How to prepare by bus to the sea. How to choose and prepare for a bus tour: useful life hacks for tourists. How to choose a bus tour

Not all agencies that organize bus tours focus on the issue of the traveler’s nutrition. However, this is one of the most important issues that still worries people who care about their health. Today we will talk about food on bus tours, what to look for, and how to choose the right option for yourself. Note that we will talk about how they feed in hotels. Snacks are not provided at the operator's expense during travel, so you need to take some kind of dry ration with you. We wrote about what you need to pack for the trip if you are going on a bus tour in other materials -.

Now let's look at the issue of nutrition in more detail. When choosing a bus tour, we recommend that you definitely check how you will be fed and how many lunches and breakfasts are included in the tour price. After all, at a minimum, you will need to calculate how much money to take for additional lunches and trips to cafes.

As a rule, the type of food offered by the hotel is indicated by the Latin letters BB, HB, FB, as in the case of regular tourist trips. This information must be provided either on the website or in hotel brochures. Now a little more about what each of the designations means:

BB is the most common option for bus tours. When you see this designation, please note that the price will only include breakfast at the hotel. But do not forget that the morning meal can be different. It all depends on the star rating of the hotel; the more stars, the better the service and the more varied the tourist’s morning diet. Inexpensive 2-3 star hotels, as a rule, offer a continental, not very luxurious breakfast. This could be: sandwiches, coffee, yogurt, bun or croissant. Some hotels offer buffet breakfasts, in which case they may add boiled eggs, fruit and vegetable salads to the above. If the hotel you choose where you will be staying is more expensive, most likely, you will be offered a hot breakfast (bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs and other dishes). By the way, there is one more important nuance: if you refuse breakfast, you will only make it worse for yourself. Some tourists try to refuse this service in order to save money, but it has already been paid for, so there is no point in this.

HB includes both breakfast and dinner. This option is not so common on bus tours; it is mainly relevant for resort holidays. However, Western operators are increasingly offering just this type of food. In this case, breakfast will most likely be served as a buffet. But for dinner, individual dishes from the menu or the same buffet may already be offered. Remember: if you order dishes from the menu, then drinks in this case are paid. Alcohol can cost a pretty penny, especially in the evening. In addition, the quality is not always the best, so it is better to take regular soft drinks.

FB – full board (that is, they will feed you 3 times a day). This is not relevant for our bus tours. Since in this case the cost of food may exceed the price of the entire tour. Full board is offered by American tour operators when organizing trips to Europe.

And finally, the famous All Inclusive, which we didn’t even mention above, is not included in bus tours. This food system is relevant only for resorts, especially Turkish ones. The all-inclusive system, as well as full board, are not the most popular options, because it is easier for a tourist to go to a local cafe. This way he can not only have lunch, but also try traditional delicacies.

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Bus tour

Features of bus tours

Bus tours- this is a very popular and relatively inexpensive way to travel, allowing you to visit quite large territories in one trip, including almost all of Europe, if you have a Schengen visa in hand.

Most often, those who like to go on bus tours sightseeing tourism.

In addition, bus tours are a very cheap way to get from remote areas to many resorts and Europe. In this case, they are carried out without excursion support, including only the transportation of tourists to the hotel and back (plus room accommodation and meals).

Traveling by bus allows you to see much more than traveling by train and even more so by air. In addition, during bus tours, quite a lot of stops are made in the most interesting places, from the point of view of the guide, in excursion terms - not only in cities, but also on the way between them.

Bus tours also help expand your circle of acquaintances, because, as a rule, a fairly large company travels with you, which quickly becomes united by common feelings, impressions, expectations and experiences.

Service on bus tours

Service on bus tours has its own specifics, caused by the very nature of traveling on a bus.

Buses for such tours are almost always equipped with air conditioning, a dry closet and a washbasin - this is the so-called minimum service requirement.

In addition, many buses have a kitchenette, a water boiler, and the ability to listen to music and watch videos.

Usually, every 3-4 hours of travel the bus makes technical stops for 30-40 minutes. This is enough to have a snack in a cafe, use a stationary toilet (remember that it may be paid), smoke, exchange currency (though at a not very favorable rate).

Since bus tours, as a rule, have a distinct excursion focus, tourists are provided with a large number of reference and information materials - maps, guidebooks, museum maps, phrase books, etc. In addition, such tours must be accompanied by a professional, qualified tour guide.

Thus, first of all, bus tours in the service focus on the quality of transport, the professionalism of the guide and the richness of the excursion program.

