This publish might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Learn my disclaimer coverage.
Yesterday we accomplished our second FlixBus journey, so I believed I’d share our experiences in case you’re contemplating utilizing FlixBus in your Germany journey.
Listed here are the two journeys we’ve now taken on FlixBus:
Journey 1: Hamburg to Berlin (final December, about 3+ hours)
Journey 2: Budapest to Belgrade yesterday (early November. about 6+ hours)
Value:
Cheap, particularly when reserving prematurely (we booked 1 week forward for Hamburg to Berlin and a pair of months forward for Budapest to Belgrade).
Seat Reservations:
For Hamburg to Berlin we paid further to order the “panorama” seats within the entrance row. It was kinda good tonot have anybody sitting in entrance of us however since we had been solely on the Autobahn for many of the journey, it wasn’t particularly scenic.
After I booked our Budapest to Belgrade tickets a pair months forward, seat reservations weren’t an possibility. However once I pulled up our tickets the evening earlier than journey, I observed that there have been just a few seats nonetheless accessible to order. So I assume the choice to order seats was made accessible after we purchased out tickets however we didn’t get any notifications. Since we didn’t have seat reservations, we arrived on the bus station 45 minutes early, had been the primary on the bus, and bought 2 seats collectively in the midst of the bus. After we boarded we had been informed we may solely select a seat within the second half of the bus.
You’re going to get a seat on the bus however if you wish to sit within the entrance half of the bus, wish to make sure you sit collectively along with your journey companion(s) or simply don’t wish to stress about the place you’ll sit, I like to recommend getting a seat reservation. And verify again if seat reservations aren’t accessible whenever you ebook your ticket.
Tickets:
Our tickets arrived by way of e mail however I additionally downloaded the app and will entry them there. After we boarded the bus, our tickets had been scanned.
Yesterday, whereas Aaron was stowing our baggage underneath the bus, I boarded so I may declare our seats. However once I confirmed our ticket to the driving force, he informed me that I couldn’t board with out Aaron. Evidently, as a result of I purchased our tickets collectively, we had been required to board collectively. Luckily, Aaron bought on the bus proper then and we had been each capable of board.
Baggage:
We had been allowed to every verify 1 bag and produce 1 on the bus to retailer overhead. There’s an extra charge to deliver greater than that. We did have a small extra bag with our lunch in it and had no downside brining that on the bus.
You’re liable for getting your baggage on and off the bus. Our 2 bigger luggage went within the baggage storage compartment, and our smaller carry-on objects (together with our coats) match within the overhead storage space above our seats.
Consolation:
Seats are pretty comfy and okay for shorter journeys (like Hamburg to Berlin) however not nice for longer journeys like our Budapest to Belgrade journey. Luckily, on our 6 hour journey yesterday we bought out of the bus for 30-ish minutes once we stopped on the border to undergo passport management and once more at a relaxation space (which had bathrooms, snacks, drinks, and scorching meals opitons).
Security:
Our drivers drove safely and every seat has a seat belt. I felt secure on each journeys.
Total, to date we’ve had good experiences with FlixBus. Not superb…however solidly okay.
FlixBus Execs:
- Might be cheaper than trains, particularly should you ebook prematurely
- We left on time
- Each busses had been direct so we didn’t fear about lacking any connections
- Protected driving and pleasant employees
- There was an influence socket in ever row, small tray tables, and wifi
- There was sufficient house within the overhead bin for my backpack
- There’s a rest room on board (neither of us have tried that out but tho)
FlixBus Cons:
- You pay further to order seats forward of time
- It usually takes longer than taking the practice or driving
- Only one checked bag and 1 carry-on is included in your ticket
- Seats and leg room are okay however not spacious
- You possibly can solely stand up and stroll round if and when the bus stops for a break
- It’s not simple to control baggage you stow within the baggage space
- Our bus arrived about 45 minutes late yesterday (however was on time once we went to Berlin)
- Our bus to Berlin dropped us at a bus station removed from town middle
Personally, I favor touring by practice as a result of I like having more room and the power to stand up and stroll round. I’ll take a excessive pace practice over FlixBus any day.
However I strongly dislike being caught in a small bus seat for hours on finish…so that you gained’t ever hear me raving about FlixBus!
That stated, I really feel like each of our experiences had been constructive and I’d use them once more for shorter journeys.
