If you've got any questions that we haven't answered pick up the phone and we'll get you sorted. Not only are we a nice bunch, we know a thing or two about our tours (and travelling in general) so you're bound to get all the info you need to plan your Busabout adventure all in the one call. Too easy.
Here’s the magic number: +44 (0)131 557 9393 or if you are calling within the UK 08450 267 514
It’s a local rate number so shouldn’t cost too much but we can even call you back to save you spending your beer money.
In London you'll find us at 7-11 Bressenden Place, a 5-10 minute walk from Victoria Station. See our map below:
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If you absolutely must email (we get quite a few!) we may be able to answer your question without the need to write. Check out our list of frequently asked questions.
If your question is not there, it was either a very silly one or we need to add it to the list.
You can email us by completing the enquiry form below and choosing a subject for your email (please include a contact phone number so we can call you - it may be quicker to call you than replying to your email). It can take 48-72 hours for us to reply, so if you want a quick answer, pick up the phone!
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). There's 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.
Great savings can be made if you hold a ISIC,ISE or ITIC card on most of 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 check-in 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!
Once you have confirmed and paid for your trip, an automatic E-ticket will be sent to the email address given at the time of booking. If it is not in your inbox, check to see if it is in your junk mail folder, then move it into your inbox for safe keeping as you will need a copy of this for your first day of travel. Make sure you read all of the information on your E-ticket carefully as it will have important information regarding your trip.
First of all, make sure you sign up first. To get your account setup, click here and then follow the 'new user' instructions. You’ll need to enter your details and make up a password that you won’t forget, then it's time to pass 'go' and start planning. If you find it's not working, check to see if you are using your client reference number and not your booking reference number (both numbers are on your e-ticket, your client reference can be found in the 'passenger summary' on the first page.)
As soon as you've booked and paid in full you'll be instantly issued an e-ticket. Your e-ticket contains your client reference number - this is all you need to start planning your trip. 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.
With your client reference number you can start to utilise the "MyTrip" feature on the website. "MyTrip" allows you to book and change your seat reservations on the bus and to pre-book accommodation for your trip and even tailor your booking to fit in with your travel plans. Nice and easy. Planning your trip means you'll have less stress when you're on the road, we suggest you try and stay two weeks ahead of yourself in peak season (June - September), however if you're one of these super planner types, you can book your whole trip in one go.
Yes, you can book as many of your sectors(travel days) 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. Remember, all travel bookings are made through your MyTrip account.
A 'sector' (travel day) is judged as being the journey between two overnight destinations on our Explorer network. If you wanted to stay overnight at one of our day stops (the solid dots on our network maps) then the same rules apply to keep things simple.
As an example, Paris to Amsterdam on our North Loop would be considered as one sector. If you wanted to get off the bus in Bruges and stay overnight, this means Paris to Bruges is recorded as the first sector, and Bruges to Amsterdam as the second. So, basically for every night you stay overnight at a destination, count this as being one sector used on your pass.
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 "MyTrip" feature on the website where you can pre-book your beds before you travel. You'll need a credit card and will have to leave a 10% deposit to secure your booking (the balance is paid upon your arrival so there's no need to max out your card before you even hit the road.)
Our reservations teams and travel agents cannot make bed reservations for you – this has to be done through your MyTrip account. Our guides do offer an on-board booking service on the day of travel but please bear in mind it is impossible for us to guarantee availability. We do have a large allocation of beds at the properties we drop off at, however, the best way to guarantee your accommodation is to book in advance.
Busabout is perfect for people travelling on their own becuase you'll have the opportunity to meet like minded travellers and share experiences once you're on the road. 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 jump on the bus.
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 and best value accommodation options 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. You do not need a sleeping bag.
In some cases (Venice, Florence, Rome, Sorrento 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!
If you have specific questions regarding a hotel, hostel or campsite let us know and we'll see if we can help you out.
The Busabout summer 2010 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 mid May to early 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:
North Loop: 4th May - 28th Oct. South Loop: 15th May - 27th Oct. West Loop: 25th May - 13th 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 Euros, 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 MyTrip.
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 only thing you have to remember is that the adapters for the UK and the rest of Europe are different, so you'll need both if you want to use your electrical applicance in both regions. You can purchase international adaptors that cover USA/Asia/NZ/Oz and also Europe and the UK. These can be purchased from most luggage and duty free stores, and also airports.
The Busabout service caters for the backpacking independent traveller and 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, so long as you have the spirit of travelling independently then you'll be fine. Our oldest passenger last year was 84 and he had a great time!
Busabout has a very sophisticated On-Board Booking system.This 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'll contact the guide on the coach on which 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
e-mail: info@radicaltravel.com