At the same time, the star rating of hotels along the bus route may fade into the background, since hotels are needed only for short stops for rest and sleep, for which 3 and even 2-star hotels are quite sufficient.

Hotels are often booked on the outskirts of cities because they are often more spacious, spacious, have more rooms with twin beds, larger dining areas and parking for large buses close to the hotel.

Remember that many services in hotels (minibar, telephone, etc.) may be paid additionally. Any breakdowns or malfunctions in the room must be reported to the hotel administration immediately through the guide, so as not to subsequently have to pay for damage not caused by you.

Where to go?

Having decided to travel by bus, you need to take a very responsible approach to choosing the purpose of the trip, its length, as well as the time of year for the trip.

Possible problems on bus tours

The specifics of bus tours also determine the range of possible problems that you may encounter on your trip.

First of all, those traveling by bus can expect various kinds of delays along the way caused by traffic jams (especially in large cities), road accidents, and various bus breakdowns. It’s better to prepare for such problems in advance, come up with something to do during delays (reading, watching videos, communicating on the Internet, etc.) and not waste unnecessary nerves in this situation, since you can’t do anything in this situation change.

In the event of a serious breakdown, the travel agency will send a replacement bus, your tour will continue, and you may even receive some kind of bonus as compensation for the inconvenience.

On long trips (and, as a rule, bus tours are quite long), psychological friction between group members is inevitable, caused by quite a long stay of sometimes completely different people. You may not like your driver or guide, you may be annoyed by some of the habits and manners of your fellow travelers, and you yourself may also become the cause of dissatisfaction with your companions. Try not to focus on it, but still enjoy the ride. You will most likely forget your travel companions quite quickly, and the emotions from the places you visited will stay with you for a long time.

In any case, in order to avoid various kinds of troubles, or to reduce losses from them to a minimum, when concluding a contract, you should very carefully study the bus tour program, hotel descriptions, bus characteristics, list of services offered during the tour, and also find out who and what thus bears responsibility for possible problems along the way.

Considering the nature of the trip, you should take with you comfortable, wrinkle-free clothes, comfortable shoes (preferably with low heels), a blanket, sunglasses, earplugs, an umbrella or a light raincoat.

An inflatable pillow or just an ordinary small pillow can be very convenient on the road.

You should only take long-term food items with you on the bus tour (instant soups, chips, crackers, vacuum cut, tea or coffee bags, etc.).

For boiling water on the road, it is better to take a plastic or ceramic mug with a handle.

A folding knife, a plastic spoon, a bottle opener, and wet sanitary napkins will not interfere with your trip.

Don’t forget about the medications you personally need, as well as electrical appliances (hair dryer, razor, etc.), which must have a European plug or adapter.

You should not take with you more than one carton of cigarettes, more than 1 liter of spirits, or expensive jewelry.

It is better to purchase the currency of the countries you are visiting in advance so as not to waste time on the trip. If you only take euros or dollars with you, then make sure you have small bills. On the road, it is best to exchange currency either in banks or in exchange offices, but in no case by hand.

Baggage should be divided into two parts. You need to take only the essentials with you to the salon (documents and valuables, food, hygiene items, etc.). The rest can be left in the luggage compartment.

Bus tour

Behavior on the road

You should not be late to the appointed meeting point during the tour. They will most likely wait for you, but the psychological atmosphere in the group will probably become more tense. In addition, tour buses in Europe often have limited stopping time.

If you think that you know more about the countries and attractions you are visiting than your guide tells you, you should not interrupt him and impose your erudition on your fellow travelers. You don't have to listen to the guide and just enjoy what you see.

If you don’t understand something in the guide’s stories or are worried about something during the trip itself, do not hesitate to contact the guide or the travel agency representative accompanying the group with questions. This will help avoid a number of unnecessary problems.

During stops for rest and sleep, try not to go far or for a long time from the hotel, do not take all the money with you, do not disturb public order and do not hesitate to ask the police for help.

Try to find out in advance the addresses and telephone numbers of all hotels along the route of your tour.

If you have fallen behind the group, lost your documents, or found yourself in an unpleasant legal situation, you should immediately contact the police or the consulate.

Bus tours - one of the most inexpensive ways to travel, although more time-consuming. For example, traveling from Paris to London can take more than eight hours. How to prepare for a bus trip if you have a tiring trip ahead?

