Australian Politics Forum - Travel around Europe via bus.

Sophia

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Travel around Europe via bus.
Feb 21^st, 2024 at 2:08pm

My friend is keen to do this (with us!) and has shown me an itinerary … at least I like the 2 day stays rather than one day stay as it’s all just hectic bus travel otherwise.
This I found out with the Canada Rockies bus tour, and China tour.
I was just too stuffed to go out in evening after travelling in a seated position in bus hour after hour.

So has anyone done these Europe bus tours and any hints or tips?
This particular tour stops in London 4 days.
After long international flights I need to rest… jet lag kills me!

Thing is, this is an extensive tour total 28 days.
I get homesick after 14 days! Grin

I was worried about travel insurance as both hubby and I will be 70 by then.
With our little bit of ailments we have to declare etc

Anyway…. since we last travelled overseas was 2019 and then 2 years of lockdown stopped us in our tracks. And… I can’t find where I put our passports! Ffs!

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #1 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 2:19pm

I've done three or four bus tours around Europe.

Overall, I was quite happy with them.

They bring your luggage right to your hotel room door, and pick it up again in the morning.

They post itineraries next to the elevators every day so you know exactly what's happening.

Every new day that you get on the bus you're given a different seat - they have a rotation system.

They organise local guides in each new town or city to give you a quick tour, which can be good (although some are better than others).

You're expected to tip each tour guide, and you're also expected to tip the bus driver at the end of the tour.

At night, they take you to a restaurant for dinner and they usually include some sort of entertainment (sometimes a bit corny).

My most memorable bus tour was through Croatia, Bosnia, etc.

But I've done Italy, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, etc. too. All great.

I'm like you, I don't like to be away too long.

A bus tour of about 10 to 14 days is enough (for me, anyway).

28 days is a fair bit, but it would still probably be quite enjoyable.

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Frank

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #2 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 2:42pm

Sophia wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 2:08pm:

My friend is keen to do this (with us!) and has shown me an itinerary … at least I like the 2 day stays rather than one day stay as it’s all just hectic bus travel otherwise.
This I found out with the Canada Rockies bus tour, and China tour.
I was just too stuffed to go out in evening after travelling in a seated position in bus hour after hour.

So has anyone done these Europe bus tours and any hints or tips?
This particular tour stops in London 4 days.
After long international flights I need to rest… jet lag kills me!

Thing is, this is an extensive tour total 28 days.
I get homesick after 14 days! Grin

I was worried about travel insurance as both hubby and I will be 70 by then.
With our little bit of ailments we have to declare etc

Anyway…. since we last travelled overseas was 2019 and then 2 years of lockdown stopped us in our tracks. And… I can’t find where I put our passports! Ffs!

Covering too many places is tempting but unwise. You could spend your whole time in only one or two countries like Germany or France, Italy or Spain and be happy.
Organised group tours - I wouldn't do it but many people like it. They take you to all the tourist traps to see all the places you have already seen in magazines.p

I would suggest longer stays and an interest that links the places you visit - port cities, medieval cathedral cities, places of revolutions, Roman settlements, car or motorbike manufacturing or whatever. Train travel is also much more convenient and enjoyable.

Check out travel within cities, 2, 3, 4 day passes. You will not want to walk all day when you are not on the bus.

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/global-pass

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #3 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 5:03pm

Interesting story about my bus trip to Sarajevo (from Zagreb).

When we got there, we were handed over to a local tour guide.

She took us on a walking tour which took about 45 minutes to an hour, checking out the markets, main street, etc.

It was interesting enough but, one major thing was missing: the Latin Bridge and the site of Franz Ferdinand's assassination.

When I asked the tour guide why we didn't go there, she pretty much said "Don't mention the war".

So, I found a local and paid them to take me there.

Glad I did too.

Sarajevo isn't the prettiest place in the world (the streets are full of kids begging and one-legged dogs), but there's a lot of history right there on the corner at the Latin Bridge.

