What to take with you on a bus tour “advice from experienced people”. Bus Tour: Survival Tips - MuzTur Cons of Organized Tours

29 January 2019, 13:56

How to prepare for a bus tour? What to take with you, besides documents? How much clothing do you need, what kind of food should you take, where should you put everything? PROTourism has collected all the most important things you will need on such a trip.

Let's imagine: you will spend many hours in transport, among other people, change several hotels, walk a lot and get impressions. This means that your luggage should be comfortable, safe and not too tiring.

So that everything fits

Probably the first question when packing for a bus tour is: what size bag should I take? But we advise you to take not one bag, but three! And here's why. One bag – the largest – will go in the luggage compartment. It should contain things you will need at the hotel or during an overnight move. Despite the fact that most of the time it will be carried by a bus, it should not be bulky - after all, you will also have to carry it, and up stairs.

The second bag will be located next to you on the bus. There should be spare clothes, snacks, medicines, napkins, a book, etc. And with the third bag - it will probably be a light backpack - you will walk around the city.

For comfort on the bus

In order for the road to pass unnoticed, you need to sleep during long journeys, especially at night. To make yourself as comfortable as possible, grab a thin blanket - it will make you cozier and warmer. Many people use bolster pillows and eye masks - these things are worth trying at home and taking with you if you really feel more comfortable with them. To prevent your feet from getting tired, you will have to take off your shoes on the bus. Instead of outdoor shoes, bring several pairs of socks and slippers to keep warm or walk around the cabin if necessary.

For cleanliness

Even if you have a bathroom every morning, take a bar of soap in a soap dish and a small towel. Toothpaste and brush should also be on hand. You also need wet wipes (larger ones) and antibacterial gel. Also, just in case, bring a couple of garbage bags.

Clothes and shoes

Perhaps, as part of your bus tour, a trip to the theater or some kind of celebration is planned? Only in this case is it worth taking evening clothes and weekend shoes. The rest of the time you should be comfortable - not hot, not cold and not cramped. Give yourself the opportunity to put on several layers of clothing: a T-shirt, a thin sweater, and a warm sweater and/or jacket on top. Depending on the weather and temperature on the bus, all this can be combined. Soft trousers will come in handy for relaxing on the bus or in a hotel.

To have a snack

Some people on the road cannot look at food, while others want to chew endlessly. In both cases, the stomach must be helped.

What you should not take: fish, chicken, eggs, pies and other food with a strong smell, from which even the air conditioner will not save your neighbors in the confined space of the bus. There are other reasons: animal products are sometimes not allowed to cross the border.

What you can take: yogurt, kefir and other fermented milk products in convenient packaging, porridge in bags, raw smoked sausage, which does not spoil for a long time without refrigeration.

What you need to take: bread, nuts, fruits, chocolate, candies (these supplies must be replenished as you move along the route). Be sure to take water, then buy more (it will be more convenient not with a liter bottle, but with two half-liter bottles). If you like tea and coffee, try to find out in advance whether you can brew a bag on the bus. On some routes this is not permitted due to safety reasons. Then take a thermos - you can fill it in hotels. Don't forget a knife and a light mug (it's good if it has a tight lid).

So as not to get bored

Doctors do not recommend reading on public transport – but how else can you while away the long journey? You can download a couple of audiobooks - when you listen to them simultaneously with another activity, the thread of the story is lost every now and then, but here is such an opportunity to immerse yourself in the work! The same can be said about music, crafts and cinema. And a collection of crossword puzzles, and a thicker one!

To walk

Rely on a guide, but don’t make a mistake yourself! We hope you don't get lost, but you will certainly have free time to walk around the city. In both cases, maps, guidebooks and phrase books will come in handy. Decide which is more convenient for you - electronic or paper. You may need useful apps for tourists.

Find out in advance all telephone numbers that may be needed in an emergency, including the local police and the Russian consulate if you are traveling abroad.

Two more important points - a camera and... vigilance. Watch your things and wallet, tourists are easy money for scammers!

For comfort in the hotel

A hairdryer and an iron are individual things. It’s hard to carry, but if you can’t live without them, and the hotels on your way have few stars, it’s better not to hope that you’ll find everything upon arrival, but to take the equipment with you.

A boiler - in case there is no electric kettle in the room, and you want to drink tea or make soup from a bag.

Adapter for sockets - if where you are going, the sockets are different from Russian ones.

