Live Your Life Newsletter - April 2005
Travel & Hostel Newsletter for Backpackers

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Coach Tours

One great option to travel around Europe is to join a coach tour. Their two main characteristics are that these tours are usually cheap (cheaper than local coaches or trains, loads of goodies), and are filled by like-minded independent travellers (which one may like or dislike…). Also they offer the safety and comfort of not having to set up plans in advance and spend hours looking for a place to stay, which can be a great asset on a short trip in Europe, where cities are usually big and travel costs even bigger. But if you’re looking for something different and more in touch with the locals, just forget it!

There are two main travel options in those tours: regular and hop-on hop-off.

The regular tours are set packages: one initial meeting point, one coach, a fix set of destinations and the same group all along the way. These tours usually also arrange accommodation, and, on most days, catering. Because these tours are run by great travel experts, be assured that you’ll get a lot for your time and your money. Regular coach tours, as long as they are run and filled by independent travellers, are probably the best option when you have only a very limited time (and money) to spend in one country or in the whole of Europe. However, keep in mind that you have only limited opportunities to leave the group and do your own things.

The hop-on – hop-off tours offer more flexibility, while still offering great value for money, but they require more planning and hassle to sort out accommodation, tickets, etc. Basically, you don’t buy a tour, you buy the ability to travel on the operator’s coaches for a set amount of days. Buses travel around, usually every day, and you’re free to catch these buses anytime you want, and get off anytime you want. Hop-on – hop-off operators usually team up with hostels to make sure you don’t end-up sleeping on a park bench, but you’re free to stay wherever you want.

Sooo… what are the big names we can recommend?

Regular tours

• Scotland and Britain: Haggis
• Ireland: Shamrocker
• Eastern Europe: Eastern Trekker

Hop-on Hop-off Tours

• Europe: Busabout
• Britain: Brit Explorer, from National Express.

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Coach Tours