What are the best tours to Europe by bus. Bus tour in Europe: how to choose the best option? Focus on money ahead of time
By choosing excursion tours , you will get an interesting, rich and comfortable holiday abroad . At night, on our tours, you will find the most comfortable European hotels with excellent service and mouth-watering dishes. Of all the tours presented by our company, they are especially popular. Therefore, when developing sightseeing tours in this direction, we pay attention to all the little things. You can choose trips that provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the main attractions of this city of romantics. However, this is not only the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, amazing cuisine and the Moulin Rouge. It is also excursion tours on sunny Cote d'Azur, fragrant vineyards, mountains with white caps of snow. Very often, French Provence is visited by groups who have booked. The charm of this province and the taste of Marseille bouillabaisse will forever remain the most delicious memories of tours to Europe.
Holidays abroad that you dreamed of
Walk through the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter in Paris, ride a bike through Montmartre, and tomorrow watch the morning sun reflect in the fountains of the Belvedere, sighing the fragrant smell of Viennese coffee... Taste chocolate truffles in Belgium and see the vibrant carnivals of Spain, visit the greatest museums in London, see the creations of famous artists and listen to real classical music at the Grand Opera, or maybe just relax in a noisy ber Linsky club or grab a glass of good beer in the company of an old and wise Bavarian - such a vacation can become not a dream, but a reality if you choose tours from the Turtrans-Voyage company. Tours to Europe are not just an opportunity to enjoy the culture of countries that have flourished for many centuries, but also a chance to relax, plunge into real fairy tale, draw inspiration, which is always so lacking. After all, tours around Europe seem to be created in order to open the curtain on the world, to become a part of it, enjoy the most positive emotions and find memories dear to the heart. By the way, many travelers prefer
A trip to Europe is a great springboard for a novice traveler. Firstly, economically, secondly, if you wish, you can cover several countries at once, and thirdly, you have the opportunity to see much more than the airport, hotel, beach and several tourist points, which means you will understand and feel the country more strongly.
There are other benefits as well. These are the wonderful autobahns of Europe and stops in the middle of the picturesque Alps or the Apennines (if you are driving through them), these are hamburgers in cafes at gas stations that go with a bang from the road and seem tastier than any delicacy, this is watching movies and listening to ethnic music, when landscapes change one after another outside the windows, this is the lack of registration procedures at airports, but for those who are afraid of airplanes, there is practically no alternative type of travel.
But, as in any other type of trip (and bus tours are a much bigger adventure than air tours), there can be tricks, inconsistencies, and various unpleasant moments. And all of them are often associated with the wrong expectations of the tourist, as well as the lack of basic behavior skills on a bus trip.
Choose the right company
This is the first and most important thing to do. Bus travel is a responsible business, because here the leader of the group will be with you all the days of the trip, you will spend the maximum amount of time with him and with other tourists of the group, which means that the travel agency must be very reliable so that it can be used to minimize all unpleasant situations.
If the tour operator you are traveling with is unreliable, a huge number of troubles can arise - from banal disorganization and being late to destinations, to ripping off tourists in the form of additional payments right on the road, which you were not warned about in advance.
The question of how to choose a tour operator is rather sensitive, and this is rather a topic for a separate publication. Here we note that he must have been working on the market for many years, he must have a positive credit history, good feedback tourists, recommendations, its activities should be as transparent as possible for the consumer.
Stock up on patience
Choosing a bus tour, in the program we see something like: "Hungary - moving to Austria - overnight - crossing the border with Italy." In such a situation, it will seem to many that moving is as quick and insignificant as reading the names of countries and cities from a piece of paper. In fact, the road takes a lot of time, sometimes almost a day. Therefore, when we see some destinations in the route, we must understand what we are dealing with. And the daily changes of cities or even countries should lead you to the idea that the journeys will be long, and the breaks between them short. This makes you very tired. Although, in fact, this is not good and not bad. You just need to be prepared for this and be aware of all the difficulties of long journeys in advance.
Find out if there will be night crossings
This is a fundamental question. Because there are tours with them, and there are without. If you know you won't be able to get enough sleep on the bus, choose the second option. Usually tours without night crossings are built so that you do not spend the whole day on the bus, but still get to your destination in half a day, settle down there and go on excursions from there. Therefore, your journey does not turn into a continuous trip. But still, if you are very sorry for this time, and you sleep very well in the bus, choose tours in which you will spend the nights in transport, and during the day you will enjoy only excursions.
