TRAVEL BLOG
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
European Bus Passes
A Eurail or Interrail pass is often the first thought when it comes to getting around Europe with a travel pass. While a bus pass may not get you to as many places as the train, it's a far more economical option and thus a worthy consideration with the current value of the Euro.
Here are some bus pass options for travel in Europe.
Europe Wide
For pan-European bus passes there are two major choices: Eurolines and Busabout.
Eurolines is a network of bus companies across Europe that operate international services under the Eurolines brand. A Eurolines Pass offers unlimited coach travel to 45 cities across Europe. Passes are valid for 15 or 30 days travel.
Busabout is a hop-on hop-off style network that caters for backpackers. The Busabout network covers the most popular cities across western and central Europe.
Eurolines and Busabout have their distinct differences so it is a matter of weighing up what is important for you before deciding which is the right pass. Here are some advantages of the two passes.
Eurolines:
- It's the cheapest bus pass available.
- Available all year.
- Travel with locals.
- More city stops available.
Busabout:
- Travel with fellow backpackers.
- It is hop-on hop-off, but they can arrange hostels bookings and pick up and drop off at the hostel, saving the hassle of finding accommodation.
If you are planning to travel within one country there are some bus passes available from national bus lines. You will need to work out if you will do enough travel to make the pass worthwhile.
U.K
Travel across Britain with a Brit Xplorer pass from National Express
. There are passes available for 7, 14 and 28 days.
For travel in Scotland Explorer Pass from Citylink has 3,5 and 8 day passes.
Ireland
Ireland's national bus company Bus Éireann has a list of Tourist Travel Passes that are valid for travel in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (with Ulsterbus).
France
A backpacker style hop-on hop-off bus service for the south-west of France.
Ze Bus
Switzerland
Switzerland is so well connected with trains that bus travel is mostly used for the smaller places. Post Bus offer a 4-Pass tour that loops Meiringen - Grimsel Pass - Nufenen Pass - Gotthardpass - Andermatt - Sustenpass - Meiringen.
Turkey
Fez Travel is a tour company that offer a hop-on hop-off service to the most popular spots in Turkey.
Fez Travel
Here are some bus pass options for travel in Europe.
Europe Wide
For pan-European bus passes there are two major choices: Eurolines and Busabout.
Eurolines is a network of bus companies across Europe that operate international services under the Eurolines brand. A Eurolines Pass offers unlimited coach travel to 45 cities across Europe. Passes are valid for 15 or 30 days travel.
Busabout is a hop-on hop-off style network that caters for backpackers. The Busabout network covers the most popular cities across western and central Europe.
Eurolines and Busabout have their distinct differences so it is a matter of weighing up what is important for you before deciding which is the right pass. Here are some advantages of the two passes.
Eurolines:
- It's the cheapest bus pass available.
- Available all year.
- Travel with locals.
- More city stops available.
Busabout:
- Travel with fellow backpackers.
- It is hop-on hop-off, but they can arrange hostels bookings and pick up and drop off at the hostel, saving the hassle of finding accommodation.
If you are planning to travel within one country there are some bus passes available from national bus lines. You will need to work out if you will do enough travel to make the pass worthwhile.
U.K
Travel across Britain with a Brit Xplorer pass from National Express
For travel in Scotland Explorer Pass from Citylink has 3,5 and 8 day passes.
Ireland
Ireland's national bus company Bus Éireann has a list of Tourist Travel Passes that are valid for travel in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (with Ulsterbus).
France
A backpacker style hop-on hop-off bus service for the south-west of France.
Ze Bus
Switzerland
Switzerland is so well connected with trains that bus travel is mostly used for the smaller places. Post Bus offer a 4-Pass tour that loops Meiringen - Grimsel Pass - Nufenen Pass - Gotthardpass - Andermatt - Sustenpass - Meiringen.
Turkey
Fez Travel is a tour company that offer a hop-on hop-off service to the most popular spots in Turkey.
Fez Travel
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Sunday, May 11, 2008
Low Cost Bus Services in Europe
The abundant supply of low cost airlines in Europe has created the situation whereby flying can work out cheaper than getting the bus to some places.
To counter the competition from the airlines, low cost bus services have started up across Europe. Traditional bus companies have also answered the call, offering cheap bus fares in the same manner that low cost airlines sell tickets.
Here are some low cost bus deals for travel in Europe.
U.K
It's no surprise that the leading country of low cost airlines in Europe should also lead the charge for low cost buses.
Megabus offer bus tickets across Britain starting at £1, plus a 50p booking fee. The booking facility works like an airline booking service, so the earlier you book, the cheaper the ticket. Megabus is operated by Stagecoach, who also operate a train franchise in the UK, so as a bonus you can also book £1 tickets on their train services as well.
Competition from Megabus stimulated the national bus service National Express
into action. They offer the £1 Funfare to many destinations in Britain. Like Megabus, the earlier you book the better chance of a £1 fare.
Citylink in Scotland have fares starting from £1 for the Glasgow - Edinburgh route.
In London getting to airport can sometimes cost more than the flight. It only made sense then that the easy group (of easyJet) introduced easyBus. They have service from central London to Luton, Stansted and Gatwick Airports.
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Ireland
Eurolines go from London to Cork or Dublin from £15.
Continental Europe
Eurolines can take you from London to Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris from £15. That is especially a good deal when you consider that you travel from central locations, saving you the cost of airport transfers.
Getting the bus from London to the Continent also means you get a ferry ride in the ticket. Sail across the English Channel instead of flying over it and you get to see the White Cliffs of Dover, as well as adding another experience to your European trip.
For Eurolines deals for the rest of Europe check the promo fares from the Eurolines operators in each European country.
Touring in Germany have a special fare for the service running from Hamburg to Mannheim. The route is for Hamburg - Frankfurt - Heidelberg - Mannheim. Tickets from 9 euros for early bookings.
Orangeways is a low cost bus company from Budapest with a network covering Eastern Europe. Destinations include Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Krakow, Cluj Napoca, Bécs, Vienna, Zagreb and Ljubljana.
Sample prices include Budapest - Prague from €15 and Budapest - Ljubljana from €8.
To counter the competition from the airlines, low cost bus services have started up across Europe. Traditional bus companies have also answered the call, offering cheap bus fares in the same manner that low cost airlines sell tickets.
Here are some low cost bus deals for travel in Europe.
U.K
It's no surprise that the leading country of low cost airlines in Europe should also lead the charge for low cost buses.
Megabus offer bus tickets across Britain starting at £1, plus a 50p booking fee. The booking facility works like an airline booking service, so the earlier you book, the cheaper the ticket. Megabus is operated by Stagecoach, who also operate a train franchise in the UK, so as a bonus you can also book £1 tickets on their train services as well.
Competition from Megabus stimulated the national bus service National Express
Citylink in Scotland have fares starting from £1 for the Glasgow - Edinburgh route.
In London getting to airport can sometimes cost more than the flight. It only made sense then that the easy group (of easyJet) introduced easyBus. They have service from central London to Luton, Stansted and Gatwick Airports.
Ireland
Eurolines go from London to Cork or Dublin from £15.
Continental Europe
Eurolines can take you from London to Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris from £15. That is especially a good deal when you consider that you travel from central locations, saving you the cost of airport transfers.
Getting the bus from London to the Continent also means you get a ferry ride in the ticket. Sail across the English Channel instead of flying over it and you get to see the White Cliffs of Dover, as well as adding another experience to your European trip.
For Eurolines deals for the rest of Europe check the promo fares from the Eurolines operators in each European country.
Touring in Germany have a special fare for the service running from Hamburg to Mannheim. The route is for Hamburg - Frankfurt - Heidelberg - Mannheim. Tickets from 9 euros for early bookings.
Orangeways is a low cost bus company from Budapest with a network covering Eastern Europe. Destinations include Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Krakow, Cluj Napoca, Bécs, Vienna, Zagreb and Ljubljana.
Sample prices include Budapest - Prague from €15 and Budapest - Ljubljana from €8.
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Friday, November 02, 2007
Getting to Luxembourg
Luxembourg airport is 6km from the city. It is the home base for Luxair, the national flag carrier airline. There are flights from London by British Airways
and VLM Airways.
The airport is a small regional airport so I was surprised to see 747's at an airport serving a city with a population of just over 75,000 people. These Jumbo's though are cargo airlines.
Luxembourg has positioned itself as a cargo hub and it is one of the worlds busiest. During the day you will see 747 cargo planes flying over the city.