Planning stage and ticket purchase

First of all, it is important to choose a company that has earned a good reputation for punctuality, reliability and comfort. Eight hours on an old and dirty bus will seem like an eternity even if you try to be philosophical about it. Comfort is not always synonymous with high travel costs, especially when it comes to traveling around Europe. When the company is chosen well, the tourist will receive comfortable seats, a clean bus, friendly staff, free Wi-Fi and an outlet for electronics. If you come across an old bus, its capabilities will be limited for obvious reasons.

The next step is to search for reviews about bus lines on the Internet. The experiences of other travelers will help you make your final decision.

On the forums you can ask questions about the comfort of the seats, which often affects the passenger’s well-being during a long trip.

Choosing a seat on the bus is another important task. Passengers with seasickness should sit in the middle or rear of the bus, away from the windows. The earlier you buy your ticket, the better: buses fill up quickly, leaving virtually no choice.

You should not buy seats near the TV or speakers. However, the front seats are considered safer in the event of an accident.

Psychological preparation

Psychological attitude plays an important role when preparing for a trip. It's simple: if you think that the path ahead will be difficult, it will be really difficult. Experienced travelers advise viewing a long bus tour as something more than just suffering. First, you need to accept that many things will not be perfect. After a couple of hours, your legs will get tired, there will be people talking loudly, you may get seasick, and at the end of the trip you will be tired. It's all part of the journey. If you accept reality and prepare more carefully, knowing about your “weaknesses”, the trip can be made as comfortable as possible.

Baggage

When traveling by bus, passengers are provided with one seat in the luggage compartment and are allowed to take one hand luggage with them. It is worth taking care of hand luggage in advance. A spacious bag is recommended for those who want to save on food during the trip.

For a trip of 7-8 hours, you can pack the necessary food and water in sufficient quantity. No need to abuse juices or soda. Only water will help you avoid dehydration and stay refreshed during your trip.

It is also worth making sure that the bag contains things that will help you get distracted: a laptop, magazines, toys for children. However, reading while traveling can make you feel unwell. In this case, it is better to listen to audiobooks. Be sure to bring earplugs for sleeping: you never know who will be your neighbor.

Don't forget about comfortable clothes for traveling. It is recommended to choose flat-soled shoes, a light dress and trousers, and sweaters made from natural fabrics. It should be possible to take something off or put it on depending on the temperature inside the cabin.

During the trip

On the bus it is not recommended to do anything that distracts the driver’s attention or irritates others (screaming, loud laughter). This applies, first of all, to tourists who travel with children and who like to listen to music too loudly.

Doctors never tire of warning about the risk of thrombosis that tourists are exposed to during long trips. It is worth taking care of the opportunity to take off your shoes and put on socks made of natural material.

When the bus stops, you just need to get out and stretch. If you can’t leave the salon, you can do simple exercises.

1. “Love your neighbor”

If 40-50 adults spend 10 days side by side in an almost confined space, then this could easily turn out to be a real reality show. In general, tourists usually have a lot in common: as a rule, most of them are intelligent, curious, and of average income.

The main thing is that everyone has the same goal - visiting the sights of any country. It would seem that finding a common language in such conditions would be as easy as shelling pears, but that was not the case. Any careless movement of one of the vacationers that creates some obstacles to the comfort of another can easily become a reason for a cold war. Therefore the most important tourist advice when going on a bus tour, remember that every action should be carefully considered before you take it. When you are in a confined space with other people, you cannot only worry about your own comfort. If the whole group takes this into account, then the result of the trip will be the presence of a couple of dozen new friends and a truly unforgettable experience from the trip made with them.

2. Think through everything to the smallest detail

Tourists going on a bus tour for the first time in their lives usually have no idea what problems they may encounter during the trip. To avoid troubles, before traveling you need to mentally imagine everything that you have to do on the way: sleep in a chair, go on excursions, each time tidying up your appearance in advance, have a snack on the run, take photographs, contact your family by mobile phone and keep track of for personal hygiene and also, perhaps, desperately trying to find a hotel lost in an unfamiliar city. This advice for tourists It’s definitely worth learning, since solving various upcoming problems in advance will help you figure out how to purchase an inflatable horseshoe-shaped pillow and a light blanket that will make your rest on the bus comfortable. You will decide to choose comfortable shoes, wrinkle-resistant clothes and, if necessary, take woolen socks to ease the fate of your tired feet after returning from another multi-hour excursion. You will ensure a supply of sanitary napkins for washing on the bus. In addition, during your trip you will not forget to charge everything that runs on batteries as soon as you arrive at the hotel.

