road

Connection

Not all buses have wifi and sockets. It is useful to take a power bank with you. In extreme cases, contact the attendant, he will help recharge your phone (if there are no common sockets) via USB on the dashboard.

As for the Internet, if you have not chosen an Internet package that is beneficial for you in roaming with your operator, then it is better to immediately close this service abroad. Because at regular rates it's VERY expensive!

The good news is that at the nearest gas station abroad you can purchase a SIM card from an international operator, such as, for example, orange, and choose a convenient travel package for yourself. Now, when there is no roaming between European countries (that is, the billing is the same throughout the EU), it is very profitable to take such a package for a month and use it in all countries of your tour: Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, etc. For example , Orange's Mundo package can be purchased for as little as 7 euros and will include 3 MB of data. For "stories" and "instagram" you will be enough 😉

In the photo: what to do on the bus

What to bring

Traveling in a bus is not a space flight, but for the sake of comfort and health, fees must be taken responsibly. While driving, you will be locked in a fairly small space of your seat, so you should take care in advance that everything you need is at your fingertips. Here is a short list to guide you.

A small handbag or body purse with the most valuable things. Documents, money, tickets, cards, smartphone, charger and so on.
Small money in cash to exchange. In Poland, the Czech Republic, the euro is not in use, and there is no need to change 100, so it is better to stock up on a small amount of local money in advance, or have 10-20 euro bills for small expenses to exchange.
Insurance policy for the entire duration of the trip.
Bank card. Better two. And an app on your mobile phone from your bank. Sometimes this makes life very easy in case of losing money or one of the cards.
A backpack or bag with things you might need.
Items for sleep: earplugs, light-protective mask, blanket, air pillow.
Entertainment: smartphone, book, player, tablet.
Medicines that can help you with motion sickness, poisoning, or that are prescribed to you by your doctor. We always take activated charcoal, aspirin, paracetamol, citramon. If you have a weak intestine, take something for diarrhea. If you are allergic, be sure to grab an antihistamine. Nose drops will not be superfluous - many catch a cold from a change in the weather or in drafts.
Water and a small snack.
Comfortable shoes, warm and waterproof clothing just in case.
Wet sanitary napkins, liquid antiseptic, toilet paper!

Force Majeure

Force majeure is possible even with the best organization of the tour, that's why it is force majeure. It is impossible to give advice for all occasions, and it is not necessary. It is only important to remember that “their” police really protect everyone, emergency medicine helps, so the main thing in any situation is to remain calm and keep the presence of mind.

If you get lost, contact the police, they will explain what to do. If you have health problems, contact your insurance company (there are always hotline numbers on the insurance policy).

I hope that nothing more serious awaits you. But just in case, write down the address and phone number of the Belarusian embassies in the countries where you are going.

photo: bus tour to the concert

And most importantly - do not forget a good mood! After all, the right attitude at the very beginning of the journey is the key to its success! we always try to set the right mood for everyone, so that strangers can chat and make friends during the trip. If you are all gathered in one place with one goal, then you have something in common!

Very often, when the phrase "bus tours" people make disappointed faces. Like, neither to sleep normally, nor to see the country, everything is running, everything is fleeting. In fact, unrealistically cheap tours "throughout Europe" for 100-200 dollars with a disgusting organization and the same service are in the distant past. The current bus tours are designed for the middle class in terms of cost and quality of service for travelers. Travelers are no longer trying to smuggle across all European countries in five days. Various thematic programs are drawn up for 2-3 countries, visits to the most famous museums, parks and other attractions are planned in advance. They accommodate tourists in 2-3 * hotels for two people. It is also possible to take a single room. In short, the level of comfort has increased significantly. Serious travel agencies try to fulfill all the wishes of their customers and organize the most interesting trip. Tourists are only required to properly prepare for the trip and follow a few simple rules while traveling. Then a good mood is guaranteed for everyone. First of all, you need to properly assemble.