To spend

You will need money for food, shopping, souvenirs, additional excursions and tickets. The approximate amount for a cultural program can be found out in advance from the travel agency, and then it must be multiplied by 1.5. To this add some money for unforeseen expenses and as an emergency reserve - “just in case.”

Currency must be changed before departure. You will need petty cash in small towns where cards are not accepted everywhere. Read more about bank cards abroad.

To avoid getting sick

If you have chronic diseases, take medications in reserve. This is especially true for bus tours in Europe, because it will be difficult to buy drugs abroad without a prescription. What else should be in the first aid kit?

• remedies for poisoning and diarrhea, as well as for facilitating digestion;
• antipyretic and analgesic;
• motion sickness remedy;
• medicine for allergies (even if you have never had one);
• cough and runny nose medications;
• callus patch.

The rest is based on your personal characteristics.

For contact

Everyone knows that phones, cameras and other useful electronics run out of charge at the most inopportune moment, so you should take spare batteries and external batteries on a bus tour. Also prepare for roaming: in Russia it is disabled, but for traveling abroad you need to select a suitable tariff in advance. And put enough money into the account so as not to go into the red before returning home.

The most important

So, you were far-sighted and uncompromising, you emptied your bags twice and are now ready to go on a bus tour light, but fully armed. All that remains is to take the most important thing on such a trip: a good mood and anticipation of adventure!

Very often, when people hear the phrase “bus tours,” they make disappointed faces. Like, I can’t get a good night’s sleep, I can’t see the country, I just run and catch a glimpse of everything. In fact, unrealistically cheap tours “all over Europe” for 100-200 dollars with disgusting organization and the same service are a thing of the distant past. Current bus tours are designed for the middle class in terms of cost and quality of service for travelers. They no longer try to take travelers through 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. Tourists are accommodated 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 clients and organize the most interesting trip. Tourists are only required to properly prepare for the trip and follow a few simple rules during the trip. Then everyone is guaranteed a good mood. First of all, you need to get ready properly.

So, on the road you will need:

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

It is better to book tickets for a bus tour long before the trip, then you will be able to choose your seats.

As a rule, the travel agency provides some information about your fellow travelers. In any case, if a youth group is traveling with you, you must be notified about this. It is your right to refuse such a neighborhood and reschedule your trip. Be prepared for a lot of children traveling during the holidays. They are always more fun, but many people find it annoying. If you are traveling alone, the travel agency will select a travel companion for you according to your wishes. You can do this yourself.

Many travelers are surprised that the guide strongly does not recommend using a dry toilet on the road. The question is, why was it installed then? For emergencies. Dry toilets are designed for 40 visits, after which they must be serviced. It is not always possible to do this during a tour. Therefore, it is better to use a dry closet as a locker room, and to satisfy other needs, sanitary stops are made every two to three hours.

On the road, guides often entertain tourists by showing documentaries and feature films. Sometimes these are virtual tours around the country, stories about attractions as part of consolidating what has been covered or, conversely, to whet the appetite. Sometimes they just show good movies. If you are picky about movies, take your player with you.

While traveling you will often have to cross the border. Do not forget that you cannot use a camera or video camera in the border area. The travel agency takes care of obtaining visas.

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

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

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

If you have chosen a bus tour, this means that you are not afraid of the length of travel 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 collective preferences, as well as the weaknesses and shortcomings of your fellow travelers... In general, you are easy-going, forgiving and patient, you know how to Seeing something interesting in the most ordinary things and value the opportunity to satisfy your curiosity above comfort.

These are the qualities that will be useful to you on your journey. No relaxation from the very beginning!

At the border crossing, you may be delayed for several hours and will not have the opportunity to have breakfast for a long time. For this occasion, save some chocolate with nuts.

About 15-20 minutes after passing the border, the bus will stop so that you can wash, have breakfast, buy something for the trip, and exchange money for local currency.

Take advantage of the services offered. Don't be fooled by the fact that the bus is equipped with a water boiler and a toilet. Many drivers do not like to boil water often and in large quantities for tourists (your entire supply of packet soups may not be in demand!), and they are only allowed into the coveted cabin to change clothes or... as a last resort.