About included holidays
Pay attention to whether each day of the program is packed with travel and transfers, or whether you will still be given time to rest, perhaps even a few days. Ideal tours are considered those that include several days of the resort and several days of a purely excursion program. On such trips, you can get enough sleep, and get a little healthier, and swim in the sea, and get a lot of fresh impressions. But they cost more. Firstly, because such tours are usually longer, and secondly, they try to include more luxury hotels for the recreation area. That is, these are no longer transit two or three stars, but, for example, fours.
In general, such a huge number of variations are offered that at first you will even get confused. These are now popular weekend tours, and tours for two weeks or longer, combining rest and travel, and tours with accommodation included in the mountains, and only with the beach and the sea ... Any whim of a tourist!
Choose vacation by status
The people you travel with will be with you all the way. Each of them has its own character, habits, needs, and social status. You have to put up with a lot, turn a blind eye to a lot. This should be remembered and taken calmly if you are already on the road.
But first, you can try to minimize the risk that you will not like the trip. How? If you have enough money, do not choose too cheap tours. Then, for example, poor students will not gather on your bus, who will always be late everywhere, drink alcohol in the last rows and have fun loudly when you want to fall asleep.
Grab some snacks
On the autobahns, cafes offer very well high prices. If this is Europe, then a couple of hamburgers and cups of coffee will cost you 10-15 euros. For residents Western countries These are pennies, but for our people - a tangible amount. Therefore, the ideal option is to take something quickly eaten and non-perishable with you on the bus: nuts, chips, cookies, dried fruits, bananas, apples, breadsticks. This goodness is enough for you to have a snack when everyone is spending extra money in a roadside cafe and trying to meet the allotted 15 minutes.
And, by the way, divide all things into two categories - those that are needed on the bus, and those that can be hidden in luggage. In the first category, include a piece of food, a blanket, comfortable shoes, woolen socks or slippers, goggles, earplugs, a head pillow, wet wipes, medicines.
Get your money's worth ahead of time
European bus tours are usually not very expensive: from UAH 2,000 to UAH 20,000 for a trip for two. This amount usually includes medical insurance, a visa, bus travel, some excursions, and the services of a group leader. Everything else will have to pay extra.
How to calculate the final cost of the tour? There is one simple rule: you need to multiply the fee that you give to the travel agency by two. That is, another 50% of your costs will go to food, souvenirs, excursions and other needs. So the tour you bought for 400 euros will end up costing 800 euros.
During the holidays and vacations, each of us wants to organize for himself and his family unforgettable journey which will leave only pleasant and impressions. One option is to tour Europe by bus. Today we will tell you how to choose the best option for yourself, what to look for Special attention, which period of the year is more suitable for such a tourist adventure, the most popular routes?
What is the best time of the year to explore Europe?
Of course, everyone decides this question individually. But, why not squeeze the maximum of pleasure and impressions out of the trip? For example, going to Italy, Spain in the summer, you can enjoy the architecture, culture and have a great time on the beach. In winter, it is good to go to those countries where they organize festive carnivals in honor of the New Year and Christmas. In the spring, we would recommend taking a bus tour to the Netherlands (the tulips in bloom are a beautiful sight), and in the fall, you can take the opportunity to see Germany and visit the most famous beer festival in the world.
However, if you do not want to become part of a large crowd of tourists and regularly stand in long lines, then keep in mind that the summer season is not best time for an educational tour, but just right for a beach holiday. Therefore, we advise you to go on tours to the main attractions in late autumn or winter after the holidays (both prices are lower and there are fewer tourists).
Most popular destinations in Europe
On this moment the most popular tours include visits to several European capitals. It is rare when a tourist chooses one country to explore all its attractions. Many people buy trips to Central European countries, for example, to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria. Tours to the above tours are selling like hot cakes, because it is not only interesting, but also inexpensive. Why sit at home for the whole vacation if you can go on a tour for little money, look at the beautiful Czech Republic and other countries? Of course, the Mediterranean is also in demand (Italy, Monaco, Spain), tours to Montenegro and Croatia are popular. The leaders, as before, are Sweden, France, Norway, Denmark.
How to choose the right travel agency?
If you have decided with time and direction, it's time to talk about a travel agency, what should you pay special attention to in order to avoid trouble?