So, on the road you will need:

Comfortable shoes, preferably several pairs for different weather, as well as slippers for the shower and the bus.
Wrinkle-resistant clothing made from natural fabrics. You should not take evening dresses and high-heeled shoes with you, even if you are planning to visit theaters and music halls. An elegant jacket, a light-colored blouse and trousers will look much more organic on a traveler than a rumpled dress with a train, only from a suitcase. And it's much more convenient.
Warm clothes, even if you go on tour in summer. In Europe, the weather can change significantly.
Toiletries. Many hotels may not have shampoo or towels.
Water and other drink, especially if you travel in summer. The coffee maker on the bus has a volume of about 5 liters, that is, half a glass per person. This is clearly not enough, and it is not always possible to purchase something at the bus stop. If you load a package of mineral water into the trunk of a bus, many problems can be avoided.
Coffee and tea are better to take in bags, and sugar is refined.
Light snacks, like chips and crackers, fast food. Do not take perishable products. They are confiscated at the entrance to the European Union.
Fruit candies, peeled nuts and dried fruits will help pass the time, but chocolates, on the contrary, should be discarded. Biscuits, crackers and pastries should be purchased the least crumbling and brittle when consumed. It is advisable to buy sausage and other smoked meats in the form of sliced \u200b\u200band certainly in vacuum packaging, since tourist buses do not provide refrigerators. Fans of cheeses and sausages with a strong specific smell should avoid these products during the trip.
It is advisable to bring disposable tableware, unbreakable cups, a couple of packs of wet alcohol wipes
An individual first-aid kit, in which a remedy for motion sickness must be present. Usually, such a medicine is not taken during the trip, but twenty to thirty minutes before the departure of the tourist bus or several kilometers before the start of the mountain serpentine.
An inflatable pillow and a blanket for the bus, especially if night journeys are planned.
Boiler for the hotel.
A small thermos that maintains the temperature of the water for a long time.
Money, of course, in foreign currency. Do not take bank cards, and if you do, in no case insert them into ATMs. It is better to purchase in advance the currency of the country in whose territory you will have to spend most of the excursion for a long time. Even in large foreign cities, the search for an exchanger in the evening becomes a serious problem, and in small ones it is practically unsolvable.
It is more convenient if the suitcase is on wheels, although you still don’t have to carry luggage with things far. It is advisable to have a separate bag that will accompany the tourist on excursions and exits to the city.

It is better to book tickets for a bus tour long before the trip, then there will be an opportunity to choose seats.

As a rule, the travel agency provides some information about your travel companions. In any case, if a youth group travels with you, you must be notified of this. It is your right to refuse such a neighborhood and reschedule your trip. Be prepared for the fact that many children travel during the holidays. It's always more fun with them, but a lot of people get annoyed by that. If you are traveling alone, the travel agency will pick up a companion for you according to your wishes. You can do it yourself.

Many travelers are surprised that the guide strongly discourages the use of a dry closet on the road. The question is, why did they put it then? For emergencies. Dry closets are designed for 40 visits, after which they must be serviced. During the tour, it is not always possible to do this. Therefore, it is better to use the dry closet as a locker room, and to meet other needs, sanitary stops are made every two to three hours.

On the way, guides often entertain tourists by showing documentaries and feature films. Sometimes these are virtual tours of the country, stories about the sights as part of consolidating the past or, conversely, to whet the appetite. Sometimes they just show good movies. If you're picky about movies, bring a player with you.

When traveling, you will often have to cross the border. Do not forget that it is not allowed to use cameras and video cameras in the border area. The travel agency takes care of the visa processing.

The most common complaint of tourists while traveling is the lack of time for sightseeing. The guide here, as a rule, has nothing to do with it. Tourists usually do not have enough free time to visit unplanned objects and shopping. To avoid incidents, prepare in advance for the trip. Through the Internet, learn as much as possible about a particular city, make your own program. In any case, the guide will give each tourist his phone number in case someone gets lost.

As a general rule, those who are late for 20 minutes to departure dance on the bus, for 40 minutes behind him. If you linger for 40 or more minutes, you will have to catch up with the group.

The main advice for bus travel is to keep a positive attitude! After all, if you follow these simple rules, the trip will be easy and pleasant, and the memories will be vivid.

If you have chosen a bus tour, this means that you are not afraid of the duration of the journey and the monotonous change of scenery outside the window. And that you are ready to put up with the need to live for three or more days according to a single schedule for the entire excursion group, taking into account the collective preferences, as well as the weaknesses and shortcomings of your fellow travelers ... In general, you are easy-going, condescending and patient, you know how to see something interesting in the most ordinary things and value the opportunity to satisfy your curiosity above comfort.

It is these qualities that will be useful to you on your journey. No relaxation from the start!

At the border crossing, you can be delayed for several hours and you will not have the opportunity to have breakfast for a long time. In this case, save a chocolate bar with nuts.

15-20 minutes after crossing the border, the bus will make a stop so that you can wash your face, have breakfast, buy something for the journey, change money for local currency.