You will definitely need zlotys 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 they don’t charge euros or cents for this service . By the way, try to understand the conversion systems for all the currencies you need along the way before your trip. Otherwise, due to inexperience, you risk purchasing from a cunning seller for four euros a bottle of water, which costs only two throughout Europe!
Think carefully in advance about what items 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 and look for your suitcase... It’s troublesome, and there’s no time.
In summer it is good to take a light plastic raincoat.
More or less warm clothes are necessary for boat trips along rivers and canals, which feel cool even on a hot day. They are also needed when climbing the Eiffel Tower in Paris: there, at the height, there is always wind, and in the evenings it is simply cold.

There are stops along the way for various purposes - photography, short walks, buying souvenirs, etc. Try to stay within the time allotted for each stop. The point is not even that by constantly being late you can incur the dislike of your fellow travelers. In Europe, the schedule of each tourist bus is monitored by special devices. Safety rules require that it sit for at least nine consecutive hours every day. Drivers cannot violate this order or make up for time lost due to disorganized tourists by speeding - both of which are fraught with heavy fines. This means: the more time you lose on the way, the later you arrive at the hotel for the night and the later you go on excursions in the morning (some of them may fail).

Thanks to bus tours, you can visit different cities and countries in a short time and minimal money and get a lot of impressions.
Cheap and cheerful? The point of bus travel is precisely the rich “excursion” experience. 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 have one more trump card, and an indisputable one - affordable prices. Combined tours are more expensive. This is when you need to get to the border, for example to Brest (or 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 a train, and then transfer to a bus. Such a trip will cost approximately 500 euros per person. More expensive, of course, than a bus “in its pure form”. However, compared to a traditional “non-bus” tour, this is just pennies. Sometimes a bus tour is combined with an air flight: you get from point A to point B by plane, and in the destination country you travel by bus. This type of 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 air ticket.

"AWOL" is canceled

The main argument of opponents of bus tours is the lack of comfort. Of course, sitting on a bus for hours is still a pleasure. Even if the bus is modern, equipped with air conditioning, a TV, a VCR and other things that are nice to any traveler. However, this is still a means of transportation, not a motor home. Therefore, there is no point in complaining to the guide that your legs are numb, or thinking about a plan of revenge against the travel agency employees who sold the trip. You knew what you were getting into. If comfort comes first for you, choose an individual tour and vacation in a five-star hotel (but the price for such a vacation will be many times higher than for a bus tour). If you're ready to trade silk sheets for a bunch of new experiences, you belong in a bus seat.

You still need the right mindset for this kind of vacation. After all, whether you like it or not, you will have to learn to do everything according to a schedule. Even smoking and going to the toilet (there are “conveniences” on the bus, but they can only be used as a last resort). There are parking lots for this: the bus stops every three to four hours. Try to get everything done during this time. No one will take an unscheduled smoke break, even if you are dying without nicotine. Braking at every bush - too. You will also have to eat and drink collectively and also mainly while stopping at 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 layover - be it unscheduled sightseeing, visiting the most famous restaurant in the city, or something else. You will have free time for this. In the meantime, you are tied to the program, no forays outside of this very program! Otherwise, you may not make it in time for the bus to depart, and it will leave without you. You'll have to catch up with the group on your own. Some companies even stipulate in the contract that the bus waits for latecomers no more than 15 minutes.

A rigid attachment to the team is also fraught with the fact that you will have to get along with complete strangers. Meditate, look out the window, listen to a guide or read a book. Otherwise, everyday troubles and squabbles can ruin your entire vacation. True, most often the impressions of the group are just good, because most of the people who “sign up” for the bus tour are of approximately the same type. It is not surprising that many fellow travelers become like-minded people with whom you later become friends in everyday life.

How to make the most of your time on the road?

Bus tours around Europe year after year are becoming more and more popular and accessible to most Russian tourists. Bus tours provide an opportunity to see the world of Western Europe from the bus window, but also to attend various kinds of excursions and entertainment events.

As a rule, in the first days of traveling on a tourist bus, tourists rarely take their eyes off the window. Behind the glass floats delightful landscapes of pristine nature and trees and shrubs growing along the side of the highway, 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 interesting activity during the long and, at the same time, tedious journey of a sightseeing bus along the intended route, getting maximum pleasure from the chosen tour.

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

It is advisable to take a digital camera or video camera on the road to brighten up a long trip. This technique allows you to photograph everything, and most importantly, magnificent landscapes that are not obscured by trees and bushes growing along the side of the road. And, when you arrive home, you can remove everything unnecessary by installing it. After a couple of months or years, it will be pleasant to remember this amazing trip, watching your own amateur family video about the selected bus tour on TV or a personal computer.