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Sophia

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #4 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 5:41pm

There’s a good point Frank… going by train instead!
And then I see those river cruises too stopping at different destinations.
Both have their good points.
Until we work out which way to go about it and I will study the itinerary because hectic doesn’t cut it anymore. Years ago could do it… but China nearly killed me as it was 36 deg and there were long walks!
Just looking from one end of forbidden city to the other end was 3 kms!
Half way point were ice creams… sitting eating that with hot looking face… that’s the photos I most remember! Grin

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Sophia

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #5 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 5:47pm

Yes Gregory I heard how good the tour guides are and how luxurious the buses are in Europe!
I do recall when stopping over in USA I did pay extra to re schedule so I had a few days extra in California but now wish I had spent more time there to see the motor museum etc
But at least I did do Disneyland … all the others in the tour group went home as scheduled and missed out. We also met our long lost relatives and it was so memorable… totally loved it!
But … hubby gave me grief! He was super nervous we were on our own making our own way but I had everything planned well… I’m an itinerary queen!

this he realised after! Roll Eyes

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Jasin

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #6 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 6:15pm

I'm amazed that you're both doing such trips Sophia, at your ages. Well done to you both. I found the Ukraine last year a tough chaotic place to get around, even though everything was organised for me by my Employers. Had to have armed escort at all times, to protect me from the local 'savages'. Saw so many beaten women from the violence of the men/partners. Very sad to see. You don't see any of that on the Biden Media Propaganda show.
I'm getting too old for such crap.
Your holiday sounds like 'luxurious' and easy going.

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Sophia

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #7 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 8:26pm

Jasin wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 6:15pm:

I'm amazed that you're both doing such trips Sophia, at your ages. Well done to you both. I found the Ukraine last year a tough chaotic place to get around, even though everything was organised for me by my Employers. Had to have armed escort at all times, to protect me from the local 'savages'. Saw so many beaten women from the violence of the men/partners. Very sad to see. You don't see any of that on the Biden Media Propaganda show.
I'm getting too old for such crap.
Your holiday sounds like 'luxurious' and easy going.

There’s a few planned OS trips we want to do before we get to that really old and feeble stage.
I love travelling and learning about different places and people.
I always say to hubby, while we still have stamina and independence and fairly reasonable health… we do more travels.
We have no grandkids (or pets anymore Cry

) so we are free to just go.

No good feeling regret later when we should’ve done it while the going was good.
There’s a trip that might come up soon to NZ we’ve been told to go revisit friends again, we saw them on weekend as they came over from NZ for their sister’s 50th.

Geez JaSin, armed escort to Ukraine! Sounds like some very special quest you had to go on.

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Frank Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 52701 Gender:	Re: Travel around Europe via bus. Reply #8 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 8:41pm I would consider getting a room in a city like Munich, Bologna, Lyon, Turin, Manchester, etc and do day trips or overnighters from such a base. Bussing around without any purpose but to 'see sight' - that's daft even for young people.
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Jasin

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #9 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 8:43pm

Decades of research have paid off in my later life.
No longer have to work the vast assortment of labour jobs that I've done - even if they 'worked' me into good physique and attitude.
Now I work for hire by Private Companies, Australian Government and even helped the Police with their Ironside in Sydney.
The horrible thing about Ukraine is that 'everyone is desperate', like rats crawling over each other upon a small log, trying not to drown - and that's not even in regards to the battle front.
The thing I did like about the Ukraine was its rich dark soil.
The smell of it is amazingly strong, no soil in Australia can compare with it. A Canadian working with me for a week there said its because its the soil fertilised by hundreds of battles through history. Shocked

Yes. You and your hubby have the right attitude to get all that Travelling and worldly experience done before you both can't. My back (from heavy workload jobs) is my grief, as I can't deal with Coach seats for long. Plane and Train are hard enough, if I can't get up and walk around. There is no way I can do coach tours sadly.

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #10 - Feb 21^st, 2024 at 11:18pm

Sophia wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 2:08pm:

This I found out with the Canada Rockies bus tour, and China tour.
I was just too stuffed to go out in evening after travelling in a seated position in bus hour after hour.