This issue needs to be approached very carefully, it is better to contact a trusted tour operator in which you are sure (you used it yourself or recommended good friends). If there is neither one nor the other condition, be sure to read the reviews of real tourists. A good travel agency manager with a reliable reputation will tell you about all the nuances:
- Which route, the number of excursions that are included in the tour price.
- Where the tourist will live (conditions in hotels).
- Is meals included (which boarding house).
Do I need to pay for honey? insurance, visa separately or is it included in the price of the tour. - All these points should be spelled out in the contract. Also, the employee must inform his clients about cultural, national differences, give contacts of consulates for communication with their homeland.
We also advise you to pay attention to the presence or absence of free time between visits to the main attractions. Please note that in many contracts the question of a late tourist is also prescribed, as a rule, the bus waits no more than 15 minutes. After that, you will have to catch up with your group for your money.
And yet, before signing the contract, ask about everything that worries you. You pay your money, so you must be sure that everything will go well. If you notice that the agent does not have an exact answer or he leaves him, leave this company, otherwise you risk ruining your vacation and wasting your finances in vain.
After choosing a travel agency and buying a tour, you need to not only pack your bags, but also take care of mobile communications.
Inexpensive communication in Europe today!
Foreign roaming has always been perceived as something very expensive, but today everything is different. After all, many international operators offer low rates for their services for those who are going to visit not even one, but several European countries. If you do not yet have a SIM card for traveling abroad, read:
Offers a good option. The plan includes not only Mobile Internet but also calls. For 1 euro you can buy 100 MB of traffic (several volumes are offered), and for the same fee you can get 60 minutes of calls in the country where you are (36 states - SIM card coverage area).
- this is the best option if your list of countries to visit includes Germany, but the rate is good for other destinations (31 countries in Europe).
Bus tours- the most affordable travel option. They are incredibly popular because they provide an opportunity to see a lot of new things and get a lot of impressions in a fairly short time. Traveling by bus in Europe is in the greatest demand. It is about them that we will discuss in our article.
Advantages of bus tours
Traveling by bus in Europe is a very action-packed trip that is relatively affordable and therefore incredibly popular. During one tour, you can see several countries and a number of cities, and the cost of such a holiday is much less than classic travel with overnight stays in hotels. According to experienced tourists, such trips are very interesting due to the fact that they allow you to feel the romance of real distant wanderings. The dynamic change of countries, cultures, cities and landscapes takes place quite quickly and right before our eyes, thanks to which the whole tour is filled with emotions.
Why Europe?
Why are tourists interested in traveling by bus around Europe? Everything is quite simple. Since ancient times, European lands and the culture of the camps located on them have been of great interest to our ancestors. Whole centuries passed, the borders of states, their rulers, customs changed, but Europe still attracted people. Probably, the desire to see something better and borrow the best achievements has been living in our people since the era of Peter I, who was the first to radically approach this issue.
In order to see life in other countries and get as close as possible to it, as well as imprint outstanding historical values in their memory, people use bus tours. Traveling by bus in Europe is very convenient, as tour routes are deliberately laid through the most prominent capitals and cities.
Travel time
If you are planning a trip, then you should consider in advance which period to choose. There is a huge variety of tours, so you need to choose a trip based on your wishes and preferences. If you want to combine sightseeing with a beach holiday, then you can go on a voyage from late spring to mid-autumn. It will not be hot on the bus, you should not worry about it, but a large number of tourists in museums and near attractions is simply guaranteed. If the purpose of your trip is only to see the outstanding monuments, then you can buy a tour at any time of the year. Least of all tourists in Europe in late autumn and winter.
Advantages of European tours
Currently, you can go on a trip from many major cities, including from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Traveling by bus in Europe has a number of advantages. First of all, such tours are good because the journeys are not too long, and there are incredibly many sights. Modern travel agencies offer an incredibly large selection of bus travel in Europe (reviews are given in the article). Therefore, each tourist has the opportunity to choose a program that suits him. Operators have long developed such routes, thanks to which during one tour you can see up to five to eight capitals and a number of large cities. For example, you can go to France via Poland and Germany, and then continue the voyage through Spain, and then complete the tour in France.
