A packed itinerary can still leave room for unexpected events, even if all the tickets have already been booked. Before adding another bus leg, check how much free time is left at the destination.
What to plan in advance
Mark the following on your calendar: packing, check-out, the journey to the bus stop, the journey itself and check-in. Treat the whole block as a journey. If almost every day includes such a block, remove one overnight stay at the new location and distribute the freed-up time amongst the remaining stops.
How to apply this to your trip
A day without an intercity bus doesn’t have to be spent in museums. It gives you the chance to do your washing, have a leisurely breakfast, adjust your walk depending on the weather, and return to your favourite neighbourhood. It’s not a wasted day, but part of the journey you set out on.
Check before taking the next step
Before booking, write down all your overnight stays and coach journeys in your calendar. Mark the arrangements that can still be changed without losing money, and those that already tie you to a specific day. Check your full door-to-door route: a short journey with inconvenient stops can sometimes take up more of your valuable time than a longer, direct option.
Useful information before your trip
Also check: what documents are required for a coach journey to Europe, how to prepare for an overnight coach journey, and the rules for carrying luggage on a coach. Find the latest coach services and route options on RedRay.
Photo sources: image 1 (CC BY-SA 4.0), image 2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Questions and answers
How can you tell if a route is overcrowded?
Most days start with packing and end with looking for new accommodation, with walks in between.
What should the outcome of your planning be?
You need to know where you’ll be staying, where you’ll be setting off from the next day, and which parts of the itinerary can be cut short.
When should you last check the bus timetable?
Check your journey after booking, again a day before departure, and once more on your way to the bus stop. Save the journey number and the transport operator’s confirmation offline.
How much time should you allow before boarding the bus?
Follow the operator’s recommendations and allow extra time for public transport, finding the platform and checking your documents. For international journeys, it’s better to arrive early than to plan a tight connection.