Take advantage of the services offered. Do not be fooled by the fact that the bus is equipped with a device for boiling water and a toilet. Many drivers do not like to boil water for tourists often and in large quantities (your entire stock of packaged soups may turn out to be unclaimed!), And they are only allowed into the treasured booth to change clothes or ... in the very, very last resort.

You will definitely need zloty exchanged at the Polish border, or rather pennies, including on the way back, because in Poland, the first (and final) European country on your route, there are no free toilets, and euros and cents are not taken for this service . By the way, try to delve into the conversion systems of all currencies needed on the way before the trip. Otherwise, out of inexperience, you run the risk of buying a bottle of water from a cunning seller for four euros, which costs only two throughout Europe!
Think carefully in advance what things you will put in the luggage compartment and what you will take with you on the bus. During the journey, the weather can change significantly. Asking the driver to open the trunk, look for your suitcase... It's troublesome, and there's no time.
In summer, it is good to grab a light polyethylene raincoat.
More or less warm clothes are necessary for boat trips along the rivers and canals, from which it is cool even on a hot day. They are also needed when climbing the Eiffel Tower in Paris: there, at a height, it is always windy, and in the evenings it is simply cold.

There are stops along the way for various purposes - taking pictures, short walks, buying souvenirs, etc. Try to keep within the time allotted for each stop. It's not even that by constant delays you can incur the dislike of fellow travelers. In Europe, the schedule of each tourist bus is tracked by special devices. Safety rules require that every day it is defended for at least nine hours in a row. Drivers cannot violate this order or make up for the time lost due to the disorganization of tourists by speeding - both of which are fraught with heavy fines. This means: the more time you lose on the road, the later you arrive at the hotel for the night and the later you go on excursions in the morning (some of them may break).

Thanks to bus tours, you can visit different cities and countries in a short time and with minimal money, get a lot of impressions.
Cheap and cheerful? The meaning of bus travel is in a rich "excursion". Even at the very beginning of the journey, the guide accompanying the group gives all the information about the history and culture of the countries where the route will pass.

Bus tours also have one more trump card, moreover, indisputable - affordable prices. Combined tours are more expensive. This is when you need to get to the border, for example, to Brest (and even better to Warsaw, Berlin, Vienna - then there will be no need to cross the border by bus, which will save a lot of time), you need to take the train, and then transfer to the bus. Such a trip will cost approximately 500 euros per person. More expensive, of course, than the bus "in its purest form." However, compared to the traditional "non-bus" tour, this is a penny. Sometimes a bus tour is combined with an air flight: you get from point A to point B by plane, and only in the country of destination you travel by bus. Such a voyage is the most comfortable: less time is spent on the road, more time is left for the excursion program. But the price increases in proportion to the cost of the ticket.

"Samovolnaya" is canceled

The main argument of opponents of bus tours is the lack of comfort. Of course, sitting for hours on the bus is still a pleasure. Even if the bus is modern, it is equipped with air conditioning, a TV, a VCR and other cute little things for any traveler. However, this is still a means of transportation, not a motor home. Therefore, there is nothing to complain to the guide that your legs are numb, or to think about a plan of revenge on the travel agency employees who sold the ticket. You knew what you were getting into. If comfort is above all for you, choose an individual tour and stay in a five-star hotel (but the price for such a vacation will be many times higher than for a bus tour). If you are ready to trade silk sheets for a bunch of new experiences, you are the place in the bus seat.

The right attitude for this kind of rest is still needed. After all, whether you like it or not, you will have to learn how to do everything on schedule. Even smoking and going to the toilet ("conveniences" are also on the bus, but they can be used only as a last resort). There are parking lots for this: the bus stops every three to four hours. Try to do everything during this time. An unscheduled smoke break, even if you die without nicotine, no one will do. Slow down at each bush - too. You will also have to eat and drink collectively, and also mainly during parking in cafes at gas stations. Moreover, you can have a hearty lunch there for only 8-10 euros.

But we do not recommend showing independence by going "AWOL" during a parking lot - whether it's unscheduled sightseeing, visiting the most famous restaurant in the city or something else - we do not recommend. You will have free time for this. In the meantime, you are tied to the program, no sorties outside of this very program! Otherwise, you may not be in time for the departure of the bus, and he will leave without you. You will have to catch up with the group yourself. In some companies, even the contract states that the bus waits for latecomers no more than 15 minutes.

