Need Your Advice Please: Bus Travel (FlixBus) From Bucharest to Vienna

The train from Bucharest to Budapest is about 19 hours, about the same on the bus I understand.
Wow! that's dedication to a mode of travel.
Of course Ryan and Wizz Air make the trip Bucharest to Vienna in about 1:30 for $25 and up...... but not as romantic as riding the road across Eastern Europe.
I had a friend a number of years ago that made the trip by train, commented that it wasn't one of his wiser decisions.

Thank you for your prompt response we appreciate very much.
I agree myself that flying is best although I cannot persuade them to do so
I wish there was some better, not so expensive road option like, luxury bus line

That is a very long bus ride, and bus seats are not that comfortable after 10 hours. Why not take the direct overnight train? A bit faster and a lot more comfortable. They have modern sleepers on that route, the Man in Seat 61 knows more about the route: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Bucharest.htm#Bucharest_to_Vienna

I agree with you
Better to travel by train, will check the details
Thank you indeed for the Seat 61 link. very valuable information
all the best

I haven't traveled that route but have spent a lot of hours on buses and (slow) trains in the Balkans. My limit is about 8 to 10 hours. I make an overnight stop if a trip is longer than that; sitting up all night on a bus is unspeakably miserable. (I'd generally recommend that others fly, but I like the experience of traveling on the ground.) And I'd definitely choose a train rather than a bus for a trip of that length unless the train took significantly longer (which it well might in this case).

Since you mentioned that the couple is elderly (I'm 70 myself): I'm always a bit concerned about the toilet situation on long bus rides. Most long-distance buses are quite modern, but in my experience, you cannot count on an existing, and not-locked, toilet 100% of the time. Perhaps that's a bankable amenity on Flixbus--I don't know. I'm just saying it would be a concern for me. I've only once taken a bus that didn't make a comfort stop every 2 to 2-1/2 hours, but that was one time too many. (It was in Spain.)

I also cannot promise the comfort stops on that route will always have western-style toilets as opposed to holes in the floor. Again, maybe FlixBus has found a good solution everywhere one is necessary, but I definitely have seen squat toilets in the Balkans (and in Ukraine) at some bus comfort stops. Those toilets were usually attended and therefore very clean (the grotesque exception was in Croatian Istria), but most western women don't appreciate squat toilets. And you are usually expected to tip the attendant in local currency, which can be an issue on a bus traversing several countries. You'd be expected to pay for snacks in local currency, too. That bus route would call for Romanian lei, Hungarian forints and euros for Slovakia and Austria. Euros would probably be more acceptable in Hungary than Romanian lei.

And I'd definitely choose a train rather than a bus for a trip of that
length unless the train took significantly longer (which it well might
in this case).

As I mentioned, the train is a couple of hours faster than the bus. And offers real beds instead of just seats.

Thank you acraven,
We really appreciate your first hand experience clearly underlines many issues we didn't given enough thoughts seriously until after you highlighted the facts
We now realized that bus is no longer the only option

The elderly couple (65 & 72) first would be happy to travel such long distance on a bus,
now the more comfortable to travel by train idea is the best because of your underlined points such as " toilet situation on long bus rides" & sitting up all night on a bus"

Thank you badger for your crucial insights such as "through Man in Seat 61" site and "real beds instead of just seats" idea

seat61 also mentions about "1" departure time for trains where we have also noticed there are several departures daily which is another plus

The couple has now the best alternative because of your input

Thank you James E
I agree that trains "not as romantic as riding the road across Eastern Europe" and that was the elders couples thoughts too until now.
If it was me I would have experienced the both ie by train& bus

Now they feel happier to be on a train because of extra comfort

all the best to you all

ps. I am unable to find a way to mark all your posts as "our favorites" and "the best advice" in the forum.

I hope the management at Rick Steves would fix that if there's some option I cannot see

Hi,

I'm in the same age as the couple, ie, early 70s. Between the two cities I would take the train, be it day or night. Taking the bus is not the same as going by Greyhound but I am not familiar with that used by Flixbus.

In 2007 I saw the bus taking on passengers in Münster/Westf. located at the back end of Münster Hbf, stuck around to see what was going on. The bus (fancy) is designed for these long trips, passengers boarding were exclusively German. It was a night bus going to Holland.

65 and 72 is elderly? At what age do we begin the elderly category? 🥰

Thank you Fred for sharing your experiences
I am not familiar with Greyhound, and being based in Europe I haven't been exposed to user reviews of Greyhound as a result whereas I have read many mix reviews about FlixBus
all the best

Thank you goanywhere
"65 and 72 is elderly?" depends on many points I guess
here's an interesting reading I have come across though:
What Age Is Considered Middle Aged Vs Old Vs Elderly?
https://www.yourtango.com/experts/joan-nosal/what-age-is-considered-old-middle-aged-elderly
all the best

What's the most romantic is a matter of opinion. But in my opinion, the train wins. Having dinner in the restaurant car while watching the scenery is a much nicer experience in my opinion than sitting in a bus seat.

And as The Man in Seat 61 mentions, the scenery through the Carpathian mountains is not bad.

Thank you Badger,
We agree, train is the best and The Man in Seat 61 is and must be the bible for train travelers.
The couple is also extremely happy to hear your crucial advice
I'm very happy to discover here since this is the best forum I reckon (I have also had some great advice from Thorn Tree in the past, they no longer exist, not even a read only copy which is a shame)

you guys & girls
you are simply amazing