How to choose a bus tour?

Don’t be lazy, call several travel companies, find out the prices for a particular tour. This is the number you start from. Too low a price should alert you. Remember, cheap cheese only comes in a mousetrap!

You shouldn’t take a two-week tour right away. It’s better to go to Finland, Sweden or one of the Baltic countries to “get some air” for 3-4 days. 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 travelers spending the night directly on the bus. This most extreme and cheapest option is suitable for those people who are ready to sleep sitting up, do without water procedures for several days in the summer heat, without being able to have privacy in order to get 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 purchasing 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, and have seats with an adjustable backrest and headrest.

Some travel agencies actively practice pre-assigning seats on the bus to tourists. Often there is a relatively small surcharge for more comfortable seats. Due to the lack of reservation of specific seats on the bus, disputes may arise between travelers, which can easily ruin the entire long-awaited vacation. The only correct decision in controversial situations is drawing lots before landing. In this case, there is no mutual resentment between tourists, but there is a possibility of getting places that are completely different from what each of the vacationers expects.

As a rule, when drawing up a travel schedule, possible traffic jams, difficult weather conditions and delays at border crossings are taken into account, so when traveling by bus, the exact time of arrival at hotels and excursion sites is quite difficult to determine. The contract must stipulate a clause according to which, after the appointed time, late tourists will be waited for no more than fifteen minutes. Those who do not meet this deadline will have to catch up with the excursion group on their own for a relatively “tidy” sum. Most travel companies adhere to this unwritten rule.

It is definitely recommended to write down the mobile phone number of the guide-translator accompanying the group. After all, 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-translator by phone will help you get your bearings and tell you how to get to the landing site more conveniently or where the tourist bus that will pick up the latecomer will stop.

A tourist’s budget 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 breakfast in hotels, and less often, dinner. But you will have to dine at your own expense. With normal nutrition, rarely does anyone manage to meet fifty to seventy euros per day. It is advisable to provide money for purchasing tickets to various museums and excursions, visits to which are not included in the price of the tour. Often such excursions are much more interesting than those paid in advance.

Who is contraindicated for bus tours?

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

Bus tours are absolutely contraindicated for those who consider walking in 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 primacy of the guide. If the option of unity of command over you is unacceptable to you, then the bus tour is not the event for you! If you do not accept other options for maintaining a clean body other than a daily shower or bath, then on a bus tour your normal cleanliness will obviously be disrupted, 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, traveling on our buses is directly contraindicated for you.

The ideal tourist on a bus tour is considered to be a sporty person for whom orienteering and race walking are his favorite sports, and you perceive shoes as your second skin. If you are sociable, like to tell different stories in company, if you have a well-developed healthy herd feeling, if for educational purposes you are ready to go to the red light district, to the Louvre, to the zoo, then circumstances require this. If you are very tolerant towards random fellow travelers and do not deny them their small rights, for example, such as any weaknesses such as excessive talkativeness, loud snoring or increased mobility. If your signature trick is to sleep in a sitting position, being well practiced, at work, at home, or on public transport. If you are not too sensitive to odors, including the smell of sweat and unwashed human body. If shopping doesn't mean anything to you, and retail outlets are just a place to buy souvenirs. If you, as a historical figure, are able to accept your guide for the entire duration of the trip, it will greatly determine what memories you will have after the trip. If you want to see for yourself that traffic cops in Poland are even meaner than in Russia, and the roads are smooth but narrow. That there are no bars on the windows of houses in this country, and that the Berlin Zoo is home to amazing fauna, that our girls are a thousand times more beautiful than the Frau of Berlin. if you want to see for yourself the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and what Parisian women wear on their bodies (to be honest, it’s such “suck” that our women wouldn’t even wear it in private). What are good and different from our food are croissants and French rolls? If you want to look at the real Gioconda with your own eyes, and feel the transport problems in the center of Paris in your own skin, so to speak.