Rigid binding to the team is also fraught with the fact that you have to get along with completely strangers. Meditate, look out the window, listen to a guide or read a book. Otherwise, domestic troubles and squabbles can ruin your entire vacation. True, most often the impressions about the group are just good, because most of the people who "subscribe" to the bus tour are of approximately the same stock. It is not surprising that many fellow travelers become like-minded people, with whom you then make friends in everyday life.

How to make the most of your travel time?

Bus tours in Europe year after year are becoming more popular and affordable for most Russian tourists. Bus tours provide an opportunity to see the world of Western Europe from the bus window, but also to visit various kinds of excursions and recreational activities.

As a rule, in the first days of traveling on a tourist bus, tourists rarely look away from the window. Delightful landscapes of pristine nature and trees and shrubs growing along the side of the highway float through the glass, especially a few kilometers from city life. In the following days, local landscapes begin to be perceived as monotonous and boring.
Many travelers find a distraction or an interesting activity for themselves during the long and, moreover, tedious journey of the sightseeing bus along the intended route, getting the most out of the chosen tour.

It would be a sin to take a sweet nap in the seat after eating, leaning on the back of the bus seat, or to study your favorite work of art or a magazine during a long journey. These kinds of things can be done at home. After all, most tourists during the year collect money for a long-awaited vacation, sometimes denying themselves various kinds of entertainment events, the need to change the interior of their own apartment or purchase new household appliances, only to find a way to kill precious time by reading their favorite work, to master which did not work on weekdays.

It is advisable to take a digital camera or camcorder on the road to brighten up a long trip. This technique allows you to shoot everything in a row, and most importantly - magnificent landscapes, which are not obscured by trees and shrubs growing along the side of the road. And, having arrived home, you can remove all unnecessary by installation. After a couple of months or years, it will be nice to remember this amazing journey, watching your own amateur family video about the selected bus tour on TV or a personal computer.

How to choose a bus tour?

Do not be lazy, call several travel companies, find out the prices for a particular tour. From this number, and build off. Too low a price should alert. Remember, cheap cheese only happens in a mousetrap!

Do not immediately take a two-week tour. It is better to go "ventilate" for 3-4 days in Finland, Sweden or one of the Baltic countries. Liked? Next time you can go on a longer voyage.

At the moment, there are two main types of bus tours. The first option involves spending the night traveling directly on the bus. This most extreme and cheapest option is suitable for those people who are ready to sleep sitting down, do without water procedures for several days in the summer heat, not being able to retire in order to put themselves in order.

The second version of the bus tour is designed for those tourists who are used to relaxing with certain amenities. Travelers spend the night in comfortable hotels, in cabins on ferries or in campsites.

Before buying a bus tour, you should pay attention to the condition of the vehicle. Most branded tourist buses are equipped with air conditioning, a toilet, a boiler or kitchenette, a TV, seats with an adjustable backrest and a headrest.

Some travel agencies actively practice pre-assignment of places on the bus for tourists. Often, a relatively small surcharge is provided for more convenient seats. Due to the lack of reservation of specific seats on the bus, there may be disputes between travelers that can easily ruin the entire long-awaited vacation. The only right decision in disputable situations is the drawing of lots before the landing. In this case, there is no mutual resentment between tourists, but there is a chance that you will not get the places that each of the vacationers is counting on.

As a rule, when scheduling a trip, possible traffic jams, difficult weather conditions and delays when crossing the border are taken into account, therefore, when traveling by bus, it is rather difficult to determine the exact time of arrival at hotels and excursion sites. The contract necessarily stipulates a clause according to which, after the appointed time, late tourists are expected to wait no more than fifteen minutes. Those who did not meet this deadline will have to catch up with the excursion group on their own for a relatively “tidy” sum. This unwritten rule is followed by most travel companies.

It is definitely recommended to write down the mobile phone number of the guide-interpreter accompanying the group. Indeed, in an unfamiliar place, you can easily get lost or, for other reasons, be late for the appointed time to board the bus. In such cases, a guide-interpreter by phone will help you find your way and tell you how to get to the pick-up point more conveniently or where the tourist bus will stop, which will pick up the latecomer.

The budget of a tourist is purely individual, but certain subtleties will have to be taken into account when planning it.
As a rule, the cost of a bus tour includes only breakfasts in hotels, less often dinners as well. But you will have to dine at your own expense. With a normal diet, rarely anyone manages to meet fifty to seventy euros per day. It is advisable to provide money for the purchase of tickets to various museums and excursions, visits to which are not included in the price of the ticket. Often such excursions are much more interesting than those that are prepaid.

