Busabout Adventures

Many people travel Europe by rail and have a good time - it's a great transport system.  Many also discover that their rail passes have limitations.  When your budget is tight and travel time limited, you don't need surprises!  It's your trip - choose what's best for you!

Some little known facts:

• Your rail pass may not allow you to travel on high speed trains.  There is a surcharge of approx. €10.75 per journey.
• Your rail pass may not entitle you to a seat.  There is a €3.50 surcharge for each seat reservation on each journey.
• Your rail pass does not save you money on accommodation.  An overnight 'couchette' can cost double or triple the amount paid for a hostel bed.
• Your rail pass does not save you time. Lines for seat reservations and high speed trains can be very long. Reservations must be made the day before, which takes away from your sightseeing time as well.  
• Trains do not stop outside your accommodation (like Busabout does).  Nothing worse than arriving into the train station after dark with all your belongings strapped to your back looking aimlessly for a hostel.  It's not very safe either.
• Your rail pass is about transportation.  Busabout is about having the best travel experience.

If you want to experience Europe from behind the wheel, consider a career as a Busabout Coach Driver. This is your chance to be part of a highly reputable company, and be trained by the best, to be the best in the business. You’ll drive state-of-the-art coaches around some of the best destinations in Europe.  Travelers of all ages and from all over the world choose Busabout, meaning you’ll never have a dull moment, and make lots of new friends along the way.

To work for Busabout as a coach driver you need to meet several requirements, you must:

• Hold a valid European passport.
  
• Be aged 23 years or over. (This is a requirement from our insurance company.)
  
• Obtain (or hold) a full, unrestricted European Class "D" (PCV) driving license (Busabout may assist suitable candidates with obtaining a D Class license)
  
• Pass a European commercial driver medical examination.
  
• Attend a one-week intensive driving skills, left-hand drive familiarization and mechanical training course.
  
• Undertake approximately four weeks of on-road training in Europe including driving training, product and city familiarization.
  
• Pass a company driving test to the satisfaction of our insurance company.

The first step is to download and fill in the application form - see the sections below. Once you have completed the form either email it to recruitment@busabout.com or post it to:

Busabout (Recruitment)
258 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London, SW1V 1BS,
United Kingdom

Once we have your completed application form, we will contact you regarding an interview. Interviews will be held in London. If your interview is successful you will be offered a place on our Training Trip in April 2009(Dates to be confirmed).

Are you addicted to travel? Do you love to share your adventures and stories with anyone who’ll listen? Working as a Busabout Guide, you’ll get the opportunity to not only experience the best Europe has to offer, but you’ll share those experiences with a coach full of excited travelers from all over the world!

To become a Busabout On-board Guide you should:

• Be friendly, approachable, and fun
  
• Have a thirst for knowledge
  
• Love interacting with people
  
• Be familiar with Europe through personal experience
  
• Be able to relate to people of ALL ages (our core clientele are 18 to 35 year old)
  
• Be computer literate.
  

The following are not requirements, but are helpful:

• Experience leading groups
  
• A second (European) language.
  
• Experience talking in front of groups of people.

• A confident and clear microphone manner.
  

So how do you apply?

The first step is to download and fill in the application form.
You must complete this by hand (typed or incomplete forms cannot be accepted), attach a recent colour photograph and either post it back to the address on the form, or scan it and send it to us as an attachment to recruitment@busabout.com  Please specify if you are available to be interviewed in London or Sydney/Melbourne in January and  February 2009 at the top of your form.

We will email you on receipt of your application and let you know if you are invited to attend a group interview. Please make sure you check your emails regularly. Applications close shortly. 

At the Group Interview you will be required to give a short talk to the panel and fellow applicants. This can be on any subject you like (Except travel – sorry but we've heard all of those!!). These group interviews will be held in London and Australia (dates/cities to be advised). At the group interview you’ll get the opportunity to learn more about the Busabout as a company, as well as a chance to ask us any questions you might have.
If we think you fit the profile we’re after you’ll be invited to a personal interview, this is quite in-depth and lasts about 45 minutes. Individual interviews will be held either the same afternoon or the following day.

If you are successful in your individual interview you will be offered a place on our training trip, this starts in April 2009 (dates to be confirmed). The training trip lasts for approximately five weeks. During training you’ll visit and study all the destination we visit on our coach network. This is a VERY intensive course and slackers will not get through! However the benefits you’ll receive on completion far out-way the work you’ve put in. Those who complete the training will be offered a position to work with Busabout during the summer season of 2009. Sounds tough, however the people we want working for us will make it through, and get the best job in the world!