You will find out during your trip that the bicycle is the main form of transport in Amsterdam, and their houses are located right on the water, that hemp is grown there, if desired, and six acres are considered a fortune. The workers of the “red light district” are united in a union, and all their clients are given checks, if desired. This job, by the way, is no less prestigious than our profession of 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 can tell you how to live abroad with a minimum of money. You can live normally abroad with fifty euros a day for expenses. This will allow you not only to eat more or less normally, but also to make the most of the cultural program, buy souvenirs and even try local exotic cuisine. Don't 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 even just walk around the city for a couple of hours, think about giving up something from the daily program. All your clothes should consist of the necessary minimum of the most wearable things, without much hope of being washed - anyway, they will not have time to dry in road conditions. Particular attention should be paid to shoes. Unworn, completely new shoes are not accepted on the road, as well as high-heeled shoes, in which you will often have to walk on the most unusual road surfaces, including cobblestone streets, where they are very dangerous. The more comfortable your shoes, the more enjoyable the excursions will be. Do not overload your own luggage, limit it to ONE piece - this will be much more convenient during transfers and stops. And happy journey to you!

A bus tour is one of the most budget-friendly options for traveling around the world if you don’t want to deal with organizational issues. They will do everything for you: they will book a hotel, transport you, and offer breakfast. But still, a lot also depends on a person’s choice and preparation, for example, whether it will be pleasant and comfortable to explore other countries (as a rule, a bus tour includes 2-3 or more countries). If you have such a trip ahead, read our life hacks that will help you get the most positivity and pleasure from your trip:

You should not choose the cheapest option (unless it has a minimum number of countries). Otherwise, you risk getting an uncomfortable bus (which only formally meets the requirements for such tours).

Think in detail about what exactly you need – a gallop across Europe, or a comfortable vacation. For your first trip, we recommend limiting yourself to two or three countries on the tour.

Research the issue of accommodation. Even if the bus tour is inexpensive, this does not mean that you can live anyhow. After all, you are a client, and

pay. If the offer is too tempting, most likely you saved money on the hotel, keep this in mind.
Please clarify the question regarding excursions in advance (are there any mandatory ones, how many are free and paid).

Connect mobile internet abroad in advance. This is not only convenient, but also necessary. If you get lost or fall behind the group, you can quickly find your bearings by finding information on the Internet about what to do and where to go. In addition, having mobile Internet, you can always be in touch. For Europe we offer the Orange tariff - the most optimal price. For just 7 euros you can use 3 GB for a whole month. How to buy a SIM card and how to connect to .
Prepare several comfortable pairs of shoes and comfortable clothes for your trip. We don’t recommend taking a lot of things, but 3-4 shift options should be a must.

Having your own first aid kit when traveling is a necessity. Even if you have never been motion sick and, as a rule, do not have a headache, still take the basic minimum set of medications (just in case).

Prepare small bills for your trip. Running around in search of an exchange office to buy lunch or drink coffee is not the best way to spend your time.

You need to take water with you not only in summer, but also in winter. There must also be a snack - it is better to take sandwiches with cheese, dried meat, soft fruits, snacks, and nuts.

A blanket or jacket with sleeves will come in handy, even if it’s +40 outside, the air conditioning is on in the bus and it can be cold.

Every experienced tourist who knows what a long journey on a bus is must have such a set - a pillow under the head (can be an inflatable one), a sleep mask and earplugs.

Travel comfortably and with pleasure!

Before you buy bus tour at travel agencies inquire about license availability. Be sure to clarify what exactly is included in the cost of the trip: hotel accommodation, meals, excursion program in different cities, guide services, additional services. Be sure to check whether the hotel is booked in advance to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Ask the travel agency to provide photographs of hotel rooms to determine in advance the conditions that the trip organizer offers. The travel agency will take care of all the nuances of a comfortable trip.

What to take with you on a bus tour

We offer you a small list of things that every tourist will need while traveling by bus:

• a small pillow (a special car pillow for the neck);
• plaid;
• wet wipes;
• raincoat or umbrella;
• a small first aid kit (especially if you have chronic diseases);
• comfortable shoes;
• money (small currency) for souvenirs, additional excursions, food.

Divide your luggage into several bags: with food, with things for the bus and with clothes that will only be needed at the hotel. The cost of travel from a travel agency usually includes breakfast or lunch; the rest of the provisions must either be taken with you or count on purchase in shops or cafes.

Comfortable trip

While driving, you should not walk around the bus and distract the driver with conversations. Use the dry toilet while the bus is moving, as it is designed for a limited number of visits. Drinking alcohol and smoking is prohibited during travel.

A bus tour from the travel agency Ap Sauli can be considered both a full-fledged excursion and a sightseeing trip to the most interesting places in Europe. Often tourists first visit different countries by renting a bus in order to decide on the direction of further travel.

by Notes of the Wild Mistress

The very idea that you will have to “survive” on a bus while traveling may seem strange to you, but believe me: the road from point A to point B, which seemed very short on the map, will in fact turn out to be a grueling, exhausting uncomfortable posture, a stuffy and windy night moving.