To whom are bus tours contraindicated?

Traveling by car as a full-fledged tour is not even considered. After all, it’s quite difficult to call a driver-worker a tourist - you won’t really look around - you have to constantly monitor the road, and the whole of Europe will float by the window completely unnoticed, which is why the car option is excluded.

Bus tours are absolutely contraindicated for those who consider walking for three stops a marathon distance, and the longest walk you have done in your life is the road from the entrance to the tram. A bus tour assumes the presence of a certain group of people and the principle of the leadership of the guide. If the option of one-man command over you is unacceptable for you, then a bus tour is not an event for you! If you don't accept other options for keeping your body clean other than taking a daily shower or bath, then your normal cleanliness will obviously be violated on a bus tour, so think carefully about the possibility of this type of travel. If it is very difficult for you to limit your physiological needs from parking lot to parking lot, it is directly contraindicated for you to travel in our buses.

The ideal tourist on a bus tour is considered to be a sports person for whom orienteering and walking are favorite sports, and you perceive shoes as your second skin. If you are sociable, like to tell different stories in a company, if you have a well-developed healthy herd feeling, if you are ready to go to the red light district, the Louvre, the zoo for educational purposes, then this is required by circumstances. If in relation to random fellow travelers you are very tolerant, and do not deny them their small rights, for example, such as all sorts of weaknesses such as excessive talkativeness, loud snoring or increased mobility. If your signature trick is to sleep in a seated position after being well trained, at work, at home, or on public transport. If you are not too sensitive to smells, including the smell of sweat and unwashed human body. If shopping is of no importance to you, and shopping centers are to you, this is just a place to buy souvenirs. If you, as a historical person, are able to accept your guide for the entire duration of the trip, on which a lot depends on what memories you will have after the trip. If you yourself want to make sure that the traffic police in Poland are even angrier than in Russia, and the roads are smooth, but narrow. That there are no bars on the windows of houses in this country, and an amazing fauna lives in the Berlin Zoo, that our girls are a thousand times more beautiful than Berlin frau. if you yourself want to be convinced of the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and what Parisian women wear on their bodies (to be honest, such a “sucks” that our women will not even dress alone with themselves). Why are croissants and French rolls good and different from our food? If you want to see the real Mona Lisa with your own eyes, and feel the transport problems in the center of Paris on your own, so to speak, skin.

You will find out during your trip that the bicycle is the main mode of transport in Amsterdam, and their houses are located right on the water, that hemp is grown there, if desired, and six acres is considered a fortune. The workers of the "red light district" are united in a trade union, and checks are issued to all their clients, if desired. This work, by the way, is no less prestigious than our profession as a doctor or teacher. And Dutch herring has a completely different taste in Amsterdam than in Moscow or Sakhalin. Russians in all countries are treated with respect and sincere interest.

Of the practical tips, you are probably most interested in those that are able to tell you how to live abroad with a minimum of money. You will be able to exist normally abroad, having fifty euros a day for expenses. This will allow you not only to eat more or less normally, but also to cover the cultural program to the maximum, buy souvenirs and even try the local exotic cuisine. Do not forget that after four or five excursions, at the end of the day there is no energy left for anything. And if you want to make an evening outing to the nearest bar with a bottle of Bordeaux, or just just walk around the city for a couple of hours, think about the fact that something from the daytime program should be abandoned. All your clothes should consist of the necessary minimum of the most wearable things, without much hope of arranging a laundry - anyway, it will not have time to dry on the road. Particular attention should be paid to shoes. Unworn, brand new shoes are not accepted on the road, just like stilettos, in which you often have to walk on the most unusual road surfaces, including cobblestone pavements, on which they are very traumatic. The more comfortable your shoes are, the more pleasant the excursions will be. Do not overload your own luggage, limit it to ONE place - it will be much more convenient for transfers and stops. And happy journey!

A bus tour is a great opportunity to visit the cities of Europe for a very reasonable price. Those traveling by bus will have a wonderful opportunity to see many other cities along the way, unlike those tourists who have chosen air tours.

Grade

In general, there are a lot of advantages, but, unfortunately, there can also be many inconveniences, but only if you don’t prepare properly.

When is the best time to go?

The most suitable time for bus tours is autumn and spring, when it is still / no longer hot, but not cold either. In autumn, you will have the opportunity to see European cities in an unusual, fabulous state. At this time, even the smells change, and we fondly remember them long after the end of the trip itself. In the spring, we have a series of May holidays, which can also be used not only for the first barbecue picnics, but also for traveling to see how Europe wakes up!