To secure a place on our training program you are required to pay a training bond of £200.00, this is fully refundable to you upon completion of two full summer seasons with Busabout.Busabout crew are expected to make a commitment of a minimum of one season and are required to open an English bank account. Wages are paid directly into this account on a monthly basis.

One of our guides described her decision to leave her job as a travel agent and work for Busabout as; "I was selling the dream, now I'm living the dream".

Working for Busabout, you’ll have the opportunity to both live and work in Europe.Your sequence (roster) is provided to you by management and generally involves working 19 to 25 days per month.  When you’re not working you’ll be on days off in one of your favourite cities. Your role as an On-Board Guide is to help like-minded travellers have a holiday they are never going to forget! During the day, you’ll spiel about cities and countries inspiring passengers with ideas of where to go, and what to see. As our passengers get to explore the destinations in their own time, you’ll get to help them plan their trip before they arrive. 

As a guide, you are invaluable to passengers, in terms of your local knowledge and experience.  Simply understanding the public transport system in each city and then being able to explain it to passengers, saves them both time and money.  Everything including helping passengers plan their stay, booking accommodation, and completing paperwork (yes there is some administration work involved) fills up your day. But, before you know it, you’re sipping wine under the Eiffel Tower, partying it up in Prague, or laying on the beach in San Sebastian.

A job in Europe and life on the road does come with some sacrifices.  You are constantly on the move, living out of a backpack, away from family and friends.  The hours are long and responsibility high.  However the family-like bond created between crew, the sights you see and experiences you'll have, make this job what it is.  As a guide, you make the dreams of your clients come true and help create lifetime memories.  You are lucky enough to be guiding them throughout Europe, imparting your knowledge, and making their trip on Busabout one to remember!

To work for Busabout as a driver you will need to hold a full, unrestricted Class D (PCV) driving licence issued in a European Union country.

Alternatively, if you hold a European Union Passport* you can obtain a UK Class D (PCV) licence by sitting the relevant tests. Full details of this is available on the UK Transport Office website. You will need to obtain a provisional licence first, pass a medical, pass a written test & hazard perception, then pass a practical test. This would take approximately 6 weeks to complete. Busabout can arrange a fully inclusive training package for suitable candidates which costs around £1200.00. Busabout can (at our discretion) arrange financial assistance to suitable candidates.

* European Union Passports are those issued by Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

We get to wear jeans to work and spend our days helping independent travelers create their own lifetime memories.
 
Sound good? Then read on...

Busabout is Europe’s leading independent travel network and has been carrying independent travellers on our Hop on Hop off network for 8 years.  We also have truck trips in Morocco, sailing in Croatia, island hopping in Greece, trips in Egypt, Spain and Italy as well as awesome festival packages to La Tomatina, Pamplona and Oktoberfest.
 
Our team is small and personal - our office cosy and the craic legendary.  Our aim is to treat the first contact with customers as if their travel experience has already begun.

Who we want?
 
We are looking for two sales consultants to join our Sales and Marketing Team in Edinburgh for the 2009 season.  This is a seasonal position which will run from mid-February to early-September.  Successful candidates will then be able to travel on the Busabout network for free for the remainder of the season.  Working week is 40 hours including some evenings/weekends or early shifts. 
 
This role is split 80:20 between front line sales work and out-of-office promotions work. 
 
Responsibilities include:
 
Maximisation of enquiries to confirmed and fully paid bookings through honest and open advice and above all friendliness
Responding to enquiries, direct, post, telephone and e-mail enquiries above and beyond the questions asked.
Completion of administration tasks (e.g. mail, office management, etc)
Customer handling / check in
Customer itinerary planning
Telesales office and shop presentation and organisation
Assisting the Marketing Department with Special Projects
Attending bar & sporting promotional events in the evening and some weekends
Helping with distribution of materials to London agents and hostels
 
Visas - preference will be given to those who are available to work the 2010 season also.
 
Essential skills:
 
European travel experience
Previous sales experience
Previous customer care experience
Warm and friendly personality
Attention to detail
MS Office proficiency
 

Desirable skills:
 
Past experience of Busabout Products
Creative approach to solving problems
Past experience of reservations systems
Previous office based experience
Driving licence
 
Creativity is important to this role - how can we communicate to customers in ways which make them smile?
 
Answers to danielt@busabout.com along with a completed application form which you can download here

Interviews will be held from January 2009 in London and Edinburgh.

Yes, Casper College in Wyoming, U.S. is offering 4 internet classes (3 credits each) in the areas of women studies, English literature, health, and art history which utilize the Busabout routes.

Contact Casper College at  www.caspercollege.edu and click on "Distance Learning" for complete details regarding the course descriptions, tuition, and registration.