3. Don't abuse alcohol

Many Russian tourists simply do this, but this is unacceptable on a bus. As a last resort, if you don’t want to spend the entire trip absolutely without alcohol, it is permissible to take a small flask of cognac or whiskey with you, but drink them in an amount of no more than one sip a day, as they say, “to sleep better.” Drinking more than this norm of high-proof drinks is strictly prohibited, since on a bus tour there is absolutely no time to recover from this. The stops are always short and they occur no more than once every three hours, so you won’t be able to catch your breath in the fresh air. You shouldn’t expect other travelers to understand the situation and express sincere sympathy - the maximum you can get for drinking strong drinks is a loud scandal due to the unpleasant smell of alcohol spreading throughout the bus.

4. Think through your path

Another important one advice for tourists– before sending, do not be lazy to search on the Internet for complete information on each of the cities through which you will travel. Print out your plans, mentally mark the most interesting places and attractions in your opinion. Of course, not all of them will be able to be visited: unfortunately, for many reasons, for example, due to long border crossings, unfavorable road conditions and guides acting in their own interests and not yours, often the free time intended for walking is significantly is shrinking. However, if you have an extra hour in Amsterdam or Paris, it is advisable to know in advance how you can effectively spend it.

5. Smile!

During the bus tour you will have a lot of reasons to smile. Always remember that positivity is the key to a successful, memorable trip. It is also worth noting that this advice for tourists It is especially useful for those who are traveling to Europe for the first time, because there it is customary to communicate with everyone with a smile on their face. Of course, troubles happen from time to time, but if you are alive and well, and the cause of the blues is ordinary fatigue, do not allow yourself to lose heart. When traveling, you should always smile sincerely, but there is only one exception: you should not joke with customs officers, since they usually have a terrible “allergy” to funny people. Simply because of your good mood, they can ruin the nerves of both you and other fellow travelers.

6. Save, but in moderation

The vast majority of tourists going on bus tours do not have huge sums of money, but they are true travel fans. If there is a high probability that you will not be able to return to those cities that are included in the route of your chosen trip, then there is no need to save on visiting museums and additional excursions. Otherwise, you risk returning home without learning absolutely nothing about the sights you saw. But various factories and shops, where guides will definitely invite you to buy the cheapest perfumes and diamonds in the world, are an excellent place to save money. If possible, just completely ignore forced shopping. If this is difficult, remember that all guides receive a percentage of such sales. You don't want people to make money off of you, do you?

7. Don't be late!

The schedule of any bus trip is very strict, in addition, unexpected delays constantly occur along the way - either on an excursion or at the hotel, so everyone who is late for the gathering place of vacationers, as a rule, waits no more than 15 minutes. If you do not show up within this period, you will have to catch up with the group on your own, so it is best to arrive on time. To anyone who suspects that they will not be able to follow this advice to tourists, it is recommended to always have with you not only a detailed travel itinerary, but also the addresses and telephone numbers of the hotels where you plan to stop. In this case, it may be possible to avoid the dire consequences of being late in the form of financial disaster. You'll just have to spend extra on a train ticket to your next destination.

8. Be careful!

Travelers are constantly targeted, waiting in almost any crowded place. Main advice for tourists Those who want to keep their belongings safe and sound throughout the trip – immediately after the start of the tour, give up the erroneous opinion “my bus is my fortress.” When going on excursions, especially long ones, never leave anything valuable on seats or any other easily accessible places. Thieves often sneak into the salons under the guise of unfortunate lost tourists who took the wrong bus and strayed from the group. You should always carry your passport with you, along with money and other valuables. Never leave wallets in clear plastic bags or important documents in inside out pockets. Remember - you can easily become the target of a “silent hunt”, so do not fall for the tricks of scammers and sometimes check the presence of all your things.

9. Be realistic

This advice for tourists First of all, it will be useful to those who are going on their first trip abroad. Remember why the cost of the booked tour is quite low. You shouldn’t count on luxury hotels with amazing service, because one night in them costs twice as much as you paid for the whole trip. Usually the choice of food offered at the buffet on tour is enough to satisfy a tired, hungry person, but it is sure to disappoint the gourmet. Do not think that all conveniences will be created for you when visiting attractions - your arrival at the Louvre does not mean closing it to all other tourists who want to see La Gioconda. Bus tours are very popular in all European countries, so be prepared to wait in queues for a long time and get used to crowds of “lucky fellows”.