Also great option is a two-week trip to European capitals - Berlin, Paris, Luxembourg, Prague and Warsaw. If you want to see as many objects as possible, then being in these cities, you can also see more nearby attractions. For example, while in Paris, you should not only see Versailles, but also go to Rouen. In addition to a large number of advantages of such trips, there are also disadvantages. The most important of them is a limited amount of time to view architectural monuments and other places. In addition, it should be understood that in such tours, tourists practically do not have free time for self-examination of something.
Directions
If you intend to travel to the north-west of Europe, then keep in mind that the most popular trips are in Scandinavia - France. True, such tours cannot be called purely bus tours, although, as a rule, they get from St. Petersburg to Helsinki by bus. The next section of the path lies by sea on a ferry from Stockholm. Further in the program there is Copenhagen, after which travelers take a bus to Amsterdam. Well, at the end of the tourists awaits beautiful France, for which three to four days are usually allocated. If there is a desire to see some more interesting places, then you can diversify the days with trips to other cities in France. True, such tours are paid separately.
Another favorite for bus tours is Italy. It is about her that all travelers leave the hottest compliments. And there are reasons for this, because the mild climate, the abundance historical monuments and the beaches are able to win any heart. Such tours usually include such cities as Venice, Vatican, Rome, Verona, Florence, Naples, Pisa, Pompeii, Siena. Well, on the way to Italy, tourists can get acquainted with Vienna, Krakow, Berlin and Salzburg. As a rule, tours in Italy are very rich and full of sightseeing trips, however, travelers always have a choice: go to see architectural monuments or have a great time at sea.
Tour operators: "Petrotur"
European tours are quite popular, so many major tour operators offer them. One of them is Petrotur. Traveling by bus in Europe is no less a popular trip than beach holiday. Tourists can visit the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Croatia, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Scandinavia, Greece. Known Travel Company offers wonderful trips from St. Petersburg around Europe, and it is worth noting that they will try to find a tour that will best suit your interests. Traveling by bus across Europe from "Petrotour" can cover only sightseeing and sightseeing, or it can combine sea vacation or be focused on natural objects. Everything directly depends on the wishes of customers. In addition, all trips are organized in such a way that the program includes free days. At this time, tourists can go to optional excursions or otherwise pass the time.
It is worth noting that most of the tours are focused on 5-15 days, but there are also very small trips for 3-4 days. For example, a short trip is possible to Finland - Sweden. Such a trip will provide an opportunity to see the Scandinavian countries.
"Bon Tour"
Another well-known representative of the tourism business, which organizes travel around Europe by bus, is Bon Tour. The company's arsenal includes trips to Italy, Spain, France, Finland, Germany. "Bon Tour" offers not only purely bus tours, but also trips in which ferry or ferry crossings are possible. The choice of tours is very huge, ranging from short trips for the weekend to extensive trips for two weeks.
Travel duration
The duration of the tours can be very different. It all depends on what the program of the trip is. If you are going on such a trip for the first time, then it makes sense to choose a short trip with a minimum set of countries and the least number of night crossings. The cost of traveling by bus across Europe from Moscow, St. Petersburg or Brest, as a rule, does not include payment for a transfer to these cities. If you are not lucky enough to be a resident of one of them, then you will have to get to them on your own.
On average, a typical European trip lasts approximately five to six days. At the same time, nearby cities are included in the program. Such tours do not differ in depth, this should be taken into account when choosing a program. Such trips are aimed at superficial acquaintance of tourists with the country. In addition, weekly tours are often used to visit one country, such as France or Italy. During such a trip, you can get acquainted with the history and culture of the country in more detail.
Night crossings
As we have already mentioned, in the arsenal travel companies There are a variety of travel options available. If you are afraid of spending the night in transport, then you can choose to travel by bus around Europe without night crossings. Such tours are not uncommon, they have their advantages.
Tourists spend the night in hotels along the route, have breakfast in the morning and then go to the next city. For such trips, cities are selected that are fairly close to each other. Such trips, according to tourists, are less tiring, since there is the possibility of a good rest in comfortable conditions. tourist trips without night crossings, not only older people, but also children will master it.
Travel essentials
What to take with you on a bus trip in Europe? Since during the trip you will spend a lot of time in transport, you should take with you everything that will help pass the time - players, maps, crossword puzzles and more. The most important items - food, passport, hygiene items, water - must be put in a separate bag that will be with you in the cabin. All other things will have to be sent to the luggage compartment.
