Two people may both love travelling, but have different ideas about what constitutes a comfortable day. It’s worth discussing this before booking intercity coaches, rather than after your first tiring journey.
What to consider in advance
Each of you should name one must-see attraction, a reasonable walking time and your preferred number of breaks. Then draw up a joint plan for the day. You can spend the rest of the time apart, provided you’ve agreed on a meeting point and both of you have tickets and access to accommodation.
How to apply this when travelling
Don’t get hung up on the quickest route on the map. Travel time with luggage, rest stops and finding the entrance are all part of the route. For an intercity bus, agree on a joint finishing time for the walk, which doesn’t depend on who else wants to take photos.
Check before taking the next step
Before booking, write down all your overnight stays and bus journeys in a calendar. Mark which arrangements can still be changed without losing money, and which ones already tie you to a specific day. Check the full itinerary from door to door: a short journey with inconvenient stops can sometimes take up more of your valuable time than a longer, direct route.
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 2.0).
Questions and answers
Is it OK to split the programme into several hours?
Yes, provided this is agreed in advance and everyone knows the place and time to meet up again.
What should the planning achieve?
You need to know where you’ll be staying overnight, where you’ll be setting off from the next day, and which parts of the programme can be shortened.
When should you last check the bus timetable?
Check the service after booking, again a day before departure, and once more before heading to the bus stop. Save the service number and the transport operator’s confirmation offline.
How much time should you allow before boarding the bus?
Follow the carrier’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.