10. Make the right choice

What the outcome of your trip will be is, for the most part, determined at the very moment when you decide to buy a bus tour from any company. To decide which one, you should go online and find out about all the possible options. It is best to find independent forums with real reviews from those who have already been on the trip you have chosen, as you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you are interested in and get answers to them. At the same time, it is important to remember that you will have to travel not with the travel agency itself, but with the accompanying group, and the final success of the planned enterprise depends 90 percent on him. Find out in advance from other tourists the names of those guides they really liked and, when you make a choice, try to ensure that you end up under their tutelage.

And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, this is the cheapest option for those who want to see the world. Secondly, you don’t need to plan your trip much; professionals will do it for you. Thirdly, it is convenient; you will be taken from point A to point B without transfers or other inconveniences. In addition, another advantage of such travel is the beautiful and varied views from the window. However, there are also disadvantages that will not ruin the trip if you prepare well for it and take into account the basics.

What things will not be superfluous on a bus tour?

Let us immediately note that we will be talking about those things that you may need directly on the bus, so it is important that everything you need fits into your hand luggage. So, in a medium-sized bag we recommend that you definitely take:

A bottle of water or 2 small ones. Consider the air temperature; the hotter it is, the more you will want to drink. We recommend that if the water is sparkling, open the bottle once before the trip. This way you won't splash water on yourself or your neighbor.
Prepared products. That is, everything needs to be washed and cut; doing this on the bus will definitely be inconvenient. Non-perishable foods will also come in handy: nuts, snacks, bread, coffee sticks. The fact that for a European is inexpensive is noticeable to us, and in roadside cafes the prices are even more inflated. To save money, it is better to take everything you need with you. In addition, keep in mind that you will have little time for a snack in a cafe, this is doubly depressing.
Don't forget about dry and wet wipes. Cleanliness is very important on such trips.
A small first aid kit with the essentials. If you might get motion sickness, buy pills in advance. The feeling of constant nausea can significantly spoil the impressions of the entire trip. In addition, it may also be bad for your neighbor, who will look, to put it mildly, not very well, which will ruin your mood as well. A first aid kit should always be with you. It must contain tablets for headaches, nausea, colds, and antipyretics. The list, of course, can be longer, everything is individual here.
A light blanket or blanket will not hurt even in summer. The bus may have air conditioning and in the evening it is quite possible to freeze.
A portable charger will save you from boredom, so don't forget to take one with you. But standard means of entertainment - crosswords, newspapers, books and everything else that you like - will not be superfluous.
A small pillow for sleeping, preferably an inflatable one, if it’s comfortable for you. It won't take up much space in your hand luggage. You can easily inflate and deflate such a pillow at the right time (plus, you can adjust the softness and hardness).
Safety glasses for sleep and earplugs. The road can be noisy, not only during the day, but also at night.

Best places on long trips

Choosing a seat on the bus is the key to your convenience, comfort and good impressions from the entire trip. Where is the best place to sit to get the most out of the whole event? In most cases, tourists go on tours on double-decker buses, with the first floor reserved for technical needs and people on the second. The best seats are in the front; firstly, there is a beautiful view, and secondly, there is less motion sickness. The rear seats in this case are not very good, especially for those who are susceptible to seasickness. But if the cabin is not completely full, then you can even lie down in the back, as in a reserved seat carriage.

Before you go on a bus tour, think about what to wear. A lot will depend on this decision, first of all, whether you like the trip or not. We do not recommend wearing tight or synthetic clothing. Try to choose things made from natural fabrics: linen, cotton. Besides, a change of jacket wouldn't hurt either. Shoes should also be comfortable. If you know that the journey will be long, it’s a good idea to take even slippers with you.

Try not to choose a tour that involves a lot of overnight travel from city to city. If on the day of departure this is logical and justified, then on other days it is not. Even if there are several such night trips, this should not be constant; it is important to get enough sleep at night.

If you are traveling alone, try to make friends right away. This can be a great help, especially when you need to monitor whether the bus has left the parking lot. Unfortunately, cases of “left behind the bus” are not uncommon. Therefore, on such tours, you should not catch a woof; keep track of time - this is perhaps the most significant disadvantage.

But in general, traveling by bus is profitable, interesting and inexpensive. If you don’t have time to plan your own trip, and your vacation budget is limited, but you still have the desire, choose this option. The main thing is to take our advice into account, and everything will be fine. Have a nice trip and new experiences!

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