Of course, bus travel has several huge advantages that are so attractive to tourists: you actually end up where you need to go and don’t pay too much, you sleep while driving and don’t spend money on hotels. It seems that this is the ideal option, a special offer and a golden mean. Well, this may be true, but we all recommend reading our tips so as not to turn this overnight move into a nightmare.

In this article, we have collected tips on how to get to your destination as alive, healthy and cheerful as possible. Let's face it: if bus seats were more comfortable than beds, we'd ditch hotels altogether, but that's not happening.

Deciding whether to take the bus or not.

Here are just a few factors to consider when making this decision:

Safety

Don't underestimate the stories you hear from fellow travelers, people on the Internet, or your aunt who is afraid for you. If they tell you that buses sometimes run off the road, or that they are attacked by armed gangs, you should do a little research and determine what and to what extent of this is true. Of course, no one likes alarmists, especially those who like to exaggerate from scratch, but this does not mean that there is not a grain of truth in their words. It is better to find out in advance that the country you will be traveling through is safe and calm, drivers change and have enough time to rest - then it will be easier for you to make a decision.

Time and money

You will significantly save time by moving around in space while you sleep and waking up in a new place, and you will definitely save money on this, because the bus is a unique combination of place of residence and vehicle. But look at such a move from afar: how much will a domestic flight cost? Sometimes it happens that an inconvenient overnight journey on a bus leaving shortly before midnight costs even more than a two-hour plane flight if you book a ticket in advance. Remember that early planning can save more than giving up your comfort, and always check in advance if there are other options - you don't know the nuances that greatly affect the price.

Comfort

This is where the most terrible and bitter stories you hear begin. Is it shaking a lot? Motion sick? Closely? Stuffy? Is it blowing? A trip along dirt roads would be worth showing in comedy shows on television, but believe me, after a seven-hour drive bouncing on sadistically uncomfortable chairs with sharp and awkwardly protruding armrests, you won’t find it funny at all. In addition, regardless of the name of the carrier whose services you use, you need to look at the number of seats. How comfortable can you be if forty-five people are traveling on the bus besides you? Not very convenient. Often, there is an option to choose a seat inside the bus. Remember that the most comfortable seats are usually in the front and on the second floor (if the bus is double-decker, of course).

So, let’s assume that you have nevertheless assessed all these three most important factors and are ready to try traveling by bus with night transfers. From this moment the chain of your adventures begins.

So, practical tips for moving and carrying luggage:

At the bus station

Typically, bus tours are designed so that travel occurs at night, so departure occurs late in the evening. This means that you, completely hung with bags and luggage in each hand and under your arms, will have to end up at the bus station. And here is the most important piece of advice regarding your luggage: keep in constant contact with it. Visual and physical contact. It is better, of course, to maintain physical contact with each of the bags and suitcases, but this can be difficult. The most comfortable position: Your main luggage is in front of you, or you are sitting on it, and your hand luggage (in which today it is customary to put various electronic devices) is in your hands. Documents and other important but small things should be on the chest.

These tips may seem stupid and even paranoid, but it is in this case that you exercise maximum control over your luggage. No one will be able to sneak up on you unnoticed and leave with your things unnoticed. Know that, according to statistics, everyone, absolutely everyone, who had any things stolen at bus stations, lost them only because they did not keep track of their things at the time of the theft. Don't repeat their mistake and don't add to the sad statistics.

In the bus

And finally, they announced boarding the bus, you get on, see your pre-selected dream seat by the window, settle down, try to sit down this way and that, you realize that the place is really comfortable... Stop! Let's slow down at this point. Know that the easiest way to become a victim of theft is before the bus has even left! When you get on the bus for the first time, you still don’t even know which of all these people is actually your fellow traveler and who is seeing you off. But among the mourners there may well be someone who likes to take other people’s belongings from bags while packing the luggage of their imaginary mother, who is traveling on the same flight with you. And the easiest way for him is to hide, because the bus will take you somewhere far away, where you will discover the loss, and he will remain here and will be free to disappear in any direction. Be very careful. Take all the most valuable and important things with you in your hand luggage, and place the hand luggage itself in front of your feet or even hold it in your hands until the bus moves off.