Great savings can be made if you hold a ISIC or ISE card on all our tours.  Make sure you let us know at the time of booking and the discount will be applied.  You will need to show this card when you check in for any of our tours.  If you do not produce this at checkin you will be charged the difference between the normal brochure price and the discounted price in addition to an administration fee of £25.   To purchase a ISE card click on the ad below and start saving now!

First of all, make sure you sign up first. Just under the ‘log in’ button is a sentence saying:
‘Bought a Busabout Pass and want to sign up? Click here!’ You will need to enter your details and make up a password that you won’t forget. If it is still not working, check to see if you are using your client reference number and not your booking reference number. Your client reference number will be on your E-ticket.

Once you have made the wise choice to travel with Busabout you should just book it straight away.  As soon as the booking is made through the website you will be instantly issued an e-ticket. Your e-ticket contains your client reference number (a 7 digit number) - this is all you need.  Nothing to wait for in the post, nothing to go collect: you're done. On your first day of travel, just give the e-ticket to the guide on the coach and they will issue you with your Busabout electronic travel card. 

 Now that you have your booking number you can start to utilise the "MyBusabout" feature on the website.  "MyBusabout" allows you to book and change your seat reservations on the coach.  There is also a facility to pre-book accommodation for your trip.  Nice and easy.  It's exciting to start planning, and then there is that much less to worry about once you're on the road.

Yes, you can book as many of your sectors in advance as you like, your whole trip if you want to! If you need to be in a particular town on a specific date then it's advisable to book those sectors well in advance. If you don't want to book your journeys in advance then that's no problem either, however it is always advisable to book your journeys a few days in advance if possible. This can be done either at mybusabout.com or on-board the coach whilst you're travelling.

A "travelling day" on your Flexipass is any time you get off at a Busabout pick-up/drop-of point to overnight; this includes all compulsory night stops.

Busabout is a "hop-on hop-off" style coach travel network throughout Europe for Backpackers and Independent travellers. It offers the ability to travel Europe at your own pace. We also help organise accommodation for our passengers along the way, making it an easy affordable way to travel Europe.

Busabout is not a public transport operator, we do not offer single point to point fares. If a single point to point journey is all that you require, you can contact Eurolines (express public bus operator) who may be able to help you. Many of the budget air carriers in Europe may also be of assistance, such as EasyJet, Ryan Air and BMI (British Midlands).

At Busabout, we do not have "Fares" as such. You simply purchase a travel pass that allows you to travel different regions on the network - our shortest duration ticket is the 6-Stop Flexitrip Pass which is valid for 6 journeys anywhere on the Busabout coach network.

Once you have booked your Busabout pass, you'll have access to the "MyBusabout" feature on the website. A majority of the accommodation at the Busabout pick-up/drop-off points can be pre-booked online.  You will need a credit card and will have to leave a 10% deposit.  This will guarantee you accommodation for your chosen nights. Busabout cannot make reservations for you in advance. We do offer an on-board booking service on the day of travel but please bear in mind it is impossible for us to guarantee this service. We do have a large allocation of beds at the places we drop off at, however the best way to guarantee your accommodation is to book in advance.

Busabout does not own or operate any of the accommodation on the network.  We do however hand-pick what we feel are the safest, cleanest, most centrally located, best value accommodation in each location.

The accommodation that Busabout uses is generally centrally located budget hotels and hostels. The basic accommodation is usually a dorm multi-share at a cost of €15 to €25 per person, per night. Facilities vary, but you should not expect bathroom facilities in the room. Most places will have a secure locker for each person in each room, so your belongings will be safe, we do however strongly recommend that you do not leave valuables such as your passport in the room - utilise the safety deposit boxes available at many of the hostel reception areas. All accommodation will provide fresh bed linen either free of charge, or at the cost of just a few Euro's. You do not need a sleeping bag.

In some cases (Venice, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Pisa and Lauterbrunnen) we use campsites. These are generally a little further out of town, but are chosen for their great facilities. Basic accommodation on a campsite is usually in cabins of two to four beds, and facilities are located in communal areas on the site. All have restaurants, laundry, cooking facilities and a bar (3 even have swimming pools!). You will find these campsites a little cheaper than the budget hotels and hostels mentioned above. You do not need a tent!

Once you have booked your Busabout pass you'll have access to the "MyBusabout" feature on the website. A majority of the accommodation at the Busabout pick-up/drop-off point can be prebooked online.  You will need a credit card and will have to leave a 10% deposit.  This will guarantee you accommodation for your chosen nights. Busabout cannot make reservations for you in advance. We do offer an on-board booking service on the day of travel but please bear in mind it is impossible for us to guarantee this service. We do have a large allocation of beds at the places we drop off at, however the best way to guarantee your accommodation is to book in advance.