Tour booking

If you are traveling for the first time, although this also applies to experienced tourists, the trip should be booked in advance. And there are several reasons for this:

1. You will be able to communicate with different travel agencies and tour operators, compare offers and prices, and really choose what you want, and not what is left on the residual principle. Those. start to be interested in tours somewhere two months before the trip itself. It will not be superfluous to read reviews about travel agencies. Also, do not go on too cheap tours.

2. You will have time to collect and prepare the necessary documents for obtaining a visa without haste. In this case, the passport, of course, should already be in existence. Don't leave everything to the last minute.

3. Early booking with most travel agencies involves small, but still nice discounts. Also feel free to ask about auction tours, sometimes companies arrange various promotions.

4. You will be able to take the best seats on the bus, since most often the distribution of seats takes place as requests from tourists are received. Here, in the literal sense, the rule “who first got up and slippers” applies. But in some cases, the first rows on the bus are offered for an additional fee, so do not forget to check this point with the consultant. The same tourists who applied last, as a rule, are placed in the last places, where it is not very convenient, and the guide is also swaying and not always audible.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a tour?

The most tiring in bus tours are night crossings. Therefore, try to choose those that contain one, maximum two night crossings. As a rule, there are almost no tours without traveling at night, so if you find one, pay attention to it.

Food and products

You won’t be full of sights alone, so you need to take care of the “grocery set” in advance. Bus tours are considered a budget type of tourism, so we will not advise you to take more money and buy everything on the spot. It is far from always possible to get into a supermarket, and the prices in public catering in Europe are quite biting. Therefore, it is better to stock up on "brakes", and we will spend the amount saved on this on excursions and souvenirs.

It is interesting:

1. Feel free to take instant soups and cereals on a trip, because they seem to be specially invented for this. Take a spoon with you, as well as an unbreakable plate and cup. You can also take a thermos and fill it with boiling water at every opportunity. A small boiler will help with this (if anyone remembers what it is). Just keep in mind that it is forbidden to use it in hotels, but if you really need it and no one sees it, then you can ...

2. For sandwiches, buy sliced bread and a couple of vacuum packs of hard cheese and meat products on the bus tour (if in winter, then more is possible). Canned pâtés are also a great option.

3. It is advisable to take fruits that are solid and those that emit a minimum of liquid when dismembered, since it is unlikely that you will be able to wash your hands on the bus. Suitable apples, pears, bananas ...

4. Tea bags and coffee sticks are indispensable travel companions on any trip. Especially if you did not ignore the first advice and took a boiler and a thermos with you on the tour bus. Oh, and do not forget sugar, preferably in pieces.

5. For snacks, you can stock up on cookies (preferably crackers), nuts, chocolate bars, chips, crackers.

6. The most important thing is water, especially in summer. You can take the whole package. Nothing that takes up half a suitcase: you can’t carry it in your hands, and the freed space will come in handy for souvenirs from Europe on the way back.

We've already got the basics. The main thing is to leave free space, as there are a few other important things that may come in handy on a bus tour.

What else to take on a tour of Europe by bus

properly equipped;
a good supply of wet wipes, as well as antibacterial hand spray;
a compact hair dryer and a small camping iron;
a book, scanwords, maps, an MP3 player, a tablet and other gadgets that will not let you get bored on a long journey;
chargers and/or spare batteries for the aforementioned gadgets, as well as photo and video cameras, mobile phones…;

usually in Europe there is no problem with this, but in the UK, for example, a completely different standard of sockets, so ask about this in advance and take the appropriate adapter on your trip.

We haven't forgotten anything important. Finally, a few more simple tips.

Pack all your things in a large suitcase that will be in the trunk, and take a small bag or backpack with you to the bus cabin, which will contain only the most necessary things on the way. You can replenish supplies at overnight stays, in hotels, where you will pick up all your luggage.

Calculate in advance the necessary amount of money for something that is not included in the ticket price. Basically, this is visiting museums in Europe (from 3 to 30 euros) and, sorry, toilets (50-70 cents), transportation costs for independent travel and moving around cities, buying souvenirs, food. Be prepared for the fact that all this will require at least 100-200 euros per person. Therefore, ask the tour operator in advance about the features of the selected bus tour and upcoming expenses.

Try not to get lost and not to be late for the gathering places, otherwise you will catch the hateful glances of your fellow travelers until the end of the trip. To do this, take a map of the city with you or download the smartphone app.