But when the bus starts moving, the situation will be much better in terms of luggage. After all, you are now locked in one space, so trying to commit any illegal actions here is a futile idea. And so you, along with forty-five other seekers of new sensations, begin to experience all the hardships and hardships of traveling by bus, gradually gaining mutual understanding and forming a “travel brotherhood”.

What to take and what to wear

Clothing and food

Think of a bus ride, despite its apparent simplicity, as a small survival expedition in extreme conditions. You will need to dress in layers. What does it mean? This means that you must arrange the different forms of clothing for all possible weather and temperature conditions and put all these forms of clothing on yourself, or keep them in close proximity. At the very least, you need to minimize changing clothes - after all, doing this on a bus is very inconvenient and unpleasant. You will sleep on the bus, so be sure to think about what you will need in your sleep: a blanket or blanket, an inflatable travel pillow, or your long jacket will be enough, which will serve its usual role during the day, and as a blanket at night. You will most likely need water along the way. It is better to take water with you in bottles with a narrow neck and not fill it “over the top”, otherwise you may unexpectedly take a small, bumpy shower. Are you afraid of motion sickness? Don't forget to take your pills with you. If you want to put on makeup, take cosmetics with you. As for food, try not to take with you food that will be difficult or inconvenient to eat - this not only increases the number of items that you will take with you to the cabin, but also makes the eating process extremely inconvenient.

Other

You will most likely need something to keep you entertained on the go. It is very good if your friend plays this role, but remember that an MP3 player takes up much less space and never comes into conflict. Take earplugs with you - they will protect your light sleep from snoring from the next seat, crying babies, loud arguments from other passengers, loud TV sound and even the grinding and squeaking of the clutch that accompanies some especially “pumped up” buses. Don't forget a sleep mask, which will not only add some mystery to your appearance, but will also protect you from the useless knowledge of how close the lights of oncoming traffic are flying from your bus. It’s probably not worth mentioning about toilet paper - it should already be your faithful companion always and everywhere, because, in addition to its main task, it will be used for wiping, getting wet, and collecting everything that you spill or spill. And if it suddenly becomes unbearably cold, then toilet paper will serve as an excellent means of starting a fire (but, of course, not in the bus).

Sleeping positions

How exactly should you sleep if you have injured your shoulder so that it heals faster? The question makes no sense until another question is resolved: how exactly can one control the invariance of a sleeping person’s posture? Anyone who answers this question will most likely not need money for the rest of their life. So you won’t be able to control your posture on the bus, but you know what you can try:

Direct and relaxed. Sit in the chair as you sat: legs down, head up. Lack of lumbar support will cause you back pain, but no one will look at you with suspicion.

Shrimp pose. Tilt the back of the seat as far back as possible and lie on one side, bending at the waist and pulling your legs towards you. Unless your neighbor (or better yet, if your neighbor is your significant other, or at least a friend) decides to sleep in the same way, you will be completely closed off from the world. In this position, you will most likely have a stiff neck, but your back will not hurt.

On the neighbor's back. If the back of the adjacent seat is installed higher than yours, you can use its end as a pillow. This is not very comfortable in terms of shaking, so use something as a pillow.

Into the spacer. Pull your knees up and rest them on the back of the front seat, and sit lower yourself. Please note that this will irritate the person sitting in front of you, so you need to perform this timidly and carefully, smoothly, so that he does not notice. Attention! If the person sitting in front changes the position of the backrest, you risk either being pinned to your own knees or falling to the floor. In addition, it is in this position that small change falls out of your pockets.

Night stops

At some point during the night, or early morning, the bus will have to stop to replenish water, use the toilet, etc. If you stop, you will most likely want to go out for a walk. If you go out, remember the most important rule: keep eye contact. In addition, if there are several buses besides yours at this stop, remember the obvious signs of your bus (a red stripe along the entire side, for example) to quickly identify it among others. If you are traveling alone, be constantly aware of the passenger who says in a pleading voice: “Please don’t leave without me.”

Arrival

And now, you have finally arrived at your destination. At this moment, you need to smoothly get out of the chosen sleeping position and bring yourself to the waking position. Now you need to quickly check your belongings and the people with whom you boarded the bus. Unload from the bus, but do not lose your vigilance and continue to monitor all things, despite feeling unwell after sleep. Get your luggage in its entirety, check that everything you put in at the beginning of the trip has arrived at the end of the trip, and go to the city. Your journey is over, you deserve a shower and peace.