Experienced tourists recommend not taking a large suitcase on the road, but dividing the luggage into two moderate bags, since you do not need all the things to spend the night in a hotel. And not all hotels have elevators, so it will be inconvenient to carry large bags.
Do not take a lot of clothes on a trip. Be sure to choose only comfortable shoes, because you will have to walk a lot. It is necessary to take room slippers on the bus in order to be able to take off street shoes and give rest to the feet. It is worth taking care of electrical appliances, it is better to grab a charger, a hair dryer and a kettle. On any bus trip, you will need a blanket and a small pillow with you. Of course, the cabin is warm even in winter, but falling asleep or just relaxing is much more comfortable under the covers. To travel, you need to choose comfortable clothes, it will be difficult and uncomfortable to ride in tight jeans.
On the road, you must definitely take headache remedies, antispasmodics for the stomach, and diarrhea remedies, since you will have to eat unusual foods.
Bus tours are one of the most budgetary types of recreation. That is why they are so popular with novice tourists: to see the cities of the Golden Ring, or even more - Europe - in, let's say, a full-color version at the price of a three-day vacation on the Black Sea coast, somewhere near Anapa, is quite tempting.
On the other hand, there are plenty of dangers, coupled with surprises, in bus tours. Which scale will outweigh - it's up to you. So let's not bore potential bus travelers with a long prelude and waste the time of those for whom such tours are categorically contraindicated. Let's start with the positive.
Advantages of bus tours
Price. Well, you definitely can’t argue with this: bus tours are really the most a budget option travel.
No, do not rush to object that the price of a seven-day vacation in Turkey is two times lower than a seven-day bus tour. The bus tour includes a transfer, a large set of excursions, meals and hotel accommodation. During it, you will visit several cities or even countries.
And for the amount for which you ended up on the coast of Antalya, you can only lie on the sand and admire the sea. And in case you wish active rest, visits to antiquities, entertainment and good alcohol, you will have to pay a tidy sum in addition to the tour.
So the result remains the same: of all types of recreation, the bus is the most budgetary.
Attractions. If the primary task for you is to see historical and modern sights, and not serenely drinking cocktails lying in a sun lounger, then this is really a huge plus for such tours.
You will visit many interesting places, and during the trips you will have time to admire a variety of landscapes to your heart's content - none of this you will be able to do when buying a regular tour to a hotel.
Among the disadvantages of bus tourism:
Lack of comfort. Really. Rest, during which most of the time you have to think about which pretzel to roll your legs in order to somehow stretch them, can be called comfortable with a big stretch.
Among the difficulties and deprivations of this type of tourism are also present: malnutrition, periodic absence of a shower, lack of sleep due to night travel and lack of personal space.
Again, the severity of such hardships depends on the type of tour and the type of bus - the higher the class of the tour, the less inconvenience you will be caused by moving.
The above problems are practically eliminated if there are no night trips in the tour program: this means that you will spend the night in motels and hotels. The level of service can also be different, but you will definitely have a horizontal bed and minimal amenities like a bathroom and dinner in a cafe.
Short tour times. Bus tours really do not imply free ownership of your own time: in Italy they will take you on a run through the Vatican, in France they will urge you on visiting the Louvre, and in the Czech Republic they will not allow you to quietly have a dumplings somewhere on the Charles Bridge. Often you will move almost running, and in the rain, and in the snow, and in the cold, and even catching a slight cold.
No, of course, sometimes you will have two or three hours for walks, but not everywhere and not always. Sometimes tourists complain that they have to leave cities without seeing one or another attraction, which they have dreamed of visiting all their lives.
Schedule tourist buses quite dense: stay here, miss it there, and now the whole tour is down the drain. So if you are not one of those who appreciate punctuality and are not ready to stoically endure an inspection world heritage from the bus window, such travel will not suit you.
Here it is worth remembering that it is impossible to embrace the immensity. Are you ready to accept this fact? That's when you can think about bus travel.
In addition (we don’t know whether to write this down as pluses or minuses, but the fact remains): for a long period you will have to stay in a group of unfamiliar people, among whom there may well be entities that are far from you in character and therefore extremely annoying. No one is safe from noisy children, drunken peasants and eternally dissatisfied with everything and all aunts. So think three times - will your philanthropy stand this test.
The conclusion from all of the above suggests the following: if you are easy-going, accommodating and non-confrontational, you want to see a lot at once - bus tours are definitely for you. Go without hesitation!