DON'T "SLEEP" ON BUSES

Yeah I said it, don’t sleep on buses! Okay you got me, I don’t mean literally “sleep” as in nap or slumber. In fact, that’s pretty much one of the main things I do on buses. But what I mean is don’t count it out as a mode of transportation from city to city.

When I studied abroad in Lyon, France, people would always talk about how cheap the trains are. But from my personal experience, buses are often a more cost efficient option especially when booked in advance. Sure it might take you another hour or two, but if you’re looking to save some cash this is the way to go. It may not be luxurious, but isn’t the point to just get to the destination?

If traveling around Europe, I suggest FlixBus. I don’t think there is place in Europe they don’t go… They even travel to my small little town in the Champagne region of France. Bus costs start at 5 euros and I rarely see it go over 50 euros. The buses are equipped with a bathroom and wifi. They even offer snacks for purchase.

I’ve used the service many different times, but the one I remember most was traveling from Lyon to Nice. My friend Chloe and I booked an overnight bus (8 hour ride) for like next to nothing. We also passed through other towns on the French Riviera, so it was nice to look out the window and see the other beautiful places. Was it fun trying to sleep on a bus for 8 hours? Obviously not… but at the same time we saved so much money and arrived first thing in the morning! You can’t really beat that.

I would caution you—If you get motion sickness or are in for a long ride, I suggest buying a seat online when you purchase your ticket. It’s kind of like an airplane in that sense, for an extra 3 euros you can reserve a seat towards the front, aisle/window, etc. If not, I suggest getting there early so you can get first selection of seats.

Another option is OUIBUS. I’ve only used OUIBUS once, and it pretty much seemed the same. Definitely compare costs and times of travel to decide which one better suits your needs.

All in all, is bus travel bougie? Heck no. But if you’re looking to save some bills, I’d book it!

A map of where FlixBus travels in Europe.