Anyway…. since we last travelled overseas was 2019 and then 2 years of lockdown stopped us in our tracks. And… I can’t find where I put our passports! Ffs!

The train tours with Canadian rockies are pretty good.

Better views you can walk around train.

https://canadiantrainvacations.com/canadian-rockies-and-west-coast?gad_source=1&...

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Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 53070 Gender:	Re: Travel around Europe via bus. Reply #11 - Feb 22^nd, 2024 at 12:38pm They have windows rising up into the ceiling I think, which affords the views of the mountain tops as well. Good idea.
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Jovial Monk

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #12 - Feb 25^th, 2024 at 8:09am

Sophia wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 8:26pm:

Jasin wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 6:15pm:

I'm amazed that you're both doing such trips Sophia, at your ages. Well done to you both. I found the Ukraine last year a tough chaotic place to get around, even though everything was organised for me by my Employers. Had to have armed escort at all times, to protect me from the local 'savages'. Saw so many beaten women from the violence of the men/partners. Very sad to see. You don't see any of that on the Biden Media Propaganda show.
I'm getting too old for such crap.
Your holiday sounds like 'luxurious' and easy going.

There’s a few planned OS trips we want to do before we get to that really old and feeble stage.
I love travelling and learning about different places and people.
I always say to hubby, while we still have stamina and independence and fairly reasonable health… we do more travels.
We have no grandkids (or pets anymore Cry

) so we are free to just go.

No good feeling regret later when we should’ve done it while the going was good.
There’s a trip that might come up soon to NZ we’ve been told to go revisit friends again, we saw them on weekend as they came over from NZ for their sister’s 50th.

Geez JaSin, armed escort to Ukraine! Sounds like some very special quest you had to go on.

Go visit Venice again before the sea claims it!

Same with Holland. Go see the Night Watch in Amsterdam before it is too late.

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Sophia

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Re: Travel around Europe via bus.
Reply #13 - Feb 25^th, 2024 at 9:29am

Jovial Monk wrote on Feb 25^th, 2024 at 8:09am:

Sophia wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 8:26pm:

Jasin wrote on Feb 21^st, 2024 at 6:15pm:

I'm amazed that you're both doing such trips Sophia, at your ages. Well done to you both. I found the Ukraine last year a tough chaotic place to get around, even though everything was organised for me by my Employers. Had to have armed escort at all times, to protect me from the local 'savages'. Saw so many beaten women from the violence of the men/partners. Very sad to see. You don't see any of that on the Biden Media Propaganda show.
I'm getting too old for such crap.
Your holiday sounds like 'luxurious' and easy going.

There’s a few planned OS trips we want to do before we get to that really old and feeble stage.
I love travelling and learning about different places and people.
I always say to hubby, while we still have stamina and independence and fairly reasonable health… we do more travels.
We have no grandkids (or pets anymore Cry

) so we are free to just go.

No good feeling regret later when we should’ve done it while the going was good.
There’s a trip that might come up soon to NZ we’ve been told to go revisit friends again, we saw them on weekend as they came over from NZ for their sister’s 50th.

Geez JaSin, armed escort to Ukraine! Sounds like some very special quest you had to go on.

Go visit Venice again before the sea claims it!

Same with Holland. Go see the Night Watch in Amsterdam before it is too late.

That reminds me of a funny story a couple weeks ago… my daughters friend was showing me her Europe trip photos on her phone.
And when she showed me Holland, I said “Did you put your finger in the dyke?”
Well…. I gathered by her astounded expression she had no idea what I was referring to! Grin

I then went to explain about the water levels being held back from claiming the land etc

You know what astounds me… I’m thinking… do people go to other countries and learn anything?

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Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 53070 Gender:	Re: Travel around Europe via bus. Reply #14 - Feb 25^th, 2024 at 9:52am Ha! She probably thought you meant that she should sexually poke her finger in some Lesbian biker.
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