Luxembourg Airport
Train
Luxembourg has its own state railway, CFL. There are direct international services from Brussels, Paris and Trier in Germany.

Gare Centrale Luxembourg
Bus
Luxembourg has international services by Eurolines.
The airport is a small regional airport so I was surprised to see 747's at an airport serving a city with a population of just over 75,000 people. These Jumbo's though are cargo airlines.
Luxembourg has positioned itself as a cargo hub and it is one of the worlds busiest. During the day you will see 747 cargo planes flying over the city.

Luxembourg Airport
Train
Luxembourg has its own state railway, CFL. There are direct international services from Brussels, Paris and Trier in Germany.

Gare Centrale Luxembourg
Bus
Luxembourg has international services by Eurolines.
Labels: airport, bus, luxembourg, train
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Monday, October 01, 2007
Air Conditioned Bus Stops - Dubai
It sounds crazy, but then this is Dubai. The Dubai bus shelter project is billed as the first ever air conditioned bus shelters in the world on such a large scale. The will be 500 of these built eventually.

Dubai Air Conditioned Bus Stop

Dubai Air Conditioned Bus Stop Seats

Dubai Air Conditioned Bus Stop

Dubai Air Conditioned Bus Stop Seats
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Wi-Fi in a bus
The Oxford Tube is a bus service that runs 24 hours a day between London and Oxford. This bus service now comes with free wireless internet onboard. Some seats in the downstairs section are at tables with powerpoints, so the bus ride becomes a pleasant way to catch up on emails.

Oxford Tube Bus

Oxford Tube Wi-Fi

Oxford Tube Bus

Oxford Tube Wi-Fi
Labels: bus, london, oxford, wireless
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Friday, March 23, 2007
Chennai Local Bus

Chennai Local Bus
Labels: bus, chennai, india, tamil nadu
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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