The unexpected European destinations to visit by bus from Newcastle on a budget
You'll have seen them on the motorway on your way home, the coaches laden with holiday makers (though sometimes as a rail replacement) and wondered why someone would get the bus to go on holiday, especially if it's overseas. But something many people don't know, is that your next holiday could start from Newcastle, as more and more companies are opening up Newcastle to the rest of Europe. One of the largest operators is FlixBus, a common sight along highways in the UK and Europe alike, the lime green colour along the sides a dead giveaway.
Unlike operators like Megabus[1] or National Express[2], Flix has a big foothold in the European market already[3], so their UK connection simply begs for more destinations from their UK bases. Serving over 40 countries over the world and thousands of individual destinations means that you get the maximum amount of choice when it comes to booking your next getaway. Cities such as Athens, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and Barcelona, there's something for anyone.
But you may be wondering why bother adding hours to your journey to go via a coach when flying is still an option. There are two very good reasons. The first one that is on many people's minds as they book a holiday during the cost of living crisis is managing a budget.
Coach journeys are particularly cheap, often costing less than budget airlines like EasyJet, and without the strict baggage allowances. That's right, as standard, you'll get one piece of hand luggage and one checked bag for free[4], with the option of adding on additional luggage if needed. The second will resonate with many, as it concerns the environment.
Coach travel emits nearly 7 times less CO2 than an identical journey taken by plane, a massive impact if you're already conscious of your carbon footprint. On the Flix website[5], they say that a journey with them is an "environmentally responsible one, as coach travel reduces traffic and emissions compared to travelling by car." They affirm further: "We're working to make coach travel even greener with high environmental standards across our fleet of coaches, the use of alternative drive and fuel technologies, and the option for all passengers to offset their carbon when buying their coach tickets."
Not only is it cheap and environmentally conscious, it's also convenient. With dozens of buses departing daily from Newcastle city centre[6], you can start your holiday from closer to the heart of the city than having to head on the Metro out to the airport. There are even some companies that offer fully packaged trips, like you'd see with other operators like TUI or DFDS.
Caledonian Travel[7] operate out of Newcastle, and can get you to places like Rome in Italy, the Black Forest in Germany, Amsterdam, the Austrian Alps and even Lloret de Mar in Spain. If you'd prefer someone else to take care of the intricacies of travel and hotel booking, Caledonian have you covered. But if you're too used to flying, that's fine too. Skyscanner offer plenty of options[8] for you to jet off on your next break.
You can even book hotels and hire a car through their site, for the all-inclusive travel booking experience. But if you're looking for a cheap way to get some sun this year, don't forget the coaches when you're browsing for your next holiday!
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References
- ^ Megabus (www.megabus.co.uk)
- ^ National Express (nationalexpress.prf.hn)
- ^ Flix has a big foothold in the European market already (go.skimresources.com)
- ^ one piece of hand luggage and one checked bag for free (go.skimresources.com)
- ^ On the Flix website (go.skimresources.com)
- ^ Newcastle city centre (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Caledonian Travel (caledonian.com)
- ^ Skyscanner offer plenty of options (www.skyscanner.net)
- ^ Join our Things To Do community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ click on the link (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ 'join community' (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ privacy notice (www.reachplc.com)
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