If you have specific questions regarding a hotel, hostel or campsite it is best to contact them directly. The contact details are listed  in the "destination” section of the website.

Busabout is perfect for people travelling on their own, you will have the opportunity to meet like minded travellers and share experiences.  Many people start travelling on their own on Busabout and very soon have a group of friends to travel with. In fact Busabout is the only backpacker travel network in Europe operated exclusively for backpackers, rather than a public transport system. This means that our customers are meeting like minded travellers from the moment they join our network.

The Busabout summer 2007 season runs from the beginning of May through to the end of October (the best time to see Europe).   Southern Spain and Southern Italy run June to October for you sun-lovers.  July and August are peak season in Europe so try to avoid the crowds and consider travelling in the early or late part of the season.  Start planning your trip by checking out our timetables in the Busabout brochure or by clicking here! 

Operating seasons:
Northern Loop: 4th May - 30th Oct.  Southern Loop: 17th May - 29th Oct.  Western Loop: 25th May - 15th Oct.

Please check the timetable for last departures of individual sectors.

We do not recommend you do this as it would be difficult to arrange for you to be picked up again. However if you want to get off the coach at one of the rest stops between cities you can - please note that we will be unable to make a special stop for you. When you want to start travelling again you would have to make your own way to the nearest Busabout pick-up point.

This is a very difficult question to answer as spending varies dramatically from person to person.

As a VERY ROUGH guide we say allow €60 (Euros) per day:

Accommodation usually varies between €15 to €25 per person per night sharing. Private rooms will be more expensive, probably in the €25 to €35 range (per person).

Allow €20 to €25 per day for food, but remember that you don't have a fridge, so you're either eating baguettes and cheese, or eating at a local restaurant. Some hostels/campsites have self-catering kitchens, so you could pick up stocks at the local supermarket, perhaps splitting the cost between a few of you and cooking up a big meal.

If you're eating out at restaurants (and it's a great idea to try out a few local restaurants in each country), food costs can rise quite quickly. Going out for drinks with friends or locals, or "experiencing the nightlife" can also get quite expensive, though you often make up for it in other cities where you'll spend the day on the beach or window shopping and don't spend much at all.

This leaves you about €10 to €15 per day on odds and ends like metro/bus tickets, museum admissions, city tours, souvenirs and internet.

Please only use this as a very rough estimate - with a strict budget and careful spending,  you should be able to get by with €60 a day and still have a fabulous time, but we don't recommend any less than this ... more is better - you don't have to spend it all, but it gives you more options. It's also a good idea to have a credit card or access to additional funds should the need arise. Credit cards can be invaluable as a backup plan or for emergencies - you don't want to end up in debt though.

Our hostels will not permit passengers using their own sleeping bags. Clean fresh linen is available at all hostels for only a few Euro's, if not supplied free of charge.

Yes - as long as it's not a huge one. No Circus Big Tops please!

Do remember that you do not have to use your own tent when staying at our campsite accommodation. These campsites have bungalows and cabins which you can book through myBusabout.

No, sorry there is limited baggage space available on the buses and bicycles & surfboards tend to be bulky and cumbersome. Bicycles are ready available for hire in most European cities, and surfboards are available to hire wherever there's surf! You are limited to one reasonable sized backpack / suitcase, and one piece of cabin baggage that will fit in the overhead racks.

The Busabout service caters for the backpacking independent traveller, therefore is not suited to children. The accommodation that we recommend and the on-board environment is also not suitable for minors - indeed many of our travellers choose Busabout over public transport because they know that they will only be travelling with like-minded individuals.

Busabout has a minimum age limit of 18 years. We will make an exception to this rule only under the following circumstances:

* The underage passenger is aged between 16 and 18 at the start of travel.

* Each passenger aged under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

* If the accompanying adult is not the parent or legal guardian of the minor then a letter from the parent authorising travel is required.

Any exceptions to the "Over 18's only" rule must be agreed in writing with the Busabout London office prior to making a booking.

There is certainly no upper age limit, as long as you have the spirit of travelling independently then you will be fine. Our oldest passenger last year was 84, and he had a great time!

Busabout has a very sophisticated On-Board Booking system - which means we can track where all our passengers are on the Busabout Circuit. If someone needs to contact you they should contact our London office and we will email the guide on the coach you are travelling. This service is for EMERGENCIES ONLY, please do not ask us to pass on non-urgent messages.

Busabout Europe

7-11 Bressenden Place
Victoria
London SW1E 5DD
Tel : +44 (0)8450 267 514
Email : info@busabout.com